September 2026 Section Meeting

#IEEE #Albuquerque

• Overview

  The meeting focused on reviewing prior minutes, addressing outstanding action items, and gathering updates across committees and chapters. Participants discussed financial activity, event planning, collaboration efforts, and operational challenges such as reporting requirements and leadership vacancies. The conversation also covered preparations for upcoming conferences and area meetings, along with student branch funding constraints. Overall, the meeting aimed to ensure alignment on current responsibilities, upcoming deadlines, and ongoing organizational needs.

  Key updates

  • Review of August minutes: Timothy summarized prior discussions, including banquet expenses, joint chapter events, and student branch updates. Daniel and Tyler confirmed the minutes were accurate, and the group approved them with minor corrections suggested by Tyler.
  • Action item follow‑ups: Timothy led a review of outstanding tasks, with Tyler agreeing to contact Ray regarding Sigma Z banquet expenses and Lee providing updates on award nomination processes. The team agreed to keep several items open due to pending responses or ongoing coordination.
  • Treasurer’s report: Tyler explained recent financial activity, including receiving a YP rebate and pending reimbursements for food expenses submitted by Kevin and Robert. He noted that work demands delayed some outgoing payments and confirmed he would process them soon.
  • Chapter and partnership updates: Timothy reported limited recent activity from Ramon’s chapter and highlighted opportunities to strengthen ties with NMSPE through attending their monthly talks. Mike’s group continues holding events that may support future collaboration.
  • Public lecture series: Lee detailed scheduling challenges, noting a cancellation left September unfilled but the rest of the semester is booked. He is coordinating awardee talks for January and encouraged suggestions for spring speakers, with plans to engage additional contacts for scheduling.
  • Upcoming events: Daniel provided details on the October 17 area meeting in San Diego, confirming logistics such as location options and his role in delivering training. The group agreed that Timothy should attend as section chair and begin making travel arrangements.
  • YP and student branch updates: Daniel described monthly YP event planning and efforts to maintain engagement for the Women in Engineering group by adding them as co‑hosts. Nannette reported strong student branch turnout but limited funding, restricting attendance for Rising Stars and prompting the need for early funding requests.
  • Reimbursement and administrative issues: Daniel noted difficulties getting reimbursed for Sections Congress expenses and highlighted that MGA required some costs to be charged to the section. Tyler and Daniel agreed to coordinate on follow‑up emails.
  • Awards banquet planning: Lee shared challenges scheduling Sigma Z meetings and is working to reengage leadership. He anticipates continuing with prior venue and catering practices once planning begins.
  • Elections planning: Lee described limitations in the Vtools system for forming a nomination committee and will instead send email solicitations for nominees. The election timeline will run through October nominations and November voting.
  • Additional chapter checks: Timothy and Lee agreed to identify the current New Mexico Tech chapter chair by contacting prior leads and local partners. Tyler noted steady activity within another chapter, with recent talks held in mid‑September.
  • Student branch travel funding: Nannette explained constraints on UNM’s ability to approve reimbursements before funding is secured, and Lee offered to provide the required funding request form. The group emphasized submitting requests soon given rising conference registration costs.
  • Final action item consolidation: Timothy captured and updated remaining action items, including outreach tasks, reporting reminders, and preparations for the area meeting. The team agreed to adjourn after confirming no further additions.

• Banquet Expenses: Follow up with Ray to settle the outstanding Sigma Z banquet expenses for FY2026. (Tyler)
• Public Lecture Speakers: Submit suggestions for speakers to fill the open spring public lecture slots. (the team)
• Student Award Nominations: Review the proposed change to the student award nomination process with Laura. (Lee)
• SSCS Event Reporting: Obtain the official attendance count from Ramon and complete the VTools report for the SSCS event. (Tim)
• Women In Engineering Leadership: Follow up with Jane about identifying potential participants or leaders for the Women in Engineering group. (Tim)
• Amir’s VTools Access: Continue resolving Amir’s VTools access and determine an appropriate long-term leadership arrangement for the Albuquerque section. (Lee)
• Area Meeting Attendance: Register and make travel arrangements to represent the Albuquerque section at the October 17 area meeting in San Diego. (Tim)
• Student Branch Funding: Submit a funding request to the section for UNM student attendance at Rising Stars/CES, including the expected number of attendees and requested amount. (Nannette)
• New Mexico Tech Coordination: Reestablish contact with New Mexico Tech to identify its current chair or leadership contact, including by consulting Gilberto if needed. (Tim)
• Election Nominations: Send the section-wide request for officer nominations, collect nominations through October, and prepare for elections in late November and officer assignments in December. (Lee)