Beginning the second half of the year, our first Section Meeting will be on September 23, 2004.  The speaker for the September meeting will be Darby Vicker.  Since graduating from Iowa State University in May 2000, Darby has been working in the Applied Aeroscience and CFD group, EG3, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.  His experience includes applying the Chimera CFD technique to the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle and the Space Shuttle Launch Vehicle.  The topic of discussion at the section meeting is titled “Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis for the STS-107 Accident Investigation and Return-To-Flight Effort.”   

The Houston Section 2004-2005 CED Seminar Schedule will start up in October with several courses that cover new and exciting topics.  All seminars are held at Jacobs Engineering, except the special all day seminar on October 22 at Powell.  The topic for this all day seminar at Powell is “Digital Communications for Industrial Plants.”  For more details, visit the IEEE Houston Section website http://www.ieee-houston.org/.

We did not have any new Senior Members elevated this month in the Houston Section.  We are always looking for members interested in becoming a Senior Member in the IEEE.  The following criteria are required for elevation to Senior Member status: ten years of professional practice including five years of significant performance, and references (see the nominator letter and application form for clarification on the IEEE website).  If you know an IEEE member who qualifies for Senior Membership, I would like you to nominate him or her by forwarding their nomination to one of the Houston Section EXCOM members.  If you qualify and are not a Senior Member, please reply to one of the Houston Section EXCOM members.

Due to a scheduling conflict, our 3^rd Annual IEEE-Houston Scholarship Golf Tournament has been rescheduled for October 8.  We hope to see you all out there.  We need your support!  Come join us for a wonderful time.  Remember, proceeds from this event will go to providing $1,000 scholarships to Section member family and children. 

Speaking of scholarships, the scholarship committee met earlier this month to review the large number of scholarship applications.  Following the review and grading process, five (5) extremely deserving individuals were chosen to be the Houston Section’s 2004 Scholarship recipients: 

Jared Kowis
Lauren McCarthy
Mohit Joshipura
Kourtney Davis
Michael Oluwagbemi

Congratulations to you all!   As mentioned, we received many scholarship applications this year.  Thank you all for applying!  With the continued success of the Scholarship Golf Tournament, we look forward to awarding more scholarships in 2005.    

Remember, the Executive Committee and I look forward to your feedback comments.  If you are interested in getting involved in the local IEEE section, let us know, volunteer members are always needed.  We have plenty of opportunities.  I encourage all of you to become more active, and see the rewards and benefits your membership gives you.  It is a great way to network with professionals within the electrical engineering community.  Join us at one of the upcoming meetings; we look forward to meeting you.