Whither ISA?

AutomationWorld (11/10, Pinto) - Two years after it first moved to change its name to International Society of Automation, total membership has continued to stagnate and no major new expansions have been accomplished anywhere in the world. The society is reducing staff by about 30 percent. Many once-key positions have been eliminated.

With a young, experienced, capable and motivated executive director, the current ISA volunteer leadership has taken several steps to initiate several good changes. But, in my view, more radical changes are needed. Here are my suggestions:

1. The executive committee must be chartered to operate with functions similar to directors of a corporate board, setting policy and direction, but not making management decisions.
2. Standards development is the “sweet spot”; it must be expanded internationally. Other key areas include automation education, promoting the automation profession, global publishing of automation books and magazines, and expanding Internet media.
3. ISA should be “international,” to match its name. It should invest in international involvement.