asapm Education and Learning Section
Getting Value From Your asapm Membership
asapm Education Director, August 2005-June 2006 : Ed Fern
People are joining asapm in record numbers. Sadly, some of them are not renewing their membership for a second or third year. This suggests that some people are having difficulty in getting engaged and finding the value in their membership in our organization.
For Project Managers, joining asapm is analogous to renting a storefront on Rodeo Drive. It is certainly the premium address and it will be passed by affluent buyers each and every day. To derive any value, however, we must open the door, walk in, and do some work.
Example
Currently, there are six members, and five officers, who have made the effort to supply the information required to put their names in the “Meet Our Members” page on the asapm web site. It seems as though we don’t want the world to know who we are, fearful that it will just bring us new opportunities while we are content with those we have. For those twelve, the storefront now has a sign telling the rest of the world what is inside. For the others, a few of us know your name and address and e-mail address but we don’t know what business you are in or what we might expect if we step into your store. Hanging out our sign is quick and easy. Of course, we have to do some work.
asapm is making progress very slowly. Among the reasons is a shortage of resources, primarily people, to do the work of the society. Recruiting and keeping a few officers seems to be a struggle. Our few Project Teams are under-populated. There are abundant opportunities to do useful work, get to know other asapm members, and put our personal imprint on an organization that exists for us. Of course, we have to do some work.
Every other month, asapm pulishes a newsletter containing articles, like this one, that are read by members, prospective members, former members, project sponsors, and members of IPMA affiliates around the world. The authors of these articles are displaying their merchandise. We offer to sell what we know and what we are able to do. We do that by writing about our own experiences. This article is being written in Singapore where I am because of my presence on the Internet, including several articles published by asapm and by others. Without that “window dressing,” my opportunities would be a small fraction of what they have been. Any asapm member can write an article and expect to see it published in the newsletter. Of course, we have to do some work.
Another Example: PMCoPs
asapm could certainly provide more member and practice benefits if we had more PMCoPs (Project Management Communities of Practice) with meetings where we could go and visit with other elite Project Managers. Our membership provides us with an introduction to IPMA affiliates in other countries but unless we as members promote ourselves in our community or on the web, it does little for us on our business trips inside the United States. asapm could easily support not only more PMCoPs, but also the formation of local chapters and each and every member has the potential to be the founding organizer of a PMCoP or chapter. Of course, we have to do some work.
Yes, I am suggesting that our membership in asapm is worth no more and no less than the effort we put into it. Paying the dues just doesn’t cut it. We are not measured by the money in our pockets, by the letters following our names, or by the title on our business cards. We are what we achieve. Of course, we have to do some work.
Other Learning Pages
Top |
