IEEE Western North Carolina Section

Report for SoutheastCon, April 4-7, 2013

Most Fun Recent Activity:

Dawn of the Second Space Age - The Commercialization of Space -. Presenter Tom
Henderson covered the following topics: The future of space travel, the new
players revolutionizing access to space, the impact of the new growth
industry, solid rocket motor design, and a live static fire of a rocket motor.
He is very passionate about space travel and teaches rocket motor design.

Most successful recent activity / program:

Reduce Utility Surcharge and Increase System Capacity by Applying Power
Capacitor Banks. Held at Eaton in Arden, NC. This was a "successful" event due
to the attendance. Also, it was sponsored by our local chapter of the Power
And Energy Society and hosted at Eaton. Events at plant locations are popular.


Member Engagement Activities (beyond meetings):
.         Mentoring for First Robotics
.         Boy Scout merit badge (electronics and robotics) counseling.
.         Local Consultants Network affinity group. Starting an employment
          network.
.         Periodic social activities. Breweries are local favorites. Have
          attended baseball games in the past
.         More STEM activities in the works, for example, exploring
          synergies with a company called "Geometry of Nature" which provides
          educational and creativity programs for K-12 students.

Section activities focused outward:
.         Participated in joint engineering society banquet during E-Week.
.         Participated in a "Scout show". This involved hosting a booth at a
          Boy Scout Camporee promoting careers in engineering and related merit
          badges.
.         Boy Scout merit badge (electronics and robotics) counseling.
.         The public is always invited to our meetings. Many of our meetings
          are at UNCA in a large auditorium. We use an IEEE list server to invite non
          IEEE members.
.         Senior project reviews at universities and community colleges.
.         Represented IEEE on industrial advisory board at Ridge Community
          College.
.         Curriculum advisement at WCU.
.         Co-sponsored meeting on medical imaging technologies with Osher
          Lifelong Learning Institute.

Barriers:
.         Getting more members engaged. Not only as officers but also
          arranging meetings and being on EXCOM committees. Active core group does
          most of the work.
.         Geography. Most members are from a central area. We do not see a
          lot of members from members in the fringe areas. Even when we have an event
          out in those areas.

Issues requiring action by the Region 3 Excom or Committee:
none at this time

Respectfully submitted by Brian Kowald, Chair Western North Carolina Section