LETTERS TO THE EDITOR What It Means to Be an AWS Member Thirty-three years ago, I joined the American Welding Society (AWS). The involvement came easy, and the journey has been a good one. The friendships formed have also been numerous and long lasting. We have all had numerous mentors who encouraged our involvement and built interest in the society. Several of mine are gone now, such as Butch Sosnin, Shelton Ritter, O. J. Templet, Gervis Sheets, John Tabony, Ron VanArsdale, Rocky Albritten, and most recently Matt Lucas. Many of my mentors are still among us, and there are just too many of them to address here. Why do I mention these influential people? It is simple. Several of these I knew and respected before I became an AWS member. They were the ones who inspired me to join the Society. To paraphrase John Bruskotter and O. J. Templet, once you join and get involved, the real AWS takes over. American Welding Society membership offers an opportunity to make new acquaintances and create lifelong friendships. The comradery we develop allows us to work together and complete tasks at the local level, as well as on the regional, national, and international levels. Very often, this challenges us to work together with our business competitors to accomplish a common goal for the welding community and society. In the recent past, I have heard members of the AWS board of directors and outgoing presidents giving their farewell addresses eloquently expressing how much they enjoyed serving the Society and its members. This organization is made up of not just America’s greatest skilled craftsmen, but also others interested in expanding their technical knowledge of welding. In my thirty-three years, I have met many members employed in various careers: welders, fitters, supervisors, high school and technical college instructors, consultants, engineers, sales persons, research scientists, and a huge number of inspectors. These represent just the tip of what makes up the Society. The AWS Section meetings and other activities have allowed rival companies to cross over the normal competitive boundaries and enter into a cooperative assistance type dialog. Meetings are where questions can be answered in a friendly and relaxed manner. They also offer an opportunity for employers and prospective employees to become acquainted in a noncommercial setting. Most of us did not come looking for mentors or role models. Nevertheless, we found many along the way. Most of these persons touched our lives in a very positive way, and we saw them giving back in a selfless manner. In fact, they gave back tenfold for what they got out of it. How can they keep volunteering in such a generous way? After all, isn’t AWS just in it for the money? No, what these volunteer members give back is nonmonetary dedication that allows them to work tirelessly without any need for acclaim. What they are working for is the return that AWS gives in the form of our scholarship programs and other endeavors. Most often, their focus is on benefiting the student member or the member trying to better him or herself. In summary, AWS is nothing more or less than its members and their ideals. The volunteer work starts at the Section level, and then finds its way into committees, the AWS board, and elected offices. Yes, we have a paid staff, but over my thirty-three years of membership, I have seen staff members give of their own personal time to assist our Section, other Sections, and individual members. As with the board, staff individually supports funding of the AWS Foundation and its scholarship efforts. When you need help, they are simply the best. And I know that there are times when they do not say what we want to hear, but after all of these years getting to know this group, you realize that they are just dedicated to our Society and want to get it right. Who else beside AWS can say it has 69,000-plus members, 22 U.S. Districts, 146 U.S. Sections, 127 Student Chapters, members in 126 countries around the world, and still growing strong? That’s because we make it all about our members and the services provided. George Fairbanks District 9 Director General Manager Fairbanks Inspection & Testing, LLC St. James, La. For info, go to www.aws.org/ad-index 22 FEBRUARY 2014
Welding Journal | February 2014
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