Governance:
The function of your Board of Directors (BOD) is to guide and
nurture your Society and to provide benefits and services that
will aid and assist you in your professional career. The Society
has as its charter the advancement of the theory and practice
of Electromagnetic Compatibility. We can only accomplish that
goal if we succeed in helping to make our members careers successful.
We do this through a multitude of activities that encompass our
Chapter meetings, the Society web site, the activities of our
Technical Committees, Standards Committees and, through the Education
committee, a system of awards and grants and technical-educational
workshops and colloquia. Some activities are sponsored and directed
‘officially’ through the Society, and many more are
independently sponsored and run by active members who see a need
and do what they can to provide it. Where we can, the Society
encourages these activities and helps spread the word.
By far the greatest concentrations of these activities culminate
in our Symposia. I say Symposia because we foster, encourage,
and participate in many more Symposia than “our own”
International EMC Symposium every year. By co-sponsorship on several
levels, and actively speaking and lecturing all over the world,
members of our Society extend our friendship and exchange knowledge
with our international members, and with other EMC engineers who
may not be members of our Society, but still constitute elements
of the larger technical community of which we are a part.
 |
| Jürgen Nitsch, Symposium Chairman
of Euroem 2004 and Kimball Williams, EMC Society President.
President Williams attended EUROEM and staffed the EMCS membership
booth. |
Changes:
Some time ago, in an article for the Education Committee, I mentioned
Al Chung-liang Huang’s book “Embrace Tiger, Return to
Mountain” in which he speaks of an ex-pupil visiting his
Dojo and complaining, “…you have changed this…”
The reply was “Yes, of course; I move on and beyond…
how did you get stuck back then and there?” Change is one
of those facts of life that we, as humans, often wish would go
away, and leave us alone. We get comfortable with how things have
been done, and it is just human nature to want to stay in that
comfortable position.
Change is also one of the characteristics that typifies any organism
that is growing. The IEEE, and the EMC Society, is finding that
change is vital if we are to survive in the current economic climate
and continue to prosper in the coming years. However, change,
without purpose or direction, can be counterproductive. Your Board
of Directors is charged with providing the guidance to help move
the Society forward toward meaningful goals. It is in this context
that I want to call your attention to the call for nominations
to the EMC Society Board of Directors (BOD).
Nominations:
Every year the Society elects one third of the BOD to three-year
terms. This provides a significant overlap in the Board that ensures
consistency and stability. It also allows for the influx of new
people with new ideas to help the BOD move in different directions.
If you have ever thought you might be interested in running for
the BOD, now is the time.
One of the jobs of our past president is to look for potential
new BOD members from among our membership. Our immediate past
president, Todd Hubing, would like to hear from you and take you
through the process to put you on the ballot for election to the
Board. Todd’s contact information can be found on the Society
web site under the ‘Directory’ button that lists all
of the officers and committee chairs for the Society. Please consider
having a talk with Todd about the opportunities and challenges
that come to the BOD each year, and how you may be able to help
us address some of those in new ways. Nomination petitions are
included in the Winter issue of each EMC Society Newsletter. Completed
nomination forms for positions on the Board starting in 2006 are
due to Todd Hubing by May 31, 2005. It’s not too early to
give this serious thought so you are ready with your nomination
petition next year.
Our newly elected Board members officially join the BOD at our
first meeting of the elected year. However, we always welcome
them to the previous year’s November meeting where we can
get to know each other, sum up the closing year, and begin working
on the new year’s activities. We would like to welcome you
to the BOD at the November 16 meeting in Chicago this year as
well. Please bring your enthusiasm, commitment and energy and
join us. Perhaps this would be a good preview for your consideration
in submitting a nomination petition next year!
Regards to all! EMC
