Jean Eason, Joe DeVita, Ken Doniger, Chuck Elliott, Peggy Hutcheson, Tarek Lahdhiri, and Scott Grayson (staff)

Guests: Kesh Bahkru, Charles Davis, Gary Johnson, and Don Wilson,

Scott Grayson reported that it is likely that the ECS Committee budget line item for 2004 will appear to have run over since there was a Board level decision to not transfer all of the voluntary contribution funds that had been requested.  The Board wanted to have a balanced budget at year end by transfering as little money into the general budget from the voluntary contribution fund.

1. Job Listing Resolution Update & IEEE-USA Board Action

Gary Johnson reported that he brought forward a resolution to the IEEE-USA Board of Directors at their November 2004 meeting--similar to the ECS resolution that was submitted 2 1/2 years ago. Jean noted that she made a presentation regarding the work of the committee and the proposal to offer a product/service much like Spherion.  Her report was very well received by the IEEE-USA Board as well as Mike Lightner (then VP Publications and currently IEEE President Elect) and Tony Durniak, Staff Executive IEEE Publications.

2. Gus Gaynor Presentation Ad Hoc IEEE Job Site Committee

Gus Gaynor made a presentation to the Board stating that IEEE Publications was probably not the right place to run the Job Listing Service.  The committee believed that RAB should run it with input from IEEE-USA and Pubs. 

3. IEEE-USA & IEEE Publications Collaboration

IEEE Publications staff and IEEE-USA are keeping in touch regarding employment and career issues.

4. IEEE Regional Activities eMentoring Program

Scott reported that RAB through the IEEE GOLD Committee has launched a pilot program to provide members with an on line mentoring service.  The Committee reviewed the attached PowerPoint slides regarding the pilot program and would be happy to play a role in assisting the launch of such a program.  Scott will follow up with IEEE Staff and Jean Eason will contact the GOLD Committee chair to discuss potential collaboration.

5. myIEEE

Scott discussed the launch of the new myIEEE portal webpage.  This page allows members to submit their profile and list the type of information they would like to see and receive through the web site.  Scott reported that he was making efforts to get the CareerNavigator to become one of the offerings on myIEEE.  Jean and Scott will keep the committee apprised of the status of myIEEE.

6. Proposal for an International Professional Activities Program

Scott reported that Marc Apter, Vice President of RAB will be making a presentation to the IEEE-USA Board of Directors asking that all career, employment and professional development will be handled by RAB.  [Subsequent to the ECS meeting, Marc Apter made his presentation.  The outcome was that RAB would handle professional activities for Regions 7-10 and IEEE-USA would continue to work with Regions 1-6.  IEEE-USA will participate in a steering committee with RAB to assist them in developing a plan to provide professional activities to Regions 7-10].

7. Salary Service Update

Scott reported that the Salary Service should be available by the end of March.  The Committee recommended that the ECS Charter be amended to include oversight of the Salary Service Products.  The committee voted unanimously to amend the charter. (See attached)

8. IEEE-USA Offshoring Forum

Jean noted that John Meredith (Reg. 5 Director), Russ Lefevre (VP, Technology Policy) Ron Hira (VP Career Policy) and George McClure (Reg.3 Director Elect) are currently working to put together a forum on outsourcing/offshoring.  One of the issues that has been discussed is reemployment and retraining.  Jean reported that they approached her to discuss conducting a reemployment workshop as part of the overall forum. The ECS is willing to assist in the effort but needs more information about the macro issues. The committee was not convinced that a workshop on reemployment would really address the crux of the issue.

9. Local input from San Diego Section:

Kesh Bakhru recommended that IEEE or IEEE-USA assist in providing members with the CEU credits that they need to renew their PE licenses.  It was noted that some Sections are providing PDHs for meeting attendance.  Joe DeVita volunteered to develop a model for providing sections with the information they need to provide PDHs and possibly CEUs.

This has not been completed.  Jean noted that she would complete the final draft by 30 June 2005

Scott reported that the Career Planning Guide will be added to the web by the time of the IEEE-USA Workshop. The committee recommended review of the document every two years (odd years)

The committee unanimously expressed its gratitude and thanks to Nigel Bristow for his major contribution to the committee and IEEE members' Career Development.  Scott provided a report on the marketing of the Fieldbook.  Chris Currie, IEEE-USA's product and marketing manager recommended the sale price of $29.95 for members and $59.95 for non members.  The committee approved this pricing structure.  The Committee also recommended that we sell the book for $20 at the IEEE-USA Workshop and recommend to Nigel that he have a drawing in his session for 3 books.  The Committee also recommended that there be a drawing for 2 additional books on Sunday and 2-six month subscriptions to Spherion.

Scott reported that the contract has been signed and we are hoping to launch following the IEEE-USA Leadership Workshop.  There will be a $50 fee to the members and a $5,500 set-up fee. 

See Agenda Item IV.

Committee members: Jean, Peggy, Nigel, and Tarek will be speaking at this year's IEEE-USA Leadership Workshop.

Jean and Tarek will be speaking at the 2005 IEEE Sections Congress.

Scott reported that the CareerNavigator is the third most hit site under the www.ieeeusa.org domain.

The Committee asked Scott to find out how many people in the VC are members and non members. Scott reported that the ECS Virtual Community was highlighted at an All Hands IEEE Staff meeting as exemplary.

Scott reported that a brand new IEEE-USA Products & Services Brochure will be distributed at the 2005 IEEE-USA Leadership Workshop.   Many of the products and services listed in the brochure list those of the ECS but it includes other services and products as well.

Region 1:  Joe DeVita reported that he had been the Rochester PACE Chair and is now the Region 1 ECS Coordinator.  He has been working with the GOLD group to get them affiliated with other Young Professional Groups.  He is going to develop a model and pilot programs and then push them out to the rest of Region 1.  He participated in a panel discussion answering students questions from a technical and hiring manager's perspective.  He reported on two activities: 1) there will be a Summit held on April 7th in New Hampshire bringing together industry, educational institutions, and professional organizations and 2) within the Rochester Section they are working to get the section meeting accredited so attendees can earn PDHs.  Joe also reported that the website: CareerNavigator was promoted heavily by  Don Herres. His section also discussed such issues as: H1B visa abuse and Engineers Work.

Region 2: Not present

Region 3: Not Present

Region 4:  Tarek reported on accomplished in 2004:

• Compiled CD Rom for PACE and ECS they have been using that for training at the local levels.  Sent a copy to ECS and PACE Committee.
• At the Region 4 meetings he has held trainings for Career and Employment workshops.  
• Ran Employment and Career Service projects in Indianapolis. 
• Career Leadership workshop 8 hour workshop with 7 PDHs
• Offered the Career Leadership Workshop in Nebraska in May 2004. 
• Assisted in the Twin Cities Section Career & Employment Program December 2004. 
• He also runs Project Management workshops for members.
• EIT training in Milwaukee
• Spoke at GSPx in Santa Clara
• Spoke at Portland Section in October 2004. 
• He created a CD for project management for more industrial examples.  

Region 5:  Jean reported that she ran a workshop at the Region 5 meeting and shared with them the Employment & Career Services and where to find them.  Dallas appears to still be hard hit with telecommunications.  But not much of a problem in Dallas.

Region 6:  Ken Doniger reported that he attended a Career Shift seminar,  He will send it out to the committee.  He reviewed the Percyptx website and sent Scott his input.  Ken noted that Santa Clara Valley had an event with the author of What Color is My Parachute.  Ken spoke to Bob Baldwin about how to improve the ECS VC.  Employment--San Francisco area is improving but not great.  Ken would like to improve communications with other areas within Region 6.

See 2005 Action List