Dear MICHAEL DOLINSKY: Here's your report on news around the IEEE, from the editors of The Institute. The most current version of The Institute can always be found at ________________________________________________________ IN THIS ISSUE: 1. IEEE-USA Urges Changes to Online Piracy Bill 2. Members Help Build Bridges to Policymakers 3. Breathing New Life Into Sections and Chapters 4. Members Rate IEEE's Value 5. Electronic Communications Resume for Embargoed Countries 6. Workshop Features the Latest in Electrical Safety 7. Proceedings Cover First Mobile and Ubiquitous Systems Conference 8 Member Renews Online, Wins Notebook Computer Subscription info and member number are at the end of the e-mail. Complete URLs are contained between the < > symbols. ________________________________________________________ SPONSOR'S NOTICE: Polytechnic University: Online Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Polytechnic University introduces ePoly -- where you can earn an MSEE online. Designed for professionals that face limitations on their time, the program provides a convenient, flexible setting. For more information, please visit or contact us at epoly@poly.edu. Interested students are encouraged to apply online or simply register for an online course. Classes begin January 24. Early registration is recommended. _______________________________________________________ 1. IEEE-USA Urges Changes to Online Piracy Bill Downloading a song or a video over the Internet may seem inconsequential to the person doing the copying, but over the years the costs of such copyright infringement have added up to a staggering sum -- US$19 billion worth of purloined work, according to U.S. entertainment industry groups. That's why the U.S. Senate is trying to punish infringers by defining who might be liable, but IEEE-USA says the bill is far too broad. Find out more at 2. Members Help Build Bridges to Policymakers Usually IEEE members have little influence or interaction with government officials. But a few are able to bridge that gap by taking on advisory roles to government. Read about how three members have fared in India, Malta, and the United States at 3. Breathing New Life Into Sections and Chapters Bringing a dormant IEEE section or chapter back to life is not as difficult as it may seem, say volunteers who have done it. Mostly it requires a few dedicated members willing to brainstorm ways of attracting others back to meetings and enticing new people to join. Find out more at ________________________________________________________ SPONSOR'S NOTICE Symbol, a major player in the healthcare industry, designs laser and imager scan engines for the ever-growing OEM healthcare market. These high-performance, integration-friendly devices can capture all 1D and 2D bar codes and or pictures. Scan engines, with their small form factor, low cost, and high reading and recognition performance; add unparalleled value to the total healthcare solution. ________________________________________________________ 4. Members Rate IEEE's Value Results were mixed when the IEEE surveyed its members last year to find out how satisfied they were with the organization's products and services. Members like what they are getting from conferences and local meetings with other professionals, but they are looking for improvement in online access to technical resources and more continuing-education opportunities. Read more at 5. Electronic Communications Resume for Embargoed Countries Last month, the IEEE reestablished electronic communications for its members in the U.S. trade-embargoed countries of Cuba, Iran, and Sudan. Members in these countries were given access to communications channels that the IEEE had suspended in January 2002, while the institute investigated the effect of the trade regulations administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control. Learn more at 6. Workshop Features the Latest in Electrical Safety Electrical safety is an important issue for workers as well as for product designers. The IEEE Electrical Safety Workshop, to be held 8-11 February in Denver, provides the opportunity for everyone involved - electrical workers, engineers, architects, product designers, and managers -- to meet and exchange ideas for preventing electrical accidents and injuries in the workplace. Find out more at http://boldfish.ieee.org/u/workshop3b/40324040 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SPONSOR'S NOTICE: From group insurance to credit cards to mortgages and everything in between, the IEEE Financial Advantage Program connects you to a variety of non-technical products and services specially negotiated exclusively on behalf of IEEE members and their families. See all we have to offer by visiting us on the web at . ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 7. Proceedings Cover First Mobile and Ubiquitous Systems Conference Earlier this year, the first Annual International Conference on Mobile and Ubiquitous Systems: Networking and Services was a forum for practitioners and researchers to exchange research on service-oriented computing, middleware, networking, knowledge management, and databases. The proceedings of the conference are now available from ShopIEEE: 8. Member Renews Online, Wins Notebook Computer IEEE Member Ernest Peterson from Riga, Latvia, in Region 8 (Europe, Africa, and Mid-East) won a Dell Inspiron notebook computer in a random drawing from among the 92 593 members who renewed online before 15 November. A chance for the notebook was offered as an incentive to encourage members to renew their annual memberships online. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Interested in advertising in The Institute Online Alert? Send and e-mail to ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Managing Your Subscription to The Institute Online Alert: The Institute Online Alert is prepared twice a month by the editors of The Institute, the news source for members of the IEEE. Members who have provided an e-mail address are automatically subscribed to the Alert as a member benefit. Members who wish to OPT-OUT of the Alert may do so by going to: . Enter your e-mail address and member number: 40324040. 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