Opening Statement for IEEE Canada (Region 7) Board Meeting in

Vancouver, British Columbia, April 21^st, 2007

The membership demographic of IEEE is changing for two reasons, first the number of members from Regions 8,9 &10 will soon exceed the number of members from the US and Canada and second, the number of Life members in Regions 1-7 is on  the increase.  These changes bring with them both new opportunities and new challenges. IEEE as an organization will benefit from the influx of new volunteer resources, new ideas and global information sharing. Our increasing Life Member population offers the knowledge gained from years of experience. Managed wisely this could prove to be a powerful combination. Experience also tells us than there is no such thing as a free lunch, it takes financial resources to support increased membership and new projects yet currently the majority of these members are reduced or non-dues paying members. This has a significant financial impact on IEEE and we should not deny that IEEE Canada can only remain healthy if the greater organization is healthy.  For this reason I believe IEEE must focus on the effective management of our existing resources, and continue to focus efforts on recruiting new members from all Regions.

This can be accomplished by reviewing two key items: our current recruiting methods and our efforts to increase the tangible and perceived value of an IEEE Membership.

Membership Recruitment

• Work with headquarters to look at advertising in non-IEEE technical journals
• Work with headquarters to develop an advertisement that could be used in professional association papers
• When IEEE Canada President carries out a Section visit, make it mandatory that he also visits local student chapters
• IEEE Canada sponsor more events within Canada either in conjunction with sections or alone.  These might include conferences, student competitions or even science fairs at high school or lower levels.
• Work with headquarters to get current memberships recruiting materials into hands of sections quicker so that they can have them for local events. This may require of materials to see if they are current and appropriate.

Increasing Value of Membership

• Review services IEEE Canada provides, like publications to see if delivery can be streamlined.  This may include moving publications positions from volunteer to partially paid or fully funded staff positions.  This will ensure they are published with more regularity.
• Work with headquarters to ensure that there is enough of price differential between member and non-member pricing for events and services.  Perhaps implement a three tiered pricing arrangement: non-member, member and member/society price.
• Work with headquarters to review current materials promoting IEEE services.  Look at where materials are targeted now and see if they might be better directed.  This may require the establishment of an IEEE Marketing Department.
• IEEE Canada sponsor more events within Canada either in conjunction with sections or alone.  These might include conferences, student competitions or even science fairs at high school or lower levels.  This may include providing prize monies or seed funding.
• Increase the level of recognition of our members.  This could be as simple as sharing our award winners with the provincial engineering associations. This may require a change in Awards & recognition process.  IEEE Canada must also better recognize our corporate friends, take advantage of why they supporters of IEEE activities and their value to enhance IEEE value.

No, there is no such thing as a free lunch, or trip to Vancouver. We have come together to share our ideas as leaders and have a responsibility to our members to take these ideas and actions back to them. The ideas I have presented today do not suggest a Region 7 spending spree but rather carry out a structured review of our current practices to discover our opportunities, address our challenges and transform sound ideas into actions.

As Region Director I would be given the responsibility to act as custodian of IEEE Canada for the duration of my term. This is a role that my IEEE volunteer experience and professional career have prepared me to uphold with respect and accountability. As custodian of IEEE Canada my goal is to ensure our Region’s continued growth, value and fiscal strength.