Like working with kids?
Want to see schools put more emphasis on math, science and engineering?
Have a child in the seventh or eighth grades?
Volunteer now to support the DFW regional Future City Competition. The Fort Worth Section is once again taking the lead in sponsoring this important National Engineers Week event in the North Texas area.
We are currently registering schools to participate - we need 25 to send our winner on to compete in the national competition in Washington, DC, and we're determined to get there this year.
Help us out by talking with your local school officials. We also need engineers willing to work as mentors with the student teams as the go about building their city of the future. This year's special emphasis will be on energy management: imagine helping as kids struggle with the questions of conservation, renewable energy, pollution controls and power generation - the same real-world questions many of us struggle with daily in our careers. The website, www.dfwfuturecity.org, has information on the program, last year's competition, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities. Or contact Jean Eason, Regional Coordinator.
The Fort Worth Section offers an opportunity each year for its members nominate deserving individuals in the section for awards in several categories.
Please take time to nominate individuals who have contributed service to the community, to engineering/technical careers, and to IEEE. Nominations can be submitted in an informally written E-mail, making it very easy for you to participate in the process.
The following awards are offered:
Send your nominations to d.b.collier@ieee.org.
Provide:
Nominations should be received by September 1, 2001.
Section Awards will be presented at the MetroCon 2001 luncheon, September 19, 2001. For additional information, e-mail d.b.collier@ieee.org.
Advance registration continues through September 1 with a convenient on-line registration form. For additional information, contact Alan Triggs.
SECTION AWARDS RIBBONS AT FW SCIENCE FAIR
Division 1 (High School)
Division 2 (Junior High)
IEEE-USA LAUNCHES REVAMPED ONLINE CONSULTANTS DATABASE - The IEEE-USA Consultants Database has been completely overhauled to make it easier than ever for prospective clients and electrotechnology consultants to find each other. Registered consultants can list their credentials and contact information, link to their Web sites, place banner ads and update their profiles instantly. The new database's upgraded search function allows clients to search for consultants by location, technical specialty and full-text keyword search. Clients can also post assignments, and field inquiries from interested consultants. www.ieeeusa.org/consultants
IEEE-USA UNVEILS "CARE" - IEEE-USA has launched its Congressional Advocacy Recruitment Effort (CARE) asking interested IEEE US members to pay a constituent visit to their US Senators and Representative in their District or Washington office, participate in Town Hall meetings and invite Members of Congress to speak at Section/Chapter meetings and related IEEE events. To make CARE work, IEEE-USA is providing issue alerts, background information and a "how-to" tutorial and on-line video on arranging successful congressional visits. www.ieeeusa.org/forum/care/.
HOUSE ADOPTS IEEE-USA-BACKED AMENDMENT IMPROVING ACCESS TO ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS - Before recessing for their August break, the House of Representatives passed Patients Bill of Rights legislation (HR 2563) that included an amendment to add patient access language (including expanded association health plan provisions) and remove certain restrictions on Medical Savings Accounts. IEEE-USA joined dozens of other organizations in a letter to all House members urging support for the amendment, which would make it easier for associations, including IEEE, to set up and administer health insurance plans for their members in all 50 states. www.ieeeusa.org/forum/POLICY/01aug01.html
When Congress returns in September, the House and Senate conferees will meet to work out differences in the two Patients Rights bills. Because of key differences over such as issues as the right to sue, prospects for ultimate agreement are cloudy. The association health plan provisions supported by IEEE-USA will also face strong opposition from states rights conservatives who oppose federally-mandated access, as well as those health insurance companies who see association plans as a business competitor.
A MAJOR VICTORY FOR IEEE-USA LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES: PENSION REFORM PROVISIONS SURVIVE LAST-MINUTE TAX BILL NEGOTIATIONS - In legislative alerts, letters, and grassroots visits with Congress, IEEE-USA pushed for inclusion of pension/IRA enhancements and the expanded tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. This marks a major victory for IEEE-USA, which has made retirement security its highest legislative priority for the past 15 years.
Also included in tax plan - of interest to IEEE-USA - were educational provisions that will: raise allowable contribution limits to educational savings accounts to $2,000; extend the $5,250 income tax exclusion for employer provided educational assistance for graduate and undergraduate level courses; increase income eligibility phase-out ranges for the deductability of interest on student loans; and establish an above-the-line deduction for qualified higher education expenses in 2002 through 2005.
RECENT IEEE-USA ACTIVITIES - A mid-year report of IEEE-USA's government relations activities is available on-line for review at: www.ieeeusa.org/forum/reports/tabxb.pdf. Among the highlights are:
IS YOUR CAREER ON THE FAST TRACK? - Visit the IEEE Career and Employment Resources website to access a comprehensive list of career development tools available to IEEE members and prospective employers, including the new IEEE job site (see below). The career site provides tools for a variety of audiences including special resources for Students, Job Seekers, Employers, Consultants & Entrepreneurs and Other Related links. Under each category, visitors may click to a destination page offering more details, ranging from jobs & internships listings to licensure & registration information. The IEEE continues to develop services that may assist you in career development. Visit the site often to learn of new career resources! www.ieee.org/careers
NEW IEEE JOB SITE GOES TO WORK FOR TECHNICAL JOB SEEKERS - IEEE e-Recruiter TM, a members-only benefit, connects technical job seekers with prospective employers. You can create a personal, confidential profile, including desired salary, job location and discipline. When an employer posting matches your requirements, you'll automatically receive an email notification. In addition, you can search job postings at your convenience, and sort by company, job category and expertise. Register today: www.ieee.org/jobs
GATEWAY TO ONLINE WEB-BASED EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES - IEEE PDI provides a "gateway" to online and web-based educational products and services developed by the IEEE and its partners. The "PDI Campus" links to lifelong education resources and information worldwide. www.ieee.org/pdi
IEEE PEERS, THE PRE-COLLEGE EDUCATOR/ENGINEERS RESOURCE SITE is designed to help engineers and educators work together to raise technological literacy at the pre-college level. PEERS is dual tracked to enable engineers and educators to get "pre-acquainted" and learn the basics about each other, so that they will be more at ease when getting started. In addition to the educator/engineer collaboration, it has good career information and a strong set of links to other sites. shop.ieee.org/store
Jean Eason, Editor