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Home > News and Events > News > News Detail
10/1/2012
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If you asked this question to a broad representation of ACI members, you would probably get widely varying responses. The fact is that ACI has an intricate set of roots and linkages that result in a complicated but exciting web of activities. The challenge of bringing some structure and operational organization to these worldwide activities was one of the issues addressed at an International Summit held at ACI headquarters in July 2012. A total of 13 ACI members, including six international members, joined with three staff members to develop a strategic focus on future international activities of ACI. Interesting links exist between ACI and its chapters. Within the United States, we often discuss the relationship between local chapters and national ACI. However, ACI is truly an international organization with international chapters and partners. The Institute is simply referred to as ACI by our international chapters and partners, so I will do the same in the following paragraphs. One might consider the local chapters as the roots of ACI but, in reality, they are independent organizations that follow guidelines for chapter operations established by ACI. The chapter level is where "the rubber meets the road"—in other words, most chapter members are deeply involved with the local concrete construction community and are often the instructors and examiners for various concrete technician certification programs. Except for officers, however, chapter members do not need to be members of ACI. Many local chapter members are not ACI members, so their vision of ACI can be much different than that of typical national members. International chapters normally represent an entire nation, as opposed to a state or region; and, in many cases, these chapters are "ACI" within those countries. Just like local chapters, international chapters are independent entities that conduct meetings, handle certification activities, and often have their own monthly newsletter or magazine. Some of these chapters have grown into national organizations that are now partners of ACI—the Japan Concrete Institute and the Korea Concrete Institute are examples. ACI has links to 26 International Partners, as well as informal relationships with other concrete organizations around the world. Our partners are concrete-related institutes or societies that are interested in technical exchanges and the development of joint conferences with ACI. Through the International Partners program, ACI has developed an International Research Portal where our partners can post their technical publications either for free distribution or for sale to interested parties around the world. The International Research Portal is easy to access through the ACI website and currently contains publications from 14 of our International Partners. In addition to there being different missions and modes of operations among International Partners and chapters, each would likely have a differing view of the mission and role of ACI. ACI certification programs have created strong and important links between ACI and most of its chapters. Many of the national and international ACI chapters have a major responsibility for technician certification training and administration of certification examinations. Certification programs are a strong revenue source for both the chapters and ACI, so the proper administration and oversight of these programs are of vital interest to the Institute. The Certification Programs Committee (CPC) takes the lead here and consistently works to strengthen existing certification programs and to address new opportunities at both the national and international levels. Participants in ACI certification programs have yet another vision of what ACI is. As noted herein, ACI has many strong roots and links to cooperating organizations, but we need to continuously nurture these relationships, coordinate our efforts, and expand where opportunities exist. Primary responsibilities for these efforts fall upon the Board of Direction and the following committees: International Advisory Committee (IAC), International Partners and Publications Committee (IPP), Chapter Activities Committee (CAC), and CPC. Some of the challenges are also being addressed by task groups formed during the International Summit. As all of these task groups and committees address their responsibilities, they will need to maintain an understanding of "What is ACI?" to our broad range of members, partners, and colleagues. James K. Wight American Concrete Institute Back to Memo List
If you asked this question to a broad representation of ACI members, you would probably get widely varying responses. The fact is that ACI has an intricate set of roots and linkages that result in a complicated but exciting web of activities. The challenge of bringing some structure and operational organization to these worldwide activities was one of the issues addressed at an International Summit held at ACI headquarters in July 2012. A total of 13 ACI members, including six international members, joined with three staff members to develop a strategic focus on future international activities of ACI.
Interesting links exist between ACI and its chapters. Within the United States, we often discuss the relationship between local chapters and national ACI. However, ACI is truly an international organization with international chapters and partners. The Institute is simply referred to as ACI by our international chapters and partners, so I will do the same in the following paragraphs.
One might consider the local chapters as the roots of ACI but, in reality, they are independent organizations that follow guidelines for chapter operations established by ACI. The chapter level is where "the rubber meets the road"—in other words, most chapter members are deeply involved with the local concrete construction community and are often the instructors and examiners for various concrete technician certification programs.
Except for officers, however, chapter members do not need to be members of ACI. Many local chapter members are not ACI members, so their vision of ACI can be much different than that of typical national members.
International chapters normally represent an entire nation, as opposed to a state or region; and, in many cases, these chapters are "ACI" within those countries. Just like local chapters, international chapters are independent entities that conduct meetings, handle certification activities, and often have their own monthly newsletter or magazine. Some of these chapters have grown into national organizations that are now partners of ACI—the Japan Concrete Institute and the Korea Concrete Institute are examples.
ACI has links to 26 International Partners, as well as informal relationships with other concrete organizations around the world. Our partners are concrete-related institutes or societies that are interested in technical exchanges and the development of joint conferences with ACI. Through the International Partners program, ACI has developed an International Research Portal where our partners can post their technical publications either for free distribution or for sale to interested parties around the world. The International Research Portal is easy to access through the ACI website and currently contains publications from 14 of our International Partners. In addition to there being different missions and modes of operations among International Partners and chapters, each would likely have a differing view of the mission and role of ACI.
ACI certification programs have created strong and important links between ACI and most of its chapters. Many of the national and international ACI chapters have a major responsibility for technician certification training and administration of certification examinations. Certification programs are a strong revenue source for both the chapters and ACI, so the proper administration and oversight of these programs are of vital interest to the Institute. The Certification Programs Committee (CPC) takes the lead here and consistently works to strengthen existing certification programs and to address new opportunities at both the national and international levels. Participants in ACI certification programs have yet another vision of what ACI is.
As noted herein, ACI has many strong roots and links to cooperating organizations, but we need to continuously nurture these relationships, coordinate our efforts, and expand where opportunities exist. Primary responsibilities for these efforts fall upon the Board of Direction and the following committees: International Advisory Committee (IAC), International Partners and Publications Committee (IPP), Chapter Activities Committee (CAC), and CPC. Some of the challenges are also being addressed by task groups formed during the International Summit.
As all of these task groups and committees address their responsibilities, they will need to maintain an understanding of "What is ACI?" to our broad range of members, partners, and colleagues.
James K. Wight American Concrete Institute
Back to Memo List
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