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New Zealand South Section Report Year Ending 2005

PART  A  -  SECTION SUMMARY

A.1  Executive Summary

Four major events occurred in 2005 for the section.

1.        The Section Committee recruited  three new younger members.

2.        Established a joint chapter with NZ North for Microwave Theories and Techniques.

3.        Established a subsection, New Zealand Central, to represent the northern and geographically isolated members of the section.

4.        Hosted a RAB/TAB visit in December

Membership levels are static, however activities in improving student participation, the GOLD programme and a member development survey were undertaken.

A.2  Financial Report

Income            Rebates from HQ                           $  5,639.91

                         Region Receipts                         $  3,164.08

                         IEEE HQ & Societies                   $  1,799.31

                         Interest                                      $     619.07

                         TOTAL                                       $11,222.37

Accrued Income from Sections Congress         $  2,142.35

Expenses        Professional Activities                                                                   $  1,607.82

                         Region 10 Meeting (Singapore)                                                    $  3,164.08

                         Sections Congress (Tampa)                                                          $  2,261.65

                         Chapter Activities                                                                           $  1,799.31

                         Student Branch                                                                                $  2,400.00

                         Awards and Gifts                                                                            $     352.77

                         TOTAL                                                                                             $11,585.63

Operating Gain                                                       $  1,779.09

Current Account Balance                                     $  4,775.88

Term Deposit                                                         $13,386.66

TOTAL                                                                    $19,941.63

A.3  List of Section Officer and Executive Committee Members

Chair:                                                          R.M. Duke

Vice-Chair:                                                 A. Bainbridge-Smith

Secretary:                                                   T.L. Ingham

Treasurer:                                                   L.M. Garth

Membership Development:                     R.L. Newstead

Professional Activities:                           A. Busch

Student Activities:                                   A. Bainbridge-Smith

Educational Activities:                            K. Pawlikowski

Newsletter & Webmaster:                       R.L. Newstead

Awards:                                                      R.M. Harrington

GOLD:                                                         S. Panagoda

Student Chair:                                           J. Man

PART  B  -  ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES

B.1 Membership Development Programs

The section established a new subsection called New Zealand Central.  This subsection represents the northern members of the section who are geographically isolated from the dominant southern membership.  The subsection was still in its formative stages at the end of 2005.

No other major direct activities occurred in membership development its self.  This, however, has been identified as a problem, together with are professional activities.  Consequently a survey of the membership was undertaken.  On action plan for 2006 is outlined in section C.

B.2 Professional and Continuing Education Activities

The section ran its usual technical programme of evening seminars jointly with those from IEE and ETG (IPENZ).  This has not been as successful as we would wish and a survey was conducted to garner membership opinions.  Analysis of the survey has been completed and an action plan summarised in section C.

B.3 Students Activities

The section has a very active student branch at the University of Canterbury.  Activities were initiated to establish a student branch in Wellington jointly between Massey and Victoria Universities, but have not yet been successful.

The University of Canterbury Student Branch has over 12 active committee members, and is now stable.  This is a big change from 4 year earlier when the committee collapsed.  Student membership is stable at its high historic figures despite the removal of all membership subsidies.  The branch successful ran a Mock Interviews training scheme for IEEE student members with corporate HR staff from around the country.  This was hugely successful.

B.4  E-mail and Newsletter Activities, Home Page

No changes in structure to the sections website were made in 2005.  All notices were, however posted on it.  For financial reasons the section no longer distributes newsletters in hard print, instead these are supplied in e-mail form.  Approximately 11 newsletters were sent, 1 each month except January.

B.5 Awards

An acknowledgment of the services of John Bean for his assistance in organising the joint technical programme for the IEEE/IEE/ETG was made at the AGM.

B.6  Chapter Activities

The Communications Society chapter, joint with NZ North, continues to run its very successful annual Wireless Workshop.

The Power Systems Societies chapter, joint with NZ North, operate a small, but productive programme centred on distinguished lecture scheme.

A new joint chapter, with NZ North, on Microwave Theories and Techniques (MTT) was established.

PART  C  -  GOALS  AND  PLANS

C.  Goals

To grow and establish the New Zealand Central subsection with the view that it ultimately becomes a full section in its own right.

To address the issues highlighted in the survey of members surrounding membership development and professional activities.

To bring the GOLD programme on to a stable basis.  This is important as an aid to help the transition of student members to full membership.

To establish a chapter of the Computer Society for the section.

C.2  Implementation Plans

A committee for New Zealand Central has been formed and is already organising technical events.  Financial arrangements with the section committee are underway.  A three year transition plan from subsection to full section status will be established.

The survey of members led to 3 activities been planned for 2006.  Firstly, a series of promotional events to encourage ordinary members to seek elevation to senior membership. Similarly, associate members to full members.  Secondly, a series of industry technical visits and more industrial and managerial presenters in the technical programme.  Finally, to promote and organise the establishment of a chapter of the IEEE Computer Society.

GOLD continues to be a particular problem for the section.  Given the high level of enthusiasm within the University of Canterbury student branch assistance from the branch will be given to help kick-start the GOLD committee into a higher level of operation.  The section will direct greater funding to GOLD once it has established a stable operating committee.

PART  D   -  OTHERS

D.1  Relationship with National Societies

The section runs a joint technical programme with the local sections of the IEE and ETG (ElectroTech Group) of IPENZ (Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand).  At the local level this relationship is satisfactory.  We do however recognise that there is important branding issues involved and feel more could be done in this area.

D.2  Special Events

The local branch hosted a visit from the RAB/TAB delegation in 2005.  No current plans are underway for any special events in 2006.

D.3  Concern areas and suggestions

The sections major concerns regard financial issues in relation to investment accounts.  We hold a small quantity of money, approximately 18 months float (on current expenditure), within a term deposit.  Moving this into a non-interest being current account does not seem financially prudent.  Nor does holding this money within the main IEEE USA based investment instruments, as currency fluctuations and fees are likely (on average) to exceed any gains.

Our other major concern regards GOLD and the retention of student members into full membership.  We would be very interest to hear how GOLD is functioning outside the USA.  In particular we would be interest to hear of success stories where it is helping in retaining membership.