There were several reasons: ·

• To meet other people in the Industry ·
• To learn from other people in the Industry ·
• To make friends with people in the Industry ·
• To help my career as a Flavor Chemist ·
• To be able to go to my boss at raise time and say "I'm a member of the SFC and want a big raise". (Unfortunately, I was chicken to take this approach as I was afraid I'd get fired.)

So what good did membership in the SFC do me?

Why did I want to become a member so badly?

I guess it is because I am a joiner and enjoy really getting involved in any organization I join. During my early career, I spent many years working for the SFC.

Things started at Polaks Frutal Works (PFW), when I worked on the original FEMA GRAS List, doing mainly routine calculations of the PPM of an ingredient in finished goods. Boring, but had to be done.

I served as Chairman of the Nomenclature Committee and Program Committee, as well as Secretary, Vice President, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the SFC.
In all, I was able to devote a good amount of time to the SFC, due mainly to the understanding and encouragement of my employer at that time, PFW.

It was gratifying to be able to get involved in the affairs of the SFC. It satisfied my desire to meet people, learn from my peers and to make friends, many of whom I still have today.

Unfortunately, it never got me that big raise I was looking for.

What I did get was recognition from many in our industry, which helped me greatly in the later years of my career, especially when setting up my own business.

Why do I bring all this up?

It may be an ego trip on my part, but what I am trying to get across to you younger members of the SFC is that you can only further your career by putting in extra hours of work.

Your love for Flavor Chemistry and your desire to learn all you can will be greatly accelerated through your membership. There are many outstanding speakers during the year that can offer information not received at your regular workplace. Take advantage of them. Ask questions. Force them to give more information than they have. Most speakers hold back on vital facts due to secrecy agreements with their employer or sponsoring organizations. Make them open up by probing.

You must network to get ahead. Volunteer for committee work.
If there isn't a committee you are interested in, create one that satisfies your needs. In today's electronic world, there are all sorts of areas of opportunity open to each of you to be creative and to become an improvisator.

Try it, you'll like it.