Region 3,

I have been a Member and a Volunteer for the IEEE for over 33 years. Over those years, my career has grown and changed and
changed again. Through all of this change, the IEEE Network of professional associates and life long friends have been an
ongoing source of support. This support has enabled me to learn about new technology, gain experience with soft skills and
has provided employment assistant contacts. My ongoing investment in dues and volunteer time has been paid back many, many
times over.

I would like to ask for your help in building a better IEEE in Region 3. This would be an IEEE in which the Members are
truly united in a Network of people, skills and shared communications. This Network of IEEE professionals would start
during the early years of technical training and extend into retirement. There are other professional institutions that
have already built strong Networks for their Members. Those Members benefit every day from the strength of their Network.
If we can work together, our organization could be just as strong as any medical or legal group. I'm sure you've seen the
local and national benefits their Members enjoy just because they are able to work together as a group.

We have all of the tools and technology required to build a Network that will extend down to every single Region 3 Member.
In fact, we Electrical Engineers invented the technology that other organizations use to protect their Members and project
their influence throughout society. It's time that we do it for ourselves. If we don't build a bigger, stronger IEEE
Network, then others will continue to think of us as variable resources and not fully vested members of their organization.

You can build the better IEEE Network by participating in local and national activities. Go to Section / Chapter meetings
and learn ideas that you can use the next day at work. Meet fellow Engineers at those meetings that can help you find your
next job. You can also build the influence of the IEEE by volunteering to help in the name of the IEEE. Finally you can
help by letting your local Congressional Representative know how what they do impacts Engineering and Science. Just think
of what we could do if one morning, Congress received letters, phone calls and visits from the more than 235,000 IEEE
Members in the United States. Why, we might be able to make a difference in the world.

None of this requires a big budget increase. All we have to do is participate in our organization and work together towards
a better IEEE.

Lee Stogner
Region 3 Director Elect 2008 - 2009