By Jack Eloranta, ISEE President, and James Daley, Incoming ISEE President

We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us. (Winston Churchill)

New buildings are fun. Many recall the childhood memories of the magical feeling of moving into a new house. In high school, our class was the first to attend all four years in a new building. The lockers, gym floor and wide hallways were something to behold. We held our 50th class reunion in September, and the memory is still vivid.

In a few short weeks, the ISEE staff will move into new headquarters. While they are not brand new – the interior makeover certainly is. The layout with open space for interaction will, as Churchill opined, facilitate teamwork and interaction.

The selling, buying and remodeling has consumed a large share of your Board’s time in the past year. However, brick and mortar changes are not the only building projects going on in ISEE. Human assets, being far more valuable than physical ones, are the focus of the Society. Staff team building has been taking place. Our Society is only as effective as our people. Just as in the case of physical buildings, teams need to be structured in accordance with their intended purpose; in this case, delivering value to our members.

Building training modules continues at an increasing pace. Like most building projects, it is taking more time than we first anticipated. However, when these well-crafted modules become available, users are sure to be delighted. Educational scholarship funding is building to new heights. You can expect to hear about new ideas and new directions for educational funding in the coming year. Your Board and especially, your incoming President, want to see monies allocated to training people working out in the field as well as in the academic world.

We are building a bridge to the new generation of blasters. As time goes by, the Founders of ISEE are disappearing from the scene. The loss of past president, Dale Ramsey, was a stark reminder of how much those folks have continued to contribute. We will not allow attrition to slow our Society. Our salvation lies in the huge pool of energy and talent that is the Emerging Professionals (EPs). This section provides a conduit for motivated members early in their career. We all realize that the world spins ever faster and the notion that EPs must wait a decade to make their mark is totally outdated. The Society and the newer members gain immeasurably from this arrangement.

Your incoming president and entire Board is energized and committed to deliver more value to members. Modern communication has forever changed how we exchange information. One thing that will not change is the comradery amongst blasters. Maybe the greatest of building projects is that of lifelong friendships.