The ASME Leadership Path

Categories of ASME leaders

1. Student Section Leaders
2. District, Division, Section and Affinity Members, including committee chairs 
3. Section/Division/District Leaders
4. Vice Presidents and Nominating Committee
5. Senior Vice Presidents, Governors and President

There are also many ASME members who are active, locally and nationally, and aspire to lead and participate in professional and leadership development activities.  VOLT provides resources to ensure their leadership development needs are met.  

Curriculum
The curriculum corresponding to the ASME leadership path is the skills, knowledge and abilities that a volunteer needs at each level of leadership within ASME.  This curriculum evolves as ASME does.  The ASME Leadership Path Curriculum topics are summarized in the attached table.

For all training, reference and preparatory information is provided electronically. Face-to-face events, e.g. the Leadership Training Conference, focus on topics that require personal interaction, such as conflict resolution, communication skills, sharing of best practices, team building, and strategic planning.    Professional Development Hour (PDH) certificates are issued for live training events as appropriate. 

Funding
While web-based training materials are available for all ASME volunteers’ use, funding and capacity constraints limit the number who can attend face-to-face training events.  Senior volunteer leaders within each Sector select funded delegates to attend these events.  Others are welcome to attend events provided they cover their own costs.  The basic principles governing selection of funded individuals are:

• Demonstration of volunteer commitment, as evidenced by involvement in ASME activities;
• Potential for contribution to their current unit or at higher levels (e.g. District, Sector), as evidenced by the roles and experiences they have had within ASME units and other accomplishments; and 
• Completion of web-based self study. 
• Other things being equal, incoming unit chairs or leaders who have not already attended a face-to-face training event receive higher consideration for funding.

Metrics for Measurement of Success

• Improvements in the knowledge and skill levels reported by participants on pre- and post-event surveys; and 
• Evidence that the skill(s) learned in training was used.

Volunteering at ASME
VOLT maintains the Volunteer Opportunities Bulletin Board (VOBB), linking volunteers with opportunities  for involvement in all areas of ASME, from pre-college outreach and educational activities to standards development.

The VOLT Academy is a work in progress, and resources are being continually updated - check back often to look for what you need, and please e-mail us if you would like us to add a resource or have suggestions for how we can improve our web site.