CONSIDERING IET MEMBERSHIP OR YOU ARE ALREADY A MEMBER

Being a member, I am concerned with member benefits as is.

Taking, for example, the recent reduction in membership discount on IET BS 7671 & related publications from 35% to 25%.  An erosion of benefit is it not?

Looking at this one point for a moment, if anyone is unhappy about this as a member or fellow, then I would encourage you to write to the IET membership department enquiring as to the change in status of your membership benefits, which I see personally as a reduction in benefit.

As far as benefits go, discounts on books and IET courses, even to the extent of some being free to members would be something I would applaud.

Some institutions have links with Professional Indemnity Insurers and other tangible arrangements which can get members discounts.

The Volvo car scheme is nice, but the discounts are not fantastic, and how many members know about this.

Membership benefits are not widely publicised.

This forum is ok, the old "Fuse Talk" software was easier to use, I feel, outdated or not, this was the platform the old Wiring Regulations Forum ran on for many years, back as long as I have been a forum member here.

The forum itself, whilst funded by the IET, isn't specifically a benefit of membership, as anyone can join.

There are other areas such as regional and specialist groups that may be member-only, though I am unsure because the platform is so difficult to navigate.

Again, the webinars John mentions are great, and funded by the IET, but delivered by volunteers, and open to all comers, so not really a membership benefit.

Some chartered institutions with a charitable remit, manage to retain some events, and information which are provided to members only, and are thus a benefit of membership, and they do this without breaching their charitable requirements.

Access to information and knowledge would be helpful British Standards E-Books both by the IET and others, yes there are some, but how many members know how to access them, so publicity to the members to illustrate and remind them of the benefits would help.

I attended the volunteer conference recently where a statement was made that the IET have circa 4k employees globally, and circa 40k volunteers.

The IET cannot exist without its volunteers, aside from the direct benefits of volunteering, primarily personal, what else do volunteers get?....

I would encourage anyone unhappy with membership and the benefits thereof to write to the membership department explaining what you are unhappy with, how else will the staff get to know about this?

If you have things you would like to see as membership benefits, please post them here for John.

Unknown said:

I attended the volunteer conference recently where a statement was made that the IET have circa 4k employees globally, and circa 40k volunteers.

Hi Paul, not sure where these figures come from but they're certainly not correct! 

There are around 630 staff globally with the vast majority based at our newly named Futures Place office (formerly Michael Faraday House) in Stevenage in the UK. Other smaller staff teams are located in our offices in India, Hong Kong, the USA and China as well as elsewhere in the UK at our venues in London and Birmingham. 

IET Volunteer numbers are currently around the 4,800 mark and not 40,000 although I'm sure we'd love to have an extra 35,000 volunteers. 

Thank you Lisa, I obviously misheard the commentary during the event.

I don't think it is available to re-listen for me to check what was said against what I thought I heard?

I'm not sure it's available for catch up Paul but I've asked my colleagues in the Volunteer Support Unit. They organised the conference so they'll advise. 

 my colleagues have confirmed that  you can sign up to watch again !  

So has Michael Faraday been removed then? Is the post code still SG1 2AY?

Z.

So has Michael Faraday been removed then? Is the post code still SG1 2AY?

Z.

Although the building is physically in the same place Zoomie, we've also used the opportunity to update our address especially for visitors using the postcode in their SatNav or Google maps in order to find directions. The postcode of SG1 2AY will take you to the local sorting  depot for the Royal Mail and not to our physical location.  

Our new address is:

The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Futures Place
Kings Way
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 2UA
UK

As to the whereabouts of Mr Faraday, I'm not 100% sure, but if you're missing him, you can always pay a visit to Savoy Place and see him standing in the garden to the right of the building where he gets a really good view of the Thames. I'm not sure if he can see Joseph Bazalgette from there but he's very close by too.  

He was buried in Highgate cemetry,  in 1867and has another statue at the

Royal Institution of Great Britain in Albemarle Street, done in 1877

As yet no-one is pulling down his statues for offending any new social norms. I suspect like most Victorians he would have held some views that would be thought contentious today, but luckily he is not remembered for that.

Mike.

May not be pulling down his statues, but the IET has renamed the Stevenage office, it's no longer Michael Faraday house.

So the address displayed in the latest B.S. 7671 is out of date and uses the postal code (SG1 2AY) of the local Royal Mail sorting office. Perhaps that is why my membership renewal cheque hasn't arrived. No redirection arranged by the I.E.T.  then for new mail deliveries?

Z.

It’s complicated Zoomie but the SG1 2AY postcode is for the PO Box number used by the IET and not the physical location of the building. As before the building has not moved (although that would be quite a feat if it did!) 

Why use a Post Office box when the I.E.T, building is so close? My mail is not delivered to my neighbours.

Z.

Something to do with the needs of the Finance Dept Zoom. I'm not party to the exact reason why but as it's been in existence for many many years (long before my time) I would assume something around posting of cheques to a secure address? I know that it is being discontinued now though as there is no longer a need for it again I guess as a result of the increased adoption of online payments etc. 

 "I suspect like most Victorians he would have held some views that would be thought contentious today, but luckily he is not remembered for that" Indeed. It`s within living memory we witnessed the events as portrayed in the film "made in Dagenham" those nasty militant union woman challenged the long held view that women should be paid less solely for being women. That view was held not just by greedy bosses but by workers (including union members) and the public too. Times change, sometimes for the better