This is the meeting where the decisions about the future programs and services of the IEEE are decided. The caucuses compile all the issues and concerns of the membership and at the end of the congress, we voted the issues in order of importance, establishing the priorities for the institute for the next three years.

At the opening ceremonies, we heard presentations by W. Cleon Anderson and John R Reinert among others.

The keynote speaker for the closing ceremonies was Dr. Curtis Carlson from SRI International and our James Howard, Director for Region 3, invited us all for the next Congress in 2005, which will be held in Tampa.

One of our recommendations made priority two in the overall list of priorities to be addressed over the next three years.

The year is coming to an end, and we are still looking for some volunteers to reactivate the UFFC chapter, if you or anyone you know is interested in investing some time on their career and volunteering for this chapter give me a call or send me an Email, we will be glad to give him or her all the necessary support.

Our last meeting was a joint meeting and we toured the AT&T Internet data center. Attendance was very good, especially from the student branch side; it turned out to be a very educational visit and I want to recognize Joe Jusai and Tom Wandelosky for their efforts in organizing the tour.

Students are a very important part of our organization; they are our fresh blood, and new ideas, they are our future leaders and as such we are to support them in all ways possible especially by mentoring.

We are in the candidate nomination process for the 2003 EXCOM, if you would like to get involved and volunteer a few hours every month, please contact the any of the members of the nominations comittee: Dr. Flinchbaugh, Mr. McClure and Dr. Sundaran.

Next EXCOM meeting we will have Ms. Joey Duvall talk to us about GOLD. "Graduates of the Last Decade" is the affinity group dedicated to recent graduates. I invite you all to participate on this interesting presentation. It will be Tuesday, the 5th of November in Rm. 288 Engineering Building UCF at 6:00 pm.

Robert J. Pirela is the president of Engineering Professional Services, Inc. his Consulting firm, where he provides Engineering Consulting Services to the construction industry.

Before initiating EPS, Inc., He worked for major engineering consulting and industrial firms both locally and abroad; in his career, he has done design and consulting in various areas including, power, data processing, controls and telemetry.

Mr. Pirela has an extensive experience in power studies and issues related to coordination, harmonics, and short circuits; he regularly provides consulting services to Major Electrical Contractors and Fortune 500 companies in these areas.

He was born in Maracaibo Venezuela, went to school at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. He holds a National Engineering Certification, and is a registered Professional Engineer in Florida and Alabama. He is a member of the Florida Engineering Society and the National Society of Professional Engineers. Mr. Pirela was recently listed in Who's Who Worldwide registry of Business Leaders and he and his family are active in their church.

Mr. Pirela is married to Cecilia (an MD) and they have two children Elizabeth and Alexander.