Re: HPS Membership

[Lester.Slaback@nist.gov]

I agree with your basic point.  Membership is neither a necessary nor
sufficient indicator of competence.  But lack of membership surely places
more emphasis on the need for other credentials.

There are many highly competent HPs
(however you want to define HP) who are not members of the HPS nor active
participants in non-job professional activities (publications, committees,
etc).  And this is not necessary if they have established competence with
their employer.

But how does such a person establish competence to outside persons without
credentials beyond a degree?  News reports obviously do not address such
trivial issues.  Everyone who wants to speak has equal cedence in their
eyes.  But when a speaker is making judgemental statements
 'fellow professionals' might want to judge the qualifications of that
speaker  to make those judgements.  Then these questions begin to be
relevant.


In <Pine.SOL.3.91.970801053543.826B-100000@email1.asu.edu>, on 08/01/97 
   at 08:03 AM, Bill Pitchford <Bill.Pitchford@asu.edu> said:

>I note with some interest that the 'top nuclear regulatory officer'
>Shirley Jackson, PhD notwithstanding, is neither a CHP nor a member of
>the HPS.

>What is the particular interest ?

>An interest in "Why" or an interest in "Who" ?

>I know several "professional HPs" with varying reasons for not belonging 
>to the HPS.

>I know a few "world class HPs" that have chosen not to pursue CHP.

>Are we attacking a "whistleblower" or is there some good logic behind the
> previous "Notes of Interest" ?

>Just a set of impartial observations and a pointed question.

>Bill Pitchford
>Radiation Control Supervisor
>Arizona State University



-- 
the above are the personal musing of the author,
and do not represent any past, current, or future
position of NIST, the U.S. Government, or anyone else
who might think that they are in a position of authority.
NBSR Health Physics
NIST
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
301 975-5810
-----------------------------------------------------------
Lester.Slaback@nist.gov
-----------------------------------------------------------