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FILE NAME: Marley (MAR) DATE: 1990 Aug DOC#: MAR021 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Published Article from Ashrae Journal ASHRAE JOURNAL ThePresidentialAddress Professional development through participation The teoxfttohfetAhemienraicuagnurSaol caidedtyreossf Hdeelaivtienrge,dRaetftrhigeeArantninugaal Mndeeting Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc., in St. Louis, Missouri ASH R A E members and friends, I am deeply honored to stand before you tonight. A SH R A E is a unique organization. It is unique because of its level of mem bership participation, its tradition, and its relevance to today's world. Together, these characteristics per mit A SH RAE to make untold contributions to our industry and to the well-being of mankind. Who are ASH RAE members? We are educators, consult ing engineers, contractors, building operators, service techni cians, code officials, researchers, equipment design engineers and sales engineers, among others. We belong to A SH R A E to enhance our technical skills, thus developing professionally. A s members, we have the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences with individuals representing an entire crosssection of our industry. When I first became an ASHRAE member, I was impressed with the quality and dedication of the membership. I am even more impressed today. Every time I have been on a committee, there has been someone who has taught me something new. The more I participate, the more I learn, proving the axiom that you learn more by doing and trying than by observing. The opportunity to participate in our industry, and there fore the opportunity to learn, is A SH R A E's greatest strength. It is the focus of this year's presidential theme: Professional Development Through Participation Gerald Wilson, dean of engineering at MIT, says that too often engineering takes place in isolation. He calls it the "throw it over the wall syndrome." Design engineers working indepen dently from m anufacturing engineers. M anufacturing engi neers working independently from sales engineers. W ilson says, "Engineers were not meant to be merely analyzers working in isolation. They were meant to be syn thesizers, organizers, integrators, and above all, builders." Our industry achieves integration through A SH R A E. Because of ASH RAE, no one in our industry needs to work in isolation. And through A SH R A E', each one of us can reach his or her full potential. The second characteristic that makes us unique is our tra dition. This tradition is that of technological leadership and is built upon A SH R A E's main objective: advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigera tion for the benefit of the general public. 12 Manufacturers and trade associations in our Industry rely upon A SH R A E research and standards. Manufacturers and associations do this because first, A SH R A E is a Society of individuals, removed from commercial bias. This in turn creates technical credibility. Second, A SH RA E is an interdisciplinary organization. Through A SH R A E, m anufacturers and trade associations have a mechanism to invite constructive debate and later to achieve industry-wide consensus. Third, as a nearly ASHRA EPresident Damon Gowan MARDEP000406 ASHRAE JOURNAL August 1990