If I join ASCET, what’s in it for me?
By Roy Kirkham, CET

Maybe you shouldn't read this

Is your work as an engineering technician just a job? Does it matter what line of work you do, just as long as you get a paycheck? If your answer to these two questions is YES, stop reading, now. This article is not for you.

Key word: "Participation"
As an engineering technician, do you think of yourself as a professional person? Do you take pride in what you do? Are you looking for ways to advance in your profession through seminars and association with other professionals? If your answer to these questions is YES, read on! This article is written with you in mind. Throughout this article the key word is "participation". To succeed in anything we must invest our effort and participate. Paying the dues and having a membership card doesn’t do very much toward advancement.

Where have the jobs gone?

Today’s world is sometimes a mean place, with technology making giant steps forward and impacting the workplace. Call an office, push a series of numbers, end up on someone’s voicemail and estimate how many jobs have been cut by taking advantage of new technology. In the old days there was a place called the Drafting Room where engineers sent their notes and sketches for a draftsman to lay out on his drafting table, making it into a drawing for use in a contract. Computer aided design and drafting has re-written how we get from the engineer to the contract drawing. If we do not keep up with technology, we will find ourselves looking for a new line of work.

Where are the exciting jobs?

An ASCET chapter offers the opportunity to participate in your profession. Through conferences and seminars you can learn about new developments and prepare for changes coming down the road. Participation in ASCET activities offers association with other engineering technicians, a golden opportunity to network! When there is a company that is doing exiting work, really on the cutting edge, it’s far better to be attending an ASCET meeting at that company than to be standing outside, looking at the door!

What have you done for your profession?

How is your resume doing? Not growing very much? ASCET can help you there, if you are willing to invest yourself in the task and participate. Employment offices look over your resume to see what you have done for your profession and the potential you hold as their employee.

Are you ready to lead?

An ASCET chapter offers the opportunity for management training! That is what holding chapter, regional and national Society office is all about.

Do you think you're alone?

ASCET members in the six Pacific Northwest states are invited to write to me: Roy Kirkham, CET, PO Box 615, Seaside, OR 97138-0615 and be sure to include your Email address in your letter.  We can overcome the great distances between individual ASCET members and form an online chapter of the Society.  Join me in exploring new ways to participate in ASCET activities.