This month I’m dedicating my column space to one of our organization’s most important ongoing activities, our membership. As an IIAR member, we all depend on you to take that essential first step to participate in the activism and advocacy of our industry, by keeping your membership current.

If you are not yet a member, this is a great time to join IIAR. Through the dedication and commitment of members like you, our organization has continued to evolve and grow in response to the technology and regulatory changes in our business environment.

And we have been very active in developing the new products and resources it takes to support such dynamic change. From the free-with-membership resources, like IIAR’s online training, to the new digital platform housing IIAR’s standards, publications, and other educational material, people are taking advantage of the benefits of IIAR membership like never before.

At the beginning of this year, IIAR announced a major new membership change. The changes to IIAR’s membership structure brought new value and opportunities to those in the refrigeration industry. IIAR’s new membership structure increased the value of IIAR membership, promoted recruitment and retention of members, and created financial balance and sustainability for IIAR.

The IIAR board came to its decision to change the membership structure after convening a group of 23 IIAR members, and later, an executive committee task force who came together to discuss the issue and delve into ways membership could add value. Ultimately, a simpler IIAR rate structure was developed encompassing many new member benefits.

As part of the change, members now receive access to one free IIAR training video (Series I, II, or III) annually, one free ANR, (Academy of Natural Refrigerants), course annually, free access to the ANSI/IIAR standards through our Gilmore Global eVantage online and eVantage Bookshelf APP offline digital publications reader services, and free access to virtual conference content, whether being able to attend in person, or not.

Meanwhile, IIAR continues to focus on regulatory initiatives, international outreach, standards development, and educational programs, in recognition that our organization has taken a leadership role in the global cold chain.

These advocacy efforts, membership changes, and educational programs, including our annual conference, represent the future of our industry, and your support of them is essential. Every IIAR program and initiative is made possible by your membership, and additionally, by your leadership as a volunteer.

As always, I encourage everyone to participate in IIAR on our various volunteer committees and to take advantage of the many new member benefits coming this year. When you belong to the IIAR Community, your voices add impact to our industry. I’m looking forward to working with you again next year, and I invite you to renew your membership today and reach out directly to me or any IIAR staff should you have any membership questions or needs!