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WHAT IS PACE ?
The United States Activities Board (USAB) of the IEEE is reponsible for recommending policies and implementing programs specifically intended to serve the US members in appropriate nontechnical areas of economic, ethical, social, and legislative concerns. As part of that effort, USAB consists of PACE along with the Career Services Council, the Member Services Council, and the Technology Policy Council. So what is PACE? PACE is a network of Professional Activities Committees for Engineers, which provides a communication channel to Sections, Chapters, and individual members on the work done and services provided by the committees in IEEE-US Activities' three councils. The PACE Network also provides a line of communication so that members in Sections and Chapters can inform the IEEE-USA volunteer leaders of local needs and priorities. The communications are accomplished not only through printed material but through volunteers conducting various kinds of programs. Programs are conducted at the Section and Chapter level, with assistance from Regional and natioanl levels. The technical Societies conduct PACE programs at annual meetings and conferences or through a Public Policy Committee. Nearly every Section in the US has an active Professional Activities Committee for Engineers (PACE). This committee is the local component that conducts PACE programs by and for local IEEE membership. Nationally, these committees form a network that permits IEEE-USA professional activities to have an impact on national policy. Local Chapters are encouraged to appoint Chapter PACE Chairs to serve on the Section PACE Committee and organize Chapter professional activities. Regional PACE Coordinators coordinate PACE activities undertaken by their Regions' Areas, Councils, and Sections and provide financial assistance when needed. Divisional and Society Coordinators fulfill a similar role in the conduct of PACE activities within the Divisions, Societies and their Chapters. Each Regional PACE Coordinator is assisted by a committee made up of specialists who coordinate activities in the areas of career enhancement, technical policy issues, employment assistance, government action, professional education, precollege education, and student professional awareness. Leadership is provided at the national level by the national PACE Chair, assisted by three standing committees, PACE Regional Activities Committee, PACE Divisional Activities Committee, and PACE Conference and Workshop Committee. This last committee organizes and runs an annual conference and workshop to train and inform Section and Chapter PACE Chairs and coordinators from the Regions, Divisions, and Societies. What are the Objectives of the PACE Network? 1) Encouraging the provision of member services, mainly in the form of increased economic benefits, professional stature, and employment security for engineers. 2) Enhancing public awareness of the socio-technical issues affecting American society and promoting public recognition of engineers as professionals. 3) Engaging in government action at the local, state, and national levels by making the technological background and problem solving experience of engineers available to the legislative process and by influencing legislation that affects the professional careers of engineers. What are the Activities of the PACE Network? Dissemination of Information: sending informative materials directly to members, through Section, Society, Chapter PACE Chairs; conducting professional activities sessions at Section and Region meetings; presenting information on professional activities at meetings sponsored by Technical Societies and their Chapters; sending speakers to IEEE Student Branches to speak on professional topics. Orientation and training of Regional, Divisional, Section, Society, and Chapter PACE representatives, primarily at the annual national PACE Conference and Workshop and at Regional meetings. Influencing state and federal legislative action. Promoting improvements in precollege math, science,and technology education to provide a more technically literate society. Promoting other projects which satisfy one or more of the objectives of PACE at the Section, Chapter, Area, Region, Society, or Division level.
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