Executive Vice President's Message

Volunteerism

Without the expertise, effort, and time commitments of our volunteers, there would be no Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).  We enjoy the privilege of having over 1400 volunteers who actively give their time and expertise to make us what we are today.  CLSI’s outstanding reputation for excellence, balance, and fairness is based on the skills and values of our volunteers—in both your leadership and technical expertise capacities. 

Why do you do it?  Our surveys and hallway conversations tell us you do it for several reasons:

• Altruism. Our volunteers are world-renowned experts in their fields.  At some point, many of you reach a stage where you want to give something back to the clinical and laboratory fields through participation in the creation of “gold standard” consensus documents and other media that we produce.  We all want to make a positive difference in the world and leave some small legacy; it is truly better to give than to receive.
  
• Networking. Forming a group with a specific project goal in mind allows us to create and strengthen relations with like (and sometimes unlike) minded people.  In short, creation of working groups from the government, industry, and professions allows for a varied group to share common interests.  Quite a few volunteers have remarked to me that life-long professional and personal relationships have developed from CLSI initiatives.
  
• Learning & Growth. I have heard from our volunteers that they sometimes learn more from their area committees, subcommittees, or working groups than they do from some of their professional societies and related meetings.  Coupled with the surroundings of fellow experts and mentors, it’s not hard to see why.  Additional recognition from document authorship and peers is also a source of deserved pride.

On behalf of myself and the entire CLSI Executive Offices staff— thank you, volunteers!

Sincerely,
Glen [ return to top ]