Nov 2009

A newsletter is the only active instrument that the local section communicates its activities to its members. ASME San Diego Section switched to electronic newsletters a couple of years back. I support this change. However there is a fundamental assumption that the email addresses we use in our data base are current. People change their email addresses more often than their residence addresses.

 

We have more than 850 registered members in San Diego Section. Recently I sent a personal email to everyone asking them if they get our emails. The result was as follows:

 

1)    238 people replied that they get the newsletter (28%)

2)    25 emails were rejected by the system (3%)

3)    13 people responded that they got my email, but do not get the section email (1.6%)

4)    Almost 67% either did not bother to reply or did not get my email

 

I think this is a huge chunk of people that the local section needs to make an effort to connect with. In the next few weeks, we are going to phone some of our membership who did not respond and see if we can correct our database.

 

Ultimately it is the member’s responsibility to update their email address if they change. We request that you update it at least once a year when you renew your membership. ASME San Diego Section wants to make sure that you are getting the most out of your membership. Please update your email address.

 

We had our first “Get Connected” meeting to help people looking for work. Look for the report in the Newsletter. Our next one will be held soon. For more information, check out:  http://sections.asme.org/sandiego/

 

In the Newsletter is also the report on the tour of the Encina Power Plant.

Oct 2009

Well we have just started our new term.  Many of you know me because I’ve been actively involved with ASME--San Diego Section since 1990.

This year is particularly tough for Mechanical Engineers in San Diego.  I was the Chair back in 1994 when General Dynamics left town.  I would like to focus this year strongly on connecting people.  I know this is very important for people looking for jobs.  It is equally important for potential employer looking for the right candidate.

Here is a short list of how ASME--San Diego Section can get involved for the membership:

   1.  We realize that searching for jobs on the web can be very time consuming and frustrating.  On the other hand, the employers get too many lengthy résumés and have very little time to study each one of them.  So as a first step we have set up a special page on our web site.  Starting on the home page http://sections.asme.org/sandiego and click on Jobs and Training on the left.  It is an easy to use platform for both people looking for jobs and people looking for help.  We welcome any suggestions of how we can improve it for the membership.

   2.  We would like to help new entrepreneurs.  If you are trying to set up a company and looking for customers, ASME—San Deigo can help you put your services/products out to 900 memberships within San Diego.  We are planning to send out a newsletter.  We encourage you to contact any of the Executive Committee members.  The cost may be just the mailing cost of the newsletter, shared among people who are interested.  The newsletter will also be posted on the web.

   3.  We are planning a series of face-to-face meetings.  Mechanical Engineering is a vast field of disciplines.  These meetings would be specific for each discipline so that we can connect people with similar interests.  The first one is planned for Thursday, October 22, 2009.  Please see the newsletter or the web site for more details.

We would like to do a lot more.  Any new ideas are welcome.  Let us support our fellow Mechanical Engineers get through these tough times.

Our Section always welcome any volunteer who would like to help.  If you can devote a few hours each month or even a few hours each year, please contact me (nip.shah@hs.utc.com or 858-627-6251).