GUEST EDITORIAL
Richard A. Matthews
IEST Past President
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I am puzzled by the current state of affairs in the cleanroom community regarding the value and future health of the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST). Some statistics for you to contemplate: In 1991, the IEST had 3,700 members, 1,600 of those members were from the contamination control community. In 2001, there are 1,850 members, with 925 of those members from the contamination control community.
In this same 10-year time period, the number of cleanrooms and cleanroom-related personnel in this country has experienced an average growth rate of 25 percent per year. Simultaneously, cleanrooms have expanded into a wide variety of industries and applications.
In the past 10 years, the IEST has written, updated and published more than 30 Contamination Control Recommended Practices of practical value to the cleanroom community, with many more in preparation. The IEST is also responsible for spearheading the 37-nation effort that is creating the 10 brand new ISO International Cleanroom Standards.
On top of that, the IEST sponsors an annual Technical Meeting, regional education seminars and joint sponsorship with other organizations for special technical seminars.
So, herein lies the mystery:
- Because only 50 percent of its 1,850 membership comes from the cleanroom community (925 people) and the cleanroom community is growing significantly, and because the current circulation of CleanRooms is more than 35,000, why is only 3 percent of that circulation members of the IEST?
- IEST chapters are going into dormancy due to lack of interest and attendance at local chapter meetings. This is not just an IEST phenomenonother technical organizations are experiencing similar phenomena. The changing nature of business, individual responsibilities and the generational differences on the emphasis of what to do with spare time are all factors.
- Cleanroom societies in other countries are booming. I have personally witnessed this in Europe and Asia. These people want to learn all they can.
- The IEST is accused of being an “old boys club.” I have news for you. Most of the “old boys” are long gone. There is plenty of room for a “youth group revolution.”
The IEST is on the brink of resurgence. But resurgence requires growth from within. The elements of growth are available to be utilized. Restructuring and new energies are required to achieve this.
How can you help solve the mystery of the future of the IEST?
Do something pro-active now. Join as an individual member. Encourage your employer to become a corporate (Sustaining) sponsor. Get involved. More change can be accomplished from inside an organization than from outside it. So take charge. Give direction.
I'm one of the “old boys” and I'm anxious for one of you “youth group” people to push me out.
Editor's Note: Richard Matthews, one of the “old boys,” can be contacted at [email protected].