Join the club

For Jeff Hafer, being a member of the industry group the International Communications Association (ICA) is like having an insurance policy against disaster.

Whenever the manager of telecommunications engineering for GPU Energy encounters a problem on the job, he grabs the phone or dashes off an e-mail to a trusty ICA colleague to ask for advice. "I don't have to go through three days of hell fixing the problem," Hafer says from the electric utility's Reading, Pa., headquarters.

As a nearly 20-year member of ICA, Hafer is simply reaping the rewards of a long-term investment in developing relationships with his peers at other ICA-member companies. "Networking for networking - that's what I get out of it," he says.

Professional associations are a fact of life for network managers. Sooner or later, you're going to get recruited to become a member. And you'll wonder, "What's in it for me?" Will the value of joining an association outweigh the time and money you (and your company) will need to spend? The answer is likely to be a resounding "yes."

Many network managers rely on professional associations such as the ICA and the Network Professional Association (NPA) to bring them up to speed on new technologies, to provide a forum for information sharing with peers and to keep them abreast of industry and regulatory developments. Some organizations even offer members access to job banks and health insurance policies.

"Associations are worthwhile. If you had to do everything yourself, you'd never get the work done," says Bill Coopman, manager of telecommunications industry and regulatory affairs for Deere & Co., in Moline, Ill. A 30-year member of the ICA, Coopman depends on ICA for information, particularly on telecommunications regulatory matters.

The downside is you won't get any benefit from membership unless you're willing to spend time building relationships. If you're constantly in crisis mode and can't afford to attend at least an annual conference and a monthly committee meeting, don't bother. In short, you get out of professional associations what you put in.

Lack of participation is one potential pitfall of professional associations, says Michael Cassadine, a Certified Novell Engineer and director of Los Angeles-based systems integrator Enterprise Connections.

Cassadine joined the NPA six years ago and currently serves as chairman of the 4,000-member organization.

"People may be members, but you don't see them. Some of them don't come out unless there's a major event," he says. This deprives members of the full opportunity to share war stories.

Naturally, it's often the senior people who don't attend functions because they probably have the least to gain by exchanging technical tips. Cassadine is combating that attitude by establishing a mentoring program that pairs young and less-experienced network professionals with their highly skilled brethren. Veterans may appreciate the opportunity to give back to the community by transferring their skills to the next generation. And once they agree to be a mentor, veteran members are more motivated to show up for the meetings.

The real deal

Besides getting help with practical problems, members often call on each other to give references for vendors or consultants. You can always call a vendor-supplied contact for a product reference. But when you're a member of a neutral professional organization, "you can call on another member and get the honest-to-God truth," says Ruth Michalecki, chairwoman of the ICA and director of telecommunications and IT for the University of Nebraska in Omaha. "You'll get the real deal from them. I would be lost without my network."

Vendor independence is an important criterion for a professional organization. "I try to avoid vendor-sponsored seminars - they're much too biased," says Ellen Van Cleve, director of data communications for The New York Times. Van Cleve is a member of the Communications Managers Association, which lets vendors make presentations at its monthly meetings but discourages overt product plugs and competitor-bashing.

And some groups are selective about the network professionals they allow to join. For example, CMA member companies must spend at least $500,000 on IT annually. Other groups such as the NPA restrict membership to those who have, or are working toward, certain certifications.

Chances are, there's a network-related association to fit your needs. While you're not likely to find liquor-soaked golf outings at the group's annual conference, you will likely learn about emerging technologies.

Moreover, associations help you build up a repository of trusted contacts that may someday save your neck in an emergency. Hafer says, speaking as one who's been there, "The payoff for your investment is huge."

Details on key user groups

International Communications Association
Founded in 1948, the ICA is the grand dame of telecommunications-related associations. In recent years, the ICA has broadened its focus to more IT-related issues, including networking. The ICA has a strong lobbying presence in Washington and attempts to influence public policy makers on behalf of its members. In addition, the ICA holds an annual conference in conjunction with the Supercom conference and offers certificate training programs. Membership is open to all companies that use communications equipment. Annual corporate dues are $975; there is an online membership application.

Communications Managers Association
Established as a nonprofit more than 50 years ago, CMA is one of the old-timer associations. Billing itself as the "User Group for Network Leaders," CMA holds several educational programs with tutorials throughout the year in New York City; Corporate Networks, its yearly conference, is held there as well. CMA publishes a magazine, "CMA Review," twice a year. CMA also watches regulatory issues affecting telecommunications. Companies must spend at least $500,000 on IT annually to qualify for membership, which costs $600 annually.

Network Professional Association
With an impressive membership of 4,000 network professionals worldwide, the NPA aims to develop the competency and ethics of its members. Membership (which costs $175 annually) is open to anyone who holds or is working toward the following certifications: CNE, MCNE, CBE, CBS, MCSE, ASE, CLSE, CNX, CNP, PSE, or CCIE. The NPA is due to roll out a members' database that will index users by area of expertise (as well as other methods) so users can search for a colleague with a particular skill.

Network and Systems Professionals Association
An offshoot of NaSCOM (an Internet service provider), NaSPA publishes "Technical Support" magazine. NaSPA members are eligible for discounts from a variety of training providers. NaSPA also offers an online jobs database and health insurance programs for members. Membership ranges from $30 to $120 annually and new members can sign up online.

Information Technology Association of America
With more than 11,000 members, the ITAA is a diverse group. ITAA sponsors a number of activities and programs to enhance IT professionals' knowledge. Membership is open to companies of any size that use IT; the cost ranges from $660 to $44,000 per year, depending on the size of the member company.

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Paul is a freelance writer based in Waban, Mass. She can be reached at laurenpaul@ mediaone.net.

Details on key user groups