IEEE Jamaica Section
SoutheastCon 2003 Mid Year Report
September 8, 2002

THEME: ``Bridging the Digital Divide"

The committee continues to meet on a bi-weekly basis.  The most recent
meeting was held on September 4, 2002.  SoutheastCon 2003 will be held
at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Resort during April 4 - 6 2003.

Sponsorships: Over fifty (50) companies were contacted and letters
sent to request sponsorship.  All those contacted were quite receptive
and promised to assist where possible. To date the committee has
received cash sponsorship from one company and promise from several
others.  Secured sponsorship include: National Commercial Bank,
Ministry of Commerce & Technology, Comtech, Air Jamaica and American
Airlines.  Other companies from which we expect sponsorship are
Jamaica Public Service Co., Cable & Wireless, Digicell, Centennial
Digital, Caribbean Cement Company, Wyndalco (formerly Alcan),
Microsoft, Cisco, NORTEL.  The Sponsorship target for the committee is
$45,000.00

Alliances: The alliances are working well.  The Jamaica Tourist Board
has promised to work as closely as possible with the section in
staging the conference, also, the ministry of Industry, Commerce and
Technology will also play a role in implementing the conference and
has offered to sponsor a student competition.  Our main academic
alliance is the University of Technology - Jamaica who will be
responsible for the student aspect of the conference.  The University
of the West Indies and the Northern Caribbean University have also
shown keen interest in the conference.

Conference Insurance: The IEEE Financial Operations & Support Services
has provided insurance for the conference.

Travel Arrangements: The IEEE travel agency has agreed to manage all
air travel arrangements at no cost to the conference.  Air Jamaica has
been selected as the designated conference carrier, however, American
Airlines has agreed to offer similar discounts to all persons
traveling to the conference.  Shuttles will be available as ground
transportation from airport to the hotels.  The normal charge for this
service is U$30.00 round trip.  Sponsorship is being sought for this
part of travel for students.

Call for Papers: The call for papers has been distributed in the
region.  This document can also be accessed at the conference website
www.southeastcon.com or the IEEE Jamaica Section website at
www.ewh.ieee.org/r3/jamaica.  To date the committee has received three
(3) full papers and three abstracts. The call for paper was also
posted at www.papersinvited.com. And is located at
https://www.papersinvited.com/members/displayevents.asp?eId=14721 Quite
a number of enquiries have been received about tutorials.

Student Competitions: Rules for most of the competitions have been
posted on the conference website.  The University of Technology,
Jamaica and its IEEE student branch are making arrangements to host
all the competitions.

Job Fair & Exhibitions: Companies are being contacted to purchase
space in the exhibition hall. Application form and the layout of the
exhibition hall can be viewed at the conference website. Four
exhibitors have indicated positive interest in the conference. The
committee is planning to attract at least 20 exhibitors.

Social Programmes: In addition to the all inclusive package offered by
the hotel, the IEEE Jamaica Section is planning an attractive spouses
programme.  The UTech student branch is also planning and extremely
attractive social programme for the students.  A pre conference golf
tournament is being planned for those golf enthusiasts who wish to
have some fun before the conference.  Registration for the tournament
is currently being solicited.  Kindly visit the conference website for
more information.

Web Site: The Jamaica Section Webmaster Milverton remains committed to
the task and has developed a very informative and attractive website.
The conference website, www.southeastcon.com is updated on a weekly
basis to give prospective attendees the most current information.


Halden A. Morris, PE, Ph.D.             Wilfred Roberts
Chair, SoutheastCon 2003                Vice Chair - SoutheastCon 2003

Sub Committees                          Local Members
Finance, Sponsorship & Registration:    Halden Morris, Jonah Chisholm,
                                        Stephen Legister, Owen Clashing
Promotions & PR:                        Wilfred Roberts,
                                        Milverton Moore,
                                        Winston Browning
Technical Programmes & CD Production:   Mervyn Crtis, Michael Craven,
                                        Stephen Legister
Student Rrogramme & Competitions:       Andreiyev Richards, Vincent Hewitt,
                                        Peter Spence, Julian Romanetti,
                                        Denise Edwards, Michael Craven
Job Fair & Exhibition:                  Winston Smith, Halden Morris
Logistics, Travel & Accommodation,
Social Programmes:                      Devon Gayle, Amlin Forrest,
                                        Carolyn Ferguson