[comp.org.ieee] Sections Congress '90

nisc@ieee.org (Network Information Services Committee) (11/07/90)

TO:     SC'90 Tutorial and Plenary Speakers
        Breakout Facilitators

FROM:   Wallace S. Read, SC'90 Chairman
        William Middleton, SC'90 Program Chairman


SECTIONS CONGRESS'90 is past, but we can all look back with pride at an event   
that brought out the best out in all of us to provide a program for all of the  
IEEE.  When the Program Committee took the multitude of topic suggestions and   
the learning from past Section Congresses we had a complex formidable           
program.  The final cut even looked to many as something approaching a          
nightmare.

The proof of the pudding was in the comments of the attendees.  They have been  
most generous in their praise for the efforts that went into a series of        
learning sessions that would appeal to all.  To make it work, though, it was    
the tutorial and plenary speakers who took some often sketchy subject           
information from the Program Committee, polished it up in professional style    
and made it work. For that we salute you and extend our deep appreciation.

We plan to produce a post conference record in which the specific               
contributions of tutorial presenters will be made available to those who could  
not participate in all sessions - after all there were 50!  Copies will be      
made available to all attendees.

The Committee also applauds the individual and collective efforts of those who  
moderated the breakouts and facilitated the development of issues.  The basic   
objective of the Congress was to carry on an enlightened discussion in the      
many subject areas and then stimulate the group to deal with their concerns;    
to bring about a collective recognition of what they felt was required to       
satisfy the need, and to establish a priority for these recommendations.  If    
this had not happened so effectively we could not have called the Congress a    
success.

The Committee recognizes that the exercises and the techniques were new to      
many facilitators and the actual operations, at times, a bit frustrating. We    
hope, however, that the experience was educational and perhaps a new way of     
looking at group dynamics. To this end we hope we have given you the            
opportunity of a rewarding experience.

We hope that each of you in his or her own way found the Congress to be a very  
worthwhile experience in your lifetime.  For the younger members we hope this   
may serve to stimulate your further involvement and interest in IEEE            
activities. For those who have been around the IEEE for awhile, we hope you     
saw an action and activity which served in some way to help compensate for the  
time and effort over the years that you have given to the organization.

Many, many thanks for your help and assistance.


Sincerely,

Wallace S. Read                              William Middleton
SC'90 Chairman                               SC'90 Program Chairman