Andrea Goldsmith

IT Society BOG MeetingOctober 13, 2009Taormina, Sicily

Executive SummaryState of the society is excellent

Society functioning well; vibrant committees and initiativesFinances in good shape with money to spend this yearITTrans, ISITs/ITWs, and members highly successful

Changes on the horizonDistinguished Lecture program will start next yearPotential budget changes could reduce our incomeNew EiC next year, move to MC, and sub-to-pub initiatives

Votes and discussion at today’s meetingBylaws changes (main change wrt IT paper award process)Proposed AEs; AE seniority and appointment processProposals for ITWs, ISITs, and co-sponsorship

State of the SocietyHealthy financial outlook and reserves (some concerns)Transactions highly prestigious

Sub-to-pub time has not changed (have more AEs; moving to MC)

Symposium/workshops this year highly successful so farAgenda item for discussion on nature/fees/venues

Website a leap forward: heavily utilized, new initiativesNew committees very active and engaging more

membersMembers frequently honored for their workMembership steady with increase in studentsChapters vibrant and growing

New chapters in New Zealand and Chengdu, China

Financial SnapshotLittle change from JuneWill get update from IEEE this month and at Nov. TABEstimated $100K budget surplus this year (can spend now)Reserves

IEEE lost $1.2M of our reserves, now@$1.8M (~2006 levels)Reserve spending restricted by IEEE due to overall lossMarket recovery should result in increase in our reserves and

IEEE reserves (will know more in November)Risks

Reduced Xplore income (~120K) due to a new formula Potential library subscription reductions May put current spending levels and spending for new

initiatives at risk. More in Treasurer report .

Society GovernanceOfficers are now ex-officio members of all committees

Would like BoG members more involved in committees

Most BoG members have expressed their interest in serving on one or more committees

These interests will be forwarded to the Nominations and Appointments committee and Officers for staffing in 2010

The Pubs committee consists of AEs and Publication EditorsWould need to change the bylaws to include BoG membersShould we make this change to allow BoG members on

Pubs?

Officer Initiatives on Sub-to-PubMy goal this year was to reduce sub-to-pub time without

compromising qualityProgress

Ezio has put much effort into this issueNumber of AEs increased; moving to MC, Best practices for Aes

Still, the sub-to-pub time has not budged

Officer initiatives to address bothBudget for a 50% “managing editor” to track stats and help the EiC

and AEs focus on editorship rather than administrationForm ad-hoc committee to monitor and improve sub-to-pub. This

committee could become a standing Steering committee Become more “businesslike” in our paper processing

Develop an editorial policy for authors and reviewers Create and impose firm deadlines Track and act on AE, reviewer, and author statistics

We have both cultural and administrative challenges

AwardsChanges to IT Paper Award Process (Bylaws)

Open call nominations go to Awards Committee ChairPublications Committee generates a separate list of nominationsAwards Committee recommends up to 3 papers (3 weeks before ISIT)At Annual BoG meeting, BoG votes to accept Awards Committee Report or

ask for revision. If accepted, a vote in taken.

Baker Prize StatusEndorsed by IEEE TAB and Awards BoardWill be submitted to IEEE BoD at November meetingWill recognize outstanding paper published in any IEEE publication during 3-

5 year window prior to nomination, on fundamentals of EE, computing, and related arts and sciences within the IEEE.

Went from “near-dead” proposal to one co-sponsored technically and/or financially by 15 societies. Much help from Jose Moura (President of SP)

Some controversy with Comsoc on 2-stage joint award process

Officers for 2010President: Frank Kschichang 1st VP: Giuseppe Caire2nd VP: Muriel MedardJunior Past President: Andrea GoldsmithSenior Past President: G. David Forney.Secretary: Aria NostratiniaTreasurer: Nihar Jindal

BoG ElectionElection for 6 new BoG members closed

yesterday

Results will be known by Oct. 12

First time we used web-based voting for this electionManaged by the IEEEAny feedback?

BoG Meetings for 2010 BoG meeting #1:  Sunday January 31st in

La Jolla at noon (just before the ITA workshop)

Board meeting #2: Sunday June 13 in Austin, TX at noon (at ISIT).

BoG meeting #3: Tuesday Sept. 28 in Monticello, IL at 6:30pm (at Allerton)