The chapters’ luncheon is an annual event hosted by the Society during
the ISSCC to foster the exchange of ideas, issues, and experiences.
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Chapter Chair Luncheon, February 2006: Top row, from left: John
Long, M. Miyamato, Andrea Baschirotto, Mike Seningen, Atila Alvandpour, Gabriel
Rincon-Mora, Jinwook Burm, Zhihua Wang, Jacob Rael.
Middle row from left: Enz Lon, Shen-Juan Lin, Anas Hamoui, Jonathan David,
Svante Signell, Shahiar Mirabbasi, Tohru Furuyama, Sreedhar Natarajan,
Navakanta Bhat, Rakesh Kumar, Bill Hunt, Anne O'Neill, Terri Fiez.
Front row, from left: Katherine Olstein, Tin Tin Wee, Alvin Loke, Eric Hoffman,
Dan Oprica, Dick Jaeger, Jan Van der Spiegel, Bruce Hecht, Mary
Lanzerotti. |
This year, Alvin Loke, Chair of the Denver/Fort Collins, Colorado Chapter,
and I were invited by Professor Jan Van der Spiegel, SSCS Chapters Chair, to
share our thoughts on the ingredients for chapter success and to lead an
informal discussion.
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| From left, Jan Van der Spiegel, Bruce Hecht,
and Alvin Loke. |
Jan Van der Spiegel, SSCS Chapters
Chair, addresses Chapter Chair luncheon, February 2006. |
Some of the topics discussed over a collegial lunch at the meeting
were
- Why are we here, as SSCS chapters?
- What types of chapter events inspire SSCS members and
colleagues?
- Where can I find an inspiring speaker for my chapter meeting?
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| Loke, Hecht and Van der Spiegel lead the Chairs' discussion.
Foreground from left: Dan Oprica (Santa Clara), Jonathan David (Santa Clara),
Gabriel Rincon-Mora (Atlanta). |
I’d like to share with you some of the flavor of our dialog. I’d
encourage you to respond with your comments, requests, and experiences in
participating in local SSCS chapter events.
Technical Programs are Key
The consensus was that technical meetings are the heart of chapter activities,
although the topics and the choice of venue vary for each chapter.
Address Contemporary Concerns in the Profession
The IC engineering field is one of constant change. In addition to
learning about the latest process capabilities and design techniques,
non-technical topics such as innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual
property serve to address contemporary concerns in the practice.
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- Knowing your audience is important to making effective program
choices.
- Who are the participants and what are their aspirations?
- Focus on the subjects of interest to you and your colleagues.
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Find Inspiring Speakers
There are many ways to generate and put together your chapter’s
program. One of the advantages of volunteering with your chapter is the
opportunity to invite speakers on topics you are curious to know more
about. Many chapters hold planning meetings to brainstorm and share ideas
for future meetings. Leading practitioners are available to your chapter
through the Distinguished Lecturer program, with support from the Solid-State
Circuits Society. You can also draw on talented people in your local
area, for example at colleges, universities and industry. Alternatively,
you may find a potential speaker from attendees who are visiting in your area
for a conference.
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One idea for future events is to link two or more chapters together by an
internet meeting. New technologies may facilitate this as audio or
videoconferencing and could be used to link up chapters and/or members
separated by distance but linked by common interests. Please share your
experiences in this sort of meeting and also how would you see this fit in your
own chapter context.
Publicize
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- Take advantage of several channels to announce your meetings. You
will know from your chapter’s experience how you have contacted your
audience for past meetings.
- Whether by newsletter, posters, or through email, let everyone know the key
details of who, what, when, where to find your meeting.
- Remember to also give some background as to why the topic is relevant to
them at this time! Your chapter or section may have a web
site where you could post information for past and future events.
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Stay in Touch
The SSCS has a central web page available to link and share information related
to chapter events. Keep the Executive Office connected with your chapter
info, and visit the Society website yourself to see what your colleagues
in other chapters are currently programming. The web site may be found
from the SSCS web page, or at the following address: sscs.org/chapter.htm.
Good Luck and Keep Up the Good Work!
Over the last 10 years, the SSCS has grown to a count of 55 chapters,
delivering events at the local community level.
I would encourage you to attend your local events, to get
involved with your chapter’s program committee, and to present
your own work in a talk.
Please keep up the good work, and keep in touch!
