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May/June 2004

Welcome to the May/June 2004 Division Leaders' Brief. You are receiving this message because you are an ISA Division Leader. Due to the nature of the material and your role as a leader, we believe you will appreciate the information contained here. However, if you prefer not to receive the Division Leaders Brief in the future, please follow the unsubscribe instructions at the end of this message.

This month's issue is filled with articles to help you manage your Division. Share this information with your fellow Division leaders, members, colleagues and friends. Please remember to log in as a member to access the links below.

Contents:

SUMMER NEWSLETTERS

Most of you are already working on the Summer newsletter for your Division.  Our objective is to get the newsletter in the hands of the Division member at least a month before ISA EXPO 2004.  Please submit your summer newsletter inputs to Bill Palmer by June 15.

NEW VENTURE INITIATIVE FOR DIVISIONS

Former ISA president Ron Dieck is heading a task force whose charter is to develop ideas that will improve the effectiveness of our Divisions. Some will have real financial payback some will not. The time frame is undecided right now but may be three to five years.

What ideas to you have that we can consider for our proposal? Some thoughts are:

  1. Paying a Division keynote speaker for our Division Symposia so we can secure real "name" people.
  2. Paying several people to develop new technology sessions for our Division Symposia.
  3. Hiring an ISA staffer to develop a Division Technology Journal. It would be high quality technical information.
  4. Changing our ISA membership system so that everyone that joins ISA joins a Division and the fee is, maybe, $20.
  5. Changing the allocation of the portion of ISA dues that now goes to Sections so that a member may decide where that money is spent to best meet the needs of that member, whether Section or Division of both.
  6. Providing sufficient support to Division Symposia so that the break refreshments are excellent.
  7. Underwriting technical tours whether in conjunction with Division Symposia or Section events.
  8. Enlisting the aid of local Sections for Division Symposia with an appropriate honoraria provided those sections.
  9. Develop a useful web site for exchange of technical information.
  10. Develop a list of technical experts for Division resources on technical issues.
  11. Fund the travel for special technical experts for Division events.
  12. Pay the travel expenses for session developers at our Division Symposia.
  13. Work with the Divisions that do not have Symposia at this time and develop them where appropriate, maybe by combining Divisions' efforts.

YOUR IDEAS HERE ARE KEY. THINK WAY, WAY OUT OF THE BOX, GUYS. There should be payback to the Society in the three to five year time frame for many of them. In those cases, please outline the financial plan also. However, not all need to be "break even" or better.

The Idea is to improve our Divisions' operations that more people join ISA and the Divisions to further their technical careers. 

Please transmit your thoughts and ideas to Ron Dieck.

THE ISA NETWORK

Do people keep telling you, "It's on the web?" Well, it probably is! Our main concern is that you know where on the web you can find the resources you need to run your Section and to support the ISA Members in your area. First, go to www.isa.org and login. From the left navigation bar, select Members & Leaders>Leader Resources>Section OR Members & Leaders>Leader Resources>Leader Training.  Let the headers that open with each selection direct you.

There is a very helpful module that can be used for orientation with incoming leaders. It is The ISANetwork – An Essential Leader Resource. The module, like other ISA PowerPoint presentations, comes with Speaker Notes. Here is the path: Members & Leaders>Leader Resources>Leader Training.  On the Leader Training page, scroll down to Downloadable PowerPoint Files. Under this heading select Section Operations & Communications. You will see a number of modules listed, including the ISANetwork - Leader Resources. If you have questions, simply contact your Division Administrator.

ISA PRESIDENT'S SPRING MEETING

Thanks to all of you who were able to attend the Presidents Spring Meeting in Long Beach. The Joint A&T/I&S Department and A&T/I&S Advisory Board meeting minutes are now available on the ISANetwork at Members & Leaders>Governance>Governance Body List and then clicking on Industries & Sciences Dept or Automation & Technology Dept, depending upon which Department your Division is assigned to.

DIVISION CALENDAR

Do you find yourself wondering when the next Division business item needs to be completed?  Most  questions of this nature can be answered by referring to the online 2004 Division Calendar, placed there to assists leaders in managing their Division.  Please note from the calendar that an updated Director’s message for the Division website is due on 15 June, and that Division Communication Award submissions will be expected July 15.  The materials necessary for award submissions will be provided to Division directors in mid-June.

2004 HONORS & AWARDS BANQUET

As was done last year, a 10% discount will be offered for purchase of an entire table at this banquet, which will take place Monday 4 October.  Think about getting together with your fellow Division members for an enjoyable evening and an opportunity to participate in the recognition of these deserving recipients.  A special 10% discount is available on the advance purchase of whole tables (8 tickets).

Please complete and submit the Discount Ticket Registration Form with payment no later than 15 September.

DIVISION LUNCHEONS

Nine ISA Divisions will be hosting a luncheon for their members and guests at ISA EXPO 2004. Is your Division one of them? Find out at the Division Luncheon Page. Join your friends and fellow Division members for some sociability and to discuss important issues related to your technical field in all its aspects. These will be held Wednesday, 6 October 11:30 AM, at Reliant Center, Houston ,TX, USA.

Sign up online or contact ISA Customer Service at 919-549-8411

SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE BRIEF? The objective of this publication is to present information that will be of most use to you, the ISA Division Leader. Suggestions for topics or inclusion of specific information are welcome anytime. E-mail Bill Palmer at wpalmer@isa.org.