COE is served by a structure of committees, each chaired by an appointed chairperson(s) approved by the Board of Directors who serves on a voluntary non-fee-receiving basis. The committees are dedicated to specific aspects of the software, its environment, or its application. They meet at the annual COE Spring Conference and provide a forum for specialists to exchange experiences, knowledge, and to discuss their mutual interests. Each committee is supported in its work by specialists from Dassault Systèmes, developers of CATIA, and IBM, marketers of CATIA, who attend and actively participate in the meetings.

Volunteer Benefits and Opportunities
COE's volunteer network is a vital resource. Volunteer leaders carry out many COE activities and planning with COE headquarters staff. COE program offerings are expansive so we require a resource base to deliver the value our members have come to expect. Indeed, without the year-round contributions of volunteers, COE would be a completely different organization.

Professional Development Opportunities
Volunteering for COE offers a unique opportunity for professional development. What does this mean to you? When you are looking for opportunities to enhance your professional capabilities, come to COE to gain the practical experience that can serve as the right complement to your area of expertise.

COE volunteering gives you tools for your personal and professional growth and success. We want you and your company to maximize the benefits of your volunteering experience. By volunteering for COE you can:

1. Gain invaluable networking contacts;
2. Acquire important management skills;
3. Develop leadership skills;
4. Refine your presentation skills;
5. Improve your business writing ability;
6. Learn important mentoring and coaching skills;
7. Receive professional development training that would normally cost your company additional training money.

In addition to professional and personal growth and satisfaction, you will receive professional recognition for you and your organization, by your peers at COE and within the industry. In return for your commitment, you will receive support for event planning, learn management techniques, and increase networking opportunities, as well as a chance to impact the future of COE.

Sharing What You Have Gained
The COE volunteer experience doesn't end there. The experience you gain can help justify your continuing participation as a COE volunteer to your management. You are encouraged to bring the COE volunteer experience back to your organization to gain the maximum return on your investment: 

1. Implement cost saving ideas or techniques and be sure your manager knows it was an idea, product or technique you learned about through volunteering for COE.
2. Let management know the time and effort saved by sharing information and networking with other volunteers. 
3.  Receive professional recognition for you and your organization. 
4.  Make a presentation to your manager and/or co-workers on highlights from one of the two annual Educational Conferences. Distribute handouts and point your colleagues to COE conference proceedings on our website.
5. Take advantage of the expanded industry vendor and user contacts within a professional community and network of peers.
6. Additional opportunity to influence Dassault Systemes product development.

Volunteer Opportunities
Involvement in the COE volunteer team provides you with opportunities for a one-time task or as an ongoing commitment.

1. Management Opportunities - Become a member of the COE Board of Directors or a regional leader. Nominations are open annually.
2. Advocacy Opportunities - Represent your company's interests and influence the information technology strategies, products, and services of Dassault Systemes in representing COE on the Development Planning Council (DPC) committees for a particular Dassault Systèmes application.
3. Conference Planning Opportunities - Represent your company on one of COE's Process Interest Committees (PIC) which cover the spectrum of Dassault Systemes applications, and recruit presentations on how organizations have met a business challenge using Dassault Systèmes products or a business partner software
4. Speaking Opportunities - Share your technical knowledge and enhance your communications skills by presenting a conference session on a timely topic or user experience at one of COE's annual Educational Conferences.
5. Writing Opportunities - Write articles for the monthly COE NewsNet e-newsletter. Articles are usually about tips or solutions. For example, how your organization has met a business challenge using Dassault Systèmes or a business partner software. Alternately, you may coordinate a regular feature; in this case, you would develop a network of possible contributors, and work with them to solicit articles.
6. Web Initiative Opportunities - Help monitor the Discussion Forum on the COE web site and answer questions other users present to the forum.
7. Marketing & Membership - Contribute your expertise in marketing and the industry to help COE grow the membership and participation in association sponsored services and events.

What Opportunities Are Available Now?
Remember, these are only a small sample of many opportunities available to you as a COE volunteer. To learn more about our volunteer program, contact COE Headquarters at 800.COE.CALL or send us an e-mail at: info@coe.org