IEEE Region 3 Area 6 Report
March, 2001


The Alabama Section is having regular meetings with interesting
programs and strong attendance.  The section has revised the section
guide and made the transition to a calendar year.  The section is
continuing with plans to host the Vehicular Technology Conference in
Spring of 2002. The section has joined with the Alabama Society of
Professional Engineers and other members of the Joint Engineers
Council of Alabama (JECA) in opposing legislation which the American
Institute of Architects - Alabama was planning on introducing in an
upcoming legislative session which would interfere with the practice
of engineering.  Section leadership discussed concerns with this
legislation with legislators at a Legislative Reception sponsored by
JECA.  The section also actively participated in National Engineers'
Week with an exhibit at the UAB open house and the section's nominee
to the Engineering Council of Birmingham, Dr. Gary J. Grimes, was
selected as the B'ham Area Engineer of the Year.

The Montgomery Subsection of the Alabama Section is meeting on a
regular schedule and plans are in place for meetings through June.
They have adjusted to the new calendar year.  Attendance has declined
some but is now stabilized with some newly recruited members already
becoming active in operations and leadership of the subsection.  One
meeting a year is spent with the Auburn Student chapter and is a major
event for the subsection as is the annual meeting set aside for
spouses to attend.

The Huntsville Section started their new year with a new slate of
officers and revised bylaws per IEEE HQ's suggestions.  They are
planning for the Huntsville Technology Expo & Conference in August and
also preparing to host AUTOTESTCON 2002 in Huntsville. Dr. Belur
V. Dasarathy became a Fellow of IEEE this year and was recognized at
the Engineers Week Banquet where the section also presented
Outstanding Engineer, Outstanding Educator and Outstanding Service
Awards.  The Control Systems Society is very active, the Aerospace
Electronics Society is being revitalized and the section is starting a
Communications Society.

The Mississippi Section is extremely active with the February meeting
being the National Engineers Week activities in Vicksburg.  IEEE
members were activity chairs, participated in statewide
teleconferencing to high schools and community colleges, served as
speakers at junior and senior high schools, served as tour guides at
engineering firms, and attended the E-Week luncheon.  The section has
started a web page at "ewh.ieee.org/r3/mississippi".  Goals for the
year are better communications with membership, more joint meetings
and more interesting, technical, and social programs throughout the
state.  The North Mississippi Sub-Section is inactive.

The Mobile Section is having regular meetings.  In January Danny Couey
from Arrow spoke on Digital Signal Processors, in February Steve Fair
from Altera spoke on requirements for a Programmable System on a Chip,
and the March meeting was a social meeting with the Mobile Area
Council of Engineers (MACE) Banquet.  Attendance is running between
20-30 for each meeting.

Lowell Brothers, Area 6 Chairman