Hawaii Section June EXCON Meeting

Attendees:

John W. Camery, Chair (presiding)
Chris Russell, Vice Chair
Song Choi
Al Toda

Minutes:

The 30 May 2012 Hawaii EXCOM meeting centered on one topic, viz., whether to submit our proposal to host the GHTC 2013 in Honolulu.  Song Choi has been in negotiations with hotels about putting on a different conference.  He provided insight into the pro and cons of using commercial facilities versus the East West Center and UH Manoa. We discussed the policies, facility layouts, and cost figures obtained from the East West Center.  Song Choi expressed the opinion that prices and polices quoted by the East West Center might be those applying to an outside organization as opposed to what he would be given as a faculty member at UH-Manoa.  Perhaps, we should have a Vice Chair for local arrangements like himself who is a faculty member at UH-Manoa.  Also, like John V. Imperial in the previous meeting, Song Choi expressed the opinion that it would be easy to get student volunteers for the conference as long as it did not conflict with their studies. Our Vice Chair, Chris Russell expressed an interest in serving on the conference’s Technical Committee as Student Paper Contest Chair and also in the possibility of attending the GHTC 2012 this year in Seattle.  Song Choi suggested that we inquire about the possibility of hosting the GHTC 2014 if we decide to pass on hosting the GHTC 2013.

The major concern about hosting the conference was the same issue voiced by John V. Imperial in our previous meeting.  Although Hawaii might be an ideal spot for such a conference, nobody wanted their name associated with the bid unless there is the necessary commitment to follow through and make it a success.

We also discussed the key role local humanitarian groups, such as, Surfing the Nations, could play in supporting the conference through providing volunteers and organizing social activities in conjunction with the conference.  As we discussed, one disadvantage to holding a conference in Hawaii is temptation for attendees to skip the sessions to take part in the activities that Hawaii is famous for. This disadvantage could be turned in advantage by involving such groups as Surfing the Nation to sponsor activities like they normally do to attract people away from the temptations into humanitarian work.  This would also give insight to our members into how humanitarian organizations actually work.

We also announced that the UH-Manoa Student Branch will be awarded the Central Area's award for best student branch.  This means that they will nominated for the corresponding award in Region 6.

As most voting EXCON members could not attend this meeting, it was decided that we would vote by email on the issue of whether to submit our proposal to host the conference. The text was as follows:

At the EXCOM meeting tonight, the issue was raised whether we should submit a proposal to host the IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference.  It would be held here in Honolulu on or about 21-24 October 2013.  It was decided to poll our EXCOM voting members on this issue.  We need responses by tomorrow, Thursday, 31 May, 2012 and no case later than 1 June 2012.  If you are in favor of the Hawaii IEEE Section and Chapters submitting a bid to host the conference, so signify by replying “Yes”.   If you are opposed to the Hawaii IEEE Section and Chapters submitting the bid, reply “No” to this email.   

____ Yes

____No