August, 2006 Message from our Chair

Beginning the second half of the year, our first Section Meeting will be on September 28, 2004. The speaker for the September meeting will be Rakesh Verma who received a BSEE in 1977. Mr. Verma worked for Siemens and then for control systems integration companies in the Houston area. Following that he began working for Parijat Controlware in 1989 and has been helping companies worldwide with their control systems, communications, HMI and SCADA needs. The topic of discussion at the section meeting is titled “Large-scale Electrical SCADA System Using Microsoft .NET.” A detailed synopsis can be found on the section website.

The Houston Section 2006-2007 CED Seminar Schedule will start up in October with several courses that cover new and exciting topics. We are moving again this year with all seminars are held at Jacobs Engineering. For more details, click here.

This year I am serving on the IEEE Admission & Advancement (A&A) Committee, which holds ten meetings each year to review applications for IEEE Senior Member Grade. The Review Panel meetings are held in various locations throughout the world. A panel of reviewers is recruited among Senior Members and Fellows in the Section where the meeting is to be held. This full-day session is presided by the A&A Committee Chair and facilitated by a staff member from the IEEE Membership Development Group. As there was not an A&A meeting in July 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.

Our 5th Annual IEEE-Houston Scholarship Golf Tournament has been rescheduled for October 6 at the Southwyck Golf Club. We hope to see you all out there. We need your support! Come join us for a wonderful time. Remember that proceeds from this event will go to providing $1,000 scholarships to Section member’s family and children.

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.