Feb/March_AMP_Digital

A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 1 3 2 our Society to be an adaptive and resil- ient organization that maximizes value by facing our challenges and focusing on new opportunities. Though our members are individu- ally separated, we are working to bring our communities together. ASM has launched an array of new virtual pro- grams to stay connected and to provide our audiences globally with needed in- formation. A portion of our inaugural IMAT 2020 conference and exhibition was rapidly transformed to become our first all virtual event creatively incor- porating presentations, Q&A sessions, exhibitions, and networking opportu- nities. Additionally, digitally accessible publications were expanded. New live virtual education programs were devel- oped, and self-study and digital short courses expanded. Our members can learn at their own pace from anywhere in the world. Data ecosystem initiatives were fast-tracked to meet the needs of our membership. During this past year, we unex- pectedly found ourselves facing a world turned upside down, yet the ASM staff quickly reinvented how we do many things, enabling us not only to function in a virtual world but also to seek new ways to help our members, as shown in Fig. 2. To help our Chapters, Affiliates, Councils, and Committees, and to pro- mote technical interchange throughout our Society, virtual connection tools like RingCentral/Zoom have been pro- vided to them. Chapters can now offer virtual programs not only to their local members but to all ASM members glob- ally. Members are able to login to ASM Connect through our website, find out about events at other chapters, and reg- ister for them. Having this ability to plan and attend events not only provides for added technical exchanges but encour- ages communication between far-flung members. “THE FUTURE AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE.” – YOGI BERRA ASM Connect offers our mem- bers the ability to reach out virtually to like-minded members with questions, suggestions, and ideas. The member- ship networking platform is helping to foster communications. ASM Con- nect is a place for knowledge exchange, idea incubation, professional network- ing, and promoting dynamic discus- sion groups. Members can establish communities of interest and build con- nections with their colleagues. Indeed, such self-assembled communities have led to the establishment of new ASM technical committees. As participation on Connect increases and our commu- nities grow, we are able to offer added value to our membership. BOARD-LED TASK FORCES In addition to the challenges of the pandemic, our society has undergone a transition to help ensure alignment of ASM’s activities with our strategic goals. Ad hoc Board-led Task Forces (BTF) have been developed, which bring to- gether key expert members, staff, and trustees around topics of Societal in- terest to promote communication and understanding around strategic initia- tives. There are BTF in topic areas such as: Digital Strategy, Global Networks, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion, Chapters, Interdisciplinary Focus, and Techni- cal Networking/Academia. These BTF bring together a wide scope of exper- tise for the benefit of the Society. Our virtual communication tools have en- hanced our ability to develop and opti- mize these BTF. With the above-mentioned strate- gic goals in mind, our prior strategic key initiatives continue to be of importance. Members of the BTF play key roles Fig. 2 — ASM ramped up its virtual capabilities in multiple ways last year.