Niagara Frontier Section Historian’s Message

The members of the Niagara Frontier Section of ISA are very proudly celebrating their section’s 55^nd Anniversary of being recognized as the Western New York source for training, standards and information on instrumentation and control systems.  ISA’s mission statement is to be the foremost worldwide society involved with the science and application of measurement and control technologies and to advance members competence, professionalism and recognition.

ISA was formed in 1945 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the Instrument Society of America and in late 1946 “Instrumentation for Tomorrow”, the first Annual ISA Society Instrumentation Conference and Exhibit was held in Pittsburgh.  Representatives of WNY industry attending this event realized the need to develop the industry which was spurred on by the technical demands of WWII.  ISA approved the Niagara Frontier Section Charter on July 31, 1947 and the Section formally incorporated in 1955.  The Section is very fortunate to continue contact with some of the original Charter members.

ISA is now a 50,000 member worldwide organization known as "The International Society for Measurement and Control" with headquarters and training facility in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

The worldwide ISA organization consists of 13 Districts.  Our Section is part of District 5 which includes 12 Sections located in Western New York, Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Michigan.

It is the Niagara Frontier Section’s responsibility to stay in touch with the needs of the local industrial area comprising Western New York, Northwest Pennsylvania and Southern Ontario.  Though the demands of industry may have changed over the years, the Niagara Frontier Section has played a major role in keeping local companies competitive in domestic and worldwide markets by introducing state-of-the-art technologies and applications for measurement and control systems.

The Niagara Frontier Section is extremely active and involved in both District and Society levels.  In 1950, the 5^th Annual ISA Society Conference & Exhibit was held here.  Niagara Falls was chosen as the site for Regional ISA Conference & Exhibits in 1973 and 1977.  We have hosted several District workshops, most recently in 1993.  Our members have contributed both time and expertise by serving many District and Society offices.  A former Niagara Frontier Section President, Keith Herbst went on to serve as ISA Society President.

The Niagara Frontier Section has a Board of Directors with 25 to 30 volunteers whose efforts and skills are required to run the programs and finances of the Section.  None of the Section’s activities would be possible without the diligent efforts of the Officers, Committee Chairmen and their respective committees.  Many of these individuals have received national and local acclaim from industry as well as ISA.

Recently, the Niagara Section has been honored as a section by the National ISA.  In 1997 and 2002 we were awarded a Gold Section Certificate and in 2001 we were awarded a Silver Section Certificate, and in 1998 we were awarded a Bronze Section Certificate.

Our Annual Instrumentation Exhibit which began in the early 1960's, is now the largest instrumentation exhibit held in Upstate New York with approximately 135 table top displays.  The Annual Instrumentation Exhibit is  the Section’s major source of revenue.

The development and growth of ISA Student Sections at Erie Community College, Niagara Community College, Buffalo State College and the State University at Buffalo is very important to the Niagara Frontier Section.  This past year the Niagara Frontier Section was able to provide five (5) scholarships to worthy candidates from local schools.  In addition to the scholarships we were also able to provide a number of grants for equipment to local schools to further the education of students in the field of Instrumentation, Measurement and Control.

Our current Western New York Instrumentation, Systems & Automation Directory has become the leading Buyers Guide and Reference Manual for Instrumentation, Systems and Automation in Western New York.   The Directory is also used by the Society at it’s Annual District Workshop as an example of one of the finest ISA Section Directories.

The Section’s monthly newsletter, “Niagara Frontier Transmitter” is sent out to all members on a monthly basis.  It is our main source for disseminating information on Section activities, meetings, plant tours and seminars.

One of the major contributions made by the Society to industry is the publication of International Standards for Instrumentation and Controls.  Our Section’s Standards and Practices Chairman and his committee have spent countless hours reviewing proposed Society Standards.

As a section we have innumerable resources available for our members.  Throughout the year, the section hosts technical educational seminars and plant tours. Among the attendees at our meetings you will find engineers and technicians, scientists and researchers, educators and managers; professionals with whom you can exchange information, discuss projects, technologies, applications and even share job information.  Contacts made at local ISA functions can provide for better networking in your profession and thereby affect your career and your future.

Since 1999, the Section's website at www.isa-niagara.org has provided a valuable medium of information exchange. Here you can find out about our scheduled events, program content, directory advertising information, and tradeshow exhibitor registration forms. Your can also take a look at some photos from prior events and find contact information for all officers and committee chairs.

Just as people over 50 years ago realized that technical improvement would increase their opportunities to grow and learn and better themselves, we today must recognize that instrumentation, measurement and control are key elements in industry and are in constant evolution.  Active participation in this organization is an investment in your career will yield great rewards.

Respectfully,
Carl Mende
Historian
Niagara Frontier Section ISA