Hi all

Actually there is a DPA problem with the chairman or secretary holding a list of members' details: it is not allowed, and that's why I no longer have a list. However, where the IET goes wrong in my opinion, and, according to my reading of their own course, is that the registration on the IET French Network community page should automatically register you to receive notifications, but give you the option to opt out (remove the tick if you don't want to be emailed). This is what every other group, association or company I am registered with does. Instead, the IET choose not even to inform new registrees (!?) that they must register for notifications if they want to get information from us. As a result, people don't get notified of events, and when I answer later queries, I get the response "I didn't know I had to register again".


Concerning activities, I can only point to our experience to date. In the last couple of months we tried to launch a joint event with Spain for a weekend meeting in Toulouse. Only 12 people replied to the EOI notice so the visit was not feasible and had to be cancelled. At the (excellent) IET conference on Automated Vehicles in Paris a couple of years ago only 2 French IET members (both committee) attended; the same with a smaller evening event we held on th subject with the CE group. At a joint meeting with ParisTech on submarine telecommunications a few years ago, only 1 person from the IET came (me). On the other hand, our weekend in St.Nazaire in 2015 was well attended by both IET and ICE members. The CERN weekend was also well-attended by both IET and ICE members. It seems, then, that only weekend visits generate interest, and then its pretty much the retired members who attend. Yes, France is a big country, but it hasn't stopped me travelling from Paris to Toulouse, Geneva, Mulhouse, Cadarache, Warsaw, Lisbon and others for engineering institution meetings.


In response to one of John's comments, the IET president was invited to our joint associations annual dinner, and attended. It was embarassing (to me at least) that so few IET members came.

Yes, the ECUK registration has very little relevance in France, but increasing numbers of French engineers want to work abroad, where French alumni membership has little relevance, unless you are working for a French company: CEng accreditation could be useful for such people, although Brexit may change this. 


I'm not sure Brexit will change international mobility much: the business cases usually outweigh political considerations. But my experience is that getting UK people to get out of their country is always an uphill stuggle, both with our own staff and more especially with customers, compared to other nationalities with which I have had dealings. (Big generalisation I accept).


There are positive things the IET can do in France, such as education initiatives like Lego challenge, PATW and others, but without support from the active members in France, it ain't going to happen IMHO.


Sorry if this comes across as a negative rant, but my point is: ask not what the IET can do for you, but what you can do for the IET. (with apologies)


BR

Phil

Hi all

Actually there is a DPA problem with the chairman or secretary holding a list of members' details: it is not allowed, and that's why I no longer have a list. However, where the IET goes wrong in my opinion, and, according to my reading of their own course, is that the registration on the IET French Network community page should automatically register you to receive notifications, but give you the option to opt out (remove the tick if you don't want to be emailed). This is what every other group, association or company I am registered with does. Instead, the IET choose not even to inform new registrees (!?) that they must register for notifications if they want to get information from us. As a result, people don't get notified of events, and when I answer later queries, I get the response "I didn't know I had to register again".


Concerning activities, I can only point to our experience to date. In the last couple of months we tried to launch a joint event with Spain for a weekend meeting in Toulouse. Only 12 people replied to the EOI notice so the visit was not feasible and had to be cancelled. At the (excellent) IET conference on Automated Vehicles in Paris a couple of years ago only 2 French IET members (both committee) attended; the same with a smaller evening event we held on th subject with the CE group. At a joint meeting with ParisTech on submarine telecommunications a few years ago, only 1 person from the IET came (me). On the other hand, our weekend in St.Nazaire in 2015 was well attended by both IET and ICE members. The CERN weekend was also well-attended by both IET and ICE members. It seems, then, that only weekend visits generate interest, and then its pretty much the retired members who attend. Yes, France is a big country, but it hasn't stopped me travelling from Paris to Toulouse, Geneva, Mulhouse, Cadarache, Warsaw, Lisbon and others for engineering institution meetings.


In response to one of John's comments, the IET president was invited to our joint associations annual dinner, and attended. It was embarassing (to me at least) that so few IET members came.

Yes, the ECUK registration has very little relevance in France, but increasing numbers of French engineers want to work abroad, where French alumni membership has little relevance, unless you are working for a French company: CEng accreditation could be useful for such people, although Brexit may change this. 


I'm not sure Brexit will change international mobility much: the business cases usually outweigh political considerations. But my experience is that getting UK people to get out of their country is always an uphill stuggle, both with our own staff and more especially with customers, compared to other nationalities with which I have had dealings. (Big generalisation I accept).


There are positive things the IET can do in France, such as education initiatives like Lego challenge, PATW and others, but without support from the active members in France, it ain't going to happen IMHO.


Sorry if this comes across as a negative rant, but my point is: ask not what the IET can do for you, but what you can do for the IET. (with apologies)


BR

Phil