Mississippi Section Report for 2011

The Mississippi Section held 12 monthly meetings in 2011, including tours of
an electrical equipment plant, NOAA facility, and robotics demonstration by
the Jackson State University, University of Southern Mississippi, and
Mississippi State University Robotics Teams. We also hosted the second annual
Profession Development Day at Jackson State University, a series of seven
one-hour seminars including an ethics course, to improve engineering
proficiency and provide training required for Professional Engineer license
renewal in Mississippi. In addition we participated in National Engineering
Week activities in Mississippi, in partnership with other engineering
societies, held on February 23, 2011, highlighted by a dinner and presentation
on the response to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in April 2010.

We held officer elections for 2012, with this year’s officers including Joel
Q. Harris, Chair; Ron T. Ogan, Vice Chair; Winfort J. Myles, Secretary; J. Lee
Robertson, Treasurer; and Program and Awards Chair, Ron T. Ogan; and David C.
Schoggen, PACE Chair. The Mississippi Section also consists of three Student
Branches: Mississippi State University, Jackson State University, and
University of Southern Mississippi.

From our executive committee meeting on January 13, 2012, plans for this year
include:

· Conduct our third annual Professional Development Day.

· Provide engineering ethics training in several locations including Jackson,
  north Mississippi, and south Mississippi.

· Continue with regular monthly meetings featuring interesting presentations
  and tours, with some meetings during the lunch hour to try to improve
  attendance.

In 2012 we have conducted two monthly section meetings and participated in
National Engineering Week activities, including dinner and presentation on
"The White Knuckle Floodway Operation of 2011" (Mississippi River Flood of
2011).

Another new development this year is the formation of an IEEE Jackson Power
and Energy Society Chapter under the IEEE Mississippi Section. The application
has been submitted and is awaiting approval. The PES held its first meeting on
March 14 with 18 IEEE members and 13 guests. The next meeting is scheduled for
April.

We have submitted our section reports as requested by IEEE and are emphasizing
membership upgrades. We are making an effort to improve communications with
the Student Branches in our area and we continue to provide annual financial
contributions to the student branches as well.

Submitted by J. Lee Robertson, P.E. MS Section Treasurer