The power of many – How VDE is driven by its members
When members of a VDE regional chapter meet on a typical weekday somewhere in Germany, it doesn’t look like much from the outside. They gather in a university conference room, a utility company’s seminar room, or sometimes just in a side room of a restaurant. Minutes and documents lie on the table; somewhere there might be a box of soldering stations for the next workshop; a presentation on the energy transition or cybersecurity is open on a laptop. And yet what is happening here is the very heart of what holds the association together from within: volunteer work in the regions, driven by people who invest their free time in a network that many of them have been part of for years.
Structurally, this commitment is more than just a friendly extra. Since its founding on January 21, 1893, the VDE has seen itself as an association whose fundamental structure is shaped by volunteers. Despite all the professionalization of recent years: “We are and remain a technical-scientific association, supported by its members!” emphasizes Dr. Martin Hieber.
And so, following our previous in-depth coverage of the VDE technical societies and the VDE’s international activities, this issue of VDE dialog is dedicated to the commitment of the many regional chapters spread across the country, where events, excursions, discussions, and gatherings take place week after week—often organized by people who manage this alongside their jobs, studies, and family life. Without volunteers, the VDE would be almost unimaginable!
Representing countless other dedicated individuals, we present:
University Professor Jutta Hanson
Amateur Radio Operator Thomas Beiderwieden
VDE Bavaria Chairman Klaus Bayer
Robotics Team Coach Uwe Baumbach
Ph.D. Candidate Laureen Wegert
Electrical Engineer Wolfgang Niedenzu
Retiree Reinhard Waschke
Student Andreas Gelf
Also in this issue:
Storing Energy – Exciting Storage Alternatives to Batteries
Generators Off! – Shore Power Supply for Cruise and Container Ships
We hope you enjoy reading this issue.
Your Editorial Team
