The Ballot for the IEEE Columbus Section Election is now open!

This year, we are participating in an electronic election using IEEE software. You can access the ballot at the following website:

https://eballot3.votenet.com/R2_Columbus_SEC/

You will use your IEEE web account to login and access the ballot.

Ballot emails have been sent to all members of the Section whom are eligible to vote (all grades of Member and above) based on their information in the IEEE member database. Emails have not been sent to those members whom have the "do not email" flag set on their IEEE profile. Those members can contact us at elections@ieeecolumbus.org for information about how to submit their ballot.

I encourage all of you to vote and support this year's outstanding slate of candidates. You can view the slate of candidates at:
http://www.ieeecolumbus.org/node/29

Candidate bios and profiles are available through the election link above.

The ballot is open from 01 Nov 2008 until 30 Nov 2008. The results will be made available shortly after that.

The Columbus Chapter of the IEEE Power and Energy Society is dedicated to serving the community and supporting our societal scope set forth by the IEEE Power and Energy Society.


The IEEE Power and Energy Society has described the Scope of our society as follows:


The scope of the Society embraces planning, research, development, design, application, construction, installation and operation of apparatus, equipment, structures, materials and systems for the safe, reliable and economic generation, transmission, distribution, conversion, measurement and control of electric energy. It includes the developing of engineering standards, the providing of information and instruction to the public and to legislators, as well as technical scientific, literary, educational and other activities that contribute to the electric power discipline or utilize the techniques or products within this discipline.


If you would like to learn more about The IEEE Power and Energy Society please visit their web site at www.ieee.org/power/

Please review the attached request by the Columbus City Schools for Robotics Mentors and consider volunteering!

Please see the attached note for information about this job.

Andrew Boatright has recently resigned as the Public Member of the Ohio Power Siting Board. He is sharing this message with IEEE hoping to solicit any interest that IEEE members may have in serving in this capacity. The following excerpt from the OPSB website provides information about the duties of the OPSB and the Board make-up:

The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) is responsible for reviewing and approving plans for the construction of new energy facilities in Ohio. Before any company can build a major utility facility like a new power plant, or an electric transmission line, or a gas transmission pipeline, the OPSB assures that it benefits Ohio's citizens, promotes the state's economic interests, and protects the environment and land use.

Who makes up the Ohio Power Siting Board?

The chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) serves as the chairman of the Ohio Power Siting Board. The Board is comprised of 11 members, seven who vote and four who are non-voting members. In addition to the chairman, the other six voting members are:

The directors of:
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency;
Ohio Department of Agriculture;
Ohio Department of Development;
Ohio Department of Health;
Ohio Department of Natural Resources;
and a public member.

The public representative, who must be a licensed engineer, is appointed by the Governor from a list of nominees submitted by the Ohio Consumers' Counsel.

The four non-voting members are legislators -- two from the Ohio House of Representatives and two from the Ohio Senate.

Andrew would be happy to answer any questions that anyone might have concerning this. He may be contacted as follows:

Andrew M. Boatright, P.E., Manager
City of Westerville Electric Division
139 East Broadway Avenue
Westerville, OH 43081
Telephone: 614-901-6703
Fax: 614-901-6731
Email: Andrew.Boatright@westerville.org

Become a Senior Member of the IEEE!

There are only two more chances this year to have your IEEE membership elevated to Senior Member. Sr. Membership in the IEEE is a clear designation of leadership in your profession. Visit the following link for more information on the application process. The IEEE Section will gladly sponsor your application for Sr. Membership. Contact Jack Freund (jfreund at ieeecolumbus dot org) for more information.

http://www.ieee.org/web/membership/senior-members/index.html

Attached are the meeting minutes from the last Executive Committee Meeting.

In accordance with the interim Section By-Laws Article VI, Section 4, the candidate nominating process closed on 15 September. Ballots for the election will be made available to all members no later than 30 October. Please watch this website and your inbox for an E-Notice about the election.

The IEEE Columbus Section Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the following candidates for the upcoming Section Elections.

The IEEE Executive Committee thanks the Nominating Committee for providing us with an excellent slate of candidates for this year's elections. Special thanks goes out to John Lauletta for heading up this effort.

UPDATED 02 October: List updated to remove Bill Timmons from the list for Chair. The Section is sad that Bill will not be able to run for Chair, but respects Bill's decision.

Attached are the meeting minutes from the last Executive Committee Meeting.

ComSoc is offering one free WCET practice exam to a designee from each IEEE section. The Columbus Section is going to offer this to a candidate in the section who is serious about pursuing WCET certification. The free exam is worth about $75.

The Wireless Communication Engineering Technologies (WCET) is the new premier wireless certification from ComSoc. You can read more about it here: http://www.comsoc.org/cert/

To get the free practice exam, email comsoc@ieeecolumbus.org.

UPDATE 29 Jul 08: We have given away the free exam. Thanks everyone!