VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN SECTION NEWSLETTER IEEE Region 3, Council 9, Section 6 May, 1998 ***************************************************** CONTENTS May Meeting _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ( 1 ) NEW MAILER _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ( 2 ) Reservations for the Tour _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _( 3 ) VMS Activities _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ( 4 ) Meeting Report Southeastcon '97 Co-Chairs Recognized _ _ _ _ _ _( 5 ) Services you should know about _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ( 6 ) Project Funding E-Mail Bulletin Board IEEE Region 3 Lending Library CATALOG OF MATERIALS PROMOTIONAL VIDEOTAPES SELF-STUDY COURSES TUTORIAL VIDEOTAPES VIDEOCONFERENCES (1990 to 1994) Take Advantage of Your Member Benefits _ _ _ _ _ ( 7 ) CONTINUING EDUCATION CURRENT TECHNICAL INFORMATION IEEE INFORMATION RETRIEVAL CAREER TRANSITION SUPPORT OTHER The IEEE Financial Advantage Program IEEE Virginia Mountain Section _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ( 8 ) *****************************************************( 1 ) May Meeting Roanoke Electric Steel Wear heavy soled shoes, & Clothes that can be cleaned. Roanoke Electric Steel is a mini-mill producer of finished steel products, which are sold to steel service centers and fabricators, and semi-finished steel billets, which are sold to other steel producers. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, the company has strategically integrated both supply and consumption of its materials and products, giving it greater stability than one might expect from a steel company. Shredded Products Corporation, one of Roanoke's subsidiaries, extracts scrap steel and other products from junked automobiles and other waste materials, providing a steady source of raw materials to the parent company. Three other subsidiaries, John W. Hancock, Jr., Inc., Socar, Inc.,and RESCO Steel Products Corporation are all steel fabricators, providing a captive market for Roanoke's products. The company presently operates two electric arc furnaces, an 80 ton EBT (Eccentric Bottom Tap) furnace, and a conventional 40 ton furnace. The company also operates a Ladle Refining furnace which provides a station for refining the raw molten steel to final metallurgical specifications. Molten steel is fed to two continuous casters, a 5 strand, and a 3 strand which cast the molten steel into billets. These billets are rolled into merchant steel products, consisting of angles, rounds, flats, channels, and reinforcing bars in a 17 stand continuous rolling mill. These are then sold to steel service centers and fabricators, including two of the company's subsidiaries, which use the angles and rounds to make steel joists. The plant has a melting capacity of 650,000 tons per year and a rolling capacity of 400,000 tons per year. Roanoke Electric Steel has invested more than $100 million dollars in plant and equipment since 1986 to improve operating efficiencies, increase production and maximize earnings. The company has been consistently profitable every year since 1956. Strong sales and the company's new state-of-the-art ladle furnace create a solid foundation for the future. *****************************************************( 2 ) NEW MAILER We are experimenting this month with envelope mailing. It is just a little more work but less expensive than tabbing, which cost more than the postage!! *****************************************************( 3 ) Reservations for the Tour Date: Thursday, May 21, 1998 Tour: 6:30 PM Place: 102 Westside Blvd, Roanoke See Map Cost: No Charge Please make reservations by Monday, May 18, 5:00 P.M. Roanoke: David Livingston (540) 857-6261 Blacksburg: Ira Jacobs (540) 231-5620 Lexington: Ed Wheeler (540) 464-7548 Radford and Christiansburg: Usha Varshney (540) 731-0655 *****************************************************( 4 ) VMS Activities Meeting Report Ronald W. Waynant, a scientist with the Food and Drug Administration, presented an extremely interesting discussion of the use of lasers in medicine. Dr. Waynant pointed out that recent advances in laser technology have given medical researchers unprecedented flexibility in laser use. Scientists and engineers have demonstrated lasers that can produce pulses of light as short as a femtosecond and lasers having very high power densities. The net result is that, in addition to wavelength, researchers now have a wide latitude with regard to the laser power and pulse duration they employ in their investigations. These advances in laser technology have resulted, and continue to result, in real improvements in health care. Doctors can now sculpt the eye’s cornea to achieve the desired curvature. Since much of the eye’s focal properties are associated with the cornea’s curvature—the lens is the “fine tune”—the impact will be profound. Lasers can be employed to relieve the over-pressures associated with glaucoma by drilling holes through certain structures within the eye. Lasers can also be used to eliminate many cataracts. At lower power densities and longer exposure times, there exists an active area of investigation which indicates that lasers can aid in healing and rehabilitation. The reason seems to be, at least in part, that the laser’s energy can be used by cells to manufacture food—ATP. The resulting cellular environment, being rich in nutrients, then allows rapid healing to occur. Cardiac researchers have developed a technique, still relatively new, by which heart vasculature can be improved by literally drilling holes through the heart muscle. As an aside, let me note here that this technology will soon be introduced at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Dentists, by employing lasers in their procedures, will be able to reduce tooth loss associated with many of their procedures. If a laser is employed having a wavelength at an absorption peak of the ink in a tattoo, it can be removed without a trace. Also, many types of skin blemishes are amenable to laser treatment. Cosmetic surgery in general will be empowered through laser technology. The fact that Dr. Waynant’s lecture elicited a great deal of interest was evidenced by several well-informed questions asked at its conclusion. ...Ed Wheeler *****************************************************( 5 ) Southeastcon '97 Co-Chairs Recognized Russell Churchill, Chairman and Ira Jacobs, Co-Chairman, were awarded plaques for their efforts leading to the successful operation of Southeastcon '97, held last year at Virginia Tech. Doctors Churchill and Jacobs were recognized for their continued support of the Virginia Mountain Section and, in particular for time and energy resulting in the success of Southeastcon '97". It has been quite some time since the VMS has formally recognized members for contributions to IEEE or to the Section. We hope that these presentations might be taken as a "first step" and encourage nominations for other awards. Any member can make or suggest a nomination if he feels someones contribution(s) to the group are outstanding. Contact Dan Jackson or the editor for details. ...editor *****************************************************( 6 ) Services you should know about Following are a few reminders of IEEE services you may have heard of but forgotton about. Refresh your memory and perhaps make use of some. (Your dues support them.) Project Funding Funding is available for special projects in Region 3 sections. All that is needed is for the section PACE chairman to fill out a project plan, and submit it to Region 3 PACE Coordinator. (Suggestions are welcome. Contact Wayne Scales or Dan Jackson.) E-Mail If anyone has e-mail access, he or she can ask for an alias IEEE e-mail address targeted to a local address. It helps the individual to keep in touch with IEEE activities, provides a great deal of flexibility and a wealth of information. Contact Helen A. Shiminsky at h.shiminski@ieee.org, or call 1-800- 678-IEEE. Bulletin Board Region 3 is the only region that has a bulletin board within the IEEE-USA organization. Each section has an allocated space, and access is free. This provides the individual the opportunity to download and upload job positions, newsletters, or any other useful information. In Region 3, call 1-800-555-reg3. IEEE Region 3 Lending Library CATALOG OF MATERIALS Region 3 maintains a lending library of materials of interest to individual enigineers and to Chapters or other groups. The following is only a partial list. For more information and assistance with checking out library holdings of interest, please contact Perry Wheless at p.wheless@ieee.org The catalog listing is arranged under these categories: P: PROMOTIONAL S: SELF-STUDY COURSES T: TUTORIAL VC: VIDEOCONFERENCES PACE 94: IEEE-USA 1994 PACE Conference* PACE 95: IEEE-USA 1995 PACE Conference* PC: PACE COMMITTEE - Audio & Video Library* *None of these are listed here PROMOTIONAL VIDEOTAPES P-1. "ENGINEERS: TURNING IDEAS INTO REALITY" (10 minutes) Promotional video of interest to anyone planning to speak to a Junior or Senior High School group about engineering careers. P-2. "FAST FORWARD TO THE FUTURE WITH WIL WHEATON" (24 minutes) Produced by AIAA. Stresses need for good background in High School mathematics for those considering engineering as a career. P-3. "COMMIT TO THE FUTURE" (11 minutes) Promotes benefits of membership in IEEE and IEEE Student Branches. P-4. "WHO ARE ENGINEERS ? YOU ? (12 minutes) Produced by NSPE. Promotes Engineering as a career to High School students. P-5. "JET-TEAMS COMPETITION" (7 minutes) Produced by JETS. A promotional tape aimed at potential sponsors of Junior Engineering Technical Societies activities. P-6. "JUST ONE HOUR A WEEK" P-7. "HOW TO GET A BETTER JOB QUICKER" Richard Payne. The videotape only from a self paced workshop on getting a job. This was provided by IEEE-USA PACE activities. P-8. "PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: WHERE DO YOU STAND ? A MESSAGE FROM INDUSTRY 2000" (15 minutes) This is a video report on the INDUSTRY 2000 workshop held in May 1994. A written proceedings is available from IEEE Educational Activities Dept., Piscataway NJ. SELF-STUDY COURSES Note: May also be used for group study. S-1. "Communication Techniques for Scientists, Engineers, and Computer Specialists". 1987. Course includes study guide (128 pp); workbook; answer book; audio tape; final exam; text: Technically Writing, 3rdEdition, by Ron Blicq; a videotape: Communication and Report Writing by the Roning Group, Inc. TUTORIAL VIDEOTAPES T-1. "COMPUTER AIDED SYSTEMS ENGINEERING" T-2. "COCKPIT AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY" T-3. "INTRODUCTION TO AI AND EXPERT SYSTEMS VIDEOCONFERENCES (1990 to 1994) (Just a subset of what is available [Editor]) VC-34. "Expert Systems: Integration with Databases and Real-Time Systems" (Date: 3/28/90) VC-35. "Rapid Development of Software" (Date: 5/20/90) VC-36. "Total Quality: Malcolm Baldridge Award Approach to Quality Management" (Date:9/13/90) VC-37. "Computer Graphics: Construction to Interaction" (Date: 10/3/90) VC-38. "Computer Simulation: Engineering in the Future" (Date: 11/17/90) VC-39. "Fiber Optics Applications" (Date: 12/5/90) VC-40. "Uses of Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing" (Date: 3/29/91) VC-41. "Fuzzy Logic: Applications & Perspectives" (Date: 4/25/91) VC-42. "Uses of Neural Networks for the 90's" (Date: 5/23/91) VC-44. "Software Testing and Reliability" (Date: 10/30/91)VC-45. "Optical Digital Computing" (Date: 12/11/91 VC-46. "Making Optoelectronic High Performance Data Communications Work" (Date: 3/26/92) VC-47. "Work Stations of the Future - A User's Perspective" (Date: 4/30/92) VC-48. "Environmental Issues and Impact to Engineers" (Date: 5/28/92) VC-51. "Getting Rid of Interference" (Date: 12/3/92) VC-52. "Chaos, Fractals, and Non-Linear Dynamics" (Date: 3/25/93) VC-54. "Delivering Software Products to the Global Marketplace" (Date: 5/20/93) VC-59. "Engineering Workstation Operating Systems: A Comparative Analysis of Windows NT(tm) and UNIX Solaris(tm)" (Date: 3/16/94) VC-60. "Quality Issues For Engineers: Putting Theory Into Practice" (Date: 4/13/94) *****************************************************( 7 ) Take Advantage of Your Member Benefits CONTINUING EDUCATION CURRENT TECHNICAL INFORMATION IEEE INFORMATION RETRIEVAL Ask*IEEE Document Delivery Service INFO: EMAIL: askieee@ieee.org CAREER TRANSITION SUPPORT Employment Services Job Listings Entry Level Resources Resume Listing Service Job Fairs Job Search Tools and Advice LINKS TO OVER 30 OTHER EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES SUCH AS: THE ACADEMIC POSITION NETWORK ADAMS JOBBANK ON-LINE AMERICA’S JOB BANK CAREERBUILDER OTHER Electronic Communications Services Directory Service (Aliases) Electronic Mail Services Mailing-Lists and Discussion Groups Majordomo Tutorial for ListOwners Usenet Newsgroups - ieee.* hierarchy Public Information Retrieval Anonymous-FTP Server File-Retrieval via E-Mail Traveling the Information Highway with Bob Alden IEEE Internet Project Info on IEEE RABFacts System HERE ARE SOME OF THE PERSONAL BENEFITS IEEE MEMBERSHIP BRINGS YOU: Receive your own personal subscription to SPECTRUM. Become an active part of your local professional community. Enhance your career by networking with technical experts. Save with low member prices on IEEE products. Attend top technical conferences at low member rates. Increase your professional prestige. Join a technical society. The IEEE Financial Advantage Program Program Highlights: IEEE Gold MasterCard and VISA Gold IEEE Mutual Funds IEEE Group Insurance IEEE Conference Management and Travel Program Benefits and Services: Business Services Education Services Financing, Planning & Investing Home Services Insurance Plans/ Supplements Travel & Conference Registratio For access information and details on any of these, take your browser Directly to the IEEE at: http://www.ieee.org/member.html Or to the VMS Home Page at: http://fiddle.ee.vt.edu/ieeevms/ select IEEE Quick Links, then Member Services (No.11) *****************************************************( 8 ) IEEE Virginia Mountain Section VMS OFFICERS Chairman: David Livingston d.livingston@ieee.org (540) 857-6261 Vice Chairman: Usha Varshney Sec./Treasurer: Ed Wheeler wheeler@vmi.edu (540) 464-7548 VMS Executive Committee Lynn Abbott e-mail: abbott@vt.edu (540) 231-4472 Russell Churchill arcova@swva.net (540) 731-0655 Ira Jacobs ijacobs@vt.edu (540) 231-5620 Andy Stevenson stevenson-ac@salem.ge.com (540) 387-8471 Junior Past Chairman: Anbo Wang awang@vt.edu (540) 231-4355 Virginia Council Representative: vacant VMS Chapter Chairs Industry Applications Andy Stevenson stevenson-ac@salem.ge.com (540 )387-8471 Industrial Electronics/Computer/Control Systems David Geer d.geer@ieee.org (540) 387-7359 Microwave Theory & Techniques/Electron Devices Hausila Singh hsingh@gtc.itt.com (540) 563-8639 Power Engineering Subhas Sarkar vtc@roanoke.infi.net (540) 345-9892 x-152 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Awards : Vacant Membership Development: Russell Churchill arcova@swva.net (540)-731-0655 Nominations: Anbo Wang awang@vt.edu (540) 231-4355 Lynn Abbott abbott@vt.edu (540)-231-4472 Wayne Scales wayne@starchild.ee.vt.edu (540)-231-5622 PACE : Dan Jackson d.jackson@ieee.org (540)-774-0484 Program : Usha Varshney Publicity : John Fennick j.fennick@ieee.org (540) 552-0052 Student Activities: Ira Jacobs ijacobs@vt.edu (540)-231-5620 NEWSLETTER Editor: John Fennick j.fennick@ieee.org (540) 552-0052 e-mail Newsletter Subscription Send the one-line message: SUBSCRIBE IEEEVMS your-name to: listserv@vtvm1.cc.vt.edu Anyone may submit material for the Newsletter Deadline: Monday following each meeting Submit To: Editor Change of Address VMS Web Page: http://fiddle.ee.vt.edu/ieeevms/ US Mail: IEEE Service Center 445 Hoes Lane, PO Box 1331 Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331 e-mail: address.change@ieee.org Tel: 800-678-IEEE Fax: 732-981-9667 IEEE Web: http://www.ieee.org/i3e_mailer.html (Changes are forwarded to the Newsletter) Visit the VMS WEB page: http://fiddle.ee.vt.edu/ieeevms Section/Chapter meeting notices, and reports. 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