To: Region 3 Committee / ExCom
Fr: David Green, Region 3 ECC
Sb: Electronic Communications Coordinator Report
Dt: November 1, 2003

I would like to begin my report by commending the following volunteers
who have helped me in this role in 2003 (and before!):

   Brian Swail has continued to help out and manage the R3
   Support Mailing lists this year.  Thanks Brian!  If you need to
   re-target who on your section gets the official e-mail messages
   (such as this report) please contact Brian at b.swail@ieee.org .

   Mark Stokes served as sub-committee chair for this function in
   addition to his many other activities.  Thanks!

One of our IRC tools (mIRC) recently had a security notice posted
concerning a vulnerability it had.  Like so many other software
programs, you should update your copy of this program from the
https://www.mirc.com/get.html .

In addition to our other tools (and based on a vendor lead from Butch
Shadwell), we have added teleconferencing to our tool kit for
meetings.  We have used the vendor https://saveonconferences.com to
provide multi-person teleconferences effectively.  According to the
on-line documentation, their system handles groups of up to 40
people.  There is a per person, per minute charge for the service.

Based on discussions by several on the effective communication with
members and sections, and inspired by John Conrad's comments about
publishing Region 3 content in section newsletters, I have established
an alias

r3-sec-nled@ieee.org

to allow Region 3 volunteers (especially committee chairs) to send
content to subscribing Section Newsletter editors.  Certain R3
volunteers have permission to send to the list (others can be added)
but mail from unauthorized addresses will be reviewed before being
forwarded out to the subscribing newsletter editors to block abuse
(spam) of this list.  Newsletter editors who would like to be included
on this list may contact me for inclusion or send a message to
majordomo@majordomo@ieee.org with the message contents:

  subscribe r3-sec-nled yourmail@ieee.org

Updates on Goals and Objectives for 2003

ECC_1 Keeping the aliases current.

   Continuing action.  I believe we are current but see above if there
   are changes that are necessary.

ECC_2 Keeping the services functioning including
      a) update to operating system on ie3col and
      b) newsgroup revitalization

   Routine patches applied.  Upgrades still pending.

ECC_3 Decommissioning the ETI database towards middle or end of year
      (assuming a hardware failure does not move us to earlier action
      and assuming the PAOC is satisfied with their new replacement
      approach.)

   This action has been postponed into 2004.  Region 3 will run both
   systems in parallel for a while.

ECC_4 Be active members on the Communications Committee

   Continuing action

Finally, it has been a pleasure (as well as a challenge) to work with
the other members of the Region 3 Communication Committee on projects
over the last two years.  Many members of the committee have
contributed to the successes of this committee but I would like
specifically commend our Chair Bill Ratcliff for his leadership.

Dave
-- 
David G. Green                                    d.green@ieee.org
IEEE Region 3 ECC (01-03)