Central Texas Section, Region 5 Senior Member Program Presented at the IEEE Membership Development Retreat February 28 - March 1, 2003 By Joe Redfield

2 What is it? l Started by Dr. Ernest Franke, past CTS chair, in Fall of 2001 l Host events to support eligible members in upgrading to Senior Member status. l At event, Section Senior Members help with on-line application submission and serve as the necessary Senior Member reference.

3 What does it look like? l Evening Event - 6:30 to 9 PM l Located at a college or business l Members come and go during evening l With no wait, member spends 30 to 45 minutes completing the application process l Can have light refreshments (not required)

4 Results of Program to date l Three events have been held in the San Antonio/Austin Area l Fall - San Antonio Location l Spring - Austin Location

5 Results of Program To Date

6 Requirements for Senior Member Upgrade l Practice in profession for at least 10 years l Academic time resulting in degrees count toward professional practice l Five years of significant performance l Does NOT require special awards, patents, or other extremely sophisticated technical accomplishments l References - three required OR l Nomination from Section and l Two written references from other Senior Members

7 Process/Procedure l Procedures listed in three separate blocks of activities l Prior to Event l At Event l Post Event Detailed procedure list Sample SM Upgrade Invitation

8 Prior To Event l Identify an event source person l Identify a Location l Need an area for staging/waiting l Required to have bank of computers with internet access and floppy drives (12 min) l Contact eligible members l News Letter Announcement (two months prior) l Send to all eligible members, request RSVP l Send follow-up to all RSVPs listing what to bring l Contact SM/Officers and invite to participate

9 Day of Event l Have at least two SMs present for each 10 expected members l SMs coach EVERY candidate in filling out an application - Significant Performance l No references or reference writer names are given at event - Leave application blank l Event tracking spreadsheet is filled out l Contains contact info and IEEE member # l Electronic copy of resume and SM application are gathered BEFORE applicant leaves

10 Post Event l Applicants assigned to SM reference writers l Distribute resume and application to reference writer - encourage writers to contact applicants for any clarification l Reference writers applications to IEEE HQ, CC event source person for tracking l Regular call (weekly) to IEEE HQ to check status of applicants l Follow-up with reference writers - reassign as necessary

11 Reference Generation l Time to write reference - 20 to 45 minutes l Can be any format, , Document, Webpage l needs to contains all the information required l Writer does not need to know the applicant personally outside of IEEE l Focus writing effort on significant performance section of application l Provide recommendation for upgrade

12 Advertising new SMs in Section l After A&A panel meeting, advertise new Senior Members in l Section Newsletter and/or l Section Website l Make a big deal out of Senior Member status locally

13 Summary l Event Procedures l Senior Member Upgrade Invitation

14 Questions l How to get future information - contact Joe Redfield