Region 1 GOLD Program Description

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1 Region 1 GOLD Program Description G r a d u a t e s O f t h e L a s t D e c a d e Please vote for Region 1 GOLD your favorite Regional GOLD. Why? Please read below. Region 1 GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) has successfully developed and organized an extensive list of programs, activities, seminars, and conferences in the past few years. Since its launch in 1996, Region 1 has formed twelve GOLD Affinity Groups; they are Boston (1999), Buffalo (1999), Connecticut (2001), Green Mountain (2001), Maine (2006), North Jersey/NJ Coast (2001), New York (2000), Princeton/Central Jersey (2001), Providence (2004), Rochester (2001), and Worcester (2006). With the vision to increase the value of IEEE services and programs to young professionals and recent graduates, the GOLD leaders have been energetically organizing numerous activities for their GOLD members. Their mission is to develop programs and foster relationships, to provide tangible value to members, to promote the GOLD program to students, and to recruit, develop, and nurture volunteers. Below are the GOLD programs in Region 1 that we would be proud to share with you. IEEE GOLD-Student Exchange Gathering (April 12th, 2006) Region 1 GOLD and Boston GOLD participated in the IEEE GOLD-Student Exchange Gathering event in Singapore. This event was a joint event between the Singapore GOLD, Singapore Section and Singapore IEEE Student Branches. At the event, students and GOLD members mingled with the GOLD members from Region 1 GOLD and Boston GOLD. volunteer efforts for IEEE. The main objective was to exchange ideas and experiences among the students, GOLD and Section members. The meeting also provided an opportunity for attendees to learn about GOLD activities in Region 1 GOLD, Boston GOLD and Singapore GOLD. In addition, the meeting demonstrated support and encouragement to the GOLD and student branch leaders in their Region 1 Student Conference (April 28th, 2006) Region 1 GOLD was at the Region 1 Student Conference in April This was a great inaugural opportunity to introduce GOLD to the students, and to encourage them to continue their membership as GOLD members after they graduate. They were also encouraged to take up leading roles within the IEEE organization. By participating in this event, Boston and Rochester GOLD have bridged the gap between the GOLD and Student members, and have developed a memorable relationship. Region 1 GOLD - Page 1

2 Region 1 GOLD Congress (August 19th, 2006) In August 2006, Region 1 GOLD successfully hosted the first GOLD Congress at the Region 1 Leadership Workshop and BOG Meeting. All the GOLD Chairs in Region 1 were invited to the Leadership Workshop. At the GOLD Congress, training was provided, and experiences shared amongst the GOLD Chairs. In addition, they discussed issues in Region 1 GOLD and the plan for It was agreed that the next GOLD Congress should be hosted together with the Region 1 Student Conference. The next GOLD Congress will also have a career fair and a resume workshop. In addition, several guest speakers will be invited to give seminars on First Home Buying, Investment and Financial Planning, Networking and Career Advancement. Moreover, a competition with cash prizes will be introduced for all GOLD members to participate. Region 1 GOLD will set the next GOLD Congress as a model for other Regional GOLD. Boston GOLD (formed in 1999) Boston GOLD aims to inspire young engineering graduates to become involved in their professional development and the IEEE. This can be facilitated through providing technical and professional lectures as well as annual social and networking events. Since 1999, Boston GOLD has been organizing many activities such as paintball games, camping trips, beach volleyball games, softball games, skiing trips, Red Sox games, TN 2 (Thirty Thursday Networking Night), bowling games, pool games, and golf clinic lessons. These activities are not typically part of IEEE meetings; however, Boston GOLD mixed the fun with the fundamentals to increase meeting attendance. Boston GOLD takes very seriously its dual mission of inspiring young professionals to be involved with the IEEE while inviting them to widen their social and career network. To achieve this, Boston GOLD leaders have created a distinctive array of monthly events. Boston GOLD events are not all just fun and games. They also offer educational seminars such as the most popular First Home Buying seminar. Boston GOLD organizes such seminars once every two years. A realtor, loan officer and a lawyer are normally invited to provide their insights at the seminar. Region 1 GOLD - Page 2

3 Another popular topic that young professionals wanted to learn was Investment and Financial Planning. The seminar provided critical information on how to make the right retirement and investment choices. Most importantly, the members learned what factors to consider when deciding how much money should be invested and where. Boston GOLD also found a speaker to address a lecture on Engineering Lessons outside the Textbook. The speaker shared examples of how the decisions that he had made shaped his career, from his early days as a software developer to his current management position. He addressed the issue whether a management or engineering track is appropriate for various individuals, provided tips on how to survive a downturn in the economy, and discussed terminal degrees. Boston GOLD also hosted a seminar on Identifying Business Ideas. The speaker addressed the question on what constitutes a good business idea and what drives the business towards success. He revealed the metrics used by potential investors in evaluating ideas. He also presented a roadmap for developing a business from the initial concept stages through securing funding. At the Assessing and Planning my Career seminar, Boston GOLD members learned that their careers were more than the summation of individual work experiences. Successful careers were not merely the results of good fortune and wishful thinking. Successful careers are crafted through diligence and preparation. These were some of the sentiments conveyed by the speaker, as he pushed the GOLD community to think about their future careers in engineering. The speaker also stressed several key points that the audience needed to consider in order to achieve a satisfying career, regardless of their fields of interest, education levels, or long-term career goals. Part time or full time? Certificate, masters, or doctorate? Business school, law school or engineering? Boston GOLD had hosted a round table discussion on graduate school. Several local engineers shared on how they had taken unique educational paths to attain their current professional status. They also invited several representatives from local graduate school admission offices to provide some further insight. In 2001, Boston GOLD received the IEEE Regional Activities Award for Outstanding GOLD program by organizing successful technical and non-technical programs for young professionals. Region 1 GOLD - Page 3

4 Boston GOLD planned new programs to further enhance the membership value and benefits, and to set up a better relationship with all the IEEE Student Branches in the Boston Section. Boston GOLD performed an outreach effort to the engineering students, to let them know how best to make use of their IEEE membership, and why IEEE as a professional institution is important to their future careers as Engineers. In addition, they bridged the gap between IEEE Boston Section and their Boston area IEEE student branches to collect ideas on how to make IEEE more exciting and valuable to young engineers. New York GOLD (formed in 2000) New York GOLD has been actively organizing several networking events annually, as part of a joint effort with their Women In Engineering Affinity group (WIE), Professional Activities Committee for Engineers (PACE), and IEEE Societies. They called the event Signals Mixer. A raffle was held and members were encouraged to exchange business cards. The member who collected the most business cards received a gift at the end of the event. New York GOLD also organized many joint Seminars, such as RADAR and SONAR Systems and WiMax and Motorola s Wi4, with the Communication Society. In addition, they had a guest speaker to share on Stuff you don t learn in engineering school, Financial Planning for Professionals. They also hosted the Careers in Engineering Open House at Polytechnic University. New York GOLD s mission is to provide a collaborative network for new and recent engineering graduates in the New York City metropolitan area. This group of young engineering professionals is now gathering to network, collaborate and fuel constructive discussion. This group brings experience from many disciplines including electrical, computer, and software engineering. Through these gatherings, the group aims to stimulate the exchange of ideas and experience among young practicing engineers and provide an anchor for new graduates. Region 1 GOLD - Page 4

5 Rochester GOLD (formed in 2001) Rochester GOLD has set up two meetings in conjunction with the IEEE GOLD On-line Seminars: Networking and Financial Planning. They had several joint activities with PACE, Engineering Management and Student Branches. They had also organized networking meetings in a bar across the street from Rochester Institute of Technology. In addition, Rochester GOLD participated in the Region 1 Student Conference and RIT Student Design Contest in At the conference, they introduced and promoted GOLD. Providence GOLD (Formed in 2004) The aim of Providence GOLD is to enrich the lives of young engineers through networking and peer interaction, and to offer programs and services to graduating students, recent graduates and young engineers throughout the IEEE Providence section. Providence GOLD kicked off their first event this year at Applebee s restaurant. All their GOLD members and their guests were invited to the dinner meeting, and the Providence Section provided the meals. Attendees met their fellow members, networked, and discussed their future plan for Providence GOLD. In addition, the Providence Section, the University of Rhode Island, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth student branches and the Providence GOLD affinity group have co-sponsored a tour of the New England Wireless and Steam Museum in East Greenwich, RI. Buffalo GOLD (Formed in 1999) Buffalo GOLD organized a Career Readiness seminar for all their GOLD members in February It was well attended, and full of participation. For educational and technical events, Buffalo GOLD members were invited to the following seminars: (a) Manufacturing High Voltage Amplifiers and Power Supplies (b) The Use of Embedded Electronics In Moog Precision Motion Control Actuators and Systems (c) Providers of Industrial Maintenance related Technical Training In addition, Buffalo GOLD organized a plant tour to Great Lakes MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) that offered great opportunity for their GOLD members to visit the facility and see how fiberboards were made. Buffalo GOLD members also learned a lot at the seminar on Fundamentals of Investing: Guidelines to help improve your potential for success. Region 1 GOLD - Page 5

6 North Jersey/NJ Coast GOLD (Formed in 2001) North Jersey/NJ Coast GOLD has hosted a meeting for their GOLD members with PACE Engineers. The meeting provided the opportunity for the members to network, socialize, and exchange experiences. Another similar meeting was also setup with the American Engineering Alliance. They also had another open discussion meeting on New hope for the engineering profession. All these meetings were focused on young engineers career development. The GOLD members have met up to discuss and share opinions on Off Shoring a different view. Moreover, they invited Barry Shoop when he was the Region 1 Director Elect to talk about the latest on Afghanistan. For soft skill development, North Jersey/NJ Coast GOLD has organized a workshop on Microsoft Power Point. New GOLD Affinity Groups in 2007 In 2007, potentially, there will be four new GOLD Affinity Groups formed in Region 1. They are Binghamton GOLD, Long Island GOLD, New Hampshire GOLD and New Jersey GOLD. These new GOLD Affinity Groups have the same mission as other GOLD groups, to address the needs and concerns of Engineers in their first 10 years out of their college. They will promote professionalism, teamwork, leadership, and other skills need to maintain a life-long career in Engineering. Region 1 GOLD - Page 6