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Our tour of AIHA’s strategic plan has previously covered efforts related to the pursuit of knowledge and advancing the OEHS profession. In this month’s installment, we move into the realm of member and volunteer engagement, which involves enhancing the value of membership and providing volunteers with meaningful opportunities to contribute to the association’s work. This post will discuss what we’re doing to accomplish the three main objectives identified in the member and volunteer engagement domain of our strategic plan:

1. Expand AIHA's value proposition to attract, grow, and retain a diverse and inclusive community of OEHS professionals as members.
2. Improve volunteer and member experiences through understanding and overcoming barriers to engagement.
3. Expand opportunities for nonmembers to participate in AIHA activities and events that can serve as a pathway to membership.

Training and Networking

Ensuring the value of AIHA membership requires effective leaders at all levels. For many years, AIHA’s annual Leadership Workshop has provided officers from volunteer groups with guidance on how to succeed both within the association specifically and the OEHS profession generally. The tools participants gain from Leadership Workshop can help them attain greater responsibility within AIHA and reach the next level in their careers. Last year, we conducted a training needs analysis to further enhance Leadership Workshop, and we are looking forward to holding it again in 2026. Stay tuned for more information.

AIHA holds several other virtual events to enhance conversation and networking among volunteer groups and other segments of the membership. For example, last year we hosted events organized by the Women in Industrial Hygiene Committee, the International Affairs Committee, and the Fellows Special Interest Group, while this past February, another event provided updates on AIHA’s government affairs efforts. We plan to hold similar virtual events in 2026.

For face-to-face networking, you can’t beat AIHA Connect. Among the new features we’re rolling out at this year’s conference in New Orleans are luncheon discussion tables hosted by members of volunteer groups. (If you haven’t yet registered for the conference, the lower advance rates are available for just a few more days. Register by March 29 to save.)

Communication and Technology

Local sections play a critical role within AIHA by helping meet the needs of OEHS professionals in their geographic area. A new member’s all-important first impression of the association is often based on their experience at a local section meeting. To help local sections provide more value to members, last year AIHA launched a monthly newsletter for local section leaders that keeps them informed about AIHA-related news, shares details about upcoming local section events, and provides information about the benefits of AIHA membership that can be shared at local section meetings.

For local sections, technology is one of the “barriers to engagement” referred to in Goal 2. To help local sections—as well as individual members—make better use of AIHA’s online discussion forum, we will debut “Catalyst Clinics” this year. Catalyst is not just a discussion platform: it also offers file management capabilities that can help both local sections and volunteer groups organize their work. The quarterly Catalyst Clinics will give members the opportunity to troubleshoot any difficulties they may encounter using the platform. Anyone who wants to learn more about Catalyst, including but certainly not limited to local section and volunteer group officers, is welcome to attend. Keep an eye on Catalyst for announcements of these events.

Students and Allied Professionals

Two significant pools of potential AIHA members are students in science, technology, and engineering programs, and professionals in OEHS-adjacent fields. Our strategic plan specifies strategies for appealing to both groups.

Thanks to the generosity of volunteer groups, local sections, companies, and specific individuals, the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation offers more than 50 grants and scholarships for students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs that can lead to careers in industrial hygiene. This year, AIHA will intensify its marketing campaign promoting these scholarships to universities and related organizations. We are also launching a capital fundraising campaign and are currently seeking volunteers to lead it. Anyone interested in defining the strategy of the campaign, reaching out to potential donors, and serving as an ambassador for the Foundation is encouraged to apply.

AIHA’s main strength is its education. Much of our catalog appeals not only to OEHS professionals but those in related areas. Our strategic plan calls for AIHA to build awareness of educational offerings and networking opportunities that benefit technicians and other professionals outside of our core audience. We will be launching a marketing campaign that will focus on promoting our education to nonmembers. A list of courses tailored to allied professionals, including safety professionals and EHS generalists, is available on the AIHA website.

Feedback Is Welcome

AIHA is always looking for suggestions on how best to engage volunteers and members, as well as expand our reach to train allied professional nonmembers. While our strategic plan specifies goals, we have the flexibility to adopt new approaches to achieving them. Please share any suggestions in the comments.