Senior Member Program: Volunteer Resources

Goal: The Nominate a Senior Member Initiative was designed to encourage all IEEE Sections and Societies to become actively involved in promoting the Senior member grade.

This initiative aims to:

• encourage grade advancement in IEEE;
• simplify the application process;
• offer financial incentives for approved Senior member applications;
• offer increased benefits for Senior membership.

Deadline: To qualify for the 2013 Nominate A Senior Member Initiative, Senior member application and reference forms must have been completed no later than 1 November 2013.

Reward Structure and Administration: Section/Society Bonus: Nominating Sections and Societies that nominate at least five successful new Senior members will be awarded US$10 for each Senior member they nominate who is approved for elevation to Senior member in 2013. As a result, no rebate will be awarded if it is for less than US$50. To be credited as the nominating entity, the name of the Section or Society must be entered in the nominations portion of the application form. There can only be one nominating entity for each elevation. If there is no entity nominator listed, none will be credited and none can be added retroactively. If the nominating entity listed is a subsection or a combined entity, the incentive will be awarded to the Section the subsection belongs to or to the first entity cited.

Rewards will be tracked on an ongoing basis for all applications received by 11 November 2013 and successfully approved by the Admission and Advancement Committee. The incentive reward payments to the successful nominating Sections and Societies will be paid out in early 2014 or in conjunction with the Section Rebate Program.

Why the Senior Member Initiative: It has been demonstrated that there is a relationship between the grade a member holds and that member's likelihood to keep their IEEE membership. The higher the grade, the more likely they are to renew.  

• Many executive volunteer offices require that a member hold Senior member grade.
• Senior members provide leadership on a volunteer basis.
• The percentage and number of IEEE Senior members reflects on the competence and prestige of IEEE and its products and services.
• Senior members have an average retention rate of 98%.
• A greater percentage of Senior members belong to more IEEE Societies than do other IEEE member grades.
• Senior members volunteer at a higher percentage rate than do other grades of IEEE members.

• Encourage qualified members to apply for Senior member (SM) elevation.
• Use SAMIEEE to identify potential SM candidates and assist applicants in identifying SM references.
• List SM requirements in newsletters and on Web pages.
• Assist candidates in finding Senior members and Fellows who can serve as references.
• Conduct SM elevation events at least twice a year. See the Membership Development Manual (PDF, 1.3 MB).
• Explain the qualifications and have applicants complete applications at a special Senior member Nomination/Elevation session.
• Have Fellows and Senior members on hand to meet applicants and for applicants to acquire the references needed.
• Encourage newly elected Senior members to take an active role serving as references.
• Form Senior member nominating committees in every Section to nominate worthy members for Senior member elevation.
• Send an e-mail notice to potential Senior member candidates encouraging them to apply for Senior membership.
• Organize Senior member nomination events for your entity, inviting potential Senior member candidates as well as current Senior members and Fellows who could serve as references. At these gatherings, provide assistance to candidates on accessing and completing the necessary forms. See the Central Texas Section Senior Member campaign (PPT, 71 KB).
• Hold annual awards banquets or dinners and invite newly inducted IEEE Fellows and Senior members, to give them their due recognition. Present them with a certificate, include their names in the program, or simply read out their names to the assembled guests. Don't forget to publish their names in the Section or Society's newsletter or Web page as well.

2013 Regional Statistics of Senior Member Elevations

For more information on the IEEE Senior Member Initiative, e-mail Lou Curcio.