History of the Potomac Chapter

ISPI Potomac Chapter’s 40+ Years
of Improving Performance, a History of Excellence

The Early Years

The first organizational meeting of the ISPI Potomac Chapter (then known as the Washington Metropolitan Area chapter of the National Society for Programmed Instruction) was held in November 1962.  The first executive committee of our chapter was elected that fall.

Two members of the first executive committee were from Vitro Laboratories of Silver Spring.  According to a company newsletter (“Feedback,” Volume 14, Number 23, December 6, 1962), local industry, educational, military, and Government agencies were represented in the first years of the chapter.

Unfortunately, we don’t have specific information about other members of the new chapter or the committee or specifically what organizations were represented.  If you remember the early days or have historical chapter documents that you’d like to share, please let us know!

We were one of the first chapters formed within the Society, which was itself only a year old.  Later, the chapter received its charter from the National Society in the 1970’s, as one of the first chapters to participate in the formal chartering process.

Chapter Wins Society Honors

The Potomac Chapter has been selected as the Outstanding Chapter by the Society on four different occasions (1968, 1970, 1978, and 1980).  In addition, we received the Performance Technology in the Community Award in 1998.  Many Potomac Chapter members have received awards from the Society for their own work.

Chapter Hosts Four Society Conferences

The chapter has had the distinction of hosting four conferences: 1969, 1975, 1979, and 1988.  We also have a long history of providing speakers for conferences.