As STLE president, Beckers overarching themes will be leadership development, and a modern structure and governance model, he told me last month. STLE is 60 years old, using a World War II [era] governance model. Is this the way to structure our society to accomplish our goals? Members want technical content and access to the people who know, so were looking at better ways to deliver that – using the internet and whatever comes next.

STLE members can look forward to updated publications and a big change in the societys web site. Whats not going to change, Becker stressed, is having an annual meeting. Executive Director Ed Salek told me this years meeting will offer significantly more technical content, with more than 400 technical presentations, up from the normal 300 to 350; 10 one-day education courses; an exceptional keynote on medical tribology; and more.

Also, on top of his roles as a director and incoming president, Becker and his wife, consultant Jean Becker, will present a leadership development seminar for STLE section volunteers at the annual meeting, Handling Difficult People and Situations.

Over the last four or ?ve years, Jean and I have done talks to enhance a volunteers experience with STLE, Becker said. Weve talked about running effective meetings; about generations (boomers, gen-Xers, etc.) and their expectations; about chartering committees. Im a big fan of committees, but the first question for them is, how do we know when youre done, so we can disband you? Standing committees, he opines, should be few and far between – a hint about the kind of streamlined, flexible structure Becker envisions for the STLE of the future.

Congratulations and best wishes to Ed Becker for a satisfying, successful term as president, and to STLE for another super annual meeting, May 6-10 in Philadelphia.

P.S. Europe, the Middle East and Africa: We have them covered in our new magazine, launching next month. To subscribe to and/or advertise in LubesnGreases Europe -Middle East – Africa, visit www.LNGEU.com today!