To: Region 3 ExCom
From: Dick Riddle, Region 3 Director
Subject: Director's Report to Region 3 ExCom - March 22, 2001

As we enter the Third Millennium, we have been told that in spite of
our membership and revenue being the highest in our almost 40 year
history we are being threatened internally as well as externally.

Our position as the primary source of technical information for
electrical, electronic, and computer engineering is under attack by
for-profit as well as non-profit competitors.  The Institute faces
unprecedented competition from trade publications, other associations,
and Web dot.com's.  Some of our volunteers report being offered
payment for articles and Editor-in Chief jobs.

Internally, we are told that our organizational structure is
antiquated and needs a major restructure.  The way we distribute
expenses and allocate funding to our organizational units (entities)
creates dissention and must be changed.  Employers are less inclined
to support volunteer activities than they were a decade ago.  The
competition for our volunteer time is increasing daily.  Members
outside of the U.S. feel that they do not equally share in the member
benefits.  The list of problems goes on and on.

As a result of these concerns and others, our IEEE Executive Committee
through the authority of our Presidents has appointed several
committees to investigate and propose solutions.

At the March 11, IEEE Board of Directors meeting, a report was made on
the "Russell Financial Model" one of the committees appointed to solve
the way we distribute expenses and allocate funding to our
organizational units.  A committee was appointed to develop a
simulation of the "Russell Model" using the current IEEE financial
information and report the results at the June 2001 Organizational
Unit Series meeting.

The committee that is charged with the restructure of IEEE also made a
report at this meeting.  This committee is know as the "President's
Blue Ribbon Committee on Board and Governance".  This was a
preliminary "confidential" report to the BoD.  The committee Chair has
asked the BoD to provide feedback.  I feel sure that you will hear
more about this restructuring proposal in the next few months.

In spite of the perceived problems and concerns with our world-wide
Institute, I am happy to report that through the dedicated efforts and
talented contributions made by our volunteer leaders within Region 3
we continue to remain one of most preeminent regions within IEEE.  We
continue to develop innovative solutions to many of the problems that
seem to perplex our leadership at the highest level within IEEE.  As
an example we recognized the lack of member support and relevance by
many employers/industries and offered our "Region 3 Corporate
Relations Project" as a possible solution.  After more than two years
it seems that IEEE has been convinced of the need and is finally doing
something about it.  You will hear more about what is planned at
SoutheastCon 2001.  We have recognized the need for improved methods
of communication and problem solving and have offered our electronic
conferencing, web training, and e-newsletter as solutions.  Many
outside of Region 3 have indicated that they are interested and will
be using our proposed concepts.  I do not want to imply that our
volunteer leadership within Region 3 has solved all of our problems
but I feel that we have made significant progress and our
contributions are being recognized and commended by the highest levels
within IEEE.

This year at SoutheastCon, our IEEE President Joel Snyder, Vice
President - Regional Activities Maurice Papo and members of the RAB
Operating Committee will join us.  In addition, Kathy Kowalenko,
Editor, "The Institute", Tom Lynch, Staff Director - IEEE Financial
Services Department, Kristina Collmann, IEEE Associate Director of
Development, and Marilyn Catis, IEEE Corporate Relations Manager will
also be there.  I encourage you to meet with these folks and share
your thoughts on how we can improve IEEE and solve some of its
problems.  I have asked our guests to attend as many of our Region 3
meetings and Student activities as they can.  I hope that they will
learn as I have that our region has the most talented and dedicated
members in IEEE.

You will see that we have modified our traditional SoutheastCon
regional meeting agenda to include more training and brainstorming
sessions than we have in the past.  The purpose of this is to increase
communications between the section leaders and the ExCom and to help
gather ideas for better serving our members.

I am looking forward to attending SoutheastCon 2001 and feel that Nick
Pasquerilla and his committee has planned an outstanding conference.
Based on my and Charles Lord's visit and tour of the Madren Conference
Center, I am sure that you will agree that this is an excellent
facility and will result in one of the best SoutheastCon's we have
held.

See you there.

Dick

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Richard L. Riddle, IEEE Region 3 Director 2000-2001
reply to: r.riddle@ieee.org