There has always been an unfounded scepticism in industry that organizations like TMS, besides being focussed on academic circles, are restricted to their country of origin. Having attended the 2002 Annual Meeting, I can assure prospective Young Leaders and Members alike that these are myths.

Despite being based in South Africa, I was selected as Young Leader Representative for the Extraction and Processing Division (EPD) for 2002. In addition to the benefits of the position (i.e. monetary assistance for travel and lodging etc.), being selected has in itself been a huge privilege, proving that TMS truly is a global player in the metallurgical industry.

The symposia at the 2002 Annual Meeting covered such a variety of subjects that I had difficulty to decide where to focus my attention. I therefore spent most of my time at the "Sulphide Smelting '02" sessions but also attended some presentations from General Pyrometallurgy and Waste Treatment. During breaks in the program, I had interesting discussions and made valuable new contacts with numerous people from all over the world.
Besides attending the symposia, we as Young Leaders were invited to attend and participate in a number of high-level discussions that provided insight into the workings of the organization.

These started with a Young Leaders Committee meeting, which served as an introduction to the program, with previous Young Leaders and TMS staff providing guidance. Personally, I also attended the Waste Treatment Committee Meeting, Pyrometallurgy Committee Meeting, Young Leaders Tutorial Luncheon, EPD Council and EPD Luncheon Lecture, each of which added to the value of my experience.

For me personally, the Seattle experience has been enriching for both my chosen career and for my personal development and I am looking forward to the next event with anticipation. Thank you to TMS and particularly the EPD.

As a Young Leader recipient, I was able to attend my first TMS Annual Meeting (February 17-20 in Seattle, WA). This experience provided me new insights into TMS society and opportunities to be involved in TMS committees. The Young Leaders program provides an excellent stepping stone for young members to a vital part of TMS and helps bridge the age gap within the society. I would like to thank the MPMD committee, and the entire TMS society for this opportunity. I look forward to working with TMS in the future."

First, I would like to thank the Structural Materials Division for selecting me as one of their 2002 Young Leader Interns. It was with great pleasure that I participated in various Young Leader Intern activities, including the committee meeting, reception, and Young Leaders sponsored tutorial. These activities allowed the Interns a chance to interact with each other, as well as other TMS members. I also attended the Presidents Reception, Structural Materials Division Council Meeting, and Nuclear Materials Committee meeting. These activities provided insight into the important issues facing both the TMS organization and the individual committees. It was quickly apparent that TMS members are enthusiastic and dedicated to provide technical direction and leadership to the organization. I volunteered to help coordinate the Young Leaders tutorial for the 2002 Fall meeting in Columbus, as well as review committee bylaws for the Nuclear Materials Committee. These opportunities will allow me to further develop working relationships with various TMS members. The Young Leader Intern program provides an opportunity to network with established professionals as well as young and rising professionals. I look forward to working with the 2002 Young Interns over the next year and the entire TMS organization for many years to come.

I am honored and very thankful for being given an opportunity to participate in the Young Leaders Program. The program provided me with an opportunity to interact with other Young Leaders, the TMS leadership and participate in various technical committee meetings. I will be involved in programming and symposia planning for the Mechanical Behavior of Materials and Nuclear Materials committees, in future annual and fall meetings. My experience from the Seattle meeting suggests that this is an excellent program that sponsors young members from the materials profession and facilitates their taking a leadership role in TMS.....I look forward to continuing my involvement with TMS for many years to come.

It is a great pleasure and honor to be selected as a Young Leader Intern of the Electronic, Magnetic and Photonic Materials Division (EMPMD) of TMS for 2002. This program is a wonderful opportunity to become familiar with the various aspects of running the society that I might not have been exposed to otherwise.

While in Seattle, I met many new friends, and renewed several old acquaintances. Interacting with fellow Young Leaders and meeting with the society leadership gave me a keen sense of the important issues that we currently face as professionals and as a society. During the conference, I attended the Division Council meeting where the Chairman, Bob Shull, specifically asked that I serve as the Division representative to the Education Committee. I have contacted representatives for the Electronic Packaging and Interconnection Materials Committee, as well as the Thin Films and Interfaces Committee and plan on becoming very active on those committees in the near future. I was also elected as the Secretary of the Young Leaders Committee. I look forward to the upcoming years of service to EMPMD and TMS.

For more information on becoming a TMS Young Leader, why not join us for one of our committee meetings? Complete and submit the Young Leaders Participation Form or contact TMS Membership Department.

For information on participating in the Young Leader Intern Program, complete and submit the application form (PDF) or contact the TMS Membership Department.

Read additional comments and experiences submitted by former Young Leader Interns:

• Experiences of 2007 Interns at Annual Meeting
• Experiences of 2006 Interns at Annual Meeting
• Experiences of 2005 Interns at Annual Meeting
• Experiences of 2004 Interns at Annual Meeting
• Experiences of 2003 Interns at Annual Meeting
• Experiences of 2002 Interns at Annual Meeting
• Experiences of 2001 Interns at Annual Meeting