I was asked recently at a Central Region meeting, "Why did you join OSPE?" I was asked to join OSPE right after receiving my professional engineer's license. I really did not know anything about this organization since I had not heard of it prior to being asked to join. I just joined thinking that is what you do after you receive your license. I thought OSPE was like the Bar Association or the AMA, an organization that you joined when you became a professional, not knowing what to expect.

Shortly after joining, the state director’s position opened up when the person in that position was elected regional vice president. I volunteered to fill his remaining term as state director. Each meeting that I attended I learned more about the organization and met people from all types of industries across all parts of the state. The networking has been one of the benefits that will continue to be a very useful tool in the future.

Joining OSPE is one of the best investments that a person can do for themselves. Continuing professional development credits offered through the various conferences held during any year expand your engineering knowledge. The wide range of choices in topics that are discussed at the state and the chapter levels provide you with plenty of opportunities to find something suitable in your area of interest.

Networking with other engineers from all the disciplines of engineering around the state is an asset in your career. The engineers that you meet can be helpful in career moves, solving problems, business ventures, joint ventures on projects, obtaining new clients, and just meeting people with a common interest.

By joining OSPE you have an opportunity to be involved with the legislative process by monitoring legislation that has an impact on engineering. An example of this is the landscape architects bill that tried to infringe upon the practice of engineering. Members of OSPE had to testify at committee hearings to persuade the lawmakers to not allow the landscape architects to do engineering work. Another example is the current continuing professional development law that went into effect this past January. OSPE worked with state representatives and senators to make sure this law would be workable to engineering.

The amount of money that you invest in yourself by joining the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers is very small compared to all of the benefits that you will receive by being a member. In joining OSPE, there will not be an object you can put your hands on, but there are real opportunities for you to grow as an individual and as an engineer through the interaction with other people with a common interest.

So why did I join OSPE? I joined for all of the above and more and because it is the right thing to do.