Meeting minutes 16 Feb 2005 ECM

 

Agenda: Kickoff 2005 - Establish section’s goals and direction. Define member’s needs and way to increase IEEE membership in our section. Brainstorm ways to increase section’s funds.

 

Location: Engineering & Public Works, 160 Australian Ave.

Date/Time: 2/16/05 6:00pm

 

Attendees: Anthony Cortez Section Chair, Dr. Bassem Alhalabi Conferences Chair, Carl Hussey Power Eng. Chapter Chair, Dr. Cyril Iskander Comm. Chapter Chair, Joseph Altomare Section Vice Chair, Dr. Hari Kalva Comm. Chapter Co-Chair, Chuck Barest Editor & Computer/Signal Chapter Chair, Senja Petrujkic IEEE member, Richard Seibel Past Chair & Co-Treasurer, Joan Seibel guest, Fong Altomare guest.

 

Issues discussed:

  1. ECM called to order 6:45, Anthony. Introduction.

2.      Pasted Chair report, Richard.

·        All previous year’s reports are finished and submitted. They are: 2005 officers confirmations, thirty meeting reports and treasury L50 financial report.

·        Our section should have at least five ECM section meeting and two meeting per chapter. We are presently serving 884 members.

·        Southeast Com in Ft. Lauderdale is coming up April 8 –10, see February’s eBulletin.

  1. Treasury report, Richard. Treasury is sound at approximately $13,000 Additionally we are waiting for $6,000 for this year’s budget from headquarters. The section has equipment (i.e. Laptop), which will need to be depreciated in future budgets.
  2. Chapter reports.

·        Comm. Chapter, Cyril & Hari. Four lectures planed at FAU this semester, schedule will be provided when dates are confirmed.  First one is Friday 2/19, see February’s eBulletin.  Contest to be planned at FAU also.

·        Computer/signal Chapter, Chuck. Possible XML workshop, should have fee. Sponsors names on training material could raise funds. Issues to be future discussed in item #9.

·        Power Chapter, Carl. Four meetings planed this year. Faraday lecture this year in England. Possible tour of FP&L power plant. Let search for a knowledgeable person to present information on communication (broadband) over power lines for possible lecture.

  1. Life member reports, no representative present. Our section has many life member, fellows and retires of distinction. We should seek them out and solicit their involvement.
  2. Web site agreement review.  New contract submitted to co-treasure.
  3. Review section bylaws.  Not needed, bylaws have been reviewed in the last two years.
  4. Membership development, Richard Wu could not be present. Issues to be future discussed in item #10.
  5. Brainstorm ideas to raise section’s funds, group. Offer technical lectures at local companies for fees. Short course (i.e. XML) or small educational semiars could be offered for fees. In general “Workshops for Industries” could raise funds. However we must consider that we are a non profit organization.
  6. Open floor.

·        Open relationship with FAU student government IEEE chapter.  Could the present FAU IEEE chapter help with student membership fees from the student government budget? Could our section help?

·        FAU’s job fare is lacking local technology companies. Could our section organize a tech job fare?

·        IEEE student membership fees are too high. Student membership fee concerns to be passed on to IEEE headquarters.

·        Introduction from Senja, she is interested in our Public Information chair. Growth in small tech businesses in south Florida could increase membership in our section.

·        Consider separating Computer & Signaling Chapter into either two separate chapters or combining Signaling with Communication Chapter. As a separate chapter we will receive additional funding.

·        Need feedback from our section’s members.  Let us get a feel for our members pulse, what they would like to see from us.

  1.  Announcements/Awards. Richard Seibel is recognized as Past Chair for the last two years.  He is acknowledge and awarded for his huge contribution as he has held many chair positions for our section and continues to serve.  Richard is greatly appreciated. Our section also acknowledges the contributions from our previous section’s chair first lady Richard’s wife Joan.

 

Meeting adjourned 10:00pm

 

Thanks to Anthony for ordering pizza and bringing beverages. Thanks to Carl for reserving the meeting room.