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Igor Alexeff
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There are several interesting features from the last TAB meeting (Technical Activities Board), in New Orleans that NPSS members would be interested in:
First, there was a long report from the IEEE President, Bruce A. Eisenstein, concerning a big problem with the Computer Society. The problem is that the Computer Society had hired an executive director, without clearing the contract through the IEEE headquarters. The problem with that situation is that the Internal Revenue Service has strict guidelines concerning the hiring of expensive help by Non-Profit Organizations. An example occurred with The United Way, which also hired an Executive Officer at a pay rate that the Internal Revenue Service decided was excessive. The Internal Revenue Service then requested a mechanism from Congress to punish the organization without revoking its tax - free status. The new situation is that the individuals responsible for the contract are personally liable for large fines that cannot be paid by the organization.
For our society, The Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society, the consequence is that any contract with a monetary value over $10,000 must be cleared through the IEEE legal staff. If any of our subgroups have such contracts at present, please get in touch with me as we may have severe problems!
Following the presentation of Eisenstein, there was a presentation by the IEEE Chief Legal Council. He went over Eisenstein's presentation, but also covered more legal issues. One point we have not been familiar with is the legal responsibilities of the elected officers. The elected officers have been empowered by the electorate to carry on the organization's business. There is a legal term that applies to this fact that I have lost. The bottom line is that if an elected officer misses a meeting and sends a proxy, the proxy cannot legally vote! This piece of information is now being debated by the Society Presidents in that some claim that the ruling is merely advisory and not binding. I will keep you posted on the outcome.
Second, there was an apparently final report from the IEEE Branding Initiative concerning the universal IEEE logo that must be used on all IEEE publications. This logo was developed at great expense over several years by an outside consulting firm. It is an attempt to demonstrate that the IEEE is the authoritative information society. You will be delighted to know that the final result for the IEEE universal logo is simply the old IEEE "Kite" followed by the letters "IEEE" in ordinary block letters.
The "New Financial Model" that was designed to transfer funds from the Societies to Headquarters in an orderly manner - for things like the new initiative as described above - was not approved by The Board of Directors. One of the features of the new financial model was that it would eliminate "allotments" - predetermined blocks of money that are being transferred to various IEEE entities regardless of need. The IEEE Board of Directors refused to eliminate the allotments. The "New Financial Model" goes back to the committees for revision. As an aside, the headquarters reserve did not go negative, as had been predicted. It only dropped slightly. The anticipated headquarters' reserve going negative was the main driving force for "The New Financial Model".
The IEEE has set up a committee to look into New Technology that the IEEE might need to go into in the future. I am a member of this committee, and I would appreciate input from IEEE NPSS members on where the new technology is coming from. Nanotechnology is one direction that is recognized, and Wireless (including wireless to replace cables in large research installations) is another.
"Good Papers" is another subject I am working on. I get the impression that "Good Papers" must be new and exciting, but not too new and exciting, or they are rejected. Your input is requested.
I still have my "Hot Line" open for members that have problems. I was told that I would receive innumerable crank calls, but I have only received calls on problems that I would consider very serious.
You can get in touch with Igor Alexeff, the NPSS President, at the Electrical Engineering Department, Ferris Hall, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-2100; Phone (865) 974-5467; Fax: (865) 974-5492; E-mail: i.alexeff@ieee.org.