Recently while attending the IEEE Board Series meetings in Atlanta GA, in February of this year, I was alerted to some wonderful news for IEEE members. IEEE launched a major initiative to enhance benefits to you the IEEE members. This is in response to 2008 Section Congress Recommendations, the IEEE is offering E-Books and Webinars free to all IEEE members. Over 200 books are now available to download free of charge, all you have to do is to go to IEEE XPLORE:
     http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/dynhome.jsp
     You will need your IEEE Web account credentials: user name and password. In case you don’t have a web account, now is your opportunity to maximize your benefits by signing up for one using your membership number. Once you enter the XPLORE WEB site you can look at the right hand side welcome panel to check what your membership entitles to access. On the left hand side panel you can browse various categories including books. The neat thing is that each book is divided into downloadable chapters so, you can save time and focus on your needs.
     All IEEE Press Books which were published 3 years or earlier are available for IEEE members free of charge.
     I decided to look at the available titles to search for areas that may be of interest to OES members. While I know that there is no IEEE specific series in Oceanic Engineering, I found many gems in Signal Processing and Communications and Power Systems that would interest many of our members. What I find exciting is that every year new titles related to emerging technologies are added and these are highly recommended.
     Now for free Webinars head to the IEEE USA Web site:
     http://www.ieeeusa.org/careers/gpa/
     There you will find a treasure trove of Webinars such as: Mentoring, Your Career’s Competitive Advantage, Discovering and Using Your Innovation Style, Career Management: Maximizing Your Employability and Enhance Your Career With Online Networking. This is part of IEEE’s response to Section Congress Recommendations as well.
     While you are at IEEE USA Web site do not forget to check out the free E-Books such as:
     Engineering the Art of Negotiation:
     Part 1: How to Handle Your Boss, and
     Part 2: How to Handle Your Colleagues
     IEEE, as part of its globalization efforts, has opened up access to these resources to all members throughout the world. IEEE has also created a group of representatives from all over the world to:

1. inventory and assess the current state of professional activities within IEEE,
2. compile data on member interests and preferences related to professional activities, their management and financing, and
3. develop a strategic plan to assist all regions in developing professional activities tailored to their specific needs and interests for their local members. This group is working to fulfill the IEEE Constitutional obligations to address the professional needs of all members, regardless of geographic location.

     I hope that you will take advantage of these opportunities and maximize the benefits of being part of the wonderful IEEE Network.

Dr. Ferial El-Hawary,
P. Eng., F. IEEE, F. EIC, F. MTS
President of IEEE - Canada (2008–2009)
Director of Region - 7 (2008–2009)
f.el-hawary@ieee.org