Officers Training 2016 Recognizing Motivating and Rewarding Volunteers

Officer’s Training 2016 Recognizing, Motivating, and Rewarding Volunteers IEEE SFBAC Officers Training Event 23 January 2016 Tom Coughlin, Region 6 Director Bill De. Hope, SFBAC Secretary Jeffrey Pawlan, SCV Awards Chair & R 6 CA Awards Rep

Officer’s Training 2016 Recognize Your Help • The strength of your chapter depends upon the motivation of your members • Find ways to massage people into volunteer positions. Learn how to “chunk things up”. Makes projects easier & more fun. It’s easier finding a volunteer for a simple, well -defined job than a complex, nebulous one. • “Fresh & new” is its own motivator. Avoid ruts. • Gratitude is its own reward—and brings many more. • Recognition and awards can be a way to motivate members and develop leadership skills. • Problem: ignoring the work of your volunteers Problem: overlooking some volunteers but not others Not-a-problem: lots of awards! 2

Officer’s Training 2016 Aside: Important Soft Leadership Skills • A leader needs some contemplative time, i. e. “cultivate a quiet place” within your life – Fire-fighting fosters bandaid fixes; great ideas need careful incubation – This is true of technical problems and organizational problems – There’s a time to think and a time to act – NEVER make a spur-of-the-moment negative statement or email – Create an atmosphere of creative encouragement and interest • Embrace your life’s characters; enjoy the drama • Honor your heroes • Show sincerity, excitement, honor, & joy • Learn to project your voice so people know you are talking to them. Yes, talk to people. 3

Officer’s Training 2016 IEEE Awards • Award: something given for achievement, e. g. a prize given in recognition of someone’s merit. • For nearly a century the IEEE Awards program has paid tribute to technical professionals whose exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions have made a lasting impact on technology, society and the engineering profession. • There are technical/societal, regional, national, and international awards. • You can also make up your own awards! 4

Officer’s Training 2016 Awards can be given for many things and by different groups • Everyone loves recognition • A simple verbal compliment can go a long way and helps to create a positive environment • Any Chapter Chair can create and give an award—for instance to thank a speaker • Of course, regionally- or nationally-recognized awards are more prestigious than one a Chapter Chair makes up, but as long as a Chairman is reasonably responsible in his use of the IEEE name, local awards can be great things. 5

Officer’s Training 2016 Section and Chapter Awards • A Chapter or Section Chair should be familiar with the established, recognized awards of their Society or Region. • A Chapter or Section Chair should support their organization's members by nominating, encouraging, and promoting members in receiving these awards. • Awards and recognition are for both individuals and organizations. They can recognize achievement or service, as well as to motivate and thank individuals and organizations. • As Chairs, you have the right to create special awards, if an existing award just doesn't "fit" the deserving party. For example, a local company that consistently offers meeting space for your group. • Sometimes the best award for a member is to reward their employer or supervisor! 6

Officer’s Training 2016 Ordering IEEE Blank Certificates Go to this ieee webpage: http: //www. ieee. org/societies_communities/ geo_activities/product_photos. html Have a stash of ‘em with a. docx formatted for them. Plaques are good too but you need time to engrave them. Other merchandise: http: //merchandise. ieee. org Add the IEEE logo to items from http: //www. flagad. com/ Never underestimate the value of a thank-you note, via email or letter, or even verbally. 7

Officer’s Training 2016 Advanced Membership is an Award • Promote "membership advancement" awards such as Senior Member status. All chapters and sections should do all in their power to promote members eligible for an enhanced grade. • In addition there may be people in your chapter that may be Associate Members—and may not even know it. You should elevate them. SAMIEEE is your friend! • During your chapter meetings, ask if there any folks that qualify for senior membership and refer them to a group of Senior Members or Fellows created to help them get their senior membership. This could be a “draw” to a regular meeting or a special (non-technical) meeting of its own. Potential leaders! • You don’t have to know someone well to nominate/sponsor them for Senior membership, just be reasonably confident in their qualifications. (And check their pubs!) • Work with your Section leaders to make a section-wide effort. 8

Officer’s Training 2016 IEEE National and Regional Awards Selection Process – Nomination for established IEEE awards & recognitions are initiated by members, then reviewed by a panel of peers—professionals particularly knowledgeable in their fields. – Their recommendations are submitted to the IEEE Awards Board for further review prior to final approval by the IEEE Board of Directors. – Very few people submit for awards—your effort could pay off big! Know your Society’s awards! – In 2013, our Tom Coughlin was a nominator of an Edison Award Winner—Ralph Baer 9

Officer’s Training 2016 IEEE Awards (mostly MGA) IEEE awards fall in seven categories: • Medals • Honorary Memberships • Service Awards • Corporate Recognitions • Technical Field Awards • Prize Paper Awards • Scholarship Awards 10

Officer’s Training 2016 Longstanding Region 6 Awards • • Outstanding Engineer Outstanding Leadership and Professional Service Outstanding Large and Small Section Outstanding Large and Small Student Branch Outstanding Educator Outstanding Chapter Outstanding Engineering Manager More information: www. ieee-region 6. org/awards 11

Officer’s Training 2016 Central Area Awards • Outstanding Engineer • Outstanding Leadership and Professional Service • Outstanding Section • Outstanding Student Branch • Outstanding Educator Note the flowdown • Outstanding Chapter • Outstanding Corporate Service to Engineering Community • More information: ramsivaraman@ieee. org 12

Officer’s Training 2016 Typical Section Awards • Outstanding Engineer • Outstanding Leadership and Professional Service • Outstanding Student Branch • Outstanding Teacher • Outstanding Chapter More flowdown! • Outstanding Corporate Service to Engineering Community • More information: Contact your section chair • Know the deadlines! 13

Officer’s Training 2016 Typical Schedule & Deadlines • Call for Nominations February • Nomination Deadline 1 May • Area Recipient Selected 1 June • Region Recipient Selected • Recipient Notified • Awards Presentation July August Sept R 6 Meeting 14

Officer’s Training 2016 IEEE Field and MGA Awards • IEEE Field Award information is here: http: //www. ieee. org/about/awards/tfas/in dex_tfas. html • IEEE MGA Award information is here: http: //www. ieee. org/societies_communit ies/geo_activities/awards/index. html 15

Officer’s Training 2016 Closing Remarks • Value the people who help you; Value the people who help IEEE • Never miss an opportunity to recognize a person or organization’s valued effort • Success has many fathers/mothers, but failure is an orphan. • Success is contagious! • May you have many successes and gladly share the credit for them! 16