Letter from the Editor

Janet O’Neil – Editor, EMC Society Newsletter

Newsletter Editor Janet O’Neil is pictured with Benoît Nadeau, Chairman of the 2001 IEEE International Symposium on EMC in Montréal, Canada.

The team that made it all happen! The Montréal Symposium Steering Committee is shown following one of their several planning meetings. Standing (left to right) are: Dr. Bernard Segal, Workshops; Hans Baumans, Secretary; Richard Duhamel, Exhibits; Amy Pinchuk, Publicity; Christian Forget, Registration; and Clermond Marquis, Local Arrangements and Social Program. Seated (left to right) are Dr. Jean-Jacques Laurin, Technical Papers and International Liaison; Christian Dubé, Vice-Chairman and Publications; Benoît Nadeau, Chairman; and Stanley Kubina, Advisor. Committee members not present at the time of the photograph included (bottom, left to right) Constance Brown, Communications; Shantnu Mishra, Technical Program; and Mary Ann Pavlik, JPdL Management Services. Not shown: Howard Mende, Demonstrations.

“It reminds me of the day when Kennedy was assassinated. It’s somewhat the same feeling; you know, that feeling of a loss of innocence.” So said my friend following dinner one night in Denver, over a month after the September 11 tragedy. I had struggled since that day with my feelings. I wondered what it was I felt. Somehow, I thought by putting a label on my feelings, I could better handle them. I was too young to remember the day when Kennedy died, but I certainly understood the feeling of a loss of innocence. I have never taken it for granted to live in a country like the United States, but I had taken it for granted that people, like me, would respect this country and all that it stood for. Sadly, September 11 proved that this is not the case. And so I am sure that many others, like me, suffered from a loss of innocence.

However, immediately following this tragedy heroes were born as we mourned the lives of all those lost due to this heinous terrorist act. The actions of these heroes are memorable and admirable. And there were several heroes: some obvious such as the firefighters and some less so such as those that quietly served meals to those suddenly displaced. They all serve as an example that life goes on and does so honorably. We owe these heroes an immeasurable debt of gratitude.

In putting together this issue of the Newsletter, I was struck by all the wonderful things that happened at the EMC Symposium in Montréal the week of August 13, 2001. Little did we know then that life would change for many of us just one month later. There were so many things that made this symposium unique. As a Society, we need to do justice to the Montréal symposium steering committee by acknowledging their tremendous efforts in putting on this one-week event. We owe them our thanks for their dedication to our Society and the study of electromagnetic compatibility. I trust within this issue that you will learn more about the symposium in Montréal if you did not attend. You might just see what you’ve been missing and want to attend next year’s symposium in Minneapolis. If you did attend, I trust you will agree by “reliving” the symposium through the articles and photos in this issue that it was a wonderful symposium.

You will also find an article on page 19 by Maqsood Mohd, Chair of the Education Committee. In his article, Maqsood shares his perspective on the September 11 tragedy as a Muslim living in this country. I encourage you to read this article. It shows that we all have our own unique reactions to this tragedy. It is worthwhile to stop and consider the feelings of others.

I would like to personally acknowledge and thank my many colleagues in the EMC community overseas who took the time to send me an e-mail and offer condolences immediately following September 11. It showed me that this was indeed a crime not only against Americans, but freedom loving people everywhere. EMC

Return to contents