1. Membership Services Strategic Planning
AESS Officers Strategic Planning Meeting
January 28, 2017
Renaissance Atlanta Midtown
Wolfgang Koch
VP Membership Services, AESS

2. Mission and Vision Mission
The impact of IEEE AESS, a global engineering society in a segregating world, critically depends on its capability of offering attractive services to its members. Services, on the other hand, inspire personal engagement of its members to realize the AESS goals, the only way to reach them.
Vision
Within three years and in a joint effort of relevant VPs such as Membership Services, Education, Industrial Relations, Conferences, the local AESS chapters will be strengthened and interconnected as THE material link between the AESS and its members.
should be an overarching and timeless statement of our purpose, what we want to accomplish, and what way we will accomplish it. It answers why we exist as an organization.
The impact of IEEE AESS, a global engineering society, critically depends on its capability of offering attractive services to its members. This has three dimensions, being attractive for new members, attractive to keep members, and, most importantly, to inspire personal engagement of its members to realize the AESS goals.
For this reason, the “VP Member Services” was and is an important element for preparing the basis of increased impact in the engineering community and growth in membership providing the means for shaping the future.
According to my observations over the last years, I believe that a more systematic analysis according to the standard approach of strategic planning might be helpful. This comprises a fresh look at our target group, engineers, managers, academics contributing to demanding aerospace and electronics systems, at strategic partners helping us to reach our goals, but also on our competitors. This will sharpen our understanding of the services we are offering, showing optimization potential or new services.
When elected, I will work along these lines relying on the help of the BoG.
6/15/2018

3. Research Institutions
Strategic Analysis
macro factors
micro factors
Technological
Megatrends are pushing AES technologies, such as new materials, ICT, drones, assi- stance systems, autonomy
Political
increasing relevance of defence and security
AES are increasingly seen as national key technologies
Internationalization of R&D vs. trend to national R&T
Socio-demographical
Military forces accepted
Need for public security
Mass market for AES
Critical Tech acceptance
Academia
Accepted global players in the field of AESS
Using IEEE AESS formats: conferences, journals, DL.
Research Institutions
Strong view on applications
Transfer: link between academia and AES industry
Equivalents in many, not all countries: ONERA, e.g.
Consultants to customers
Industry
Interest in AES education
Standardization issues etc.
consortia for public CfP
Technology watch
IEEE AESS: global promotor of progress, application, education, and acceptance
Competitors
Similar local societies, often with a very long tradition
Individual personalities at universities, industry
Other quickly expending engineering societies
Customers
Reluctant national defence and security institutions
Very strong new players outside and unaware of the AES, such as automotive, mobile comms, logistics, …

4. Strategic Objectives Strategic objective: strengthen the chapters!
Get informed of the current status of local chapters
Establish direct communication, perhaps via LinkedIn
Perform a SWOT analysis on selected chapters
Develop member services on close cooperation with VPs
Membership Services, Education,
Industrial Relations, Conferences
6/15/2018

5. Initiatives
Initiatives to be reported on at the BoG Spring meeting, Seattle, May 2017
Collection information of the current status of the local chapters
Needs assistance by the IEEE
Begin with a careful strategic analysis with focus on region 8
External and internal factors for each major chapter
A sort of a SWOT analysis adapted to individual needs
Draft member services around existing activities
Education (DL, Tutorials: IEEE conferences , NATO LS)
Technology watch (focus day on a particular topic)
Conferences benefits for members
Establish interrelations between chapters in a region
Set a sort of federation between small chapters (Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, …)
6/15/2018

6. Region 8 AESS Chapters meeting Amsterdam, December 11, 2016
Region 8 AESS Chapters meeting in Amsterdam
on December 11, The meeting was attended by Dr. Heinz Wipf (AESS Chapter Chair
Switzerland), Dr. Mark Bentum (AESS Chapter Chair Benelux), Dr. Wolfgang Koch (AESS Chapter
Chair Germany), Dr. Leo P. Ligthart (AESS international director Europe) and Mrs E.M.H.M.
Ligthart‐Versaevel , who prepared the report of the meeting. The report has been discussed with
the attendees and approved. The report can be found in the attachment. As can be learned from
the report, major issues important for AESS Europe have got attention. Of course, you are
invited to give a response on the full report. In order to have concrete opinions from the
various AESS‐EU Chapters which should be exchanged with the AESS Board of Governors (BoG) I
like to receive AS MINIMUM your vision on the following action points which also were
considered in the Amsterdam meeting
1. Ligthart will ask the BoG for partial funding (20% ‐ 30%) for organizing Chapter events
in EU (see 1 in the report)
2. Koch will report to BoG on how to recruit new AESS members in EU (see 1 in the report)
3. Koch & Ligthart will motivate in the BoG meeting the importance of building up
alliances between national engineering organizations and IEEE (see 2 in the report)
4. All AESS EU chapter chairs will prepare a budget overview to strengthen AESS chapters
in EU and organizing regional AESS activities (see 4 in the report).
5. Koch&Ligthart will ask the BoG to prepare a marketing plan showing the benefits for the
AESS members (see 5)
6. Ligthart: introduce multi‐disciplinarity and system related research topics for AESS in EU
7. Discuss the idea to set up a federation of small chapters (see point 12)
As you understand, point 4 is fully YOUR ACTION POINT; so please give me a realistic budget
estimate and the need for partial funding by AESS. For the points 5 and 7 I expect some advices
from your side in order to create a strong position in the coming BoG meeting in the beginning
of May Your information, ideas and/or statements connected to the above listed 7 points
are welcomed in my box as long as they are received before the dead line of April 1,
2017. Only in that case there is time to discuss all your submitted items with the attendees of
the Amsterdam meeting, to give you feedback and make a presentation for the next BoG meeting.
Looking forward to receiving your response in time,
Best regards,
Region 8 AESS Chapters meeting in Amsterdam
on December 11, The meeting was attended by Dr. Heinz Wipf (AESS Chapter Chair
Switzerland), Dr. Mark Bentum (AESS Chapter Chair Benelux), Dr. Wolfgang Koch (AESS Chapter
Chair Germany), Dr. Leo P. Ligthart (AESS international director Europe) and Mrs E.M.H.M.
Ligthart‐Versaevel , who prepared the report of the meeting. The report has been discussed with
the attendees and approved. The report can be found in the attachment. As can be learned from
the report, major issues important for AESS Europe have got attention. Of course, you are
invited to give a response on the full report. In order to have concrete opinions from the
various AESS‐EU Chapters which should be exchanged with the AESS Board of Governors (BoG) I
like to receive AS MINIMUM your vision on the following action points which also were
considered in the Amsterdam meeting
1. Ligthart will ask the BoG for partial funding (20% ‐ 30%) for organizing Chapter events
in EU (see 1 in the report)
2. Koch will report to BoG on how to recruit new AESS members in EU (see 1 in the report)
3. Koch & Ligthart will motivate in the BoG meeting the importance of building up
alliances between national engineering organizations and IEEE (see 2 in the report)
4. All AESS EU chapter chairs will prepare a budget overview to strengthen AESS chapters
in EU and organizing regional AESS activities (see 4 in the report).
5. Koch&Ligthart will ask the BoG to prepare a marketing plan showing the benefits for the
AESS members (see 5)
6. Ligthart: introduce multi‐disciplinarity and system related research topics for AESS in EU
7. Discuss the idea to set up a federation of small chapters (see point 12)
As you understand, point 4 is fully YOUR ACTION POINT; so please give me a realistic budget
estimate and the need for partial funding by AESS. For the points 5 and 7 I expect some advices
from your side in order to create a strong position in the coming BoG meeting in the beginning
of May Your information, ideas and/or statements connected to the above listed 7 points
are welcomed in my box as long as they are received before the dead line of April 1,
2017. Only in that case there is time to discuss all your submitted items with the attendees of
the Amsterdam meeting, to give you feedback and make a presentation for the next BoG meeting.
Looking forward to receiving your response in time,
Best regards,
Region 8 AESS Chapters meeting Amsterdam, December 11, 2016
TDr. Leo P. Ligthart (AESS international director Europe)
Dr. Heinz Wipf (AESS chapter chair Switzerland)
Dr. Mark Bentum (AESS chapter chair Benelux)
Dr. Wolfgang Koch (AESS chapter chair Germany)
E.M.H.M. Ligthart-Versaevel (report)
Ligthart will ask the BoG for partial funding (20% ‐ 30%) for organizing Chapter events in EU
Koch will report to BoG on how to recruit new AESS members in EU
Koch & Ligthart will motivate in the BoG meeting the importance of building up alliances between national engineering organizations and IEEE
All AESS EU chapter chairs will prepare a budget overview to strengthen AESS chapters in EU and organizing regional AESS activities.
Koch&Ligthart will ask the BoG to prepare a marketing plan showing the benefits for the AESS members
Ligthart: introduce multi‐disciplinarity and system related research topics for AESS in EU.

7. Region 8 AESS Chapters meeting Amsterdam, December 11, 2016
Region 8 AESS Chapters meeting in Amsterdam
on December 11, The meeting was attended by Dr. Heinz Wipf (AESS Chapter Chair
Switzerland), Dr. Mark Bentum (AESS Chapter Chair Benelux), Dr. Wolfgang Koch (AESS Chapter
Chair Germany), Dr. Leo P. Ligthart (AESS international director Europe) and Mrs E.M.H.M.
Ligthart‐Versaevel , who prepared the report of the meeting. The report has been discussed with
the attendees and approved. The report can be found in the attachment. As can be learned from
the report, major issues important for AESS Europe have got attention. Of course, you are
invited to give a response on the full report. In order to have concrete opinions from the
various AESS‐EU Chapters which should be exchanged with the AESS Board of Governors (BoG) I
like to receive AS MINIMUM your vision on the following action points which also were
considered in the Amsterdam meeting
1. Ligthart will ask the BoG for partial funding (20% ‐ 30%) for organizing Chapter events
in EU (see 1 in the report)
2. Koch will report to BoG on how to recruit new AESS members in EU (see 1 in the report)
3. Koch & Ligthart will motivate in the BoG meeting the importance of building up
alliances between national engineering organizations and IEEE (see 2 in the report)
4. All AESS EU chapter chairs will prepare a budget overview to strengthen AESS chapters
in EU and organizing regional AESS activities (see 4 in the report).
5. Koch&Ligthart will ask the BoG to prepare a marketing plan showing the benefits for the
AESS members (see 5)
6. Ligthart: introduce multi‐disciplinarity and system related research topics for AESS in EU
7. Discuss the idea to set up a federation of small chapters (see point 12)
As you understand, point 4 is fully YOUR ACTION POINT; so please give me a realistic budget
estimate and the need for partial funding by AESS. For the points 5 and 7 I expect some advices
from your side in order to create a strong position in the coming BoG meeting in the beginning
of May Your information, ideas and/or statements connected to the above listed 7 points
are welcomed in my box as long as they are received before the dead line of April 1,
2017. Only in that case there is time to discuss all your submitted items with the attendees of
the Amsterdam meeting, to give you feedback and make a presentation for the next BoG meeting.
Looking forward to receiving your response in time,
Best regards,
Region 8 AESS Chapters meeting in Amsterdam
on December 11, The meeting was attended by Dr. Heinz Wipf (AESS Chapter Chair
Switzerland), Dr. Mark Bentum (AESS Chapter Chair Benelux), Dr. Wolfgang Koch (AESS Chapter
Chair Germany), Dr. Leo P. Ligthart (AESS international director Europe) and Mrs E.M.H.M.
Ligthart‐Versaevel , who prepared the report of the meeting. The report has been discussed with
the attendees and approved. The report can be found in the attachment. As can be learned from
the report, major issues important for AESS Europe have got attention. Of course, you are
invited to give a response on the full report. In order to have concrete opinions from the
various AESS‐EU Chapters which should be exchanged with the AESS Board of Governors (BoG) I
like to receive AS MINIMUM your vision on the following action points which also were
considered in the Amsterdam meeting
1. Ligthart will ask the BoG for partial funding (20% ‐ 30%) for organizing Chapter events
in EU (see 1 in the report)
2. Koch will report to BoG on how to recruit new AESS members in EU (see 1 in the report)
3. Koch & Ligthart will motivate in the BoG meeting the importance of building up
alliances between national engineering organizations and IEEE (see 2 in the report)
4. All AESS EU chapter chairs will prepare a budget overview to strengthen AESS chapters
in EU and organizing regional AESS activities (see 4 in the report).
5. Koch&Ligthart will ask the BoG to prepare a marketing plan showing the benefits for the
AESS members (see 5)
6. Ligthart: introduce multi‐disciplinarity and system related research topics for AESS in EU
7. Discuss the idea to set up a federation of small chapters (see point 12)
As you understand, point 4 is fully YOUR ACTION POINT; so please give me a realistic budget
estimate and the need for partial funding by AESS. For the points 5 and 7 I expect some advices
from your side in order to create a strong position in the coming BoG meeting in the beginning
of May Your information, ideas and/or statements connected to the above listed 7 points
are welcomed in my box as long as they are received before the dead line of April 1,
2017. Only in that case there is time to discuss all your submitted items with the attendees of
the Amsterdam meeting, to give you feedback and make a presentation for the next BoG meeting.
Looking forward to receiving your response in time,
Best regards,
Region 8 AESS Chapters meeting Amsterdam, December 11, 2016
Organizing chapter events: The Switzerland AESS chapter spends yearly around € total costs for lectures and other volunteering work by the AESS-chair + co-chair.
Chapter lectures: important for knowledge transfer and for recruiting new members, and for promoting IEEE-AESS but: no sufficient funding for the lectures.
Main criticism: IEEE-AESS members in EU pay fee to IEEE in USA, EU chapters have hardly direct benefits. Suggestions: receive partial (20% to 30%) funding by the BoG as support for organizing such chapter events.
Several mid- and eastern-European countries cannot afford this kind of chapter meetings with lectures without IEEE-AESS funding by the BoG.