The more members they represent, the more clout they have. And as for money, well, we're talking about Washington. But whatever the issue, it takes both organization and money to be heard. The IEEE's monetary concerns extend to issues as far-reaching as revising its standards activities, examining its paid staff and funding the various regional groups. Somehow, the winning candidate has to make the regions and many of the other groups realize that they can't set their own private agendas and then send the bill to IEEE headquarters.
Fiscal responsibility works both ways.
The IEEE is an important organization for promoting the cause of individual engineers, and it's done a lot for them. Members must take an active role in the election. And it certainly would be wise for non-members to sign up and give something back to their profession. All rights reserved.