Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1367446
12 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2021 Johnson: I see. It is groups delivering docu- ments, delivering steering, or delivering advo- cacy. Rowe: Correct. Johnson: A high-profile deliverable would be the standards work. Do those deliverables come out of the subcommittees more oen than a larger committee? Rowe: Most of the standards work is done at the task group level. We look at where industry interest is, and we work with a group of peo- ple interested in that subject to develop a proj- ect identification notification (PIN). e PIN is reviewed by the TAEC Global and the TAEC to determine whether a project is viable. Johnson: at means that a technical commit- tee could have multiple standards in process and multiple subcommittees under their pur- view? Rowe: A general committee would have mul- tiple projects, and subcommittees may see a small, select number of projects that come together under a specific topic. Task groups typically stay focused on a single document. Johnson: If I'm new to all this, and wanting to get involved with IPC committee work— maybe my employer is encouraging me to get involved—how do I get started? Rowe: Excellent question. We embrace our volunteers. Staff liaisons will reach out. We see other task group members introducing them- selves, making sure that they feel welcome. Many times, our new people don't say anything in the first meeting or two. ey're just trying to study the room and understand the dynam- ics of the group, and the way they're working. Over a period of time, we see people say, "I get it, I get it. I'm going to start raising my hand. I'm participating." at's the exciting part. For those brand new to all of this, the easiest and the best way is to attend the meeting, listen and watch what happens, understand the dynamics, and then get involved by taking on an action item. We have many action items that come up during the discussion, anywhere from large technical conversations to "Can you help chase periods and commas in this document we're getting ready to publish?" e person responds, "Yes, I'd like to do that," they get involved, and then they start networking; it becomes a collec- tive cohesive group at that point. It's exciting to see the journey someone takes from brand new to a really solid contributor to a docu- ment. Johnson: Maybe I'm looking for topics I'm already interested in, a topic that I already have expertise in. How do I find that committee? Rowe: IPC.org has information on all of our committees by topic and how to get started. It also lists the staff liaison and the charter for the project. Answers@ipc.org, listed on our web- site, is an email link where someone can say, "I'm interested in joining." Teresa Rowe