Ken Doniger, Chair, Gary Blank, VP MAC, Nigel Bristow, Tom Chmielewsk, iJean Eason, Region 5 Director, Don Herres, Peggy Hutcheson, Gary Johnson, Tarek Lahdhiri, David Macchiarolo,   

Guests: Scott Atkinson, Les Johnson Emily Sopensky

Staff: Scott Grayson

The Committee approved the meeting minutes

Scott Grayson reported on the 2003/2004 budget.  He explained that IEEE-USA was running a deficit due to loss of anticipated revenue from a flat U.S. membership renewal.  One of the cost cutting measures that has been suggested is to defer publication of the Engineers Guide to Lifelong Employability.  This will be a savings of approximately $11K.  The committee is willing to do so but if they develop a project that will directly benefit the members' job search or employment opportunities they would like to be able to pursue that project.

Scott Grayson reported that Ken Doniger and Lee Stogner conducted the Employment and Career Services session during the 2003 IEEE-USA Leadership Workshop.  He reported that the evaluations of this session were favorable. Ken discussed products and services and Lee Stogner discussed how the PACE Network could disseminate them.  The 2004 IEEE Leadership Workshop will be held at the Atlanta Sheraton March 19-21, 2004.  Some committee members will be asked to speak at the Workshop regarding Employment & Career Services.

Jean Eason provided her powerpoint presentation regarding the Job Listing Services and reviewed Mike Lightner's (IEEE Publications VP) response to Jean's slides.  The Committee will provide Gary Johnson will additional information and recommendations concerning the Committee's expectations of what the eRecruiter/IEEE Job Listing Services should provide IEEE members by August 15th

Jean Eason has agreed to finalize the Engineers Guide update by December 2003. The target date for publication will be by the IEEE-USA Leadership Workshop (March 2004). Jean will incorporate elements of CAM into the book as well.

Scott Grayson presented the committee with the new CareerNavigator website.  The Committee was pleased that there was going to be one place for members and the general public to come for Career, Employment and Business services.  The committee directed Scott to launch this site as soon as possible. (The next two weeks if possible). [Will be launched by August 12th]

Scott will also add an interactive component to the web page to gather data about unemployed members.

In addition, Scott and Jean will work together to launch a new Virtual "Community" called: Employment & Career Strategies.  The Committee has agreed to participate in the community and invite people in their region to participate in the community as well. [COMPLETED]

David provided the committee with a brief update on the status of the "QRT" powerpoint slides.  Scott also reported that he has received many positive comments about these presentations from sections and PACE Leaders.

Peggy Hutcheson will send out the modules that she developed to the committee for their review. [COMPLETED]

Scott also reported that he spoke at the Twin Cities MPAC.  There were nearly 80 people at that meeting which focused on unemployment.  The good news is that it was a very successful meeting with a very high attendance.  The bad news is that there were 80 people--this illustrates the high level of unemployment.

Committee members will contact Scott by August 15th to ask him to add their name to the MPAC Speakers List.  Committee members must include the title and topic of their presentation.

Ken reported that the CAMIndex is live on the web.  Nigel has agreed to continue to work on the CAM Plan

After a great deal of discussion and comparison of each of these products the committee has directed Scott and Chris Currie to explore the possibility of partnerships with Machester, ExecuPlanet and CareerCoach.

Scott will report back to the committee.  Once he finds out if this is a possibility Scott and Chris will develop a "side-by-side" comparison of the what each of the products would provide our members.

Don Herres would like to modify the Career Transitions QRT Powerpoint Slides to incorporate information regarding the job exodus, and legislative responses to the problem.

The Committee will provide Don with comments once he has completed the update.

Scott explained that the ECS is the committee that develops the products and services and the PACE Network is the entity that  disseminates the the products and services.  He asked Tarek Lahdhiri (Region 4 PACE Coordinator) and Gary Johnson (Reg. 5 PACE Coordinator) how well this arrangement was working.

Tarek noted that he trains the trainer and steers people to the products, services and resources of IEEE-USA.

Gary has mentioned that he has been doing the same.  He reported that there was going to be an MPAC program in San Diego on October 18, 2003.

Scott Atkinson, Chair of the Central Texas Section welcomed the committee to Austin and expressed his thanks that we were concerned about his members' employment and career opportunities.  With him were: Emily Sopensky Section Treasurer and IEEE-USA Executive Branch Fellow, Les Johnson, past chair of the Section.  Scott Atkinson explained that his section covers two geographical areas: San Antonio and Austin.  The Central Texas Section has over 4000 local members--1/3 in and around San Antonio, and 2/3 in the Austin area.  There are several active student branches.  In fact his section has the second largest IEEE student branch in the country. One of the student branches has two chapters.   Atkinson reported that his section has been responsible for more member upgrades to Senior Member status than any section in the world.

During this next year their section plans to pursue more programs pertaining to careers and employment and will look to ECS for their help.

Career Vector Booklets:  Scott reported that in a meeting with the Ed Wells Initiative Staff at Boeing, he learned that Nigel Bristow had produced several booklets on career issues with self assessments. Scott circulated these booklets to the committee who directed Scott to pursue producing these books for IEEE U.S. members.  Scott will contact Nigel to come to a financial agreement concerning Nigel's intellectual property. Scott will report back to the committee.

Networking Using the Web:  Jean Eason asked for input from the committee about how can engineers use the internet to network.  Scott suggested that one way will be to launch the virtual "community" focusing on employment and career strategies.

Achieve Global On Line Workshops:  Scott shared with the committee the list of professional development on line workshops that will be launched by this coming fall.

JJ Hill Business Research Library:  Scott reported that IEEE-USA has entered into an agreement with JJ Hill to provide members (largely aimed at consultants) with a business research tool.  The subscription will be $495 for members as opposed to the regular price of $595.

Scott will run the most recent list of unemployed members and send it to Regions.  In addition, the committee will contact these members and let them know we are here and direct them to our websites that link to various resources, tools, products and services.

Informational.

Committee meeting adjourned at 4:48 p.m.