Michael R. Lightner Candidate for
2005 IEEE President - Elect
82nd Region 8 Meeting Krakow, PolandApril 24, 2004
Challenges Ahead
We are, and should act as a truly transnational organization
How do we work in different countries with policy advice and technical and educational support without putting one part of IEEE against another?
Our industries are global in scope and reach, what does this mean for us?
Challenges Ahead Building/Maintaining a strong and vibrant
volunteer base Volunteers -our most valuable resource - est.
at $750M/yr ! IEEE needs volunteers. The two mechanisms
are by a reputation for excellence and by attracting members and getting 15% of them as volunteers. 50% of volunteers are not members.
Reviewers <50% IEEE members, authors ~50% IEEE members, conference committees - no requirement to be IEEE member
Challenges Ahead
What can we do to recognize volunteers and support expanded membership?
Reduced General member fees $40-$60 (Spectrum, Institute, reduced conference rate, …), then buy services, but gain services and recognition based on volunteering
Senior Member & Distinguished Member based on Service
Challenges Ahead Products and Services
Open access movement a challenge to our publications
We don’t have a library of publications, but rather an evolving and richly featured research tool. Don’t think papers, think information easily available at many levels of granularity highly linked with rich multimedia.
We must capture the tremendous educational activities of the IEEE for professional education and offer this as a member benefit and as product for non-members - new initiatives underway
Building the reach of our Standards activities Participating globally in the future of engineering
education as the future of engineering.
Summary IEEE is the defining organization for our profession As such it must embrace
Change Opportunity All elements of profession
Members, non-members, industry, other organizations, customers and partners
We must set professional standards Now is the time to look to the future, building on our
inspiring past and current strengths We need your ideas, questions, participation and
leadership. Without you the IEEE would not exist I would appreciate your vote and help in building the
IEEE of the future
Thank you for your attentionand
incredible contributions to the IEEE!