HEADQUARTERS REPORT 3/1/02 - 6/30/02

MEMBERSHIP

Member Statistics

For the period 3/1 - 6/30 we welcomed 249 new members into the Society. This number includes 191 new regular members, 31 reinstated members and 27 graduating students/preprofessionals who transferred their student memberships to full memberships. Additionally, we recruited 205 new student/preprofessional members. As of 6/30, total ASAE membership was 8,237 which includes 6,582 regular members and 1,655 student/preprofessional members.

We currently have 160 members from low-income countries that have taken advantage of electronic membership in ASAE. Of this total, 96 pay $15 dues; 35 pay $35 dues; and 29 pay $55 dues.

Retention 2002

Of the 8,435 invoices that were mailed for dues year 2002 in October 2001, 7,007 members have paid their dues as of 6/30. Retention rates to date of regular members are 88% while the student/preprofessional retention rate is 60%. This puts over all retention to date at 83%.

Invoicing 2002

Third invoices were mailed on 3/8 with a final e-mail reminder sent on 3/26. On 4/9, we dropped 1,617 members for non-payment of dues. This number was comprised of 1,042 regular members and 575 student members. An exit survey with a final invoice was mailed to all non-student members on 5/9. A final e-mail blast was sent to all students on 5/7 notifying them that their memberships had been dropped and asking them to reinstate.

Sections & Student Branches

Between Wayne Skaggs, Lyle Stephens and Mark Crossley, visits were made to the following sections: Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, NABEC, the Southeast Student Branch Rally and the Virginia Tech Student Awards Banquet. Members always appreciate receiving updates from headquarters and we continually hear that communication between ASAE and sections has improved greatly.

Section Officer Update electronic newsletters were sent to section officers on 4/12 and 6/6 with headquarters new and updates. This continues to be an effective means by which important information may be disseminated to sections in a timely manner.

Benefits & Initiatives Update

Online Technical Expertise Database

The ASAE Online Technical Expertise Database (TED) became fully operational in early May and available for use by all ASAE members. TED is an Internet tool that members and ASAE staff can utilize for more effective networking. How it works is simple. To search for ASAE members with a specific technical interest, simply choose up to two categories of technical expertise from the lists provided. Currently there are over 325 areas of technical expertise offered spanning all technical interest areas. You may narrow your search to select only registered professional engineers as well by checking a box. Narrow your search again by choosing a member within a specific state or country. A list of members is then generated with links to their contact information.

ASAE Web Site Upgrade

The ASAE Web site was upgraded May 1 making navigation and access even easier. Feedback from members indicates that it is being well received.

New Member Recognition & Follow-Up Program

In an effort to make sure new ASAE members are properly welcomed and have a clear understanding of what ASAE has to offer, we have implemented this new program. This is part of an on-going program to increase retention as well.

It basically formalizes a procedure by which new members are kept connected to the Society through new member electronic newsletters and special recognition at the annual international meeting. It also tracks all correspondence received from headquarters from the time their membership application is processed.

BrassRing Career Services Cancelled

We're sorry to report that we are no longer offering career services (job board, resume posting, and career fair) through BrassRing on the ASAE Web site. Due to unforeseen circumstances, BrassRing closed the office through which we worked. We are currently in the process of looking for a new carrier for our career services.

Quarter Scale Tractor Student Design Competition Results

The 5th Annual Quarter Scale Competition was held in the Quad Cities May 31 - June 2. With 30 teams entered, it was the largest field of competitors to date. Three-time champion Kansas State was upset by Quebec's Université Laval as overall competition champions. Rounding out the overall winners were Kansas State in second place; the University of Kentucky in a tie for third with The Ohio State University; and the University of Illinois in fifth place.

Max Armstrong, from WGN Radio and U.S. Farm Report, emceed the Quarter-Scale banquet and spent a considerable amount of time interviewing participants. The resulting U.S. Farm Report feature ran the weekend of June 7-9. Mr. Armstrong also was kind enough to give the contest several minutes' worth of air time on June 4 on WGN Radio's "Noon Show," which he co-hosts with Orion Samuelson.

ASAE Welcomes First Overseas Student Branch

On June 1, ASAE welcomed its newest student mechanization branch from The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. The International Commission and the Membership Development Council were pleased to support and approve the creation of this African branch.