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The ASA Regional Chapters Program
The Regional Chapters Program certainly embraces the intent of our Society. “The Acoustical Society of America was founded...to increase and diffuse the knowledge of acoustics and promote its practical applications. Any per- son...interested in acoustics is eligible for membership.” There are currently 20 active chapters involved in promoting acoustics through outreach and involvement with the public and the number is growing. This article will briefly review the Regional Chapters Program and present new develop- ments in the program within the last few years.
Each chapter is formed by a group of motivated people and each has its own unique program. The ASA does not assign national ASA members to chapters. Instead, local groups of ASA members and non-members petition the ASA to form a chapter. Chapter activities are tailored to the inter- ests of its members and may include group tours of facilities, talks at schools, dinner meetings with invited speakers, sci- ence fairs, networking, scientific demonstrations, mini-con- ferences, awards, student competitions, current events dis- cussions, presentation practice, and published article reviews. You name an activity and chances are a regional chapter somewhere has done it! Also of benefit are the leadership skills that can be obtained and the priceless friendships made along the way.
The Committee on Regional Chapters (CRC) promotes the formation and growth of regional chapters and provides liaison among the chapters and between the chapters and the Society’s office. This committee is somewhat different than other committees of the ASA in that each chapter elects its own representative. Other members of the committee include the Society’s treasurer, the chair of the Education Committee and a newly requested position of Student Council Liaison. Another new position is that of Co-Chair, a real indication of the level of activity in the Regional Chapters Program in recent years!
In the mid-90s the Society improved the monetary sup- port structure of the chapters. Chapters no longer have to col- lect dues (a time-intensive task) and therefore the volunteers are able to spend that time on more productive endeavors. The new structure encourages chapters to build their pro- grams, increase attendance, advertise more, and host events which increase awareness of the ASA.
The mid-90s also saw the incorporation of internation- al chapters into our Society. We now have two very active international chapters: the Madras-India Chapter and the
Elizabeth McLaughlin and Juan Arvelo
Mexico City Chapter. The entirety of the chapters now reflects more of the cultural diversity of the Society and the CRC is richer for the added perspectives of the internation- al chapter members.
Chapters are also reviving themselves. Five formerly dormant chapters have recently been holding meetings again. Reviving a chapter can be as simple as sending a couple of broadcast e-mails to local ASA members to jump-start meet- ing attendance and renew interest or one can turn to the use of free modern web technology to access member prefer- ences via a survey. Just a handful of acousticians can make a real impact.
Larry and Julia Royster, long time champions of the Chapters Program, have started and are generously support- ing the Chapter-run Royster Student Poster Competition through a grant to the ASA. The competition is held once a year; the yearly scholarship award totals $5000 and the posters should be on any hearing conservation or noise con- trol topic. Scholarship recipients must enroll as full-time graduate students in a program involving acoustics. The CRC has administered this competition for three years.
The ASA approved its first Student Chapter, the University of Nebraska Student Chapter, at the 75th Anniversary Meeting of the ASA in New York City. At the ASA meeting in Vancouver the Brigham Young University Student Chapter was approved. The students are the Society’s future. What a wonderful opportunity for them to be more connected to the ASA and to take advantage of what the ASA has to offer young acousticians.
The CRC website has been updated and expanded. Each chapter now has the ability to update its content quickly and a Chapter Resources Page has been created. The resource area contains useful items such as the newly revised Chapter Start-up Kit, information on the Royster Student Poster Competition, and recently simplified Financial Reporting forms. From the ASA home page, just click on the Chapters button to find the website.
Involvement in a chapter is a great way to give back to the ASA, to have fun, to learn and promote acoustics, to socialize, to network and to involve new persons in our excit- ing field! Please contact the authors for more information.
Elizabeth McLaughlin and Juan Arvelo are co-chairs of the ASA Committee on Regional Chapters.
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