they would be on time in their reports… I trained them, and assisted them… and they never were on time either.
Meanwhile, we did OK but were existing hand-to-mouth. It was tough. I got on HQ to give us the US5k that they had in trust… but it seemed as though maybe whoever said that, spoke too soon! We got part of it. But then, as I rose to vice-chair and then to chair of Manitoba Section, I kept on them, and eventually, they remitted the full US5k – which, in Canadian terms, was a whole lot more!
Somehow during that, I became the “grand old man” of Manitoba Section Governing Board operation. After I’d been through Treasurer, twice through Chair, and been on the board as Member at Large for several years, I just started putting myself down with the position of “General Annoyance”. Which others just chuckled at, possibly because it was true.
I was asked once why I worked so long with SAE Manitoba Section. Well, it’s because the other SAE members involved here in Manitoba were so engaging, the topics so interesting… and, darn it, it was so much fun!
Further, SAE involvement got me better at presenting, public speaking, and running meetings (I actually read Robert’s Rules cover to cover, at one point). And, of course, per above, I learned how to balance assets & liabilities versus profit & loss statements, which has been important to me since.
When I moved to Arizona, I quickly became chair there, and had a similar experience – good people, interesting topics.
For anyone thinking of getting involved in IEEE or SAE or whatever – you really should!