REGION 10 DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE — April 2020
Dear all IEEE Region 10 Members,
Though we had a great start of the year 2020 with Prof. Toshio Fukuda, the first IEEE President from Region 10, neither I (nor probably any of you) imagined the difficulties of the situation we now find ourselves in caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.
We held a successful IEEE Region 10 Executive Committee Meeting in Queenstown, New Zealand, in early January, but I had to cancel our “IEEE Region 10 Meeting” scheduled to be held at Ho Chi Minh City on 7-8th March. Instead, on 7th March we participated in a virtual WebEx meeting. Since it is challenging for members to concentrate online for a full day, we restricted our meeting time to just seven hours (incl. lunch and afternoon tea breaks).
Thanks to a dry run a few days before and to excellent technical and procedural support from IEEE HQ, I believe we had a good meeting, although some may not have been one hundred percent satisfied. I understand that we need the type of discussion available face-to-face, but please do accept my apologies during this crisis mode. To recoup hotel cancellation fees, Deepak Mathur, the next Region 10 Director, has scheduled our Region 10 Meeting for the identical hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
As the 15th May 2020 “IEEE VICS and Honors Ceremony” has likewise been canceled, it is possible that the COVID-19 pandemic may also affect our annual flagship conferences and even our biennial “SYWL Congress.” The Organizing Committees have excellent contact with local authorities, as well as with IEEE HQ, the R 10 Office, etc. We shall determine whether or not to hold these events as the year unfolds, with paramount attention to all members’ safety and well-being. Online conferences may be an option. IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization, and our technological savoir-faire is bound to help mitigate any issues that arise out of present constraints.
At the Board of Directors meeting in February, the elevation of the “Vizag Bay Subsection” to Section status, the establishment of a new “Laos Subsection” directly under Region 10 and a “Quetta Subsection” under the Karachi Section were all approved. Note that Region 10 now comprises 59 Sections and 36 Subsections. We are a big family, the biggest of all 10 IEEE Regions. That is one reason why we have been discussing Regional realignment at Board level. I hope to see increased diversity at all levels of IEEE going forward.
As you know IEEE has adopted a New Diversity Statement, but in fact there are further improvements to be made. Nonetheless, I am convinced that Region 10 can provide a model of diversity. As always your enthusiastic participation in as many of our varied IEEE activities as possible will be greatly appreciated.
In the meantime, stay safe and healthy!
With warmest regards,
Akinori Nishihara
IEEE Region 10 Director