Region 3 Public Information Officer Report

Submitted by David Bower (d.bower@ieee.org)

The first phase of the PIO initiative is almost completed. This will
involve communicating to sections the need to use available print and
broadcast media to promote and "advertise" local section meetings and
other activities. I've attended several IEEE meetings (including the
PACE meeting in Richardson, Texas) to organize the effort. I've also
communicated with Headquarters both by e-mail and telephone regarding
their recommendations.

The plan is to communicate the process in an article for the Region 3
Newsletter with recommendations for preparing a news release for
submittal to both print and broadcast media. The basic concept will be
to keep the news release simple and to the point, and target IEEE
members, non-members, students and the general public. Improving
meeting attendance would be a primary goal, with the opportunity to
both get new IEEE members, and to encourage students to pursue an
engineering career.

With many sections using electronic notices and newsletters, this
should help fill the void for those not able to receive information
electronically, and will help serve as a "tickler" to remind IEEE
members concerning meetings and other area activities. Further, print
and broadcast media notices are "free" and can help defer advertising
and printed newsletter cost factors.