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!