3.4 Chapter-Achievement Award (CAA) - taken from P&P updated 08/01, 01/03 -

Chapter Achievement Award (formerly Chapter-of-the-Year Award)

Objective

To increase the number of chapters recognized for high achievement, ComSoc will present up to 16 Chapter Achievement Awards annually to chapters providing their members with quality programs/activities in areas of technical activities, public relations, education, and membership development, recruitment and student activity. Chapters should expect to provide services to members in most of the areas described below. Chapters "achieving excellence" will be posted on our web site and highlighted in "IEEE Communications Magazine.

To be considered for a particular year (for example, 2002), chapters must complete and submit the annual Chapter Questionnaire before May 1 of the following year (i.e., in 2003). Chapters will be evaluated on the basis of their previous year's activities. Chapters may not receive the CAA in consecutive years.

Award Description and Presentation

Chapter Achievement Awards will consist of $500 honorariums and certificates acknowledging outstanding leadership. Recipients may be recognized at ComSoc Awards Luncheons (held during ICC and GLOBECOM), but travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

The Evaluating Committee includes the Director - Membership Programs Development, all Regional Directors, and the Vice President - Membership Development. To be selected, chapters must demonstrate high levels of performance in programs and activities held the previous year (such as the categories below).

1. Chapter Questionnaire

The annual CQ is normally e-mailed to Chapter Chairs in January and posted on the web site. The section of the questionnaire regarding the CAA must be completed; it must be well-written, clear, and structured.

2. Technical Activities

Technical Programs: meetings, tours, and full- or half-day conferences.

Educational Programs: multi-session courses, full-day (or several-day) seminars/tutorials, and chapter-organized home-study programs (offering technical training).

3. Public Relations Activities

Public Activities: meetings open to the public on national/local issues promoted in the interest of public affairs. It includes Section activities (geared towards the public), activities interfacing with news media or legislators (on communications issues), and activities advancing the engineering profession or improving communications with Chapter membership.

Student Activities: must be directed towards electrical engineering (or prospective) students (grades K-12); the object is to encourage careers /enhance the professional-engineering image.

4. Membership Development, Advancement & Awards

Membership Development: activities to increase chapter membership; i.e., programs encouraging engineers, who have recently joined the field, to become actively involved in ComSoc at local or national levels.

IEEE Member Advancement: programs that encourage "member advancement" or promote "recognition" of such members (i.e., new Fellows or Senior Members).

Award Nominations: nominating members for IEEE Fellows, IEEE Technical Awards, and ComSoc Career & Service Awards; (candidates need not actually win an award).

5. Required IEEE Reports

Timely submission of meeting reports as required by IEEE (see IEEE web site: www.ieee.org/scsreports ). Reports must be sent to IEEE (in compliance with IEEE's timeframe!) with copies to Carole Swaim (c.swaim@comsoc.org).