I'm not saying engineering should be a closed shop, it is in all engineers interest that we have a common voice.
Mass membership (voluntary) would mean we could have accurate salary surveys, good contacts and a less fragmented industry.
With the JAR66 bearing down on us there are going to be less LAMEs and we need to talk to each other. The bean counters will be less able to pressure us if we had a clearer defined and more professional approach.