[USMA:30988] Things YOU Can Do to Promote Metrication

[Jim Elwell]

Below and attached as a PDF. More ideas are needed, folks!!

Things YOU Can Do to Promote
Metrication in the USA

3 September 2004

NOTE: Whenever you send a letter or email, be polite and to the point. Angry, long or abusive letters are, at best, ignored, and at worst do the opposite of what they intend.

1.      Write to elected officials supporting pro-metric and denigrating anti-metric legislation.

2.      Write to media supporting metrication and explaining its benefits.

3.      Write to manufacturers praising them when they produce hard-metric products and use metric notation properly.

4.      Write to manufacturers chiding them when they do not use metric appropriately.

5.      When you see misuse of metric notation, write letters the publication or organization responsible.

6.      Post any letters you write to the USMA listserver, to provide ideas and encouragement to others.

7.      Metricate your own life (thermostats, cooking, etc.).

8.      Tell friends and family of the benefits of �going metric.�

9.      JOIN THE US METRIC ASSOCIATION.

10.     Write editorials promoting metrication and send them to trade journals of your profession.

11.     Get a CMS or CAMS certification from the USMA to give �weight� to your opinions.

12.     Promote metric in any volunteer activities you do.

13.     Volunteer to help the USMA in some capacity (e.g., become an expert on FPLA legislation, review upcoming legislation for pro/anti metric content, etc.).

14.     Promote metric in your job, to your coworkers, to your boss.

15.     Ask your employer to join the USMA as a corporate member.

16.     Where you have a choice, buy metric products, even if they cost a bit more.

17.     If you�re a metric pessimist, keep your mouth shut � complaining only makes our job harder.

18.     Volunteer to coach or tutor at local science fairs.

19.     Ask science teachers at your childrens� schools if you can teach or tutor metric.

20.     When you find products that don�t comply with FPLA requirements for metric units, write letters to the manufacturers. In egregious (e.g., fraudulent) cases, write to the appropriate state authorities.

21.     Start a web site for an avocation that interests you and promote metric on it (�Heavy Metric Metal!� or �Metric Home Brewers�).

22.     Whenever you state a metric measurement and some asks you �What is that in inches (cups, etc.)?�, respond with a description rather than a conversion:

                �I found a 7 cm long caterpillar!�
                �What�s that in inches?�
                �Oh, about as long as your index finger.�

Jim Elwell, CAMS
Electrical Engineer
Industrial manufacturing manager
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
www.qsicorp.com

Things YOU Can Do to Promote Metrication in the USA.pdf
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