Western North Carolina Section Spring Report 2005

Section Officers:
Chair:   Fred Orland
Vice Chair:   Jim Erickson
Secretary:  Jim Corr
Treasurer:  Torry Wickwire
PACE Chair:  Doug Nuttall

SECTION ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Our section has been very successful in launching several new programs.

1. We have monthly technical section meetings, except for June, July and
August.

2. We have a very active and supportive EXCOM that meets monthly.

3. Dr. Bob Moog was nominated by our section for "R3 Engineer on the Year
Award". We would like to extend our gratitude and congratulations to our
section member Dr. Bob MOOG for his contributions to the music industry
as a pioneer in the development of electronic music synthesizers. We are
awaiting the announcement of the selection for this award.

4. STUDENT ACTIVITIES: We have 2 active Student Branches. Western
Carolina University (WCU), and University of North Carolina at Asheville
(UNC-A). We have developed a close working relationship with the
Electrical Engineering Departments at both Universities.

Recent programs developed:

    ENGINEERING CAREER ROUND TABLE- IEEE members spend and evening with the
    engineering students discussing career choices.
    
    SENIOR PROJECT DESIGN REVIEWS - Students present their senior project
    designs which are critiqued by IEEE members.This event is sponsored by
    the student IEEE branches. Underclassmen are encouraged to attend.
    
    SENIOR PROJECTS PRESENTATIONS - Students spend and evening describing
    and demonstrating their senior projects to IEEE members.
    
    ROBOTICS WORKSHOP AT UNCA - Pre-college students have a robotics design,
    build  and contest in the summer. Conducted by the engineering students
    at UNCA. Many thanks to Bill Harrison with SSVR funds support.
    
    STUDENT GRANT PROGRAM - WNC IEEE section provides a $500 grant to both
    schools to support engineering activities. Plan to expand this into a
    fund raising drive to provide more funds.
    
    EE STUDENT MENTORING - Promote the EE students to contact any IEEE
    members with  career questions. Plan to expand this program to the
    pre-college level.
    
    PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS SEMINAR - Presented to students as a class
    lecture.

5. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

WNC IEEE RESOURCE DIRECTORY - Provides a database for area businesses to
identify EE's for temporary or part time technical support.

WNC IEEE NETWORKING - Helping unemployed members connect with local
employers.

WNC SECTION MEETINGS - Regular ongoing monthly dinner meetings including
local businesses / government technical presentations and tours.

6. WEBSITE - We have continued to effectively use our website and keep
it up to date.

7. NEWSLETTER - We have published our first section newsletter.

CHALLENGES and GOALS

Many of our members are retired and LM's. Potential is to have these
members support our student activities and expand our programs.

Get our younger employed member more active in our section activities.

Promote members upgrading to Senior status.

Further develop networking and providing a connection between our
members and the technical business community in our area.

Continue to have monthly technical general membership meetings.

Respectfully submitted,
Fred Orland Chair, IEEE, Western North Carolina Section
Email:  fredorland@ieee.org     Phone:  828-665-4761,  IEEE WNC Section Web Site:  www.ewh.ieee.org/r3/wnc/