|
 The
dinosaurs of IT may remember the Association of IT
Professionals by a different name. This oldest of technical
professional groups was formed as the Machine Accountants
Association in 1951, long before anyone had even coined the
term “information technology.” In 1962, the group decided on
the more progressive Data Processing Management Association
moniker, by which it was known for 30 years.
In the 1990s, the group traded acronyms again to reflect the
changing industry, but its mission has largely remained the
same: To serve professionals in the information technology
field with education and networking opportunities.
A Group For Everyone
In a fragmented industry where the majority of workers toil
in narrow specialties, AITP eschews the cliquish mentality
of most IT professional groups. Rather than catering to a
single IT niche, AITP serves everyone in the industry.
Members range from entry-level programmers to IT marketers
to CIOs.
“It really creates an environment that promotes a lot of
career advancement and personal development opportunities,
ones that aren’t always available when you are surrounded by
people who do exactly what you do,” says Brian Reithel,
president of AITP’s volunteer board of directors.
“Personally, I have benefited tremendously from the variety
of roles and technical niches represented.”
Though many IT professionals look to join groups geared
toward their technical field, Reithel says they should
consider joining a generalized group like AITP, as well.
“I’m a member of several organizations, and I derive
different benefits from each,” he says. “I think a person
ought to belong to a minimum of two organizations. The first
should be a general
IT organization that provides breadth—something that AITP
provides nicely. Then join another group that aligns more
closely to [your] specialty.”
The reason for this is that in this day and age, workers are
required to change specialties in order to keep working. One
year you might be a member of a programmer’s group, the next
a member of a data-center management group.
“AITP is something that someone can belong to during their
entire career,” Reithel says. “Through our activities,
people become effective in their work no matter what they do
in IT.”
Chapter-Based
With 8,000 members across the country, AITP serves its
membership base through a chapter-based organizational
structure. There are 120 chapters that cater to specific
regions.
“I would say that about 90% of all local chapters are
self-driving,” says Deborah Lovell, president of the Dallas
chapter. “We think that our local attendees look to us for
local involvement and networking.”
Organizational bylaws require that chapters produce at least
10 programs a year. The Dallas chapter holds 12, which range
from special CIO spotlights to educational programs.
Lovell says that chapter leaders like her are always
learning how to listen to what their members need from the
programming.
“When we only had the geeks come to talk about technical
topics, we found that it bored ‘em to tears and attendance
lagged,” she says. “It is because our members live and
breathe that stuff all day long; they need to learn
something to expand their skills.”
After polling members, her chapter found that 80% were most
interested in the oft-forgotten soft skills: things such as
leadership management, professional development, and
business etiquette. These types of skills are the ones any
IT professional can use, she says.
Supporting
Students
In addition to professional chapters, AITP also has a
healthy con tingent of student chapters across the country.
“Our pro chapters support the student chapters,” Reithel
says. “This is because we like to stay vital and in touch
with the evolution of IT. We do this through interaction
between professional and student members, because no one is
more in touch with the cutting edge than the students who
are just learning about the latest technology.”
In addition to the commitment to support student chapters,
AITP also holds a national collegiate conference each year.
And this is just one element of AITP’s commitment to
education in information technology. The organization also
funds the Foundation for Information Technology Education,
its research and development arm. The foundation was formed
in 1975 to support the efforts of IT educators in the
advancement of the industry.
On top of this, AITP also sponsors an Education SIG (special
interest group), which offers camaraderie for IT educators.
Reithel, a professor of management information systems and
dean of the business school at the University of
Mississippi, says the commitment to education keeps the
organization and the industry strong.
“These students are the future leaders of IT,” he says.
by
Ericka Chickowski
|
Vital Statistics
The oldest IT group in existence, the
Association of IT Professionals is a
chapter-based organization that serves members
in all disciplines of IT.
Members:
8,000
Chapters: 120
Affiliated Groups:
• AITP Education Special Interest Group
• AITP Educational Special Interest Group
Journal
• AITP Legislative Committee
• AITP Model Curriculum for 4-Year Institutions
• Institute for Certification of Computing
Professionals
• The Foundation for Information Technology
Education
Dues:
$105 plus chapter dues
Web
sites:
www.aitp.org;
www.edfoundation.org
Phone:
(800) 224-9371
Outstanding Fact: AITP has
always been dedicated to developing its student
members’ skills, as these youngsters will
eventually fill the ranks as IT professionals.
In the early 1980s, the group (then known as the
Data Processing Management Association) was the
originator of the first national model for
curriculum in information systems. |
Copyright © 2005 Sandhills Publishing Company U.S.A. All
rights reserved. |
