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The Region 5 Community Connector

Newsletter Promoting activities, information, and news to the membership

December 2023

    Membership Contacts:

Hunter J Boudreaux – East Area Chair

Maciej J Zawodniok– North Area Chair

Christopher B Sanderson– South Area Chair

Faye Kann– West Area Chair

R5 EXCOM Roster can be viewed here: https://rosters.ieee.org/home.html

    R5 2023 EXCOM Meetings 

  • IEEE Region 5 2023 Winter EXCOM Meeting and Audit Committee Meetings: The meeting was held on Friday Jan 27 – Sunday Jan 29, 2023 at Courtyard Marriott Springfield Airport, 3527 W Kearney Street, Springfield, Missouri, United States, 65803.ExCOM recommended Christopher Sanderson and Kenneth Rice for the R5 Director-Elect Candidates. There could still be a petition candidate, thus, this is not the final candidates slate for the Director-Elect position.
  • 2023 Region 5 Annual Meeting and Student Competitions was held on Friday April 21,22 & 23 at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center, 13200 E. 14th, Aurora, CO 80011. More meeting details and highlight coming soon.
  • Region 5 Fall ExCom Meeting: Region 5 held their annual fall Executive Committee meeting in San Antonio, TX from October 13-15, 2023, in partnership with Southwest Research Institute and Lone Star Section. The group met to review 2023 activities and strategic planning for 2024-25 activities.  The student branch members from the University of Texas at San Antonio presented during the lunch hour about their 2023-24 activities. Garrett Hall who is the student advisor was in attendance. 

    San Antonio Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia provided very timely remarks on STEM activities for youth and job growth in her district which adjoins Southwest Research Institute. IEEE was pleased to have her join us on Friday and share future strategies.

Starting from the left is Bill Wylie, Larry Larson, John Reinert, Clif Denny, Walt Downing, R5 Director 2022-2023 Bob Becnel, San Antonio Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia, Nils Smith, Jose Navarro, R5 Director 2024-25 Matt Francis, Kai Wong, Don Dunn, Faye Kann, Jim Sipes and with Hunter Bordeaux and Case Kirk in front.

    R5 2023 Committee 

2023 Audit Committee
  1. Treasurer: Paul Cassingham.
  2. Audit Committee Chair, 4th Year: William Wylie (North) Billwylie@ieee.org
  3. Audit Committee, 3rd Year: Silke Spiesshoefer (East) Silke_Spiesshoefer@ieee.org
  4. Audit Committee, 2nd Year: Ernest X Njouondo (South) njouondo@ieee.org
  5. Audit Committee, 1st Year: Patterson, Tristan Hunter (West) tristanpatterson10@hotmail.com
   Spotlights

Supporting Local Educational Activities This Year Into the Next

The Denver Section continues to support k-12 and university teams succeed through mentorship and financial support. Whether it is a cybersecurity team ORESEC, from School of Mines in Colorado or a FIRST Robotics Competition team from Dakota Ridge High School (DRHS), Team 1799.  Teams and supported groups are proud to present their learning and experience to the Denver ExCom in form of presentations and demonstrations.

During November 21, 2023, Denver Section ExCom, a presentation was given to those in attendance from Barrett Thompson for team ORESEC and the FRC Team 1799, Wired Up from DRHS.

With the new year and budgets being considered, helping local educational endeavors might be something your section, sub-section or chapters could consider. Happy holidays and have a great start to the new year! from Yvonne Gray: ybgray@ieee.org

Congratulations to Kansas City Section’s New Senior Members!

The Kansas City Section completed its first SM Drive in October and has welcomed the following new Senior Members:

    1. Morteza Hashemi
    2. Rob Arnold
    3. Bruce Godsey
    4. Xinmai Yang
    5. Eric Schultz
    6. Brian Baumgart
    7. Ron Smith
    8. Bobbie Elam
    9. Luis Gonzales
    10. Carles Miller
    11. Phill Fry
    12. Kenneth Bandelier
    13. Swaroop Kundeti

Congratulate on getting elevated to the highest grade for which IEEE members can apply. Hope you enjoy the well-deserved recognition, take advantage of the new leadership eligibility opportunities, and consider referring other candidates in the future.

Special thanks to Alan Washburn, Mark Olive and Mahfooz Hilaly for their time and support in this event.

The Section will be conducting more Senior Membership drives in 2024.

Contributor: Italo Bett italo.bett@ieee.org

Kumaran Masanamuthu Selvanayagam: IEEE Larry K. Wilson Regional Student Activities Award Winner!

The purpose of this award is to recognize, annually, in each Region of the IEEE, the Student member most responsible for an extraordinary accomplishment associated with Student Activities. The value of a Student member who shows a pattern of dedication and ongoing service to a Student Branch/Student Branch Chapter is certainly recognized. It is sponsored by the IEEE Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) Board.

Kumaran Masanamuthu Selvanayagam, congratulation for this well-deserved and prestigious award.

   Community Outreach

Project Self-Sufficiency (PSS)

Project Self-Sufficiency (PSS) evolved from the efforts of a countywide task force in 1985 to coordinate and expand services for low-income, single-parent families.  One of the most promising pathways out of poverty includes access to higher education. Today, our local programs are offered to 105 families concurrently. PSS breaks new ground with single-parent families to access their self-power.  PSS provides educational and career empowerment through 1:1 coaching, goal reinforcement, and significant support helping single parents cut through the stress and barriers to their success to self-power their completely new life.

PSS receives donated laptops & computers from banks, hospitals, and local commercial businesses.  We refurbish those donations for participants’ academic use by installing current Windows operating systems, and applications and performing performance testing.

Volunteering at PSS is an excellent way to give back to your local community. For Members and Student Members, the commitment would be about 4 hours a week,

Right now, there is an immediate need in the Weld and Larimer County area of Northern Colorado, but there may also be a need in your immediate area.

If you live in the Northern Colorado area and are interested in volunteering,

please contact: Diane Glessner, Project Self Sufficiency, IT volunteer dianelee.glessner@gmail.com

    Membership Development

Have you renewed your IEEE membership for 2024?

It is easy to forget and even easier to put off.  If you haven’t renewed your IEEE membership, or don’t know if you have, go to your IEEE account profile NOW and check or call 800 678-4333.

OR just renew now to avoid loss of any of your IEEE benefits at www.ieee.org/renew .

If you have already renewed, thank you for being part of the IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional association. We have a lot planned for you in 2024.

If you haven’t done so recently, visit www.ieee.org/membership to take advantage of view all YOUR benefits of IEEE membership. 

Did you know about IEEE – Life Membership

Close to retirement?

Don’t retire your IEEE membership too soon!

IEEE Members who are over 65 and have been dues paying members for over 35 years qualify for IEEE Life Membership with waiver of future dues and begin the next chapter of your life as an IEEE Life Member.  Find out more at IEEE Life Members.

The LSS has an active Life Member Program with meetings and activities tailored

Many Region 5 Sections have active Life Member Groups.  To find out if yours does, contact your Section Chair or visit Life Member Affinity Groups.

 Did you know about IEEE – IEEE.tv

IEEE.tv offers a wide variety of programing included highlights from IEEE conferences, interviews with leading IEEE authors, technology reports from IEEE Spectrum, and coverage of special IEEE events and people and lots of other fun stuff to look at.  And you don’t have to be an IEEE member to visit.

However, as an IEEE member, IEEE.tv offers extensive members-only programming including many education and training videos designed to keep you current OR to help you learn a new and emerging technology.  https://ieeetv.ieee.org

Check out the new monthly programming at IEEE.tv !!!!!!!

 Opportunity to make a difference as an Engineer!

As an IEEE member, or simply as an Engineer, we get the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of future engineers AND have some fun at the same time!

Science Fair Judge – Yes it is science fair season again!  There are a number of science and engineering focused schools in the Region 5 area that host science fairs each year. Most will be hosting fairs over several days this year.  Typically, they start in December with a local fair, move to a regional based fair in the Feb/March time, and then onto a state level competition.  Those winners then go to ISEF, the Regeneron International Science and Engineer Fair.  This is the world’s fair of science fairs. In 2024, ISEF will be held in Los Angeles, CA May 11-17.

If you look, there will probably be many local Science Fairs in your area.  Many schools are still working out how to continue to support their students with virtual/in person science fairs.  Pick a school, find out if they have a science fair, reach out to them, and go have some fun supporting the next generation of engineers!

For more information, please contact Joe Redfield Region 5 Membership Development Chair: J.Redfield@ieee.org

    R5 Conferences, Webinars and Professional Activities
Colloquium: ComSoc History and Evolution of Communication:December 7th
REGISTER ON VTOOL   https://events.vtools.ieee.org/event/register/387238
on or before  December 7th, 5:00 PM US-CST to receive ZOOM information For more information, please conact Dr. Zafar Taqvi Colloquium Coordinator  ztaqvi@gmail.com

Someone deserves an IEEE award! Is it you?

IEEE has so many ways to recognize and award people who have done outstanding jobs; from life-changing research, to doing a fantastic job leading a local chapter. From outstanding industry partners, to changing the world by providing power to a remote part of the Himalayas.

Who do you know that deserves recognition?  Is it you? Or a colleague? Or a supportive local company? In any case, come to our Ask-Me-Anything series on Awards, on Tuesday December 5 at 7:30 PM Central Time, to learn how you can nominate someone. Or even how you can get someone else to nominate you!

Register here for the link to the 45-minute webinar. 

For more information, please contact Joe Redfield  J.Redfield@ieee.org

 

IEEE International Conference on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems May 12-14 2024

The conference, scheduled to take place on May 12-14, 2024 in St. Louis: https://icps2024.ieee-ies.org/,  which will bring together experts and researchers from academia and industry to exchange ideas and discuss the latest advancements in Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems.

Primary contact Dr. Fang, Huazhen: fang@ku.edu
Region 5 Conference – ICC 2024 (Denver) June 9-13, 2024

The IEEE Denver Section is hosting the International Conference on Communications (ICC) which for 2024 which will take place in Denver Colorado (June 9-13, 2024).  ICC is one of the two IEEE ComSoc flagship conferences attracting a large number of contributors and attendants.  This year’s conference hosted 2000 attendees in Rome at ICC 2023

 

We invite you to submit a business, paper, workshop, tutorial proposal for consideration. See the attached Call for Papers (CFP) document. CFPs for symposium, workshops and tutorials require technical papers that will be published in IEEE xPlore digital library.  Industry presentations, panels and workshops (not requiring publishing papers) will be solicited in the weeks ahead.

Given the convergence of computing and communication in our industry, we hope you will consider this opportunity and spread the word to your colleagues. Access conference Weblinks: Symposium     Workshops    Tutorials

For any question, please contact Tim Weil – General Co-Chair – ICC 2024 (Denver)720.656.9572 (m) | 240.337-1305 (f)

Professional Activities
Region 5 makes funds available for the support of professional activities in IEEE R5 Sections, Chapters, and Student Branches. The funds are managed and distributed through the Region. To obtain funding, a Section, Chapter, or Student Branch must complete a Project Plan and Financing Request form, obtain supporting signatures, and file the form with the Region 5 PACE Coordinator. For R5 PACE Form (includes program details) and project ideas, https://r5.ieee.org/member-opportunities/professional-activities-pace/.
POC: Diane Collier pacechair@ieeer5.org.
    R5 Sections and Formation Date
Section Date
1 Arkansas River Valley June 20, 1994
2 Arkansas April 23, 1947
3 Baton Rouge February 5, 1955
4 Beaumont June 27, 1945
5 Central Texas May 23, 1930
6 Corpus Christi October 25, 1951
7 Dallas March 18, 1928
8 Denver May 18, 1915
9 El Paso March 7, 1940
10 Fort Worth January 5, 1956
11 Galveston Bay January 1, 1980
12 High Plains February 13, 2010
13 Houston August 7, 1928
14 Kansas City April 4, 1916
15 Lafayette November 11, 1970
16 Lone Star November 23, 2019
17 New Orleans December 8, 1933
18 Oklahoma City February 16, 1922
19 Ozark April 20, 1966
20 Panhandle June 12, 1947
21 Pikes Peak May 22, 1978
22 Saint Louis January 14, 1903
23 Shreveport January 14, 1903
24 South Plains May 4, 1955
25 Southwest Missouri February 14, 2009
26 Tulsa October 1, 1937
27 Wichita September 16, 1937

    IEEE USA News

Wanted:  Licensed volunteers to help with IEEE-USA and Region 5 Pilot for a PE Refresher

Region 5 is going to pilot a PE Refresher Pilot for IEEE-USA .  We have the opportunity to design and implement an exciting new and promising pilot for a program that IEEE-USA (Career and Professional Development ) and the MGA YP Committee are jointly creating.

As part of the pilot, a few subjects will be introduced to members that sign up.  These subjects are, tentatively, DC/AC Circuit Analysis, Mathematics, Ethics, Economics and Power.  At this time, we have an open call for an instructor in these areas to help with preparing a 2 hour webex on one of the preferred topics by creating some summary material and problems on the topic.  The instructor will present the material on one evening and then be available to answer questions on the problems.  We are looking to recruit the team in September and start enrolling in October.  I will have an informational session in mid September with those that respond to this call.  Instructors should not be concurrently supporting NCEES on any exam writing efforts.  Instructors should be licensed within the US.

In addition we would be looking for a project manager that is passionate about licensing to help manage the project and expand it beyond the pilot.

This is a pilot, so the purpose is to fine tune the program and collect feedback.  The informational session will help clarify format a little bit more.  However you may call me at 314-941-7641 or email at bob.becnel@ieee.org.

IEEE-USA MOVE Vehicle

We are very short on drivers right now. We have had to turn down some deployments due to the lack of qualified/certified drivers. If you are at all interested, please contact me. Region 5 is anticipating an IEEE-USA MOVE Vehicle to be stationed within the Region in the near future. https://move.ieeeusa.org To prepare for the truck, R5 is working with the larger MOVE team to train volunteers to operate and drive the trucks. Two trucks already exist, stationed in San Diego and Raleigh. The trucks are primarily focused on supporting disasters across the US in coordination with the American Red Cross. The trucks are also used for various STEM events. There are many opportunities to volunteer, truck drivers/operators, radio team, truck maintenance team, weather team, STEM volunteer, media coordination, etc. If you are interested, take a look at the MOVE web site, click on “volunteer” and enter your information. Or, contact Gerry Ourada, gourada@ieee.org for assistance or questions.
Check out IEEE-USA Insight’s New Look IEEE USA have launched version 3.0 of our flagship publication IEEE-USA InSight, which covers career and public policy issues that are important to technology professionals.

    Opportunities

Air Force Research Lab Opportunity -> Closes On December 14, 2023

Radio-Frequency Bioeffects Engineer,  San Antonio, TX

Join the 711 Human Performance Wing (HPW), to advance human performance in air, space, and cyberspace through research, education, and consultation. The 711 HPW supports the most critical Air Force resource – the operational military forces!

For details please visit: https://airforcestem.recsolu.com/jobs/DdR9qnJHzDTNBLPR9rUONA?job_board_id=g193rQ-SUdupijEbTiPUvw

Posting closes on Dec. 14, 2023″

Contributor : James Mercier jmercier@ie


    Frequent Links

The Full ExCom Roster can be viewed here: https://rosters.ieee.org/home.html
IEEE Region 5 https://r5.ieee.org/

The Newsletter is sent to all current members in Region 5

Newsletter Editor: Ademola Peter Adejokun

newsletter@ieeer5.org