As I noted in my column in the Summer Newsletter, we are finishing up this year, and my second term as President, with a flashy sprint.

Society Review
In June, the Society appeared before the TAB Society Review Committee to report on our Vision, Mission, and operations. At the same time, the TAB Publications Review Committee reviewed the Journal of Oceanic Engineering and the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society Newsletter. The Society Review Committee offered the following comments as a result of the review:

Recognition of good practices

• OES sponsored a Maritime Homeland Security Workshop in December 2003 based on the general public’s interests in homeland security. This represents a quick turnaround of a workshop related to immediate needs.
• Paper copies of Conference Proceedings must be ordered prior to the conference and are provided post conference.
• Development of workshops.

Recommendations to the Society

• Implement its strategy and fulfill its mission for global recognition and further its influence.
• Develop a better distribution of AdCom and Committee members.
• Continue its excellent performance in sponsoring workshops.

We do not have a report from the Publications Review Committee, but generally they were complimentary in the meeting.
The first "Recommendations to the Society" recognizes our work in extending our services to the profession, our community, and our membership to a global reach. the second recommendation encourages us to make the membership of our Administrative Committee and our other committees, including our Panel of Editors, more representative of our community and the IEEE. As we implement our Two-Oceans policy, it will give more visibility to our Society and its activities and publications, and will encourage our undiscovered colleagues to make their own contribution to our Society.

Society Statement of Interest
As expected, the Technical Activities Board approved our revises Statement of Interest at its June, 2004, meeting. As a reminder, here is the new statement:
The field of interest of the Society includes all aspects of science, engineering, and technology that address research, development, and operations pertaining to all bodies of water. This includes the creation of new capabilities and technologies from concept design through prototypes, testing, and operational systems to sense, explore, understand, develop, use, and responsibly manage natural resources.
On a related mater, the revision of the Constitution and Bylaws is proceeding. I expect that the Administrative Committee will approve the revised versions at our meeting in Kobe. this will pave the way for submission of the new Constitution to the Membership for approval. the first step will be its publication in the Newsletter.

Conferences
Since our last Newsletter, we have had two successful workshops: AUV ’04 in the U.S.A., and the US-Baltic Symposium in Lithuania.
Coming up is Sea Tech Week in October in Brest, France, the site of OCEANS ’05 Europe next June and IEEE SENSORS 2004 in Vienna, Austria, both in October.
If you haven’t made your plans to attend OCEANS MTS/IEEE ‘04/Techno-Oceans in Kobe in November, please do so now. take advantage of this opportunity to meet your colleagues from all over the world. I expect that there will be many from Asia who have not been able to attend OCEANS Conferences in North America and Europe. who knows what relations you can forge?
Also, plan to attend the Second Homeland Security Workshop in December. It will be held in Valley Forge, and will be bigger and better than last year’s extraordinarily successful inaugural workshop.
As long as you have your calendar in your hands, or on your computer screen, please plan for our conferences and workshops in 2005. OCEANS ’05 Europe will be in Brest in June, and OCEANS MTS/IEEE ’05 America will be in Washington, D.C. in September.
See the Society’s web page for details.
Let’s Get Famous!