At its November 2004 meeting, the CPMT Board of Governors (BoG) approved amendments to its Constitution and Bylaws. The amendments have also been approved by the IEEE Board of Directors and the IEEE Technical Activities Board, as required.

The first amendment, affecting both the Constitution and Bylaws, relates to the officer positions on the BoG. The second amendment, affecting only the Bylaws, relates to the election of BoG Members-at-Large.

In order for the amendment to the Constitution to take effect, it must be published in the Society TRANSACTIONS or Newsletter, or otherwise publicized by direct mailing to the membership with notice that they go into effect unless 40 or more Society members object in writing within 30 days. If such objections are received, a copy of the proposed amendment shall be mailed with a ballot to all members of the Society at least 30 days before the date appointed for return of the ballots, and the ballots shall carry a statement of the time limit for their return to the IEEE office. Approval of the amendment by at least two-thirds of the ballots legally cast shall be necessary for its enactment.

In order for the amendments to the Bylaws to take effect, they must be published in the Society TRANSACTIONS or Newsletter for information only.

The amendments are summarized below. Any CPMT member wishing to file an objection to Amendment 1-- BoG Officer Positions, should contact the CPMT Executive Office by e-mail, fax or mail by no later than 25 April 2005. Please include your name and contact information, your IEEE member number, and the reason for your objection.

Marsha S. Tickman
Executive Director
IEEE Components, Packaging and Manufacturing
Technology Society
445 Hoes Lane, PO Box 1331
Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331 USA
+1 732 562 5529 phone
+1 732 981 1769 fax
m.tickman@ieee.org

Amendment 1 - Board of Governors Officer Positions (Amendment to Constitution and Bylaws)

Background and Rationale:
Several changes have taken place over the past few years that have changed the way the Board of Governors and Society Officers operate.

Key among these changes is the opening of the Society Executive Office. The Executive Office has taken over some functions and responsibilities previously handled by Officers and other volunteers. As a result, the following changes will be implemented to reflect the current operational mode:

Secretary: "responsible for keeping the records of the BoG in the areas commonly ascribed to its function (prepare and distribute reports, notices, or such documents as may be required by the President and BoG.)"

Executive Office performs these functions. Change: Eliminate position.

Treasurer: "responsible for keeping the records of the BoG in the areas commonly ascribed to its function (prepare and distribute reports, notices, or such documents as may be required by the President and BoG."

Executive Office performs most of these traditional functions. Change: Elevate position to Vice President, Finance to reflect focus on strategic responsibilities as opposed to operational functions.

Another key change in Society operations is the establishment several years ago of Strategic Program Directors in a number of key areas such as Membership, Chapters, International Relations and Awards. As a result, the following change will be implemented to reflect the current operational mode:

Vice President, Administrative: "responsible for providing the direction and coordination of the administrative activities of the Society, including the Membership, Publicity, Chapter Development, Nominations, Awards and Fellows, International Relations, the Constitution and Bylaws Committee Chairs, and the IEEE and TAB representatives.

Strategic Program Directors are responsible for a number of these areas and function at a high level. Direction and coordination of the group of activities is not an operational necessity. Change: Eliminate position.

Finally, the contract with a professional marketing and communications company to provide marketing, public relations and communications services, under the leadership of the Strategic Program Director, Marketing, provides an important function in the Society. As a result, the following change is proposed:

Director, Technical Marketing: "shall contribute to areas of technical marketing development pertaining to CPMT Membership, Conferences and Publications…"

This position has not been active for over eight years. Its functions can be handled best by marketing professionals, under the guidance of Society volunteers. This model is currently in place through the Strategic Program Director, Marketing working with a professional marketing and communications company. Change: Eliminate position.

The Strategic Director positions and the Society Executive Office will be documented in the Bylaws.

Amendment 2 - Election of Board of Governors Members-at-Large (Amendment to Bylaws only)

Background:
To further the CPMT Society's globalization efforts, it is proposed that changes be made to the Board of Governors to ensure that it truly reflects and represents the Society's global membership.

Governance is an important and highly visible indicator of the nature of the organization. Although progress has been made in this area - there are more Members-at-Large (5) from outside the US now than in past years and, for the first time, two Officers from outside the US - the perception of the Society by those outside the US continues to be that it is a US organization with a global membership.

Proportional representation for Member-at-Large positions based on IEEE Regional location of Society members will be implemented according to the following procedures:

1. Determining Proportions
Annually, in spring, using IEEE Region definitions, and Society membership statistics as of 31 December of the preceding year, an analysis will be made of the proportion of Society members in each of the following Regions/grouping of Regions:

1-6 (US)
7 (Canada)
8 (Europe, Africa, Middle East)
9 (Central and South America)
10 (Asia, Pacific)

Any Region/grouping of Regions determined to have at least 10% of CPMT members will have the proportional number of Member-at-Large positions designated to it for representation on the Board

2. Constructing Slate of Candidates:
The slate of candidates for each year's election will be constructed to ensure that the resulting total of newly elected Members-at-Large plus continuing Members-at-Large has the proper proportion of representatives from each Region/grouping of Regions.

Candidates to represent each Regions/grouping of Regions will be selected from among members of the respective Regions/grouping of Regions, by a process to be defined by the Nominating Committee in consultation with the Society President. The process will ensure that input is provided by Society volunteers in the respective Regions/grouping of Regions.

3. Voting Procedures:
Society members in each Region/grouping of Regions with designated positions will vote for their Region/grouping of Regions' respective positions only. That is, members in Region 8 will vote for Members-at-Large for Region 8 only.

Society members in Regions without designated positions will vote with the Region/grouping of Regions with the majority of members.