I am honored and grateful to be elevated from 2003 Vice Chair and Chair-elect position to serve as the 2004 Chairman of the Northern Virginia Section. The January-February issue of the SCANNER provides a bridge between the year past and one starting by issuing the messages from the respective outgoing section chairs and providing the slate of the new duly elected officers of both sections. At the planning meeting of Northern Virginia Section in December, traditionally the Vice Chair announces the committee assignments. This year, however, the Vice Chair asked for two nominations for each committee and did not complete the assignments until the January AdCom meeting. I remain grateful to all for accepting the standing committee chair assignments and other appointments and liaisons as listed below:
Budget and Finance: Chuck Sisung sisung@ieee.org
sisung@ieee.org
Constitution and Bylaws: Rex Klopfenstein
r.klopfenstein@ieee.org
Educational Activities: Matt Giltner
matt.giltner@ieee.org>
Fellows: Scott Goldstein
s.goldstein@ieee.org
Membership Development: Mike Cardinale
cardinal@ieee.org
Nominating Committee: Scott Goldestein
s.goldstein@ieee.org
Planning Committee: Murty Polavarapu
murtyp@ieee.org
Professional Activities Committee: Ed Gordon
ed@edgor.com
Program Committee: Murty Polavarapu
murtyp@ieee.org
Public Communications: Pete Sypher
p.sypher@ieee.org
Student Activities Committee: Fred Seelig
f.seelig@ieee.org
Technical Activities Committee: Murty Polavarapu
murtyp@ieee.org
Website Editor: Rex Klopfenstein
r.klopfenstein@ieee.org
Advertising: Pete Sypher
p.sypher@ieee.org
Conferences: Mike Cardinale
cardinal@ieee.org
DC Council of Engineering and Architectural Societies: Murty Polavarapu
murtyp@ieee.org
Virginia Coordinating Council: Fred Seelig
fseelig@ieee.org
Northern Virginia Technology Council: Ed Gordon
ed@edgor.com
Washington Academy of Sciences: Murty Polavarapu
murtyp@ieee.org
I am grateful to Marc Apter (Region 2) and Danielle Obuchon (GMU) for taking the time out of their busy work schedules to come to DeVry University and make the orientation presentations to the students at the picnic on December 17, 2003 thus getting the newly approved IEEE DeVry University chapter of the Northern Virginia Section activated. We will continue to work with the DeVry University Chapter officers and faculty to offer the SPAC (Student Professional Awareness Conference) within this year. Because of compressed academic schedule at DeVry University, fall 2003 may be the best time to offer this important conference. The GMU-SPAC is now scheduled on Wednesday, March 17th, between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm.
We have successfully arranged an Officer Training Symposium to be held on March 6th. This will provide an opportunity for all the new officers of the both Washington and Northern Virginia Sections, particularly the new officers of the DeVry chapter, to obtain the necessary training.
We have already participated in the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's Science and Engineering Fair to be held on February 4th by providing three judges from the IEEE. We are also committed to participate in the Fairfax County and Prince William County Regional Engineering and Science Fairs on March 13th. We are currently planning to extend our participation in the Arlington County Regional Engineering and Science Fair to be held on March 11th.
We will be participating in the Washington Academy of Sciences conference Capital Science 2004 on March 20-21 by providing two speakers (Maglev and Nanotechnology) in the time slot allotted to IEEE on Sunday, March 21st at 10:30 am. We will be a visible presence in the District of Columbia Council of Engineering and Architectural Societies (DCCEAS) in the luncheon and dinner events on February 25 and February 28, respectively. Plans have been finalized for the annual Section Awards Dinner to be held on April 30th.
I am looking forward to reactivating the Industry Applications Society Chapter acting as the Interim chair well before the start of summer months, when elections will be held for the ensuing year. We will also be making a concentrated effort this year to get an experimental Pre-College Student Chapter at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology activated as authorized by Region 2.
We will continue to offer professional development courses and tutorials through the Power Engineering Society. The Industry Applications Society Chapter will provide another forum to offer additional courses and tutorials of general interest to our membership.
I am honored to have an experienced team of officers and directors and I am looking forward to another successful year. I will be writing a bimonthly column to coincide with the publication of the SCANNER to keep you informed about important activities as they are planned and executed.