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IEEE Pikes Peak Section (IEEE-PPS) Incentive and Awards Program

This program was inspired by Dr John M Santiago, Jr., based on his former supervisor mentoring him saying ‘just get the process started’, while stationed at Eglin AFB, FL during 1991-1996 in his United States Air Force (USAF) career.

Hopefully, this document will inspire other sections (who needs help to revitalize their sections) to develop their own but better incentive and awards programs.

Intro

Description of Banner Image

Here is the image depicting the dynamic and uplifting interaction between two groups:

  1. Group 1: Older couples representing the IEEE Life Member Affinity Group (LMAG) stand on a cruise ship deck, waving warmly toward the shore.
  2. Group 2: Younger couples, symbolizing young professional engineers and scientists, stand on the coastal shoreline, dressed in professional attire, waving back enthusiastically.

The scene is enriched with clouds shaped like technology icons symbolizing innovation, while the distant mountains are composed of eco-friendly technology, including Bitcoin symbols, solar panels, and wind turbines. This composition emphasizes mentorship, sustainability, and technological progress in an engaging and professional visual narrative.

The image captures a vibrant and meaningful interaction between two groups, set in a dynamic and inspiring scene:

Foreground: Warm Farewell Between Generations

  • Group 1: Older couples, representing the IEEE Life Member Affinity Group (LMAG), are standing on the deck of a cruise ship. They wave warmly and enthusiastically toward the shore, symbolizing their role as mentors and pillars of wisdom.
  • Group 2: Younger couples, symbolizing young professional engineers and scientists, stand on the coastal shoreline. Dressed in professional attire, they wave back with energy and excitement, showcasing their respect and gratitude for the mentorship they’ve received.

Sky: Symbol of Innovation

  • Above the scene, clouds shaped like technology icons (such as light bulbs, gears, and circuit boards) float in the sky, representing creativity, innovation, and technological progress.

Background: Eco-Friendly Mountains

  • In the distance, mountains are uniquely crafted from eco-friendly technology symbols, including:
    • Bitcoin icons to represent modern financial innovation.
    • Solar panels and wind turbines to symbolize sustainability and renewable energy.

Atmosphere and Composition

  • The image radiates warmth and positivity, emphasizing the themes of mentorship, sustainability, and intergenerational collaboration.
  • The harmonious blend of natural and technological elements creates a visually inspiring and thought-provoking scene.
  • The interaction between the two groups highlights a seamless transition of knowledge and leadership from one generation to the next.

This artwork serves as a metaphor for the mentorship-driven growth and innovation central to the IEEE community, fostering a vision of sustainable progress and collaboration.

GROWING FROM SELF-LEADERSHIP TO ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

 

This SMART goal leads to self-leadership, team leadership, and organizational leadership while achieving over 20 STEAM-TEAMS and over 150 members because of its cascading mentorship model, which fosters personal responsibility, collaborative engagement, and systemic growth. Here’s how it aligns with each leadership layer and organizational outcomes:

1. Self-Leadership

The goal empowers individual members to:

  • Take Initiative: Each active member is tasked with recruiting and mentoring one new member annually, encouraging proactive engagement.
  • Develop Leadership Skills: By mentoring recruits, members enhance their ability to communicate, guide, and inspire others—key traits of self-leadership.
  • Model Excellence: Members lead by example, demonstrating how to recruit and mentor effectively, setting a high standard for others to follow.

Result: A culture of self-motivated leaders emerges, where each member actively contributes to the section’s growth and mission.

2. Team Leadership

As members transition from individual action to collaborative efforts:

  • Mentorship Creates Micro-Teams: Each member-recruit pair forms a mentorship unit, creating a foundation for small, trust-based teams.
  • STEAM-TEAM Formation: These mentorship units evolve into 20 STEAM-TEAMS of 8 members each as membership grows. Within these teams:
    • Members collaborate on projects like STEM outreach or professional development initiatives.
    • Leaders naturally emerge, guiding their teams to achieve specific goals.
  • Fostering Collaboration: Team leaders encourage shared responsibility, creative problem-solving, and collective accountability, strengthening team dynamics.

Result: Teams operate as cohesive units, fostering creativity, adaptability, and mentorship, which are essential for STEAM-TEAM success.

3. Organizational Leadership

As the mentorship model scales across the section:

  • Cascading Leadership: Recruits become active and engaged members who recruit and mentor others, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of growth.
  • Scalable Impact: With each layer of mentorship, the organizational structure strengthens, ensuring sustainable growth and engagement.
  • Aligned Vision: The cascading model ensures that every member aligns with the IEEE Pikes Peak Section’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.
  • Resource Optimization: Organizational leaders can focus on providing tools, training, and incentives that amplify the impact of this cascading system.

Result: The section evolves into a dynamic, scalable organization where leadership at all levels drives innovation, engagement, and regional impact.

Achieving Over 20 STEAM-TEAMS and 150 Members

The SMART goal’s cascading nature ensures exponential growth:

  1. Growth in Membership:
    • Starting with 20 active members, each member recruits 1 person annually:
      • Year 1: 20 active members recruit 20 new members → Total: 40 members.
      • Year 2: 40 members recruit 40 new members → Total: 80 members.
      • Year 3: 80 members recruit 80 new members → Total: 160 members.
    • By Year 4, the section exceeds 150 active and engaged members.
  2. Formation of STEAM-TEAMS:
    • Membership growth allows for the formation of 20 STEAM-TEAMS, each with 8 members:
      • These teams are small enough to foster trust and collaboration (aligning with Dunbar’s Number) yet large enough to drive impactful projects.
      • STEAM-TEAMS focus on interdisciplinary initiatives, mentorship, and outreach, reinforcing the section’s mission and strategic goals.

How the Goal Aligns with Leadership Levels

Leadership Level Focus Outcome
Self-Leadership Recruiting and mentoring 1 member annually. Members develop initiative, responsibility, and mentoring skills.
Team Leadership Mentorship pairs evolve into STEAM-TEAMS. Collaboration and innovation flourish within teams, fostering shared leadership.
Organizational Leadership Scaling the cascading model. The section’s structure and impact grow exponentially, creating a sustainable, thriving organization.

Key Outcomes

  1. Over 150 Members: The cascading model ensures steady growth, meeting and exceeding the target by Year 4.
  2. Over 20 STEAM-TEAMS: Teams are naturally formed as membership grows, driving collaborative projects and innovation.
  3. Sustainable Leadership Pipeline:
    • Self-leadership ensures members take ownership of their contributions.
    • Team leadership strengthens collaboration and innovation.
    • Organizational leadership amplifies growth and aligns efforts with strategic goals.

 

KEYSTONE

This program was inspired by Dr John M Santiago, Jr., based on his former supervisor mentoring him saying ‘just get the process started’, while stationed at Eglin AFB, FL during 1991-1996 in his United States Air Force (USAF) career.

Hopefully, this document will inspire other sections (who needs help to revitalize their sections) to develop their own but better incentive and awards programs.

The KEYSTONE principles for this program are:

    1. The IEEE-PPS incentive and awards program are for Young Professionals and members of the IEEE Pikes Peak Section and are described below
    2. Life Member Affinity Group (LMAG) do not qualify for the section award as described in Item 1.
    3. LMAG members can receive awards from the YP leadership team. Below are suggested awards that the YPs can develop.
    4. These awards will be known as LMAG Pass-Along-Awards where the LMAG recipient and YP professional team approves the award passes along to another deserving LMAG member
    5. The creator of these suggested awards, Dr. John M. Santiago, Jr,  does not qualify for any of these section awards.
    6. Awards must be given based on Proof-of-Work (similar to blockchain technologies) where proof of work is contributing to the PPS to its mission and its strategic goals.  Here is what is meant by proof of work
      •  1 hour of concentrated effort = 50 points or
      • 6o hours/year = 3000 points/year.
      • 60 hours/year = 0.68 % of your time per year or
      • Less than 1% of your time (12 minutes/day for 5 days).
    7. Examples of 1 hour of concentrated work that contributes to the vision, mission and strategic goals of the IEEE PPS
      1. reading a number of pages of IEEE PPS section website for 1 hour per week or 12 minutes/day for 5 days.
      2. reading an IEEE article, provide the title of the article or keep track of the number of hours when writing an article for linkedin.
      3. keeping track of number of hours in continuous learning how your activity contributes to the IEEE vision, mission, and strategic goal.
        • a technical skills (e.g. programming, learning AI, blockchain technology)
        • professional skills (communication, collaboration, character),
        • developing your leadership mindset in terms of self-leadership, team leadership, or organization leadership
        • entrepreneurial mindset (curiosity, connections, creating value)
        • preparing or attending a technical, professional, EXCOM Section meeting that contributes to the PPS mission and strategic goal
        • participating in a PPS-sponsored or partnership of STEAM TEAMS activity
          • mentoring and participating to k-12 education kids and their parent, IEEE student members,
          • preparing and participation in events such as ‘Future City’, ‘What-If’, ‘Cool Science’, ‘Space Foundation – Summer of Discovery’, ‘Tours’, etc.
        • Social media postings, newsletters, email marketing, video content marketing
        • If you document your STEAM-TEAMS activity or events or other type of meetings, keep track of the number hours in doing so as well.
    8. A working activity form will be used to evaluate potential candidates in receiving these annual awards by a working committee consisting of 3 or more LMAG members.  If no one qualifies to receive the award, then no awards will be given.
    9. The work activity form will be used by IEEE section members and LMAG members by all sections members who are actively engaged in the IEEE Pikes Peak Section.   based on their proof of work that contributes to the IEEE PPS vision, mission, and strategic goals.

Section Awards

Below is a slide deck without pictures of each proposed award.

Below is a slide deck without pictures of each proposed award.

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Awards Criteria

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Category 1: Self-Leadership Awards

These awards recognize individuals excelling in personal growth and leadership development.

  1. Cornerstone Award
    • Design: A tall, angular crystal pillar symbolizing strength and foundational leadership.
    • Intent: Celebrates industriousness, enthusiasm, and self-driven professional growth.
    • Symbolism: Reflects the foundational values of leadership in the Pyramid of Success.
  2. Pillar of Perseverance Award
    • Design: A crystal column with a spiral inside, representing resilience and long-term effort.
    • Intent: Honors members who overcome challenges and achieve significant goals.
    • Symbolism: Highlights perseverance and upward growth.
  3. Champion of Character Award
    • Design: A crystal trophy with a hand-shaped element symbolizing support and integrity.
    • Intent: Recognizes ethical behavior, self-control, and role models in IEEE projects.
    • Symbolism: Emphasizes mentorship and the values of ethical leadership.

Category 2: Team Leadership Awards

These awards recognize contributions to teamwork, collaboration, and mentoring others.

  1. Heart of the Team Award
    • Design: A crystal intertwined loop, symbolizing unity and camaraderie.
    • Intent: Acknowledges loyalty, friendship, and creating a strong team environment.
    • Symbolism: Represents the bonds that foster teamwork.
  2. Cooperation in Action Award
    • Design: A crystal bridge symbolizing collaboration and connection.
    • Intent: Rewards excellence in teamwork and achieving shared goals.
    • Symbolism: Highlights the importance of cooperation in achieving success.
  3. Mentor of Integrity Award
    • Design: A tall crystal with a guiding light motif, symbolizing mentorship and guidance.
    • Intent: Recognizes exceptional mentorship that fosters growth and engagement.
    • Symbolism: Reflects the critical role of mentors in shaping future leaders.

Category 3: Organizational Leadership Awards

These awards celebrate vision, composure, and leadership at the organizational level.

  1. Architect of Excellence Award
    • Design: A crystal pyramid representing vision and strategic leadership.
    • Intent: Recognizes leaders who develop sustainable initiatives and programs.
    • Symbolism: Highlights the structured and visionary qualities of leadership.
  2. Competitive Greatness Award
    • Design: A crystal flame symbolizing excellence under pressure.
    • Intent: Honors those who achieve success while upholding IEEE values in challenging circumstances.
    • Symbolism: Reflects resilience and high performance.
  3. Poised for Success Award
    • Design: A crystal wave, representing confidence, composure, and leadership in motion.
    • Intent: Celebrates leaders who inspire others through calm and decisive actions.
    • Symbolism: Reflects dynamic and composed leadership.

Presentation/Distribution

1. Award Display:

  • Each award’s design is visually distinct yet cohesive, sharing a professional and elegant style with IEEE branding elements.

2. Documentation:

  • Include:
    • Award names and criteria.
    • Visual representations of each award.
    • Proof-of-work system and point structure for fair evaluation.

3. Launch Event:

  • Announce the awards during an IEEE section meeting or annual gathering.
  • Display a physical prototype or high-quality visuals for attendees.

4. Digital Presentation:

  • Create a PowerPoint deck summarizing the awards with designs, descriptions, and criteria for easy understanding and engagement.

Key Benefits of the Unified Collection

  1. Encourages Leadership: Recognizes and motivates self-leadership, team collaboration, and organizational impact.
  2. Fosters Growth: Promotes mentorship, resilience, and innovation among section members.
  3. Celebrates Excellence: Aligns with IEEE’s values of professionalism, growth, and innovation.

Let me know if you’d like me to format the presentation deck, finalize award descriptions, or assist with organizing the launch event!