I am standing for Division Director Elect of Division IV this year and asking for your vote. This position is for next year, as a year in training, and then in the following two years the successful candidate will be serving on the Board of the IEEE primarily representing the interests and views of the members of the seven societies and one council that make up our Division. In addition, the Division Director serves on TAB (Technical Activities Board) and the IEEE Assembly.
Apart from the President of the IEEE, there are two ways that members’ voices are heard at the IEEE Board: by voting for Division Director and by voting for Region Director. We are members of one of the technical divisions, Division IV, which consists of seven smaller societies and one council. Each society has a style of its own but the important thing is those society members’ technical needs and interests are satisfied. For this the volunteers in NPSS need good support and that is what I will strive to do.
Why am I standing, why am I offering my time to this position? I firmly believe that strong technical communities are fostered by good publications, good meetings and good communications generally. All these require support from volunteers and I have happily given my time over the many years of involvement to support all our members.
Of course, all these activities require a good business model which is one way of saying that the funding for activities has to come from somewhere. There are always activities that have a cost to IEEE and other activities that generate revenue and in general, it is the societies, with the support of IEEE corporate, that generate much of the revenue from conferences and publications.
It is important to not only maintain but improve the value of the conferences and publications as the IEEE is not only highly respected but also in a competitive environment. However, with good leadership and continuing good support, our work for the growth of our respective communities can be even more effective. I want excellent and well-attended meetings and highly valued publications – this is the core of the IEEE and this is what I will support.
Ways I have been helping with this have been in preparing and distributing brochures and leaflets about all the activities of NPSS. This, along with membership booths and volunteers manning the booth at conferences, generates new memberships and ensures that all the members of the communities that NPSS serves are fully aware of all the opportunities we offer them. Each two years this job includes responsibility for creating and distributing over two tons of literature to over 16 conferences as well as membership mailings.
I currently serve on the TAB Society Review Committee, discussing with societies their operations and hearing about and documenting their innovations to share with other societies and offering help and advice where needed. While both society leaders and committee members put a lot of work into this review process, the benefits are well recognized and appreciated. It makes for stronger societies in a stronger IEEE.
Of course, we are in uncertain times and very few people recently have been looking at financial statements with a smile. These are times where prudent financial management and careful expenditure are essential. NPSS has been very successful here because the volunteers directly organizing meetings and running the publications have been well supported by the core NPSS leadership. I will be looking carefully at these aspects in the broader sense of the IEEE support of smaller societies such as make up the societies of our Division IV.
If elected I will report to you, the volunteers and members in the Division’s societies and I will always be happy to hear from you.
Please visit my election web site at www.peterclout.com or send me email at p.clout@ieee.org. Please
also vote in the election – I am asking for your vote.
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