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Why Belong to ASHRAE?

Many years ago when I first became an ASHRAE member, I felt overwhelmed at entering this gathering of people who were definitely more experienced and knowledgeable than I in mechanical design for buildings. But I persevered, as I recognized the benefits of attending the dinner meetings, both technical benefits and social benefits.

Many of the people in the industry question the benefits of an ASHRAE membership. Here is a short summary of some of the reasons I value my membership. I have compiled my favourites from comments on the ASHRAE website from several members of ASHRAE:

• Handbook Series – included in the membership are the bibles of the industry, the four handbooks: HVAC Applications; Refrigeration; Fundamentals; and HVAC Systems and Equipment. Whenever I have a question, I start with these and go from there.
• Bookstore Discounts – why pay full price?
• Networking – Meet your peers, discover career opportunities, get involved in groups or committees in your area of interest. The creation of YEA – Young Engineers of ASHRAE – has developed a forum for ASHRAE members 35 years of age or younger to interact with each other, and to network with the rest of the society.
• Knowledge – keep up to date with technology and trends with the ASHRAE Journal, Professional Development Series and Home study courses. Development of soft skills and public speaking.
• Members Only Website – access bookstore, manage your membership, Student Branch support, Abstracts centre (8,000 abstract), Chapter Support, Honours and Awards. I regularly search the ASHRAE Journal archives for researching different things.
• Friends – I have developed friendships with people that I would not have otherwise. These friendships enhance both my personal and my professional lives.
• Change - Through its influence as an organization, ASHRAE is changing the world and we can be a part of that, and help to affect that change too.
• Fun/Travel – Attending the Chapters Regional Conferences and the ASHRAE Conferences had allowed me to see many parts of North America, and to see them with my ASHRAE friends.

Why Belong to an ASHRAE Chapter?

As a board we are asked (and we ask ourselves!) what are the benefits of a chapter membership? Don’t we get all we need from our ASHRAE membership? What service is the chapter providing that will benefit me?

The following services are provided to you as part of your chapter membership. They are funded by the chapter through the payment of your chapter dues, and this makes belonging to the Northern Alberta Chapter an important thing to do!!

• Education – Monthly dinner meeting and the associated technical session featuring a noted speaker brings the latest in technical information to the local level. The chapter also sponsor seminars and lecture series to provide members with more detailed technical information. In the past, and hopefully again in the future, the chapter has conducted ASHRAE self-directed courses in conjunction with NAIT.
• Future Employees – Through our Student Activities committee, the Northern Alberta Chapter provides networking opportunities and engineering career guidance to young people. We maintain a liaison with the Science Hotline to provide speakers in elementary and junior high schools in the Edmonton area. In addition, the chapter sponsors scholarships to students attending NAIT and the University of Alberta, and helps to organize and support ASHRAE student branches. These students are the future employees you will hire!
• Training – Chapters are divided into geographic regions to effectively organize chapter efforts; provide volunteer training; and open a communications channel to the Society's Board of Directors. Each region holds an annual conference that includes a technical program and business session. Nominations for service on many Society-level committees are made at these meetings.

What are the benefits to employers by having employees involved in ASHRAE?

These comments I have compiled from the ASHRAE website:

Marketing Opportunities!

• Team with other companies to get larger jobs
• Become aware of work out for bid
• ASHRAE Research Projects

Access to Industry Leaders!

• The best talent in the world attends ASHRAE meetings
• Have direct access to them through committee work
• On the job training provided free of charge
• Access to the latest technology such as sustainability and green buildings

Networking!

• Meet the key people in your area at monthly chapter meetings
• Expand your network of contacts for "crisis" periods
• Improve chances of getting work by putting a face to a name

Free Professional Development!

• Volunteering for positions on Technical Committees and Subcommittees
• Giving presentations and seminars to the local chapter
• Writing Papers
• Organizing technical sessions

As you can see, there is no end to the potential benefits of membership in ASHRAE. As a chapter, we will continue to provide all these benefits to you through our volunteer efforts. I hope to see you involved, and would love the opportunity to help you become even more involved!

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