Date 11 July 2003

To: Region 3 ExCom
From: Region 3 Communications Committee
Subject: Region 3 Communications Committee Status - July 2003


The Region 3 Communications Committee has been focusing on the
following since SoutheastCon 2003...

=> Re-engineering the Region 3 Newsletter (developing guidelines for
   content and production methods)

   * Publishing a web based newsletter in July 2003: The July issue of
     the newsletter is focusing on the direction of Region 3. You are
     encouraged to participate in the development by providing
     comments to the draft articles or even contribute an article.
     Newsgroup...

https://r3-collab.eng.uab.edu/cgi-bin/dnewsweb?cmd=xover&group=ieee.r3newsletter

     The article on "Region 3 Products and Services Offered"
     should be of particular interest since it involves all of the
     ExCom committees. The input that the committee chairs
     provided as a result of the e-mail requests and personal
     pleas at SoutheastCon 2003 was significantly augmented
     by information gleaned from the R3 Operations Manual
     and personal notes / observations. Needless to say you
     might want to review and comment on this article before
     it is published...

https://ie3col.eng.uab.edu/twiki/bin/view/R3econf/SupportingVolunteersJul2003

   * The redesign of the newsletter including content and
     associated processes for development and publication
     is progressing but could also use your input...

https://r3-collab.eng.uab.edu/cgi-bin/dnewsweb?cmd=articlegroup=ieee.r3newsletter&item=24

=> Reducing the e-mail SPAM that is triggered from IEEE web site
   references to e-mail addresses. Some experimentation is
   continuing on several methods of reducing future SPAM
   but the most widely used mechanism is still deleting it
   from your inbox. If you have ideas please join the discussion
   but at least stay tuned for further developments.

   Note : Dave Green's ECC Report

=> Evaluation and clean up of Region 3 Web sites
   (ExCom Committees, areas/councils, sections, etc)

   Note: Chip Dawson's report

=> Evaluation of Asynchronous work methods

   In a continuing effort to find methods and tools that allow
   all of us to work more effectively in a collaborative / team
   environment using synchronous communications, several
   e-conferences have been devoted to discussing changes
   in the tools and methods. Again, your input is most valuable
   in determining "what capability is needed for you to use
   the tools and methods?".

   A project to evaluate the use of IEEE Virtual Communities
   is also underway.

The Communications Committee meets in synchronous mode
(on irc.ewh.ieee.org channel #r3econf ) on a regular basis.
The agenda is posted at...
https://ie3col.eng.uab.edu/twiki/bin/view/R3econf/AgendaDevelopment


Your comments, questions and especially your participation
are most welcomed.
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William B. Ratcliff
Region 3 Communications Committee Chair 2003
Region 3 e-Conferencing Committee Chair 2003
e-mail  w.ratcliff@ieee.org