About 50 years ago, William R. Hewlett of the Hewlett Packard Company was invited to speak at the school where I was a young graduate student in Electrical Engineering. A local unit of the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE), a predecessor of the present-day IEEE, arranged for his lecture. His talk was excellent and informative. Afterward I stopped by to ask him a few questions and then suddenly, with almost missionary zeal, he asked me the Golden Question: "Are you a member of the IRE? If not, would you like to join?”

At first I did not know how to respond. But I remember being highly impressed that he would even ask me. I told him that I was not a member, but that I would like to become one. He directed me to the membership people and I followed through with his suggestion. In the years since, I have been very happy that he made such an overture towards me and I have cherished my IEEE membership ever since. Had he not done so, I may never have joined. Attending various IEEE sponsored conferences over the years has helped me to maintain professional currency. My bookshelves slowly filled with journal transactions which allowed me to see what others were doing. Networking opportunities at conferences made possible a feeling of collegiality with others. Had I not joined, these benefits may never have been part of my experience. Thus, whenever William R. HewlettÃs name has appeared in print, I have felt a special appreciation for his encouragement in my professional activities.

During the last decade as a Stanford University retiree, I have been assigned as a membership representative for the IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences (NPS) Society. I am sent to various annual conferences where I man the IEEE desk and encourage attendees to join IEEE—particularly in our NPS Society. Remembering Mr. Hewlett's example, I am not at all afraid to walk up to the attendees and ask the IEEE Golden Question. Responses vary—some decline saying that their conference registration fee is paid by their company/lab, that they have all the journals they need, and that they already belong to another organization. Others decline saying that they would join only if their company/lab paid for the annual membership dues.

Still others, whom I like to call members of the "Golden Group”, respond enthusiastically to the question, indicating that they already have thought about signing up and needed only extra encouragement to do so. The excellent programs offered by the IEEE impress people of this group. The Financial Advantage Programs appeal to some people while the Information Advantage Programs including Xplore appeal to others. Some find the IEEE Standards activities are important in their careers. IEEE books and other publications, available to members at reduced rates, are very attractive. Most people attending the annual conferences receive valuable networking benefits with their colleagues but the IEEE members tend to gain more than their non-member colleagues do.

In recent years, attendees returning to the annual conferences often stop by the IEEE membership desk and thank me for encouraging them to join. They are glad that they have renewed their memberships and are enjoying the benefits they derive from it. Such expressions propel me to make a better effort to find more people of the Golden Group—especially those students who will benefit from being IEEE members throughout their careers just as I have been.

Readers of this column have renewed their memberships in IEEE and have many reasons for having done so. However, some of their close friends who are scientists or engineers may not yet belong. Ask your friends the IEEE Golden Question. You may be surprised at their positive response. Keep a current membership application available in your desk or provide them with an Internet address to the IEEE site (www.ieee.org/membership/join) where they can join on-line. Your friends may not include you in their Last Will and Testament for having done so but they will remember and appreciate your encouragement for many years to come, just as I do now for Mr. William R. Hewlett.

Vernon Price can be reached at 22151 Berkeley Court, Los Altos, CA 94024-7452; Phone: +1 408 737-0778; Fax: +1 408 737-0778; E-mail: v.price@ieee.org