IEEE ALABAMA SECTION CHAIR REPORT - MARCH 2013
 
MEMBER ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The Alabama Section held a total of 40 technical, professional, administrative
and social meetings during 2012. The 2012 Annual December social provided
members and guests a chance to enjoy a time of member recognition & awards,
fellowship and holiday music with Phil Brannon on piano. The February 2013
Section meeting was one of our most successful recent programs where Christian
Sorenson of Southern Company presented on the topic of Cyber Security. 40
people attended this program which generated a lively Q&A session.

The Alabama Section provided support to Regina Hannemann for the Fall Student
Leadership Training held at University of Alabama on Sunday, September 30th
where 4 schools were represented.
 
The following provides a summary of 2012 Chapter/Affinity Meetings
- Industry Applications (IAS) – 8 meetings
- Power and Energy (PES) – 6 meetings
- Computer Society – 5 meetings
- Communications Society (ComSoc) – 6 meetings
- Magnetics Society
- Gold Affinity Group
- Life Member Affinity Group meets on an informal basis bimonthly with 10-15 attending the meetings.  The petition to formal organize as a Life Member Affinity Group for the Alabama Section has been submitting to HQ with the approval of Region 3 Director Green.
 
SECTION ACTIVITIES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOCUSED OUTWARD

The Alabama Section STEM programs continues to promote careers in engineering
to High School students with our involvement and support of MathCounts and the
BEST (Boosting Engineering and Science Technology) Robotics Competition. In
2012 for the fifth year in a row, the Alabama Section supplied 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 helping sponsor their attendance at the 54rd
Annual Engineering Council of Birmingham Awards Banquet held February 21,
2013.
 
BARRIERS TO SECTION MISSION

While involvement at the Chapter level is strong, the Section continues to
struggle with identifying and recruiting volunteers to participate at the
Section level.
 
ISSUES REQUIRING REGION 3 ATTENTION
None to report
 
Mark Torres
IEEE Alabama Section Chair
mgtorres@ieee.org