SPC e-conference 24 July 2000
Proceedings

CharlesL has joined the conversation.

Host BobD says:
Howdy CharlesL! Welcome to room #r3econf. Enjoy your stay.

BobD says:
Hi, Charles!

CharlesL says:
Good evening!

DanJ has joined the conversation.

Host BobD says:
Howdy DanJ! Welcome to room #r3econf. Enjoy your stay.

DanJ says:
DanJ Hi

Host BobD says:
Hi, Dan! Glad you're on board.

Bear has joined the conversation.

Host BobD says:
Howdy Bear! Welcome to room #r3econf. Enjoy your stay.

Bear says:
Howdy all sorry I just got dropped by...

Bill has joined the conversation.

Host BobD says:
Howdy Bill! Welcome to room #r3econf. Enjoy your stay.

Bill says:
greetings

Bear has left the conversation.

Host BobD says:
Bear must have been dropped again!

DickR has joined the conversation.

Host BobD says:
Howdy DickR! Welcome to room #r3econf. Enjoy your stay.

Bill is now known as BillR.

DickR says:
10-4 Howdee all.

Host BobD says:
Greetings, DickR and BillR

DickR says:
c

Host BobD says:
GA, DickR

DickR says:
I hope that bellsouth will let me stay.

Host BobD says:
Well, men, it's after 9. I don't want to keep us after 10. ...

Host BobD says:
Let's go ahead. Beall, Harris, and Howard will not make it.

Host BobD says:
Our agenda is at http://pages.prodigy.net/r.duggan/spc-7-24.htm

Host BobD says:
Anyone want to add anything?

Host BobD says:
Hearing none, I assume we can proceed. ...

Host BobD says:
Our SPC Duties are defined at http://www.ewh.ieee.org/reg/3/opsman/strategic.htm

Host BobD says: As we start the latter half of Y2K, we need to begin reviewing where we are and what we need to be doing. ...

Host BobD says:
While we can make annual updates in the R3 Strategic Plan, this is usually more of a focus in the odd years. ...

Host BobD says:
BTW, our R3 Strat Plan is accessible at http://www.ewh.ieee.org/reg/3/sp2000.html ...

ReedT has joined the conversation.

Host BobD says:
Howdy ReedT! Welcome to room #r3econf. Enjoy your stay.

ReedT says:
Evening all

Host BobD says:
Another key responsibility of SPC is the receiving of the various entity G&Os and their progress reports relative to them. This has never been very effective, frankly, because of poor participation by the entities.
(Hi, Reed!) ...

Host BobD says:
Still, this is something which can really help the Director do a more effective job. ...

Host BobD says:
We have our mentor program which can help spur the entities, but we've really not been flooded with inputs from our mentors. (Reed has done well). ...

Host BobD says:
Our mentor assignments may be found at http://www.ewh.ieee.org/reg/3/spc/mentors.htm ...

Host BobD says:
As we move on into the latter half of 2000, I intend to hold more frequent e-conferences for SPC to review these key items in our duties. ...

Host BobD says:
Before we proceed further, I invite any Q or C from y'all.

ReedT says:
c

Host BobD says:
GA, Reed

ReedT says:
Re the SPC receiving reports on G&O from entities...

ReedT says:
I think this is ineffecive because it is organizationally wrong...

ReedT says:
The Chairs are appointed by and are responsible to the Director...

ReedT says:
The reports should go to the director, not SPC in my opinion.

DaveC has joined the conversation.

Host BobD says:
Howdy DaveC! Welcome to room #r3econf. Enjoy your stay.

Host BobD says:
Thanks. Other Q/C?

DaveC says:
Thanks

BillR says:
c

Host BobD says:
GA, BillR

BillR says:
I agree with Reed that the reports are directed to the Director...

BillR says:
but the SPC I believe was simply acting as a clearing house to organize...

BillR says:
the responses and coordinate with the plan.

Host BobD says:
Thanks, BillR. Other Q/C?

Host BobD says:
Hearing none, ...

Host BobD says:
I think this has been (as BillR pointed out) an assigned SPC task in order to relieve the Director of some of his many chores. This has been so for several administrations ...

Host BobD says:
but we really have never had very enthusiastic participation by the various entities. ...

Host BobD says:
I did want to bring this up. I'm not sure things are going to change soon, but I think it is a cause for SPC and Reg 3 concern.

Host BobD says:
Now...

Host BobD says:
A key spark that brought us together tonight is the request by Conference Chair Charles Lord that we discuss conferences past, present, and future in Reg 3. ...

Host BobD says:
Charles, would you like to take over now?

CharlesL says:
Thanks Bob, and thanks all for being here...

CharlesL says:
My main intent of asking this body for advice is to help the conference committee...

CharlesL says:
with strategic direction as we ponder and plan for a change in conference structure,...

CharlesL says:
participation, and revenue...

CharlesL says:
The R3 Strategic Plan was written with the premise that Southcon and Southeastcon...

CharlesL says:
will still be here (plus new direction for TAB conferences which I think is a great idea)...

CharlesL says:
I have raised a few possible directions in my previous email that Bob forwarded to...

CharlesL says:
all of you. The big question is, where do we want our strategy?...

CharlesL says:
As to the options of combining the two conferences, or having a series of tabletop...

CharlesL says:
replacements for Southcon across the region are good tactical solutions...

CharlesL says:
These are also great tactical solutions...

CharlesL says:
What I need from you is a direction...

CharlesL says:
What is our main purpose?...

CharlesL says:
Raising funds?...

CharlesL says:
Getting information to the most members possible?...

CharlesL says:
Given the answer to this, our committee can act to come up with some suggestions...

CharlesL says:
to present at the R3 excom in October.

Host BobD says:
Q/C?

DaveC says:
c

Host BobD says:
GA DaveC

DanJ says:
DanJ c

Host BobD says:
First - DaveC

DaveC says:
I am a strong proponent of R3 cooperating with Society-based conferences and attempting to acquire conferences throught=out the region. I do not favor mini conferences. end

Host BobD says:
OK, Thanks, Dave. DanJ?

DanJ says:
We are not in the business of raising money. If an activity raises... funds that

DanJ says:
that's great! but not the primary purpose. end

Host BobD says:
Thanks, Dan. Any C/Q?

ReedT says:
c

Host BobD says:
GA, Reed

ReedT says:
I agree with Dan. We should be serving the interest and needs...

ReedT says:
of our members. Raising money is incidental.

Host BobD says:
Thanks, Reed.

Host BobD says:
BTW, Jim Howard e-mailed me tonight raising the idea of ...

DanJ says:
c

Host BobD says:
somehow combining SECon & Southcon. ...

Host BobD says:
GA, Dan

DaveC says:
c

DanJ says:
I agree with DaveC but to do that requires getting the ...

DanJ says:
chapters communicating with their societies so ...

DanJ says:
they are on board before the plans are set in concrete.

Host BobD says:
OK. DaveC?

DaveC says:
Dan has captured the exact issue that I would offer for consideration - closer chapter association with societies. Southcon has not been meeting the member needs else they would

DaveC says:
have been attending in greater numbers and Southeascon is not attracting large numbers on non-R3 committee members

DaveC says:
consequently, we need a new model. Obviously the future of our members rests with improving their technical viability and visibility. hence, we need to get them more srongly coupled into the technical future via conferences. end

Host BobD says:
Thanks, Dave. Other Q/C?

CharlesL says:
c

Host BobD says:
GA, CharlesL

CharlesL says:
I would like to recap...

CharlesL says:
I think the consensus here is that R3 Conf Comme should look at providing better info...

CharlesL says:
(technical and perhaps prof?) for the membership...

CharlesL says:
revenue is not a consideration but would be a nice plus...

CharlesL says:
If this is the general strategy we can move forward with some possible solutions...

CharlesL says:
including the very good ones I have heard mentioned here.

DaveC says:
c

Host BobD says:
Any other C/Q from anyone?

Host BobD says:
GA, DaveC

DaveC says:
Let me extend my strategy with a suggestion - namely a Conference Comm with two Vice Chairs

DaveC says:
- one that is responsible for keeping Southeastcon on course and one responsible for

DaveC says:
mining new conferences co-sponsored with societies. The Alabama Section has a good model in that it went out and

DaveC says:
mined a conference with the Vehicular Technology Society to address a specific local

DaveC says:
industrial thrust that was taking place. I am sure that other sections have unique opportunities

DaveC says:
that could be addressed through a coupling to specific societies. end

Host BobD says:
Thanks, Dave. Others?

Host BobD says:
Anything else you'd like to say, Charles?

CharlesL says:
Only on a related note...

CharlesL says:
It may be good for the SPC to start looking at a new financial model...

CharlesL says:
(sorry DaveC )...

CharlesL says:
that takes into consideration the loss of Southeastcon and Southcon income for now...

CharlesL says:
without depleting all of our reserves...

CharlesL says:
(but this is perhaps for another mtg ).

Host BobD says:
I think this might be more appropriate for the Finance Committee first and then the SPC.

Host BobD says:
C/Q?

Host BobD says:
Hearing none...

Host BobD says:
Our time is moving on. I have thunder crashing nearby. ...

Host BobD says:
I want to thank everyone for joining in tonight...

DaveC says:
c
Host BobD says:
I'm not sure if Monday is any more convenient than any other night, ...

Host BobD says:
but our absentees had other conflicts which were unrelated to a Monday. ...

Host BobD says:
OK, Dave GA

DaveC says:
Just one observation relative to e-conference protocol. "Speakers" should note when they have completed their remarks with some special notation to prevent having so much "dead air". end

Host BobD says:
Thanks. Usually, if we're planning to continue we use ... If not, there's no ... But end does help!

Host BobD says:
In order to move us along, I'd like to try to meet again next Monday 7/31 at 9pm. We need to be reviewing where we are... And get ready for the Fall meeting.

Host BobD says:
Before lightning hits, I'd better sign. Thanks everyone for coming tonight!

ReedT says:
Monday is OK with me.

DanJ says:
Bye