Seoul Chapter Receives Outstanding Chapter Award September 2001

The Seoul Korea Chapter has been named an Outstanding Chapter of SSCS. This award is given to only one Chapter each year for consistently demonstrating outstanding leadership and initiative in its activities. The Chapter will be recognized when the award is presented in February at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC). Jan Van der Spiegel, the SSCS Chapters Coordinator, said of this well-deserved honor, "The Seoul Chapter's receipt of this year's SSCS Outstanding Chapter Award is a recognition of the excellent leadership and organizational qualities they have exhibited during the past 12 months. From sponsoring and co-sponsoring a series of highly successful conferences both at the local and regional level, to introducing a number of new initiatives to encourage and increase membership, Professor Lee and his colleagues have fully deserved the title of 'Outstanding Chapter'. My congratulations go out to them." When asked to name a key management practice of the Seoul Chapter that he would recommend to other Chapters, Moon Key Lee, Chair of the Seoul Chapter, said "It is the work of volunteers that is the basis of chapter activities. In the IEEE Seoul Chapter we have monthly officers meetings; the agenda varies and sometimes we meet just to socialize and have a delicious dinner. The strong ties built during these regular meetings are a key to our management. It is extremely important to stimulate the academic interests of volunteer leaders, which motivates volunteer service. Hosting Distinguished Lecturer seminars and meeting with these lecturers attracts an interested audience. Having a chance to talk to and mingle with world-prominent scholars is certainly a privilege. Finally, getting financial sponsorships from industries is an essential part of managing a Chapter." The Seoul Chapter, a joint Chapter with the Electron Devices Society, typically invites two or three Distinguished Lecturers each year, alternating from the lists of both Societies. When Chapter Chair Lee was asked how he finds effective people to help manage Chapter activities, he said, "Fortunately, the Seoul Chapter has many talented and capable SSCS members whom we draw on. The key is to find the people willing to become actively involved. A member who has actively participated in research projects is an excellent choice to work for the chapter. Then we need to provide funding, responsibility and exact goals for the chapter activities. We build good relations among our members through our local organizational meetings." Jinwook Burm, the Chapter publicity officer, was instrumental in nominating the Seoul Chapter for the award. When asked how his participation in the Chapter helps his professional growth, he replied, "Participating in Chapter activities provides me with invaluable opportunities to get to know the people in the research field. I value especially the Distinguished Lecturer seminars and chances to meet lecturers personally, to discuss ideas. It's energizing and self motivating." To view the activities of the Seoul Chapter, visit its Web site: sscs-eds.ieee.org.kr. Congratulations to the Seoul Chapter on an outstanding year!