IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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IPC COMMUNITY 16 SUMMER 2023 A s an IPC technical staff liaison to numerous IPC standards development committees, I'm sometimes asked to extoll the virtues of what it means to be a volunteer within one of them. The question mostly comes from someone interested in joining an IPC committee for the first time. The answer usually includes phrases not uncommon to other kinds of volunteer efforts in our lives: "You get more out of par- ticipating than the effort you put into it." "You become part of a network of subject matter experts, and in so doing, grow to become a subject matter expert yourself." "You get to represent your company's interest in an IPC standard." "It's very rewarding to contribute to the pub- lication of a standard that benefits not only your company but the electronics industry as a whole." If you've ever attended one of the IPC Award Luncheons at IPC APEX EXPO, then you've probably heard the same from volun- teers themselves, including the recipients of awards such as the IPC President's Award or IPC's highest honor, the Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame Award. I really like that because you're getting such good feedback "straight from the horse's mouth," and not just from IPC staff (even though I tell myself, "Answering that is part of my job"). To share their story, I wanted to reach out to a long-term volunteer who has not only contrib- uted to numerous IPC standards efforts over the years but has served as a leader within some of those committees. Then it hit me: I have a committee chair who has led and supported numerous IPC standards efforts for over 25 years, and now his son leads and supports IPC standards committees and other IPC initiatives of his own. S o , h o w d i d h e c a j o l e , (or maybe coax) his son into following in his footsteps as an IPC volunteer? This is where I introduce Scott Bowles and his son Steven, both of Lockheed Martin Cor- poration. Scott works as an electronics PMP materials engineer for senior staff. Steven is an LM Associate Fellow. Obviously, one doesn't need to be a parent of or a progeny of a standards committee vol- unteer or leader to get involved, though Scott and Steven are a great example of two gener- ations in one family that see the value of get- ting out more than what they put in. STANDARDS From Father to Son A story of generational volunteerism By John Perry, Director, Printed Board Standards & Technology Leadership runs in the family: Steven and Scott Bowles (right)