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 Given numerous VTS activities such as hosting international and regional conferences, operating peer-review journals and magazines, supporting over 45 local chapters, you might think VTS possesses a large army of paid employees.
However, this is far from the case. In fact, almost all the activities that you enjoy as a VTS member actually are organized and operated by other VTS members, who volunteer their time and energy to give back to our society.
So you might ask: Why volunteer for VTS? All of these activities require time commitment and effort beyond our "day jobs," for no pay. Why would someone want to help organize a conference, review a journal paper submission, or be active in a local VTS chapter?
Well, the reasons why really depend on the individual. For some, volunteering offers opportunities to collaborate with other VTS members and network with people who are active in their technical areas of interest, or perhaps to engage with individuals working in new areas they wish to know more about.
For others, volunteering provides opportunities to work with world-renowned experts in specific fields, or to gain new skills in leadership and other areas. Finally, for many VTS members, volunteerism enables them to give back to the community that has supported their professional development over the years.
I asked several individuals why they commit their time and effort to VTS by volunteering. Here are their responses:
Oliver Holland, a Research Fellow at King's College London and VTS Chapters Committee Chair, says that volunteering provides "additional opportunities to learn from and interact with the best professionals in my technical fields of interest" and "gives the opportunity of being deeply involved in dynamic and exciting IEEE/VTS initiatives.”
Marina Aguado, a Professor at University of the Basque Country and VTS Education Chair, explains that volunteering provides an “enriching experience by sharing initiatives with your peer colleagues at worldwide level,” creating environments that enable "learning in a more relaxed and open-minded way without the pressure of a specific goal to achieve."
Richard Yu, a Professor at Carleton University and VTS Vice President—Membership, states that volunteering helps "advance my knowledge in my profession, network with others from around the world, gain essential career experience, and develop valuable management and leadership skills".
Furthermore, Yu says, "volunteering is a great way to make new contacts and friends, particularly if you are just starting work or are new to an area, allowing you to broaden your support network and exposing you to people with common interests."
As you can see, there are many reasons to volunteer for the VTS and enhance your professional and personal growth! There are many volunteer activities to choose from. You can:
- Organize or assist at a conference, such as our flagship Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC) or Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference (VPPC). Work with other members, enhance your leadership skills, and learn to create community events that bring people together to exchange ideas and learn about the latest advances in vehicular technology.
- Volunteer at your local VTS chapter, where you can meet and network with local members and learn about new advances in vehicular technology via our VTS Distinguished Lecture program, an activity almost exclusively available for VTS chapters. If your area does not have a VTS chapter, consider creating your own.
- Get involved at the Society level by acting as VTS liaison for an IEEE committee or serving on a VTS committee, such as our chapters, education, and publicity committees.
- Contribute to the peer-review process at one of our highly successful publications, such as the IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology and IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine.
- Organize summer school events, technical challenges, and industry summits that cover new and emerging topics in 5G, autonomous vehicles, and land transportation systems.
Find out more about our Volunteer Opportunities.
Make sure to visit this page frequently, as opportunities are posted on a regular basis. Furthermore, if you are interested in volunteering for the VTS regardless of whether a specific position is available, reach out to our Vice President—Membership, Richard Yu.
We are always looking for VTS members who are excited about contributing to our society!
To all of our volunteers who contribute to the success of our society, you have my deepest and most sincere heartfelt gratitude. To everyone who is interested in contributing to this fantastic community, please do not hesitate to reach out to us and let us know how you would like to help out. VTS and all of its activities exist because of volunteering members like you! |
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