The Role of Associations

...sadly, "Not-Invented-Here" (NIH) still trumps "technical networking" in worldly matters.

I absolutely think that the NIH syndrome is the reason for the disconnect in the "technical network". Perhaps, ASTM will be obliged to associate itself with similar organizations overseas, and then we can progress. Not only will it help the export of domestic trade, but it will help on standardizing imported foreign trade.

I have watched associations morph from maverick, rebels with a cause to stratified bureaucracys. That happens as elected leaders decide they have heard enough from the membership and need to get on with association business. In only a few years a wide gap develops between the "leaders" and the followers. Specifically, an association must provide a forum for its members input to decision making. And an association must encourage nominations and new business to arise from the floor. When those stop only a corpse remains. The vibrant associations are small associations.

Bobguz

Your point is very clear. If the leaders are not willing to include the followers, the followers will go else where, or develop their own. This is really common of a bureacracy, or when the association grows extensively. It then begins to crumble from underneath.

I am a fresh face in the coatings industry, and I have an outsider perspective on the ASTM. I don't think that the ASTM is headed for a crisis, I just think that they are going to have to re-organize their goals for the international marketplace. Standards vary from nation to nation, and it will be a long and arduous process for coatings professionals to come to a consensus about testing standards on materials. What I think is going to happen, is that the ASTM will be brought under review by a subcommittee of selected groups of international coating professionals, and perhaps a survey of the global leaders in the coatings marketplace on their use of the ASTM. If there is any loss interest, it would be a result of the inflexibility of the ASTM to adopt new standards or modify outdated ones. Not only that, but there are probably a number of growing competitive standard organizations out there, such as the Master Painter Institute, that divert the customer base.

Having been in the coatings industry for a short time, I have noticed that within the industry, experienced members are sort of recycled, and kept within the cycle. With that said, there really is not a large interest group in the younger audience. Not only that, but the work ethics of a new generation is different. If the ASTM is going to keep up to date, they will need to learn how to attract and maintain the young new workforce.