IEEE CPMT Society & the Scouting Movement:
Working Together to Attract Students to IEEE and the Engineering Profession
IEEE CPMT Society Volunteers and Staff assembled a Peer Review Team, lending their time and expertise to help the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) update their Electricity Merit Badge Pamphlet which had not been revised since 1996. Specifically, the team reviewed the electrical history, safety, terminology, and electrical experiments outlined in the pamphlet. Significant suggestions for improvement, corrections and updates were made. The listing of IEEE and the IEEE Virtual Museum were also added to the pamphlet as additional resources.

Ralph W. Russell II, of Richmond, Va., USA-based company Dominion, organized the peer review. Within the IEEE, Russell wears many hats. He is a member of the Educational Activities Board Pre-College Education Coordinating Committee, IEEE Technical Activities Board Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology (CPMT) Society Board of Governors, IEEE-USA Energy Policy Committee, and Project Manager of the IEEE Regional Activities Board 2005 National Scout Jamboree Electronics Merit Badge Project to be held at Fort A. P. Hill, Va. in Caroline County, Va, USA. Russell is also a former Scoutmaster and six-time U.S. National Scout Jamboree staff member. Members of the peer review committee include: Al Mouton, Cedar Creek, Texas, president of AGM Systems and Scouter; Lee Reed Sr., Richmond, Va., senior safety specialist for Dominion Resources Services; Rick Tavan, Truckee, Calif., retired Executive VP, Engineering and Operations at TIBCO, Electricity merit badge counselor, and father of two Eagle Scouts; Dan Ward, Richmond, Va., principal engineer for Dominion Virginia Power; Paul Wesling, Saratoga, Calif., vice president of publications for IEEE's CPMT Society, Eagle Scout, 15-year Scoutmaster, Venture Crew leader, BSA Heroism and Silver Beaver awards; Michael N. Geselowitz, Ph.D., director of the IEEE History Center and father of a Cub Scout. Dr. Geselowitz has also served as a Cubmaster, Den Leader, Pack Committee Member, Troop Committee Member and a Member of his Council's Jewish Committee on Scouting.

The EAB Pre-College Education Coordinating Committee became involved in the review process as a result of a formal partnership proposal submitted to the BSA this past April. The Electricity Merit Badge pamphlet review is the first BSA activity completed by the EAB committee. The IEEE TAB CPMT Society conducted the peer review process. When asked if this is an activity the group would engage in again, Russell said, "Yes. We were recently asked to do a peer review of the Computer Merit Badge as well." Discussions regarding the partnership between IEEE and the BSA will continue as it is still to be finalized. The IEEE also plans to work with the global World Organization of the Scout Movement and The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to form partnerships.

Though this is a new activity for the EAB committee, IEEE RAB has been supporting the BSA National Scout Jamboree by coordinating the Electricity and/or Electronics Merit Badge Booths at the BSA Jamboree since 1981. The National Scout Jamborees are held every four years, and are usually attended by over 35,000 scouts and 5,000 adult leaders from the U.S. and the rest of the world. IEEE funding and volunteers were provided at the Jamborees held in 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997, and 2001. At the June IEEE Board Series, RAB approved $50,000 in funding for the local geographic area to support the IEEE Electronics Merit Badge booth at the 2005 U.S. National Scout Jamboree.

Coordination of the Electronics Merit Badge Booth primarily comes from the IEEE Richmond, Virginia, USA, Section of Region 3, the Southeast part of the US. Region 3 has been a supporter of the project since 1981. Activities of the Region 3 volunteers include implementation of a web site to promote the electrical and electronics engineering profession to students, the development of instructional electrical and electronic programs and an electronics kit. A new website, www.emeritbadges.org is currently under development.

Submitted By:
Ralph W. Russell, II
Project Manager
IEEE "emeritbadges.org" Project
emeritbadges@ieee.org