New BICSI president sets lofty goals

John Payseur, new president of BICSI (www.bicsi.org), detailed his lofty goals for the organization during a meeting of the general membership held at its Winter Conference on Jan. 23. Payseur officially took over as president at the meeting, succeeding Richard Powell, and took the opportunity to outline plans for his two-year term. He focused on the organization's four main areas of function: education, publications, registration programs, and conferences.

While describing his plans for education, Payseur emphasized that the percentage of BICSI's membership from the United States is declining. While overall U.S. membership is growing, BICSI is experiencing more-rapid growth outside the country, thereby lowering the U.S.' "market share" of BICSI's membership. With that in mind, Payseur aims to modify the pricing scheme of educational opportunities outside the U.S. "It costs many U.S. members a couple days' pay for a BICSI educational event; it costs some members in foreign countries a couple months' pay to do so," Payseur said to the assembly.

Additionally, by next year he expects BICSI to include 11 regions, up from its current eight. The United States comprises four regions, but they will be realigned to five regions. Payseur said the organization will change to region names (from the current numbering scheme) to facilitate the realignment.

Other goals in the education arena include establishing a satellite training center in the western U.S., and growing the relationship with community and technical colleges on a state-by-state basis.

As for registrations, Payseur wants to convert all examinations to an online format, and make the online exams available in thousands of cities throughout the world. Because a BICSI proctor must administer registration examinations, those taking the exams must travel to central locations. The online initiative will make it easier for test-takers, Payseur said.

Additionally, Payseur said he expects to add a Wireless Specialty registration to the LAN Specialty and Outside Plant Specialty registrations that BICSI now offers.

Translation is the goal in the publications arena. Work is underway on translating BICSI's publications into several languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Japanese.

Plans are also underway to add preconference seminars and training, focusing on installation, outside plant, wireless technology, and residential wiring. BICSI also intends to enhance the content of regional meetings, and offer continuing educational credits for some of those meetings. BICSI also has moved its Caribbean conference to Miami from San Juan, Puerto Rico, where it had been held for the past few years.

-Patrick McLaughlin

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