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Southern Minnesota Section Report

• Dennis Spathis Vice-Chair
• Region 4 Meeting
• January 27-28, 2007
• Marriott Hotel, Chicago

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Section Characteristics

• Typical smaller section (500 members)
• 1 sub-section (Coulee) and 1 student branch
  (Mankato)
• Programs mostly run by section with chapter help
• Good attendance for size and geography (45 85)
• Strong Technical Programs
• IBM, Mayo Clinic base with many smaller companies
• Friendly Atmosphere
• Invite all no fee
• Social networking ½ hour before meeting - pizza
  and pop
• Attendees into local DB many later join IEEE.

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Highlights of 2006 Activities

• New EMBS Chapter pending
• Talks last year included
• Cell Broadband Engine (Sony PS3)
• XBOX 360
• SW Defined Radio
• Remote Broadcast of meetings
• Initial trials successful
• Voice and Video
• Investigating trade-offs between several
  approaches
• Helps with non-local member groups

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Plan for 2007

• Fill GOLD chair
• Had excellent candidate
• Left for Stanford Graduate School
• Need more volunteers
• Present board and volunteers spread thin
• Try suggestions from R4 conference
• Transition to all electronic email notices
• Exception for annual elections mailing also
• Implement additional activities
• More award and recognition events
• Site visits in addition to typical lectures
• Pre-college engineering awareness and projects

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How Can R4 Help in Meeting Your Sections Goals?

• Help with GOLD chair startup activities
• Funding for local educational activities
• Maintain an R4 topics and speakers list
• Only include successful experiences
• Reference originating section and date
• Suggestions welcome!