After spending most of my career either working for nonprofits or covering them as a journalist, I’ve found that membership organizations are unique among them. Over the last 25 years, I’ve often heard people debate whether membership organizations provide enough “value” (significantly more than people discussing value when donating their hard-earned cash to build houses for families, feed the hungry, advance cures for ill children, or support military veterans.)
Value is subjective—it may include the availability of continuing education units (CEUs), conference networking opportunities, or the ability to serve on a committee or board—but who provides the value is not subjective. For membership organizations like the IES, their members are an essential component of creating value that benefits the whole. It’s not simply a matter of paying those annual dues and reclining as the rewards roll in—members are able to actively aid an organization’s staff with providing services, becoming both grantors and beneficiaries in the process. Involvement creates value; in essence, the “CE” couldn’t continue without the “you” on both sides of the equation.
“For membership organizations like the IES, their members are an essential component of creating value that benefits the whole”
With LEDucation rolling into New York City this month, it’s as good a time as any to re-evaluate your participation in the professional societies with which you are associated. If you are not yet an active participant, I urge you to dip your toes into the IES waters; there are various opportunities to make a mark on both people and the profession, and every effort is significant. I’ve always been an advocate for mentorship, with students in particular—it leaves an impression that lasts long after we shuffle off this mortal coil. Pressed for time? Share your experiences and spread the word about the events, educational opportunities, and work being produced by the IES. By doing so, you can affect membership growth, adding meaningful new skills and perspectives to the Society. If you’re producing interesting work, LD+A is always accessible to talk about projects and opinions that are relevant to the lighting industry.
Serving as an active IES Member is not only beneficial to your professional career but also a philanthropic effort that serves to enhance and move forward the entire lighting design community. Time is one of the most valuable currencies—spread your wealth and get involved.
Craig CauserEditor-in-Chiefcraig.causer@sagepub.com
Editor-in-ChiefCraig Causer
Editor IMichele Zimmerman
Creative Manager, Commercial PublishingSamuel Fontanez
Senior Account Specialist IILeslie Prestia
Published bySage Publications, Inc.2455 Teller RoadThousand Oaks, CA 91320Phone: 800-818-7243Website: www.journals.sagepub.com
LD+A is a magazine for professionals involved in the art, science, study, manufacture, teaching, and implementation of lighting. LD+A is designed to enhance and improve the practice of lighting. Every issue of LD+A includes feature articles on design projects, technical articles on the science of illumination, new product developments, industry trends, news of the Illuminating Engineering Society, and vital information about the illuminating profession. Statements and opinions expressed in articles and editorials in LD+A are the expressions of contributors and do not necessarily represent the policies or opinions of the Illuminating Engineering Society. Advertisements appearing in this publication are the sole responsibility of the advertiser.
LD+A (ISSN 0360-6325) is published monthly in the United States of America by Sage Publications, 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, 800-818-7243. Copyright 2025 by Sage Publications. Periodicals postage paid at Thousand Oaks, CA, and additional mailing offices. Nonmember subscriptions: $60 for individuals and $600 for institutions. Additional $24.00 postage for subscriptions outside the United States. Member subscriptions $32.00 (not deductible from annual dues). Authorization to reproduce articles for internal or personal use by specific clients is granted by Sage Publications to libraries and other users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) Transactional Reporting Service, under the terms of the CCC license. This consent does not extend to other kinds of copying for purposes such as general distribution, advertising or promotion, creating new collective works, or resale.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to LD+A, c/o Sage Publications, 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Subscribers: For continuous service please notify LD+A of address changes at least six weeks in advance.
Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement#40612608Canada Returns to be sent to BleuchipInternational, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2.
This publication is indexed regularly by Engineering Index, Inc. and Applied Science & Technology Index. LD+A is available on microfilm from Proquest Information and Learning, 800-521-0600, Ann Arbor, MI