ComSoc: The Next Two Years

Curtis A. Siller, Jr.President-Elect

IEEE Communications Society

Vision…and MissionVision…and Mission

““To be the Organization of Choice for Communications To be the Organization of Choice for Communications and Related Professionals Throughout the World”and Related Professionals Throughout the World”

Promote the Advancement of Science, Technology Promote the Advancement of Science, Technology and Its Applications in Communications…and Its Applications in Communications…

Foster the Presentation and Exchange of Information Foster the Presentation and Exchange of Information Among a Global CommunityAmong a Global Community

Maintain the Highest Standards of Professional and Maintain the Highest Standards of Professional and Technical CompetencyTechnical Competency

Long-Held Strategic ElementsLong-Held Strategic Elements

Be agile and innovative in response to member needsBe agile and innovative in response to member needs Apply electronic processesApply electronic processes

• Web, electronic publishing, search tools, e-commerceWeb, electronic publishing, search tools, e-commerce

– Changing the way we do business and accommodate Changing the way we do business and accommodate member needs member needs

Serve as an information gatewayServe as an information gateway Continue globalizationContinue globalization Partner with industryPartner with industry Collaborate with sister and related societiesCollaborate with sister and related societies Bolster the financial well-being of IEEE and ComSocBolster the financial well-being of IEEE and ComSoc

Tom Plevyak, “Perspectives on the Society”, Message from the President, IEEE Communications

Magazine, January 1998.

Expectations Must be Tempered Expectations Must be Tempered by Reality…by Reality…

Profession, Institute and Society Are Going Profession, Institute and Society Are Going Through a Period of Exceptional DifficultyThrough a Period of Exceptional Difficulty• The bloom is off the rose: the Communications industry is

going through a very difficult period with both capital investment and employment down

• Reflecting this, membership in the Society has decreased in recent years

• A dismal investment climate has exacerbated both the Institute and Society’s financial status

Still, ComSoc must adhere to long-held Still, ComSoc must adhere to long-held aspirations…aspirations…

A Road Map for 2004-2005 A Road Map for 2004-2005 InitiativesInitiatives

Membership ServicesMembership Services

Technical ActivitiesTechnical Activities

Society RelationsSociety Relations

Membership DevelopmentMembership Development

Membership ServicesMembership Services ComSoc Publications Are Already Best in the World!ComSoc Publications Are Already Best in the World!

• Broaden editorial coverage into new areas and launch new Broaden editorial coverage into new areas and launch new publications, when appropriate publications, when appropriate – Power line communications, consumer networking, special Power line communications, consumer networking, special

supplements to Communications Magazine (Radio, Optics…), new supplements to Communications Magazine (Radio, Optics…), new transactions (e.g., Trans on Wireless Communications)transactions (e.g., Trans on Wireless Communications)

• Expand CommOntolgy (Expand CommOntolgy (CommCommunications unications OntologyOntology) to embrace ) to embrace additional intellectual propertiesadditional intellectual properties– Tutorials, Patents, “keyword” link to Meetings and Conferences and Tutorials, Patents, “keyword” link to Meetings and Conferences and

AdvertisersAdvertisers

• Launch a “Virtual Publication”Launch a “Virtual Publication”– Invite subscribers to create their own interest profile…Invite subscribers to create their own interest profile…– Tagged to CommOntology indexing, deliver only those articles and Tagged to CommOntology indexing, deliver only those articles and

papers that reflect reader’s interestpapers that reflect reader’s interest

• Continue the trend toward “printless” (all-electronic) publicationsContinue the trend toward “printless” (all-electronic) publications

One Perspective on Electronic PublishingOne Perspective on Electronic Publishing

Membership Services (Cont’d)Membership Services (Cont’d) Meeting and ConferencesMeeting and Conferences

• ComSoc annually offers more than 50 meetings and conferences, ComSoc annually offers more than 50 meetings and conferences, many in collaboration with sister and related societies!many in collaboration with sister and related societies!

• Opportunity for new M&C initiatives:Opportunity for new M&C initiatives:– Already underway - joint sessions with Pacific Telecommunications Already underway - joint sessions with Pacific Telecommunications

Council in conjunction with GLOBECOM ’03 and PTC ‘04Council in conjunction with GLOBECOM ’03 and PTC ‘04– 11stst Annual IEEE CCNC, Jan 2004 Annual IEEE CCNC, Jan 2004

• Carrier to Enterprise to ConsumerCarrier to Enterprise to Consumer

– Executive Roundtable Program (patterned after Conference Board)Executive Roundtable Program (patterned after Conference Board)

• And strengthen existing onesAnd strengthen existing ones– Emphasize WCNC (wireless) and INFOCOM (internet)Emphasize WCNC (wireless) and INFOCOM (internet)

• Continue to encourage a greater industry presenceContinue to encourage a greater industry presence– Most of our members are drawn from industry, yet many ComSoc Most of our members are drawn from industry, yet many ComSoc

services seem tailored for academia services seem tailored for academia

Membership Services (Cont’d)Membership Services (Cont’d) Resurrect the “Portal” InitiativeResurrect the “Portal” Initiative

• A case where a fast-running, imaginative child A case where a fast-running, imaginative child (ComSoc) outpaced its parent (IEEE)(ComSoc) outpaced its parent (IEEE)– The opportunity is “now” for a renewed initiative, following The opportunity is “now” for a renewed initiative, following

on IEEE Computer Society progress in this areaon IEEE Computer Society progress in this area

Bold Progress in Education ModulesBold Progress in Education Modules• Developing “Voice-over-PowerPoint” educational Developing “Voice-over-PowerPoint” educational

modulesmodules– A largely untapped opportunity for ComSocA largely untapped opportunity for ComSoc

• A major element in meeting ComSoc’s revenue A major element in meeting ComSoc’s revenue short-fallshort-fall

Technical ActivitiesTechnical Activities ComSoc Supports Over 20 Technical CommitteesComSoc Supports Over 20 Technical Committees

• TC volunteers support M&C program developmentTC volunteers support M&C program development• Committees come and go as technology changesCommittees come and go as technology changes• Expect to see new TCs, perhaps in:Expect to see new TCs, perhaps in:

– Consumer networkingConsumer networking

– Applications of nanotechnology to communicationsApplications of nanotechnology to communications

““Standards” is Largely an Unfulfilled Opportunity for Standards” is Largely an Unfulfilled Opportunity for ComSocComSoc• Some standards bodies have “usurped” ComSoc’s Some standards bodies have “usurped” ComSoc’s

opportunity, e.g. IEEE 802 LMSCopportunity, e.g. IEEE 802 LMSC– Will strive for a distinct ComSoc standards initiativeWill strive for a distinct ComSoc standards initiative

Society RelationsSociety Relations

ComSoc Maintains Extensive Sister Society ComSoc Maintains Extensive Sister Society and Related Society Relationshipsand Related Society Relationships• Related Society relationships seems to arise by Related Society relationships seems to arise by

serendipity and are largely very effectualserendipity and are largely very effectual– Especially in publications and M&CsEspecially in publications and M&Cs

• Sister Society agreements are an important Sister Society agreements are an important foundation for validating ComSoc as a global foundation for validating ComSoc as a global professional organization professional organization – Expect to see greater vitality in existing relations, and the Expect to see greater vitality in existing relations, and the

creation of new onescreation of new ones

Membership DevelopmentMembership Development Need to Stem Declining ComSoc MembershipNeed to Stem Declining ComSoc Membership

• Several ideas already socialized with ComSoc staff and Several ideas already socialized with ComSoc staff and volunteersvolunteers– Target the large number of individuals who publish in our Target the large number of individuals who publish in our

journals and attend M&Cs under ComSoc aegis – but are not journals and attend M&Cs under ComSoc aegis – but are not members!members!

– Use ComSoc e-News to proactively seek more membersUse ComSoc e-News to proactively seek more members

Develop a Cohesive Forward-looking Marketing PlanDevelop a Cohesive Forward-looking Marketing Plan• Coherent Integration of: Coherent Integration of:

– Strategic Planning Strategic Planning – Emerging TechnologiesEmerging Technologies– Meetings and Conferences, Publications, and EducationMeetings and Conferences, Publications, and Education

• Of the ideas that emerge, execute on “the best/the few” Of the ideas that emerge, execute on “the best/the few”

Membership Development (Cont’d)Membership Development (Cont’d)

As ComSoc’s Finances Improve, Restore As ComSoc’s Finances Improve, Restore Important Programs to Prior LevelsImportant Programs to Prior Levels• Distinguished Lecturer ToursDistinguished Lecturer Tours• Chapter FundingChapter Funding• Conference Travel Grants – Student and Conference Travel Grants – Student and

ProfessionalProfessional

Chapters, along with Publications and M&Cs, Chapters, along with Publications and M&Cs, Provide the Best Opportunity to Meet Provide the Best Opportunity to Meet ComSoc’s ConstituencyComSoc’s Constituency

Closing SentimentsClosing Sentiments IEEE Recently Observed its 40th Anniversary; ComSoc IEEE Recently Observed its 40th Anniversary; ComSoc

it’s 50thit’s 50th• With excellent volunteer leadership and staff support, we are With excellent volunteer leadership and staff support, we are

acknowledged experts in what we do!acknowledged experts in what we do!• That preeminence will not – can not be lost!That preeminence will not – can not be lost!

There are Innumerable Opportunities for New Initiatives – There are Innumerable Opportunities for New Initiatives – Yet ComSoc Must Sustain What’s Already WorkingYet ComSoc Must Sustain What’s Already Working

Our Vision and Mission Provide Guidelines for the FutureOur Vision and Mission Provide Guidelines for the Future• We can speculate on programs and initiatives for 2004-2005, We can speculate on programs and initiatives for 2004-2005,

but…but… In 2005 We’ll Look Back on Unimagined Successes – In 2005 We’ll Look Back on Unimagined Successes –

and Confronted with Unexpected Challenges.and Confronted with Unexpected Challenges.