Student Activities Committee Mid-Year Excomm Report (9/02)

Bruce L. Walcott (b.walcott@ieee.org)


Early this year, Director Howard requested that RSAC set three primary
goals for the coming year.  The following goals were established the
for 2002:


1.  To resolve the logistical issues of transporting students and
    equipment to Jamaica in preparation for Southeastcon 2002.
2.  To continue to rejuvenate the paper contest and Region 3
    SPAC/SPAVes
3.  To increase participation in Region 3 STLWs

In terms of progress toward these goals, the logistical issues of
transporting students to Jamaica are not as prominent as the cost of
travel for students to travel to Jamaica.  Last spring, the price for
a round trip ticket from Atlanta to Montego Bay was approximately
$400.  This figure has now climbed to approximately $550.  At this
time, student branches are estimating the cost of travel to
Southeastcon 2003 at anywhere from $600-$1000 per student.
Compounding this problem is that many universities/states within the
Region 3 area are experiencing budget cuts.  In response to this
change in the status quo, we are requesting that one of the workshop
"brainstorming" activities in the afternoon session be devoted to this
very topic in the upcoming Fall STLWs.


In terms of the second goal for RSAC, the paper contest at
Southeastcon 2002 was an unmitigated success.  16 papers were
submitted and an overflow session was established to give the 6 papers
that were not selected among the 10 finalists, an opportunity to
present as part of the technical program of Southeastcon.  RSAC is
very grateful to Dr. John Bowles of the University of South Carolina
for accommodating the extra papers into his technical program.  With
regard for SPAC/SPAVe Region 3 activity, RSAC has been sharing student
information and working in concert with Chris Ruffin, the Region 3
SPAC/SPAVe coordinator in an effort to improve the SPAC/SPAVe record.
Again, STLWs afternoon workshop will focus on SPAC/SPAVes.


In terms of the third goal, there are currently 3 Student Training
Leadership Workshops slated for this Fall in Region 3.  They are:


Sept. 28         Lexington, KY         Bruce L. Walcott (walcott@engr.uky.edu)
                                       phone: 859-257-8827  fax: 859-323-4922

Oct. 5           Atlanta, GA           John Matthews (jomatthews@InfoAve.Net)
                                       Clayton Paul (paul_cr@Mercer.EDU)

Oct. 26          Orlando, FL           Joey Duvall (j.duvall@ieee.org)
                                       Butch Shadwell (b.shadwell@ieee.org)
                                       phone: 904 223-4465

We are extremely please to see an STLW in Atlanta this year and expect
that it will be heavily attended and enthusiastically received. RSAC
would like to see an additional STLW in the northeast part of Region 3
(Virginia, North Carolina).  So far, no volunteers have been found to
conduct these.  Finally, these workshops could not happen if it were
not for the volunteerism of our workshop trainers.  Thanks to John
Matthews, Clayton Paul, Joey Duvall and Butch Shadwell for
volunteering and taking time away from their families to lead our
Student Leadership Training Workshops.  Remember, the life-blood of
our organization is volunteerism and without it, IEEE would certainly
cease to function.


As a final note, Ms. Patricia Davis--who co-managed the local student
activities at Southeastcon 2002 so adroitly--has expressed interest in
the RSR job.  She has the enthusiastic endorsement of the RSAC and her
resume'/application has been forwarded to Director Howard for
consideration.


Bruce L. Walcott
RSAC - Region 3