What is ACM?
In 1947, a year after the first successful electronic digital computer (ENIAC) was unveiled, ACM became the first and remains the largest international scientific and educational computer society in the world. Its founders and first members were mathematicians and electrical engineers. One of them, John Mauchly is co-inventor of the ENIAC. They formed the Association as a forum for the exchange of information, knowledge and ideas that would advance the development of computing technology and its emerging industry. Over the years, ACM's membership has included most of the men and women who led the world into what is now called the Information Age. Most of their activities are honored both in ACM publications and in ACM awards for distinctive contributions to the field, such as the A.M. Turing Award and Grace Murray Hopper Award.
ACM membership today consists of some 80,000 men and women who are largely practitioners, developers, researchers, educators, engineers and managers, all with a significant interest in the creation and application of information technologies. Overall, ACM members are vital and knowledgeable --about 90 percent between the ages of 25 and 54, and 65 percent hold a masters degree or higher; they are faithful and steadfast -- nearly 70 percent have been members for more than six years, 37 percent for more than 10 years; one third of them all started out as student members. More and more new members are joining ACM Chapters and Local Special Interest Groups (SIGs). One in five ACM Chapters is outside the United States. And some of our Institutional Members are huge leading corporations in the computing and information industries, such as IBM, DEC, and Microsoft.
As for the member activity and involvement, about two thirds of all ACM members are also members of Special Interest Groups (SIGs); many belong to more than one. About half of the 150 ACM Professional Chapters are general-interest groups, but a growing number operate as "Local SIGs" or local groups with shared computing interests. There are also about 430 operating Student Chapters.
Why Should I Join ACM?
ACM as a whole can do a lot for you. As a student, some of the benefits you might receive include the opportunity to participate in local chapter activities; or you might just want to have your ACM membership listed on our resume when you get ready to go looking for a job. Much potential is there, and, as in all things, you get out of ACM what you put into it. But we feel one of the major reasons we are here, and why we exist is to become a voice, with many students behind it, a core, that provides continuity from one class of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering students to the next, helping to pass on knowledge and experience, and foster a feeling of Cameraderie and Esprit d' Corp in the department so that, hopefully, it makes our life here a little more interesting than just going to class and doing homework day in and day out. To all of us -- college is something more than that -- it's the beginning of the rest of our lives. And we feel that when you get together with other students who share common intersts/goals/wants/needs that you become more than just the sum of the parts!
We also want to provide some means of socializing and 'letting off steam'. With that goal in mind, the officers will be scheduling regular get togethers, only instead of just inviting Computer Science and Electrical Engineering undergraduates, we will encourage anyone interested in computers to attend. This way, we hope to make undergrads feel more 'a part of' the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering department, rather than 'apart from it'.
With these things in mind, however, it is imperative that we get as many people as possible involved and helping with this. It should be obvious to you all (I hope) that 4 officers have no hope in this department of having enough free time to accomplish all these goals. So what we're asking you right here and now is to participate! Join the UD ACM chapter, and volunteer to help with some of these things we want to do! You'll feel good about yourself, and will develop a better sense of belonging than if you just do your homework and go to class.
Top Ten Reasons to Join ACM
- 50 > 10 **
- Many cool social events such as LAN Parties & BBQ's.
- Its a great way to get help from others who know (or at least think they do...) about computer science classes and coursework.
- The president doesn't get interns to do odd "jobs".
- We have our own [unused] newsgroup!
- Club membership looks great on a resume.
- Participate in tours of computer data centers
- Meet UD alumni who have come back to share with you advice for the real world.
- Get to see Jason Mack carry 12 pizzas down Main Street.
- Learn leadership skills by heading a sub-committee.
** The ECL account you recieve as a paid member of UD's ACM Chapter gives you 50 megabytes of disk space instead of the University's standard 10 megabytes. Hence 50 > 10.
Does it cost anything?
No longer! The ACM no longer charges chapter dues. Members have the option of joining the ACM National for a greatly discounted price.