This
online seminar was presented in February 2007
offering an overview of the IEEE for GOLD
Affinity Group Chairs. The training was designed to
provide information and tips to help the newly
appointed Chair or one that needs additional
help. Topics covered include an overview of
the IEEE organization, the RAB GOLD Committee
and its role, IEEE Affinity Group and Section
operations, and awards and recognition.
Below are
the questions raised during the February session
with the speaker, Verona Wong (shown on
right), and her responses.
Question: What
is a typical event that a GOLD Chair could set up or
propose that would be different from one for
the entire section?
Response:
GOLD activities
carry a focus on young professionals but all IEEE
members are invited. When you come up with
activities, think primarily of GOLD members'
interest. For example, introductory technical
seminars rather than expert-level ones.
Non-technical events are usually more popular
than technical events. This is because GOLD members
have a wider base of technical interest but
share a common interest in non-technical
professional development. Personal development
issues like financial planning and time
management are also popular.
Question:
Would you make an event like bowling technical
at all? Would you have a speaker or just go
bowling?
Response:
To make GOLD
gatherings different, making bowling technical
is not a bad idea. It is possible to have a tour
of the bowling site and introduce the electronics
involved in bowling. Vancouver GOLD had
a very popular tour of a television station.
We looked at the technologies involved in
broadcasting and the actual programming of a
television program. Having a speaker at the
bowling event could be good. I would think a
15-minute talk and then bowling with the
speaker would be interesting.
Question: Is
the IEEE GOLD QSIF (Quick Start Incentive Fund)
matching of up to $500 per event? Or is it
over a one-year period?
Response:
The QSIF is a
one-time funding program. The matching US$500
is one-time only and matches funding provided by
another IEEE source, such as your parent Section or
Chapter. The program has a base amount of
US$200 that can be awarded if no matching funding is
available from the section or
chapter. The yearly IEEE activity
rebate is US$200 if you have two reported events per
year.
Question: How
do you motivate your volunteer?
Response
: Open
communication. Your whole committee
needs to understand what your GOLD Affinity Group
wants to achieve and how. Together, you
should set reasonable expectations with your
volunteers and review how the GOLD Affinity Group
gets things done. For example, you hold
a social event and expect 80% of your GOLD
members to attend, was that reasonable? Likely not,
a 20% attendance would be more reasonable.
Then you hold a technical event and
expect 20% attendance. Your team gets
disappointed with a 10% participation. Again,
it was not a reasonable expectation. GOLD
members have a wider interest base. All members of a
particular chapter share a common interest in
a technology. But GOLD members do not.
So a 10% attendance in a technical event is
actually very good. If attendance is
very low, review how you publicize the events
- is the time and location convenient?
Once you have successful events your
team will be more motivated.
Another
way to motivate volunteers is to share the positive
feedback from GOLD members and section
executives. Give your volunteers the
bigger picture of how GOLD is making IEEE filled
with "young" ideas and action.
Question:
Verona, what do you think is the key selling
proposition of GOLD for the student member?
Response:
Professional
development does not stop at graduation. Some
students may think they will come back after they
have chosen a technical focus later on in their
career. GOLD provides first hand
opportunities for recent graduates to explore
various technical fields, develop
non-technical skills and network with
thousands of professionals worldwide. Consider you
have a sport activity that you want to
learn and master. Would you spend
several years thinking about which sport to learn
without trying? Or would you explore all
the different sports, go to games, talk to
players, and then decide which one to become a
master in?
