AWS membership, individual vs student: A question of economy (Warning: Long Winded)

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Hi,I'm new here, and have recently introduced myself.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...southern-MaineI'd like to join the AWS, but am not certain which option is most economical (individual/welder vs student). A list of membership benefits for each membership type is available for review at their respective link.http://www.aws.org/membership/ind.htmlhttp://www.aws.org/membership/stu.htmlI've listed some motives/incentives for joining and my interpretation of their value.For individual & student members:*Welding Journal subscription (digital version is standard with student membership. I'd prefer the paper version, which is base price +$20 for students, standard for individual members).*Discounted publications from AWS and certifications (I'm interested in further education in topics like aircraft welding, for the purpose of constructing an experimental aircraft, and can reasonably foresee actually purchasing some of their pubs. Maybe even another certification or two.) My university library has some of their pubs available for reference, but not necessarily all of them, and not necessarily recent versions.*Discounts on conferences and education programs/events. I don't know if I'd go to any of these, and I don't know anything about them. Are they interesting or useful?*"Issues of American Welder, Welding Marketplace and more" I can only assume this means that you don't get a subscription, but you get a handful of recent issues and it's up to you to subscribe if you want to keep getting them. I don't know anything about these periodicals, apart from a paragraph on the AWS website about "Welding Marketplace." Google couldn't tell me anything about any periodical called "American Welder", but insisted I'd be interested in aws.org/wj... As far as I can tell, Welding Journal is patently NOT American Welder...For Individual Members only:*Discounts on equipment - discussed below*Up to 90% off an AWS technical publication when you join. Choose from 20+ technical publications." The link for more info doesn't actually explain which 20+ pubs they're talking about. 90% off a $150 pub about something that I'm actually interested in could really tip the scales here. I've seen some of their pubs only cost about $15. I'll assume it'd be one of those that I could get for 90% off.*Access to a health insurance program. Does anyone have anything to say about their experiences here? I can also get group health insurance through my school, ASME, or VFW.I'm going to purchase a piece of equipment soon, and the best price I can find for non-members (i.e. student members or general public. Student members don't get equipment discount from participating distributors) is from an online supplier (shipping included). My local welding supplier comes reasonably close to the online price. The local price is online price + $129.00As an AWS member, my local price is online price - $121.20I would prefer to purchase my equipment from a local dealer that would service it, for the purpose of creating some sort of working relationship. I'm assuming at least one of my competing local suppliers would service a machine purchased elsewhere. Is that a safe assumption? Of course, my shielding gases will invariably come from my local dealer. Other consumables and accessories (rods, tungsten, cups, etc) would likely be bought through whichever medium I determine is the optimum combination of both price and convenience. I haven't done any considerable price comparisons yet, as the cumulative savings on consumables purchased as an AWS member probably won't amount to a significant number of bucks in my particular case (I'm a full time student currently, so I will not be consuming very much, relatively).The savings on my one-time purchase for this equipment will nearly pay for two years of Individual Membership if I buy at the promotional price of two years for $139 (that's not including one-time fee of $12 for new members, which isn't applicable to student members). I'm fairly sure I'll buy the equipment in mind, whether I join AWS as a student, an individual member, or don't join at all.So, basically, if I join as an individual right now and pay for a two year plan (This ties up $139 - $82 = $57 that would otherwise be available to me if I simply paid for one year of membership, and that's something to consider as well) for $139 + $12 = $151 and make the equipment purchase that I'm considering at a price discounted by $121.20, then the net cost of my first two years of individual membership is $29.80, or $17.8 for those who don't think it's fair to include the one time new member fee of $12 ( I think it's fair, because I wouldn't pay any such fee with a student membership). That's $14.9/annum or $8.9/annum, respectively, for only the first two years. After that, of course, I'm back to paying $82/annum to keep my membership (and I can only imagine there are no attractive promotions for retention, and that I can plan on dues increasing). All in all, it'll only be two extra years at the $82/annum rate if I go this route, because I am not planning to be in school longer than that, but I do intend to keep my membership. Obviously, if I made another significant equipment purchase through my local supplier during my 3rd or or 4th year of membership at a price < internet price, the year(s) in question would be effectively discounted by some degree. Right now, I have no such intentions.Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for any input.
Reply:As you can see, there have been 34 reads and I see that I am the first reply.As with many other questions you will have, there is no one "right" answer. After carefully reading your arguments, pro and con, I have ***-u-me-d that cash flow is a major consideration. Following the discussions on this board, you will have the opportunity to gain a lot of practical knowledge.Good Luck, rest assured that no matter what you decide, somebody will tell you that you should have made theother choice.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:So, I'm curious too- put it in a nutshell for us... use the Keep It Simple Method. Is becoming an AWS member worth it? or is this website more valuable?? I enjoy this site very much, just don't have enough time to enjoy it as much as I'd like to. As a student, what can AWS provide me... simply put.
Reply:I have been a member for over 15 years but am going to drop it since I am retired.  If you have any interest in welding you should join.   All the promo stuff is just dressing.  When you join you also become a member of the local in your area.  Most locals have a meeting once a month with a guest presenter.  I know our local gives a huge discount on the cost of the dinner meeting to student members to encourage them.   At that monthly dinner meeting you sit down amongst people who live and breath welding; welders. supervisors owners, welding equipment sales people, inspectors and engineers.  It is comical when in the past a welding engineer will recognise me and wander across the shop to say hello.  Mates would look at me and ask at break how I know that guy.   Well I have sat down with him over dinner which gives me brownie points with all those other professionals.  Over dinner we hear all kinds of gossip.  We are like a group of fish wives.  LOL   At each meeting there is a presenter.  One memorable one was from some old guy in his eighties who had been project engineer on a penstock upgrade of a earthen dam in the mountains of Pakistan.  He has slides of the plate delivered from Germany to when it was rolled in the open on a set of rolls brought there for the purpose.  We saw the whole process from start to finish.   On another we had an engineer that designed observatories for telescopes situated all over the world including in Hawaii.  One observatory was in the southern Atlantic on an island on the edge of a cliff... over a thousand feet down to the water.  the ironworkers had to lower all their lifting frames when the wind came up.  Join and go to the meetings.  Also if you are curious ask around about the next meeting ... we will not boot you out even if you are not a member.Last edited by lotechman; 10-09-2013 at 10:49 PM.
Reply:I wish I could give you answers that you can take to the bank.I have learned a lot from this website, there is a vast collection of knowledge here; there is also a lot of what I will politely call mistaken opinion.After reading about the misadventures a lot of us, you may begin to filter out some of what should better be used as organic fertilizer, than accepted as information of lasting value.As for myself, I am a senior citizen (Old Fart) hobby welder who no longer holds down "a real job".I don't get much hobby welding done either, as I am rapidly approaching "the older I get, the better I was" stage of life.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Originally Posted by nadogailGood Luck, rest assured that no matter what you decide, somebody will tell you that you should have made theother choice.
Reply:I asked my instructor the same thing once.He basically said, if you can afford the full membership, and can also afford to attend the conferences and conventions, get it. If not, don't bother, because most publications can be pirated for free.Not that I condone such activities. Just passing on the answer that helped me decide to skip membership.