Quick Start Training for All Geographic Unit Volunteers

IEEE is a global organization with more than 375,000 members in over 160 countries.  In support of the member, the IEEE is organized technically and geographically.  IEEE has 45 Technical Societies and Councils which focus on a distinct technical area.  IEEE has over 325 Sections (split into 10 Regions) which have been formed by IEEE members and are designed to meet the needs of these members on the local level.

As of 31 December 2008, IEEE has over 4,500 Geographic Units, which include Sections, Technical Chapters, Affinity Groups, Student Branches, and Student Branch Chapters.

The IEEE Member and Geographic Activities Board is responsible to the IEEE Board of Directors and serves the needs of the IEEE members by maintaining, enhancing, and supporting the Geographic Organizational Units of IEEE. 

• What are the IEEE Board of Directors and IEEE Major Boards (EAB, IEEE-USA, PSPB, TAB, MGA)?
• What is an IEEE Region?  
• What is an IEEE Section?
• What are a Technical Chapter, Affinity Group, and Student Branch?
• What is the relationship between Geographic Units?
• What is the organizational chart overview of the IEEE Organization? (PDF, 71 KB)

• Policies regarding IEEE Geographic Unit activities have been established by the IEEE Member and Geographic Activities Board.
• IEEE Geographic Units play a key role in supporting the needs of the member..

• What is an IEEE Web Account?
• As a Geographic Unit volunteer, what can I access using my IEEE Web Account?
• What is the IEEE E-mail Policy?
• What positions are currently recorded in the IEEE Geographic Roster?
• IEEE Geographic Roster

Volunteers carry out a very wide range of duties and responsibilities on behalf of IEEE.  All volunteers, particularly leaders, are required to acquaint themselves appropriately with IEEE Policies, Procedures, and Practices.  Each year, in the membership renewal pack, all members affirm their intention to adhere to the IEEE Code of Ethics.  The Code comprises 10 articles that aim to address in concise terms ethical issues encountered in professional engineering activity.  Beyond this, there is also an obligation for volunteers to abide by the spirit of the Code, especially in respect of Articles 2, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Volunteers are expected to contribute to IEEE activities in a cooperative and constructive manner, to ensure that the best possible use is made of the time available, given that volunteers are usually able to offer IEEE their time and effort very sparingly.  Meetings should be strongly focused on the business laid out in the agreed agenda, and not be impeded by irrelevant interventions.  The Chair has the prime responsibility for the conduct of the meeting, but the cooperation of all members present is also an important factor in ensuring that the business is conducted in a fair and harmonious manner.

A common misunderstanding about “conflict of interest” is that it only applies where an individual attempts to obtain some monetary advantage by virtue of being an office holder.  A broader view of the concept applies to any situation where some kind of advantage or privilege is being sought through the exercise of authority granted to an office holder.  The guiding principle for volunteers is to follow IEEE Policies, Procedures, and Practices, and be seen by their peers to be acting ethically in their decision-making.

Also note, you must be an member in good standing (i.e., current membership dues must be paid) in order to serve as volunteer in a Geographic Unit. 
 

Key Points:

Election or appointment of a volunteer to a position, such as a Section or Chapter Officer, Council Officer, etc., implies that there is an expectation that that person will be willing and able to undertake assigned duties and, if appropriate, to attend the meetings of the Organizational Unit.  Accepting a position also requires that the volunteer is adequately prepared for the meetings, that agenda papers are read beforehand, and any items from the previous meeting requiring action are properly followed up.  If a person is unable to perform these or other assigned duties, the expected result is a resignation from the position.

An orderly and regular turnover of Board, Committee, Section, and Chapter membership, including that of the Officers, should be a routine feature of IEEE volunteerism.  It ensures a healthy flow of new blood and invigorates all IEEE Organizational Units.  It is a duty of all Section/Council/Chapter Officers, to transfer all documents and other resources necessary for their successors to carry out their work effectively.

Key Points:

The policies, procedures, and regulations by which IEEE and IEEE Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) are governed are embodied in the following documents. 

• The IEEE Certificate of Incorporation legally establishes IEEE. 
• The IEEE Constitution, which can be approved and amended only by the voting members of  IEEE, contains IEEE's fundamental objectives and organization. 
• Implementation of the Constitutional provisions, in specific organizational structures and Procedures, is entrusted to the IEEE Bylaws, which are approved and amended by the IEEE Board of Directors. 
• The IEEE Policies contain more detailed statements of specific policies, objectives, and procedures which may be approved only the IEEE Board of Directors. 
• The purpose of the MGA Operations Manual is to provide more detailed statements of specific Regional Activities' objectives and procedures than are appropriate for inclusion in the other four documents.  Statements of MGA Operations are approved and amended by the IEEE Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) Board.
• Bylaws (Regions, Section, Geographic Council)

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