SCOOP - May 2009

• Update on IEEE Sections Congress Recommendations
• Collection of Payment in Local Currencies
• IEEE in Second Life®
• April Membership Highlights
• Publicize Your Conference
• New IEEE Distinguished Lecturer Program Page Published
• IEEE Expert Now e-Learning Outreach Program

Update on IEEE Sections Congress Recommendations 

The highlight of every Sections Congress is when delegates develop and vote on recommendations that IEEE will address in order to best serve the needs of its members.  The MGA Board has taken ownership of each of the top 10 recommendations that were developed during IEEE Sections Congress 2008.  These recommendations focus on the following areas:

• Improving the Benefits of Membership
• Increasing Membership
• Improving the Growth and Development of Members
• Improving IEEE Business/Financial Operations
• Enhancing IT Operations

A progress report on each of the recommendations has been provided and is available on the IEEE Sections Congress web page.   Feedback on the progress reports is welcome via e-mail.

Collection of Payment in Local Currencies

IEEE has received feedback from members and volunteers about difficulties faced in remitting payments in US currency.  Sections can play an important role in facilitating the collection of payment from members who face these difficulties.  We have documented instructions for collection of payment in local currencies with the help of Sections who have been providing this service to their members using their IEEE Concentration Banking Custody Accounts.  Please e-mail the Custody Account Program with any questions.

IEEE in Second Life®

Second Life® is an online 3-D virtual world within which residents are able to establish identities (avatars), explore, create, and communicate.  Referred to as "inworld" by its residents, this interactive environment lends itself well to social networking, collaboration, and learning.  IEEE has created in Second Life® a virtual infrastructure and presence to support its staff, volunteer, and member needs.  This presence is spread across two islands and serves as a gateway for people to explore and participate in the activities of IEEE.  Opportunities to help develop the IEEE islands are open to IEEE staff, volunteers, and member groups.  View IEEE in the Virtual World.  If you'd like to participate, please e-mail the IEEE Second Life Team  expressing interest to become involved.

April Membership Highlights

IEEE membership reached 336,167 in April 2009, an increase of 2.6 percent from April 2008.  Society membership decreased to 284,389, a 0.9 percent decline.  Complete details are available in the Membership Development Report.  In order to access this site, you must use your IEEE Web Account.  You can easily create an IEEE Web Account if you do not already have one.

Publicize Your Conference

As a reminder, IEEE Conference Services is asking all Regions, Chapters, and Sections to submit an Information Schedule for all conferences, symposia, workshops, tutorials, short courses, expositions, and conventions.

The Information Schedule is a request for basic conference summary information and will allow IEEE Conference Services to develop a complete and accurate IEEE Conference Business Profile.  In addition, better information will help facilitate a stronger negotiating position with service providers, and the information will be used to help you promote your conferences through the IEEE web site.  As an extra benefit, this conference information is also fed to Region calendars for additional coverage for you.

This request for information through the Information Schedule does not imply any changes in financial reporting policies.  The same threshold for financial reporting remains in effect: any conference with budgeted income or expense of greater than US$25,000 must follow IEEE conference financial reporting rules.

The Information Schedule is a powerful tool that benefits IEEE Conference Services and the Regions, Chapters, and Sections.  E-mail your Information Schedule to IEEE Conference Services or call +1 732 562 3878.

New IEEE Distinguished Lecturer Program Page Published

In order to provide a more accessible resource for Section/Chapter Distinguished Lecturer program information, a new IEEE Distinguished Lecturer Program web page has been created to assist Sections/Chapters looking for a Distinguished Lecturer.  The web page includes a list of direct links to Technical Society/Technical Council program pages, replacing the former password-protected database that required a login.  This new web page allows Sections/Chapters to easily link to specific Section/Chapter Distinguished Lecturer program pages.

IEEE Expert Now e-Learning Outreach Program  

After completing a successful two year pilot program, IEEE Educational Activities has officially launched the IEEE Expert Now e-Learning Outreach Program (formerly the IEEE Expert Now Section-Chapter Pilot Program).  The program’s purpose is to provide quality educational materials to enhance local IEEE educational activities and further support the value of IEEE membership.  This e-Learning Outreach Program makes courses in the IEEE Expert Now library available to IEEE Members through their local Geographic Units, such as Regions, Sections, Chapters, or Student Branches, during a live educational event.  Courses are available for a rental fee and IEEE Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are also available to those who attend these events.  For more information, e-mail the Expert Now team .

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IEEE Member and Geographic Activities

MGA Vision - Ensure Quality Member Opportunities Through Continuous Engagement

MGA Mission - Inspire, Enable, Empower, and Engage Members of IEEE.  For the purposes of…

• Fulfilling the mission of IEEE
• Enhancing the members' growth and development through their life cycle
• Providing a professional home

IEEE.  Fostering technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity.

Note: This newsletter is intended for the interest of IEEE volunteers and may be shared with other volunteers.  The newsletter, in its entirety or in part, should not be sent to public bulletin board systems.  It is published monthly, usually around the middle of the month. 

The distribution list includes individuals who currently hold the position of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, or Webmaster, within a Region, Section, Council, Subsection, or Area.

Archival issues of SCOOP are available.