ALABAMA SECTION CHAIR REPORT - MARCH 2012 https://www.ieee-alabama.org/ MEMBER ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS ------------------------------------------ Alabama continues to be vital and active through the meetings and activities of the Section and four Chapters, GOLD Affinity Group and Student Branches. The Magnetics Society (established in 2010) had a very good 2011 which culminated with the MINT Fall Research Workshop in late October. In 2012 we have instituted web based ExCom meetings which has eliminated travel cost & time and made possible higher attendance. The Alabama Section successfully used the vTools Voting System for the 2012 Officer Election. The following Societies are active in the Alabama Section (usually meeting monthly) (see the Alabama Section Web site for current events >> https://www.ieee-alabama.org/ ) - Industry Applications (IAS) 10 Meetings in 2012 - Power and Energy (PES) 8 Meetings in 2012 - Computer Society 6 Meetings in 2012 - Communications Society (COMSOC) 6 Meetings in 2012 - Magnetics Society 4 Meetings in 2012 - GOLD Affinity Group - Life Member Affinity Group (being organized) SECTION ACTIVITIES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOCUSED OUTWARD ------------------------------------------ The Alabama Section continues to promote careers in engineering to High School students with our involvement and support of MathCounts and the BEST Robotics Competition. Now in 2011 for the fourth year in a row, the Alabama Section will supply the personnel for the "A" Team Committee to produce the Blazer BEST Robotics competition. Additionally, the Alabama Section helps encourage and showcase participating BEST Robotics student teams by sponsoring their attendance at the 53rd Annual Engineering Council of Birmingham Awards Banquet held February 23, 2012. The 2012 ECoB President is Laura Camburn (Past Alabama Section Chair). Along with Laura, Mark Torres and Danny Merkl are the current ECoB members representing the IEEE Alabama Section. The Section Student Activities Chair is working with the Student Branches at the University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Auburn University to promote stronger ties between the Section and the Student Branches. Additionally, Student Activities supported CORD - the science and engineering fair for high school and middle school students by judging the engineering entries and interviewing the students. The Alabama Section is evaluating the feasibility of establishing an Academic Scholarship Program focused toward High School Seniors that have been accepted to study at an accredited University and majoring in Electrical or Computer Engineering. The Alabama Section maintains close contact with the Alabama Board of Licensure (BoL) for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and actively recruits Section members to fill vacancies on the BoL. The Section is an active participant on the Joint Engineers Council of Alabama (JECA). Through JECA's monitoring of Alabama legislative sessions, the Section advises members about bills that may impact the engineering profession and the community at large. BARRIERS ----------------------------------- - How to effectively engage GOLD members? - How to effectively maintain engagement of long term members? What activities/programs have proved effective in other Sections? - Officer Succession Planning How to inspire members to assume leadership positions in the Section? - Effective Distance Meeting Capabilities (Web Meeting facilities) ISSUES REQUIRING REGION 3 ACTION ----------------------------------- None to report 2012 Section Officers Chair: Mark Torres Treasurer: Michael Cannady Past Chair: Danny Merkl ---------------------------------------------- ComSoc Chair: John Spencer Computer Chair: Jeff Gray Power and Energy Chair: Ted Warren Industry Applications: Geoff Clark Magnetics Chair: J.W Harrell GOLD Affinity Chair: Jonathan Torbert Student Activities Chair: Kerri Richardson Report Submitted by Mark Torres | IEEE Alabama Section Chair (205) 989-0500 | (205) 215-9183 Cell mgtorres@IEEE.org