The winds of change are sweeping through the Telecommunications Association (TelSoc), with the 143 year-old industry group giving itself a makeover, with a new logo, new look and changes to the way it interacts with members and potential members.
To boosts its relevance in the telecommunications sector, the association - which has been serving its members since 1874 - is looking to be more active online and use social media and its own website to reach both existing and new members.
Tim Herring, Executive Director of TelSoc, says the association has been an excellent way of keeping up with new products, new technologies and networking with like-minded people through lunchtime lectures or seminars, but in the 21st century has recognised it has to “rise to new challenges and ways of attracting and keeping peoples’ interest”.
“We now have a new logo and a new branding; keeping our name and colour, but adding a distinctive symbol. A new Vision and Purpose has been developed and we are re-structuring our membership categories – with special rates for students and retirees, and a clearer set of deliverables to individual members.
{loadposition peter}“For the first time, TelSoc will be admitting a small number of organisational members – one category for large organisations and companies, one for SMEs. We will also have affiliate members, intended for not-for-profit organisations with related interests to TelSoc.”
TelSoc will announce the changes to members for the first time at the Henry Sutton Oration at a breakfast function in Melbourne on Thursday.
This year’s orator will be Håkan Eriksson, new CTO of Telstra, and the event will be streamed live to simultaneous events in Sydney, Adelaide and Ballarat at Federation University to celebrate Henry Sutton as a former lecturer.
Lorayne Branch, Henry Sutton’s great granddaughter, who has recently completed a book on Sutton’s achievements, will attend the Ballarat event.