During visits with professional sections and student chapters, I often get asked what other sections and chapters are doing that engage their members and help them get the most out of their SPE membership. This can vary greatly depending on geographical location and the size of a given membership base, but I have seen some interesting and quite effective approaches. With that in mind, I thought I would share some of them in this column. Hopefully, doing so, it will provide some “food for thought” for others who might want to adopt or modify them for their own use.
The more than 200 geographic sections, along with the 25 technical sections and over 400 student chapters, that SPE currently offers its membership form the backbone of our Society. The geographic sections vary in size from the minimum number of members necessary to those with thousands of members, and they are all equally important!
However, the needs of these sections can vary based on location and the number of members. Please keep this in mind as you read the following suggestions—they won’t all apply equally. One of the great things about SPE is its diversity. Shop for ideas that will work for your section’s situation or that you may want to try, knowing that you aren’t expected to incorporate all, or even any, of these concepts.
Reaching Members
While SPE provides SPE Connect as a communication channel, most sections also use other avenues. LinkedIn is by far the most common; however, many groups also use platforms such as Instagram, X (Twitter), or chats via WhatsApp. While it can be a bit more time-consuming to post on multiple platforms, not everyone uses the same ones (it would be nice if they did, but that’s generally not the case), and multiple platforms will reach more people on their preferred channels. In other words, we can’t always expect people to come to us; sometimes, we need to go to them.
Also, if your section or chapter has a website, please keep it as updated as possible, or if that’s not possible, consider taking it down and using social media channels instead. We all know there’s nothing more frustrating than looking up when the next event is and finding an “upcoming” event scheduled for 15 June 2024. And don’t underestimate the power of QR codes, which are easy to generate. Bottom line—keep things easily accessible and as timely as possible!
Meeting Times and Locations
Humans are creatures of habit, and many sections have long-standing days and time frames for hosting meetings. This is understandable, as it makes planning, reserving locations, etc., much easier and members know when to expect a meeting.
But what about those members who can’t make that time or day? Maybe they work a day shift and are too far away to drive to the meeting location. Or, if it’s a standing evening meeting, they may be a parent with young children who can’t easily attend or would need to incur the cost of hiring a babysitter.
I have spoken with many section officers who say they’ve had excellent experiences varying meeting times and occasionally location. Obviously, there isn’t a time and place that works for everyone, but adjusting them from time to time creates an opportunity to reach members who might otherwise never be able to attend.
Family Events
While the majority of SPE events are obviously technically oriented, consider having some section events where family members might be able to participate. This can build community among members and provide more insight into why their partner, mom, or dad belongs to SPE, what it is, and why it’s important. Maybe this is a picnic, laser tag competition, or something people enjoy in your particular country or region. Whatever it is, showing your family a glimpse behind the curtain of SPE might be beneficial in a variety of ways.
Multiple-Year Sponsorships
Most sections rely on local industry support to help offset costs, raise funds for scholarships, or otherwise support the section’s mission and vision. Historically, this fundraising has been done annually; however, more sections are seeking multiyear sponsorships. This route is beneficial in a couple of ways. First, it makes budgeting and planning for section events much easier than constantly worrying about year-to-year uncertainty. It can also provide financial stability for incoming officers if leadership turns over each year. Finally, on the opposite side of the coin, many corporate sponsors prefer multiyear commitments, as they reduce the number of invoices and approvals required.
Structured Membership Engagement
The SPE Young Professionals Committee (YPC) has been holding a series of town hall meetings regarding best practices to engage young professionals in SPE. These town halls are being held in different time zones and different regions. As of 1 July, two town halls have occurred, with five more scheduled. In general, I encourage all section and chapter officers to check out these town halls for insights—all are recorded and available on SPE Energy Stream—and they provide value not just for YPs, but for all members.
I wanted to showcase something that YPC member Duaa Ibrahim brought up during the first town hall edition. Using the diagram shown in Fig. 1, she pointed out that sustained engagement in SPE builds on intentionally placing people in roles, defining those roles and the expectations, building focused teams, and making sure all team members understand their roles. All of this helps to build ownership and trust, keeping people engaged and motivated when they feel both. If people feel like outsiders, they are less likely to continue their membership.
Consider how your section or chapter approaches these factors and engages new members. Think about ways to more fully engage your membership; it can be a win-win for all.
The Importance of Recognition
Don’t underestimate the importance of recognition. While not all people actively seek the spotlight, most will appreciate their hard work or efforts being recognized. This can be as simple as an acknowledgement at a section meeting or in a social media post for something they accomplished or contributed, or it can rise to the level of nominating them for a regional or international award.
SPE focuses on four main pillars for its members, including: 1) access to technical resources; 2) networking opportunities; 3) professional development; and 4) recognition and awards. The fourth one might not always be what most people think of when they think of SPE, but recognition is important. When you see a member post online about winning a regional award or read in JPT that someone received an international award, keep in mind that someone had to nominate them. Making sure your members, including the unsung heroes, get some recognition is a great way to build community!
“Institutional Knowledge” Documentation
Perhaps more important for student chapters than sections, but still an extremely good practice, is documenting your chapter’s practices and the knowledge of its officers and members before they leave. I continue to be amazed and humbled by the energy, enthusiasm, and sheer passion of our student chapters worldwide. To support continued engagement, make sure that all the great things you are doing, or planning, is documented so future student members don’t have to start from scratch. This helps engage and retain members by providing structure to the processes they are thinking about joining or participating in.
Communication With Your Regional and Technical Directors
As mentioned above, I am sharing only a few ideas and observations I’ve seen recently. I also encourage you to keep in touch with your respective regional and technical directors, who frequently share updates and best practices through blogs and other channels. Please share them as well so they can help spread the word.
On 1 July, I’ll set up a discussion on SPE Connect on the President’s Page where members can share best practices directly. Keep an eye out for it, join the discussion, and share your knowledge. It’s okay to brag a little—it can be valuable for others to see.
Until next month.
You can contact the SPE President at President@spe.org.
