ILMA Compoundings August 2016 - 10

BOARD BRIEF

Engage with ILMA
Lon Fanning

W

hen we think
of engaging
with ILMA, we
tend to think about joining a
committee or making the annual
trip to Washington, D.C., but one of
the most rewarding and beneficial
ways to engage with ILMA is to
connect with fellow members.
Many of us have been in this industry for a long
time. We have a core group of friends and peers,
and we tend to group together with those we know,
but I'd like to challenge every ILMA
member to engage with those who
are new to the organization.
We always benefit from building
relationships. Not only can we help
others, they can help us. Networking is one of the primary
ways we discover new contacts and increase our knowledge.
We are all good at different things and there is always value
in getting fresh ideas. One of the best ways to get a fresh
perspective is to connect with new members and first-time
attendees at one of our major industry events. Even the most
experienced ILMA member should plan to attend the Annual
Meeting welcome reception to connect and see the industry
in a new light. (This year's Annual Meeting welcome reception
is on Saturday, October 15, 6:00 pm.)
Reaching out to new members will boost their comfort level
and increase their overall involvement in ILMA, which benefits
all of us. Oftentimes, those new to ILMA and ILMA meetings
are unsure of where to go and what to do when attending a
meeting for the first time. Let's make it a goal to show them
the ropes and be more inclusive.
For the newer members, a great way to connect with others in
the industry is to attend the committee meetings. Members
meet in smaller groups, and you have an opportunity to
talk and connect before the meeting starts. The SHERA

and Metalworking Fluids committee meetings are both well
attended and two of the best places to start.
Networking opportunities are one of the most common
reasons people attend a conference or convention, but we
don't always take advantage of the opportunities to get to
know those around us. One of the biggest mistakes we can
make during a conference is sticking with the people we
already know and closing off our conversations. If we only
stick together, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to grow
our network and, as a result, our knowledge.
Break times, lunch sessions and even down time in the
evenings are potential networking opportunities if we take
advantage of them. Go to each meeting with three or four
questions in mind that can get others talking about themselves
so you can uncover what you have in common.
We can all learn from each other, and today's technology
gives us more ways to connect than ever before. Just check
out the ILMA meetings app! And we don't necessarily have to
wait for face-to-face meetings anymore. ILMA's responsive
website features a number of forums where we can share

Vol. 66 No. 8 * 10 * August 2016 Compoundings
ILMA Compoundings August 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ILMA Compoundings August 2016
