The IEEE Columbus Computer and Communications Societies are planning on merging this year. This will result in a Joint Society. This is largely an administrative function, in that the reporting and financial management will be consolidated. The leadership of these two groups is committed to maintaining the same high-quality programs to which their membership has been accustomed. We believe this is a good move, in that the Computer and ComSoc domains of interest are closely aligned. Events in either of the two Societies are likely to be of interest to the other.
Membership in any or both of the two Societies at renewal time will make you a member of the joint local society.
At this time, we are looking for comments/questions from the Section membership, and especially the Computer and Communications Societies about their thoughts about this move. Please direct your comments to the Society chairs:
We would like to encourage everybody to consider nominating a colleague for the IEEE Fellow Grade. Please note some trends for Region 2 in the following email:
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Region 2 Leaders,
As 2009 begins, let’s be sure that Region 2 has every opportunity to obtain every Award and Recognition for our Region’s Members that IEEE has to offer.
The first item is the Fellow Member Elevation. The deadline for submission is March 1, 2009.
If you study the attached scanned statistical report you will note four disconcerting trends in 2008.
1. Region 2 had the second lowest number of Fellow Nominations (52) in the USA
2. Region 2 had the second lowest number of Fellow Elevations among the USA Regions (18)
3. Region 2 had the lowest number of number of Industry Nominations in the USA (9).
4. Region 2 had the lowest number of Industry Elevations in the USA (3).
The problem is the lack of Region 2 nominations and especially Industry nominations.
In global IEEE there were over twice as many Education nominations (all quite deserved) as Industry nominations yet there are twice as many industry members as education members.
Solution: We need more overall nominations, and many more Industry Fellow Nominations. I feel that with all the industry, all the academia, all the sections, and all the IEEE Societies that we have in Region 2, we can escalate the number of Fellow Nominations in 2009. I know it is not easy having been through the process multiple times.
Disperse this email to as many IEEE Members as you can in your network, Sections, Sub-Sections, Chapters, Committees, Societies, Workplace, etc.
Please consider participating in this year's IEEE-USA Career Fly-In:
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Dear IEEE Members:
IEEE-USA will be holding its 5th annual Washington Career Fly-In on March 23 and 24. All IEEE members in the United States are invited to join us on Capitol Hill to discuss high-skill immigration with your members of Congress.
For nearly a decade, IEEE-USA has been the strongest voice in Washington pushing for reforms to our skill-based immigration system. Over the past two years the debate about high-skill immigration reform shifted dramatically in our favor. But now we face a new Congress with an unusually large number of new members. These new members have probably never heard of an H-1B visa, never given any thought to high-skill immigration and likely don’t know what IEEE is. This is your opportunity to tell them.
Studies have shown that the single best way to influence a member of Congress is to meet with them in person. The Career Fly-In gives IEEE members an easy way to ensure that your concerns and opinions are heard by your elected leaders.
Fly-In participants will meet on the afternoon of March 23rd for a complete briefing on skill-based immigration policy and to learn how to meet with members of Congress (hint: it is easy). On March 24th, participants will spend the day on Capitol Hill meeting with their legislators. IEEE-USA will arrange all meetings. All you have to do is hold them.
All IEEE members in the United States are welcome and encouraged to attend. Students, retired members and even IEEE members who are not American citizens are needed.
In 2009, IEEE-USA will be trying to convince Congress to adopt our “Green cards not Guest workers” program by expanding access to green cards for immigrants who earn a masters or PhD from an American university. Our goal is to shift the focus of American immigration policy away from short-term work visas towards permanent green cards, especially for international students.
Over the past several years Mr. Bela Kovach, Columbus Section IEEE Member, had been contacted about applying for the Senior Member grade in IEEE. He was well qualified, but never took the time to pursue the advancement. Unfortunately, Mr. Kovach died suddenly in March 2008 at the age of 78. A Columbus Section Fellow, who knew Mr. Kovach, wanted to secure Mr. Kovach Senior Member status although he was deceased. The Columbus IEEE Section was able to help provide the necessary references for Mr. Kovach. Just recently Mr. Bela Kovach received his Senior Member grade posthumously .
The IEEE Columbus Section congratulates Mr. Kovach on this achievement.
Please join us for this year's special celebration of the IEEE's 125th Anniversary!
Speakers:
Dr. Michael N. Geselowitz
The IEEE History Center
Dr. Galen Graham
DeVry University, Columbus
“IEEE Past and Future"
Presentation Abstract
On the 125th anniversary of the IEEE, the Columbus Section has invited two vibrant speakers to take us on a journey of technology. Dr. Geselowitz is going to explore the foundations of the organization and its parallels to the technologies that its members have used to change the world. After exploring where we've come from, we will take a look into the future of engineering with Dr. Graham. This very special joint presentation will be an amazing journey in technology and a great way to celebrate our profession, past and future.
Speakers Biographies
Michael N. Geselowitz is Staff Director of the IEEE History Center. Immediately prior to joining IEEE in 1997, Mike was Group Manager at Eric Marder Associates, a New York market research firm, where he supervised Ph.D. scientists and social scientists undertaking market analyses for Fortune 500 high-tech companies. He is also a registered Patent Agent.
Mike holds S.B. degrees in electrical engineering and in anthropology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in anthropology from Harvard University.
His research focus has been on the history and social relations of technology. He has worked as an electronics engineer for the Department of Defense, and he has held teaching and research positions relating to the social study of technology at M.I.T., Harvard, and Yale University, including a stint as Assistant Collections Manager/Curator at Harvard's Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.
Mike lives on Long Island, New York, with his wife, Emily Schneider, Ph.D., and has three children. He is active in his local synagogue.
Galen Graham has been a teacher and administrator in higher education for over 30 years. He received his undergraduate degree in Classics from the College of the Holy Cross, an MBA from Capital University, and the MA and PhD degrees from The Ohio State University. He has taught at Ohio State, Denison University, and Muskingum College, and was a research student at the University of Cambridge. He was named president of the DeVry Columbus campus in 1996, and a regional vice president of DeVry University in 2001.
Dr. Graham was named Outstanding Educator Advancing Technology by the Industry and Technology Council of Central Ohio, and in 2001 was presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the College of Humanities of The Ohio State University. Most recently Dr. Graham was a member of the governor’s Commission on Higher Education and the Economy.
Banquet to be catered by The Confluence Park Restaurant
Hors D'oeuvres: Crab Stuffed Mushrooms and BBQ Meatballs. Dinner selections: Herb Seared Chicken or Baked Salmon Sides: Roasted red skin potatoes, vegetables will be a medley of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, salad dressing selections are ranch and raspberry vinaigrette, and beverages will be iced or hot tea and coffee. Desserts: The dessert station will have three desserts: German Chocolate Cake, Key Lime Cheesecake, and Cherry Cobbler.
Location:
Confluence Park Restaurant
679 W Spring Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Please join us to recognize the outstanding students of Electrical & Electronics Technology and the achievements and contributions of IEEE Columbus Section Members.
This is our volunteers appreciation Christmas Dinner Party and Executive Committee Meeting. This meeting is open to IEEE Columbus Section volunteers. Section volunteers will receive an email invitation for this event with information about how to sign up.
