Committee Mission
The SAME Membership Committee develops and communicates to all Posts the strategies, best practices, and tools that are most effective for them to grow their membership, to foster greater member engagement and leadership, and to enhance their members’ experience with SAME, further enabling each Post to support the current Strategic Plan of the Society.
Join the SAME Engage Membership NetworkOverview
As one of the “operational” Communities of Interest (vs. “technical” COIs), the Membership Committee serves as an extension of the national office staff to assist all Post leaders, especially Posts’ Membership Chairs/POCs, with the tools, resources and connections necessary to help enhance their members’ society experience through their locally relevant Posts. Between our COI members and the post membership chairs/POCs, invited to our calls and sponsored webinars, we are over 140 people strong across SAME.
SAME’s Membership Committee is open to any SAME member to participate. Unlike many of our other COIs that focus in on special professional and technical interest areas important to SAME members, the Membership COI provides participants with a broad-ranging opportunity to become involved at the national level. Our forum has the potential to positively impact the experience of every current and future member of the society as it pursues its strategic goals.
COI Objectives
- Provide opportunities to foster connections with other Post leaders across all sizes and post geographies
- Engage with best practices employed at other Posts by their leaders and members
- Share creative tools and resources aimed at improving post level retention and recruitment successes
Committee Chair
Lee Ann Zelesnikar, F.SAME
Organization Structure
Vice Chair, Tools & Resources: Dick Kochanek
Vice Chair, Strategic Direction: Shante Fields
Vice Chair, Communications: Summer Gladden, F.SAME
Staff Liaison: Jill Murphy
Webinar: Understanding the New Membership Structure
Military Membership – What’s in it for You?
Upcoming National Webinars
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- Webinar
The Hidden Cost: Why Schedule is the Biggest MILCON Premium
Military construction (MILCON) cost discussions often focus on dollars per square foot, but one of the most significant portion of the overall cost is time. Every month added to a project can increase costs through -
- Webinar
AI as Load Shock: Rethinking Energy Security and Mission Assurance
The rapid expansion of AI computing, electrification, and mission-critical digital infrastructure is fundamentally altering the energy security landscape. While AI is often discussed as a software capability or data challenge, its most immediate national security impact is physical: unprecedented, concentrated, and inflexible electrical demand that stresses grid infrastructure and traditional resilience assumptions.
Related TME Articles – Membership
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Finding Common Ground: Military Planning Across Europe
A cross-country assessment of European military installations in support of U.S. Army Europe and Africa highlights how addressing gaps in master planning, cultural norms, and certifications can improve NATO’s ability to deliver interoperable infrastructure at increasing scale. -
Accelerating Mission Readiness Through Coastal Resiliency
Throughout the Pacific, coastal science and engineering are being applied to strengthen shoreline resilience, sustain critical infrastructure, and accelerate mission readiness. -
Building Without Breaking the Mission
A complex renovation at Naval Air Station II Sigonella demonstrates how early integration, collaboration, and alternative delivery method-aligned practices can preserve mission readiness despite shifting requirements. -
Delivering Facility Design Best Practices for International Defense Partners
Successfully delivering engineering and design in support of Foreign Military Sales requires early alignment on codes, life safety, construction capabilities, and communication.
