AQP “Quest
for Quality” Chapter Keeps on Going and Going and
…
NFC keeps hearing good stories about the
staying power of some distinguished AQP chapters. The
Quest for Quality Chapter kept coming up, so we asked
them to share with us what keeps them going and going and
going.
“We Will Survive” might be a fitting theme
song for the Richland, WA, chapter, as we continue to
maintain a steady membership base and hold monthly dinner
meetings, and have added a number of other special member
benefits and programs since first starting in 1990.
A scholarship program for high school seniors sponsored
by AQP’s Quest for Quality chapter and the local
section of ASQ has been one of the activities that keeps
us inspired and working together. This year, as in the
past two years, our chapter is teaming with the local
section of ASQ to offer a scholarship to a graduating
senior who will be entering college and pursuing a field
of study related to quality and participation (which can
apply to just about any major). We feel this is a great
way to help our local community. Our June meeting is
always well attended, as it is a real treat to hear the
scholarship recipient share his or her essay.
We were initially chartered by a handful of professionals
working at the Hanford nuclear reservation in Richland.
Our chapter grew to boast local and national members
totaling more than 200 in the early 1990s. At that time,
the Hanford work force was growing, and most companies
paid for or reimbursed employees for professional
memberships. A typical chapter meeting usually drew
between 50 and 80 attendees, and the chapter also
participated in a number of community events as
well.
As downsizing and budget cuts began to hit eastern
Washington, the chapter watched as memberships dropped
off proportionally. A lot of people just were not willing
to pay $75 for a national membership or $15 for local
membership out of their own pockets (these were the
mid-1990s rates).
However, many of our original charter members and a few
newcomers demonstrated their commitment to quality and
passion for participation and kept the chapter going. It
has not always been easy, but it has definitely been
worth the effort. Our chapter holds annual elections for
the positions of president, vice president, treasurer,
secretary, and two directors. There are also seven
chapter teams, each championed by a team lead. The
elected officers and team leads together form what is
known as the chapter leadership team, which meets monthly
to discuss issues, plan programs, and address special
needs.
Over the years, new approaches and ideas have been needed
to publicize and encourage attendance at local chapter
events. Fortunately, there are a number of excellent
speakers in the area, which has helped us to retain many
members and to draw in potential new recruits to our
monthly dinner meetings. Targeted mailings also
periodically publicize topics of particular interest to
specific types of companies/industries (e.g., retail,
banking, health care, manufacturing).
One of the special benefits of local chapter membership
is access to the Resource Library. The library, which is
maintained at the workplace of one of our team leads, is
the result of several years of analysis, review, and
purchasing of books and audio- and videotapes. There are
currently more than 150 items in the library, including a
number of books and tapes from past AQP Spring
Conferences. (By the way, we also gladly accept
donations, so if any published authors are reading this
article….)
Another initiative that has helped keep our chapter
solvent through the years is the creation and
implementation of a Sponsor Program. The chapter
currently has seven Sponsor companies—local
companies that are strong supporters of the tenets of AQP
(leadership, teamwork, associate involvement in goal
setting and decision making, etc.) Sponsors pay an annual
fee based on the number of employees. In return, all
company employees receive the member discounts on chapter
activities and access to the chapter resource library.
Sponsors also receive a plaque to post in their place of
business.
We introduced our chapter Web site in 1999 (check it out
at http://www.3-cities.com/~gates/AQPQuest.htm).
This provides a convenient way for members—and
potential members—to learn more about AQP, our
chapter, and upcoming programs and special events. Our
chapter resource library inventory is listed, as well as
links to other quality-related
events/seminars/conferences and to other Web sites.
At this time our chapter has a total of about 40 national
and local members. Our dinner meetings average 25
attendees. Our leadership team now meets monthly with the
local ASQ section leaders, and we plan to combine our
programs in the coming year, with each organization
planning the speaker/program for every other month. We
are also teaming with the local National Management
Association to sponsor some seminars on leadership this
year.
Our numbers may seem low when compared to our heyday in
the early 1990s, but we continue to pride ourselves on
our commitment to quality programs and quality
people (our members and guests)!
Chapter networking a key
to “staying alive:” Dale Bartholomew notes
that, “We hear people say that they not only come
back for our interesting presentations but also for
valuable networking before and during the dinners.”
In the picture above are: (left to right) Brian Johnson
of Motoring Services, a first-time visitor from SCM
Consulting (a local engineering firm), Chapter President
David Keeser of PNNL (Battelle), Chapter Vice President
Ofelia Bredt of PNNL, and Dale Bartholomew of Leadership
Advantage.
The 2001 recipient of the combined AQP/ASQ scholarship
was Sana Zuberi.
Sana Zuberi graduated from Richland High School and
enrolled in Washington State University in the fall, with
the goal of pursuing a career as a pharmacist.
All scholarship applications were reviewed and rated
based on established criteria including scholastics,
leadership/professional roles and responsibilities, and a
written essay in response to this question:
How can quality processes, tools, and techniques be
used in the educational system to accomplish the
following:
- Improve the educational environment for all
students and teachers
- Produce students who are well educated and
prepared to either continue their higher education or
enter the work force.
March 2002 News for a Change
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