Region 5 2024 Leadership Identification Pilot
Dear Region 5 IEEE volunteers,
It has been a true pleasure to serve as your Director Elect these past two years. Under the leadership of Director Becnel and with the help of our IEEE volunteers at the region and section level, we have brought our sections and affinity groups back in-person, strengthened our student branches and engaged our young professionals, to the point that we are now steadily growing in membership for the first time in decades.
As we look forward to 2024, as Director, I look to build on these trends, and expand our greatest resource – our volunteers – to engage in the truly exciting economic and scientific opportunities in the US Southwest.
To that end, it is time to begin defining our regional committee for 2024. For this year, we will be utilizing a pilot program for nominations and appointments to the Region committee. Using the Nomination Form (which opened on Oct 1st and closes on Nov 1st), I ask you to nominate your colleagues from across the region that you believe would be worthy candidates to serve in any of the defined roles. Self nominations are encouraged as well. Each nominee will be automatically contacted via email, and encouraged to apply using a simple form. The candidates for each position will be considered by our Leadership Identification adhoc, chaired by myself and made of our current N&A committee.
Terms for most positions are 1 year (with mutual approval for 2nd year in 2025), and a select set are 2 years, as by our bylaws and the MGA operations manual. Requirements for most positions are Graduate Student grade or higher, residing within a Region 5 section, with exceptions for certain student roles that can be of student grade. Some positions are area specific, please note your section when applying (see below). The Regions main role it to support sections and their subunits; as such Candidates with section leadership or other operational unit experience are highly encouraged to apply.
To help you with selection of positions and defining your goals for the position, you may wish to review the following documents:
The application form is designed to be simple, and in line with the process you find in applying for other positions within MGA, IEEE, our own region awards, or within the vtools Election pilot tool you may be familiar with at the section level. For each position, the description of the role is included, by our bylaws where applicable, when you select the position on the nomination and/or application form. The form also allows for selection of a first and second pick if there are two roles the candidate wishes to be considered for.
Key dates:
Nominations and applications open: Oct 1 – HERE
Applications due: Nov 1 – Link sent via Email after submitting a nomination
All positions selected no later than Dec 31
Thank you for your service to the region, and for your help in continuing to build our leadership for the Region and the greater IEEE.
Matt Francis
IEEE Region 5 Director 2024-2025
R5 Positions and Descriptions
Secretary
The duties of this officer shall include correspondence, the keeping of the minutes of the Committee meetings, mailing notices and the submission of a report to the IEEE Board of Directors at the end of each year to be sent to the Executive Director, and such other duties as are assigned by the Chair. The Secretary servces on the Executive Committee as a voting member. The secretary also provides input to the strategic planning committee
Chairperson, Awards and Recognition Committee
The Awards Chair chairs a committee consisting of the Chairperson, appointed by the Region 5 Director, and the four Area Chairs and one additional at-large individual to be recommended by the Committee Chairperson and approved by the Region 5 Director. The Chairperson will also serve as a corresponding member of the Member and Geographic Activities – Awards and Recognition Committees and as a member of the IEEE-USA Awards and Recognition Committee. This committee shall encourage the nomination of worthy candidates from Region 5 for IEEE Major Annual medals, IEEE Technical Field Awards, MGA and IEEE-USA Awards. In addition, this committee is responsible for administering the Region 5 Awards Program through a Region 5 Awards Manual which is approved by the Region 5 Committee. That manual will contain a list of the various awards, the nomination process and forms and award selection details. This chairperson is a voting member of the executive committee. A volunteer for this position would have experience at the section level or other operational unit in awards program management.
Member, Audit Committee – NORTH AREA ONLY 2024
The Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Region 5 Director and shall include one member from each of the four geographical areas (South, West, North and East) of Region 5.At the close of each calendar year, the Audit Committee will review the Region 5 financial records for adequacy and correctness and prepare a report of the audit for inclusion in the Region 5 annual report to IEEE Member and Geographic Activities Department. The committee will meet at the discretion of its Chairperson. The region is soliciting from a candidate from the NORTH area this year. The North Area consists of the following sections: Kansas City, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, SW Missouri, Tulsa and Wichita (as well as Rolla subsection). A candidate for this position would have financial experience at the section level or within other operational units of IEEE.
Chairperson, Strategic Planning Committee
The Strategic Planning Committee shall be responsible for developing plans and policies for Region 5 consistent with the IEEE Strategic Plan while taking into account the needs of Region 5 members, internal developments within IEEE, and trends in the external environment. The Committee shall solicit input from the Region 5 officers and Area Chairs. The Committee shall prepare goals, initiatives, and programs for the consideration of the Region 5 Committee. The Committee shall consist of the Chairperson, members selected from the past Region 5 Directors, and at least one member who has not previously served as a Region 5 Director. A candidate for this position would have significant experience in the operation of the Region in operational and financial areas.
Vitality and Section Coordination
Region Section Vitality Coordinator
An informal liaison to MGA Vitality Coordinators group within MGA Geographical Unit Operations Committee; encourages active and vital sections within the region, working with the membership development chair and area chairs to ensure sections meet and exceed their annual requirements. Typically an experienced section volunteer comfortable with vtools platforms including OU Analytics, holding events with section leadership to help them with their goals. This is a non-voting position created at the discretion of the director.
Sections Congress Coordinator
Coordinates attendees for Sections Congress from region sections (next sections congress will be 2026), serving as a liaison to the respective MGA committee. This is an experienced volunteer who has attended a previous sections congresses.
Technical Activities and Standards Coordinators
Standards Coordinator
Coordinates activities to encourage sections in the use and development of standards. Serves as an informal liaison to the IEEE Standards Association. An ideal candidate would have both section and SA experience. This is a non-voting position created at the discretion of the director.
Society Liaison
The candidate for this position is a current or recent past Division Director or Division Director-Elect who is appointed by the Region 5 Director with the recommendation of the IEEE Technical Activities Vice President. When no Division Director or Director-Elect resides in Region 5 or if an appropriate person is not able to serve in this capacity, the Region 5 Director may appoint a person who currently holds a leadership position on the Administrative Committee of one of the IEEE Technical Societies. The Society Liaison is an informal liason to TA, and promotes Society membership and encourages technical activities throughout the Region in conjunction with the Chapter coordinator.
Region Chapter Coordinator
As an informal liaison to the MGA Chapter Vitality Coordinators Committee under MGA GUOS; this position encourages active and vital chapters within the region, working with the membership development chair and area chairs to ensure technical chapters meet and exceed their annual requirements. Works with society Regional coordinators. An ideal candidate would have technical chapter officer experience and/or society experience and be comfortable with vtools platforms including OU Analytics.
Affinity Group Coordinators
Chairperson, Life Member Committee
This chairperson chairs a committee consisting of Life Member coordinators appointed by Sections in Region 5r. The principal focus of this committee is to promote activities of interest to IEEE Life Members, actively encourage them to retain their IEEE membership, stay involved with volunteer and section activities following their designation as Life Members, and to aid in establishment of Life Member Groups in all sections. The chair of this committee also serves as a liaison (non-voting) member of the IEEE Life Member Committee
Chairperson, Women in Engineering Committee
This chair person chairs a committee consisting of all Women in Engineering Coordinators appointed by Sections in Region 5. The principal focus of this committee is to promote activities of interest to women engineers and actively encourage young girls to pursue a career in engineering. The chair of this committee also serves as a corresponding member of the MGA IEEE Women in Engineering Committee. The candidate for this position would have experience with WIE at the section, MGA and/or regional level.
Chairperson, Young Professionals Committee
This chair person chairs a committee consisting of Young Professionals appointed by Sections in Region 5. The principal focus of this committee is to promote activities of interest to young engineers and actively encourage student members to retain their IEEE membership and become involved with volunteer activities following graduation. The chair of this Committee also serves as a corresponding member of the MGA IEEE Young Professionals Committee. A candidate for this position would ideally have experience as a YP officer or similar liaison role at the section level, and/or as a past student branch officer.
Professional and Educational Activities Roles
Chairperson, Educational Activities Committee
This chair of this committee shall chair a committee composed of one member per Area including a Chair appointed by the Region 5 Director. One of the important duties of the committee is to maintain the professional competence of the members through programs of continuing education. The Chairperson is a Region liaison (non-voting) member of the EAB Region Education Outreach Committee. A volunteer for this position would ideally have experience within sections and with the EAB.
Chair, Precollege Education Activities, Section Education Outreach Coordinator
Serves on the Professional Activities Committee, as well as serving as the liaison to the EA Sectional Education Activities Committee (SEAC) and as a member of the educational activities committee. The candidate for this position will have experience at the section level, be familiar with IEEE-USA and EA, and be ready to work with the TryEngineering platform and related EA programs.
Chairperson, Professional Activities
The Professional Activities Chair shall chair a committee composed of its Chairperson, the Region PACE (Professional Activities Committee for Engineers) Chairperson, assisted by a committee of Program Coordinators and Chairpersons in the following areas (as necessary) who keep abreast of IEEE programs in their areas of responsibility and support the Region member units which wish to undertake local professional activities, such as: • Government Activities and Technology Policy • Employment and Career Services Activities • Precollege Education Activities • Professional Education Activities. The Region PACE Committee recommends to the Region 5 Director the annual professional activities budget for support of Region, Area, and Section PACE projects. The Professional Activities Chair serves as a Voting member of the Executive Committee.
Chair, Government Activities and Technology Policy (Professional Activities Committee)
Serves on the Professional Activities Committee The important duties of the Committee are to build a knowledgeable core group of PACE leaders through training programs at the Region, Area, and Section levels., to foster, nurture, and coordinate member level PACE activities in the Sections, Subsections, Chapters, and Student Branches, to communicate members’ concerns to the National PACE leaders and the IEEE-USA Board. The Government Relations chair should be experienced in governmental affairs, and will work with the IEEE-USA associated committees to help arrange government outreach events, such as Congressional Visits Day.
Industry Liaison, Professional Activities Coordinator
A regional liaison to the IEEE Industry Engagement Committee. Serves on the Professional Activities committee to encourage activities like professional engineering certificates and professional development. Creates programs to engage members in industry. A candidate for this position would have industry and section leadership experience. This is a non-voting role created at the discretion of the director.
Membership and Leadership Development Positions
Chairperson, Membership Development Committee
The Chair of this committee is appointed by the Regional Director. The Chair also serves as the Regional liaison (non-voting) to the MGA Membership Recruitment and Recovery Committee. In addition, his committee consists of the membership development chairpersons appointed by Sections in Region 5. The major duty of this committee is to maintain a healthy rate of growth of IEEE membership in the Region. The committee will encourage membership development to the highest attainable grade. A candidate for this position will have section experience, as well as be very familiar with the IEEE vtools platforms.
Diversity and Inclusion Chair
The Diversity and Inclusion Chair develops a policy encouraging DEI for the region. This is a non-voting role created at the discretion of the director in support of region activities. Develops policies in conjunction with strategic planning and N&A.
Chair, Admission and Advancement Committee
Helps promote the Senior Member program and assists applicants in higher membership grades within the region. A candidate for this position should be senior member grade or above, with good mentorship skills. This is a non-voting position created at the discretion of the director.
Student Activities
Chairperson, Student Activities Committee (SAC)
Each Region shall establish a Region Student Activities Committee to be responsible to the Region Committee. The Region Student Activities Committee shall be concerned with the encouragement of student activities in the Region including Student member and Student Branch operations, general supervision of student activities and meetings when held on a Region basis, and the fostering and coordination of activities with the Sections. The Region Student Activities Committee shall be composed of its Chair, all Counselors in the Region, the Region Student Representative, (other student appointees as appropriate), and any MGA Student Activities Committee (SAC) members residing in the Region, ex officio. The Region Director shall appoint the Chair of this Committee and the Region Student Representative from among the Region membership, for a two-year term of office that corresponds with or overlaps with that of the Region Director. The Chair of the Region Student Activities Committee (Graduate Student Member grade or higher) and the Region Student Representative (Student Member or Graduate Student Member) shall serve, ex officio, on the MGA SAC. The SAC Chair is a voting member of the executive committee.
Student Representative
The Region Director shall appoint the Region Student Representative from among the Region membership, for a two-year term of office that corresponds with or overlaps with that of the Region Director. The Region Student Activities Committee shall be composed of its Chair, all Counselors in the Region, the Region Student Representative, (other student appointees as appropriate), and any MGA Student Activities Committee (SAC) members residing in the Region, ex officio. The Region Student Representative (Student Member or Graduate Student Member) shall serve, ex officio, on the MGA SAC.
Conferences
Conferences Student Competitions Coordinator
Coordinates student competitions within the region. Sits on the conferences committee and as a liaison to the SAC. A candidate would have experience with student branches, such as a student branch counselor, and will make recommendations for the SAC to consider in the Region Annual Student Competitions. This is a non-voting position created at the discretion of the director.
Conferences Technical Activities Coordinator
Coordinates technical conferences within the region. Sits on the conferences committee. A candidate would have experience with technical paper submission systems like EDAS, experience within technical activities (TA) a plus, and would have general experience with technical program design and paper solicitation. This is a non-voting position created at the discretion of the director.
Area-Specific Leadership Positions
East Area Chair
An Area is a part of a Region, consisting of several Sections, states, provinces, or countries which may be established by the Region Committee as a management and administrative organizational unit of IEEE to fulfill the communication needs and management/administrative missions of the Region within the territory prescribed. The Region Director may appoint Area Chairs to serve a during the incumbency of the Region Director (on a year to year basis). The Area Chair acts on behalf of and at the direction of the Region Director on specific assignments related to the management and administration of the Region. The Area Chair serves as the liaison to sections in their area, and should be experienced in the operation of section operational units. Area Chairs serve on the Awards Committee and their input is sought by Strategic Planning. Area chairs serve as voting members of the Executive Committee Each area chair must reside in and work with the sections in their geographical area. The East Area consists of the following sections: Arkansas, Arkansas River Valley, Baton Rouge, Beaumont, Lafayette, New Orleans, Ozark and Shreveport
North Area Chair
An Area is a part of a Region, consisting of several Sections, states, provinces, or countries which may be established by the Region Committee as a management and administrative organizational unit of IEEE to fulfill the communication needs and management/administrative missions of the Region within the territory prescribed. The Region Director may appoint Area Chairs to serve a during the incumbency of the Region Director (on a year to year basis). The Area Chair acts on behalf of and at the direction of the Region Director on specific assignments related to the management and administration of the Region. The Area Chair serves as the liaison to sections in their area, and should be experienced in the operation of section operational units. Area Chairs serve on the Awards Committee and their input is sought by Strategic Planning. Area chairs serve as voting members of the Executive Committee. Each area chair must reside in and work with the sections in their geographical area. The North Area consists of the following sections: Kansas City, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, SW Missouri, Tulsa and Wichita (as well as Rolla subsection)
South Area Chair
An Area is a part of a Region, consisting of several Sections, states, provinces, or countries which may be established by the Region Committee as a management and administrative organizational unit of IEEE to fulfill the communication needs and management/administrative missions of the Region within the territory prescribed. The Region Director may appoint Area Chairs to serve a during the incumbency of the Region Director (on a year to year basis). The Area Chair acts on behalf of and at the direction of the Region Director on specific assignments related to the management and administration of the Region. The Area Chair serves as the liaison to sections in their area, and should be experienced in the operation of section operational units. Area Chairs serve on the Awards Committee and their input is sought by Strategic Planning. Area chairs serve as voting members of the Executive Committee. Each area chair must reside in and work with the sections in their geographical area. The South Area consists of the following sections: Central Texas, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Galveston Bay, Houston, Lone Star as well as the Rio Grande Valley and Freeport Subsections
West Area Chair
An Area is a part of a Region, consisting of several Sections, states, provinces, or countries which may be established by the Region Committee as a management and administrative organizational unit of IEEE to fulfill the communication needs and management/administrative missions of the Region within the territory prescribed. The Region Director may appoint Area Chairs to serve a during the incumbency of the Region Director (on a year to year basis). The Area Chair acts on behalf of and at the direction of the Region Director on specific assignments related to the management and administration of the Region. The Area Chair serves as the liaison to sections in their area, and should be experienced in the operation of section operational units. Area Chairs serve on the Awards Committee and their input is sought by Strategic Planning. Area chairs serve as voting members of the Executive Committee. Each area chair must reside in and work with the sections in their geographical area. The West Area consists of the following sections: Denver, El Paso, High Plains, Panhandle, Pikes Peak, South Plains (as well as Black Hills Subsection)
Special Interest Groups
Humanitarian Activities Coordinator
A regional coordinator for humanitarian activities. Serves as an informal liaison to the IEEE Humanitarian Technical Activities Board. An ideal candidate would have experience with programs like SIGHT. This is a non-voting role created at the discretion of the director.
Region MOVE Coordinator
A regional coordinator for the IEEE MOVE Disaster Relief Program. Identifies potential volunteers to serve on MOVE trucks within the US, and is an informal liaison to the MOVE leadership. Works with the Humanitarian Activities Coordinator and STEM Outreach Coordinator to align programs with MOVE objectives when possible. This is a non-volting position created at the discretion of the director.
Chairperson, History Committee
The Chairperson of this committee will be chosen for their knowledge of and interest in electrotechnical history. This committee shall be responsible for promoting the programs and activities of the IEEE History Committee and the IEEE History Center within Region 5 and shall serve as a liaison between the IEEE History Committee and the Region 5 Sections. When requested, the Committee will assist the Center in collecting historical data and information regarding museums, libraries, and universities having artifacts and/or archives. The Committee shall actively promote the Electrical Engineering Milestone program and encourage Sections to identify and nominate worthy projects.
Communications Roles
Newsletter Editor
Develops and publishes the monthly Region 5 Connector newsletter. Candidate will work with the vtools platform, with good communications skills, who collects inputs from the region committee and sections each month. This is a non-voting role created at the discretion of the director.
Social Media Coordinator
Promotes Region activities on social media platforms. A candidate would have experience with linkedin, facebook and twitter. This is a non-voting role created at the discretion of the director
Web/Virtual Community Coordinator
Manages digital communication platforms, including the region website, Collabratec community, and works with the social media coordinator and newsletter editor to publish and store region archives. This is a non-voting role created at the discretion of the director. The idea candidate would have wordpress or similar experience, and works with IEEE staff to maintain Region communication platforms.
Region Digital and Hybrid Meeting Coordinator
Regional coordinator for creating and coordinating online and hybrid meetings for the region, including region committee meetings such as the annual meeting, general region-wide events; and promotion of them. Ideal candidate has significant experience with the webex platform, hybrid events and vtools events platform. This is a non-voting role created at the discretion of the director.