It has been a year now since the
much-dreaded dues increase. Many members realized the
importance of belonging to an organization that has
electrical safety as its main goal and have maintained
their membership without questions about the necessity
of the increase. Some have questioned the increase but
stayed with IAEI because of the benefits and goals.
Others have decided that the increase was too much for
what they were getting, or perceived they were getting,
and did not renew. Hopefully they will soon realize that
IAEI offers much, if not directly to them individually
then to the electrical industry and their neighbors.
Several have written to us with comments ranging from
"keep up the good work" to "you guys are
just a bunch of crooks." We have kept each comment
and while I have not been able to answer each one
individually, I wish to reiterate what IAEI is and what
it does for electrical safety and the electrical
industry.
Our founders recognized over 75 years
ago the necessity of an association that would represent
the inspector in the process of developing codes and
standards, promoting uniform understanding and
application of the code, and collaborating with other
national and international organizations. The most
visible way we strive to accomplish the goal of
supporting the uniform understanding and application of
the electrical code is, of course, the IAEI News.
The bimonthly magazine always contains articles that are
relevant to many of the situations that arise daily for
the AHJ and installers. It also contains pertinent
information on sections, chapters and divisions as well
as member activities. Even though the News is
recognized as the premier publication in the electrical
field, it is not all IAEI does.
This past year the NEC underwent its triennial revision process and IAEI
participated in that process by having a principal and
an alternate on each of the nineteen code-making panel
and the Technical Correlating Committee. Sponsorship of
40 participants is not cheap, but it is worth the
expense to assure that the inspector’s voice is heard
when writing the Code. Some have questioned IAEI’s
involvement in a process that changes the Code every three years as being only a "moneymaking
scheme." I wonder where our electrical systems
would be today if codes did not keep up with the ever
changing technologies? I would hazard a guess that there
would be many more fires caused by hazardous wiring as
well as more electrocutions. To do nothing would be
criminal.
Another method IAEI uses to get the
word out is iaei.org. Our web site is a valuable
resource for information on member services, seminars,
and articles that have appeared in the IAEI News.
There is a Global Forum at the site where code
discussion can take place. Some people have indicated
that the site is hard to use and not very beneficial.
Look for the article about the forum in this issue of
the News. Maybe if you get used to using the
forum it would provide you with a better outlook of the
benefit. Realize that the forum is there for code
discussion and not a place for telling jokes or meeting
with buddies to shoot the breeze. There are plenty of
other forums for that.
IAEI’s Education Department is a
major part of furthering the association’s goals. From
conducting seminars to creating materials for those
seminars, as well as for use by the members, its work is
extremely important. Many things go into maintaining and
increasing the goals. Not only the task of producing new
materials and updating existing materials, scheduling
seminars and instructors, but also keeping track of CEUs
earned and issued, keeping records of electrical
inspector certifications and reviewing applicants for
certification and recertification take many hours of
staff time. It is a wonder that it all gets done with
three people in that department. Of course we have to
pay them, as well as all the other staff members, a
competitive wage to maintain the high quality and level
of expertise.
Salaries are not the only expense for
the International Office. Building maintenance,
utilities, taxes, and other things that many people don’t
realize exist are also expenses that go into supporting
the staff in their duties.
Dues only account for about 40
percent of IAEI revenues. The remaining revenues are
largely derived from the sale of books and educational
materials and seminars. Developing materials and
conducting seminars has stretched the staff about to the
breaking point. The Board of Directors, after resisting
for a couple of years, came to the realization that a
dues increase was necessary to keep the association
viable to continue to strive to met the goal the
founders set for us.
The year 2004 is the year that the
2005 NEC will be published. IAEI, along with
gracious help from NFPA, will again offer our members a
free 2005 NEC for those who have remained members
for three years or longer. The number of copies is
limited, so be sure to return your order form as soon as
you receive it. I said free, but we are asking for you
to cover the shipping charges. Note that as in the past,
this offer is only extended to our faithful members that
have been a member for the past three years. I believe
that when one stops and contemplates on what IAEI does
with the resources it has that you will come to the
conclusion that $90.00 per year is a bargain price to
keep a position and voice in the electrical industry.
As I have said many times: You get
out of the organization what you put in. So stay
involved, take advantage of the many activities that are
IAEI.
This issue contains information on
the new section officers. Read about the president of
each section and when you see them congratulate them and
offer your support and willingness to work for the good
of IAEI. Sign up a new member and encourage the existing
ones to stay active. Happy reading.
IAEI CEO and Executive
Director, and Editor-in-Chief for the IAEI News,
James Carpenter was previously the chief electrical
engineer, state electrical inspector for the Engineering
Division of the Office of State Fire Marshal, North
Carolina Department of Insurance. He had been with the
department for twenty years with twenty years electrical
experience prior to coming to the state. He has been a
member of CMP-2 since 1987 and chairman for last three
cycles. He has been a member of IAEI since 1972. He is
also a member of NFPA now serving as the TCC chair and
on the UL Electrical Council
|
