Even though many ISA sections in North America are in decline and membership has dropped steeply from the highs of the 1990s, some sections still are functioning well, and doing a great job at ISA's core mission: provide benefits to members they can't get anywhere else.
Will-DuPage Section, centered around Joliet, Ill., is one of those thriving sections. Vendors have to be turned away from the table top show; huge numbers turn out for the obligatory golf outing, and the section is dominated by END USERS, not vendors.
The crowning touch to the member benefits for Will-DuPage members is the incredibly worthwhile meeting series Will-DuPage puts on every year. In the spirit of full disclosure, I have served as assistant program chair for the past six years or so, but the entire board of directors puts the schedule together.
The 2011-2012 meeting schedule is so cool, I just had to share with you all. If you are from Will-DuPage, you can gloat. If you are from another ISA section that doesn't do as cool meetings, well, you can benchmark what Will-DuPage is doing.
The future of ISA depends on providing unique member benefits, and that is often best done locally.
September 2011 - Tour of a control valve repair facility
October 2011 - Paul Gruhn, ISA Fellow, will present a 3 hour short course on safety systems
November 2011 - New standards for Arc flash suppression
January 2012 - A representative from API will discuss API 2350 Tank Overflow Regulations
February 2012 - Tabletop show at Harrah's in Joliet. (If you're a vendor, book a table now, or risk being turned away)
March 2012 - Greg McMillan on humor in the control room
April 2012 -- Guided tour of Davis Instruments metrology and calibration facility
May 2012 -- Joel Langill from SCADAhacker will discuss Son of Stuxnet and industrial control security
Y'all come now! Hear?
