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