IEEE - consider a membership

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"IEEE: the name was originally an acronym for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

"About IEEE

A non-profit organization,IEEE is the world’s leading professional association for the advancement of technology.

The IEEE name was originally an acronym for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. Today, the organization’s scope of interest has expanded into so many related fields, that it is simply referred to by the letters I-E-E-E (pronounced Eye-triple-E).

Who IEEE Serves

Through its global membership, IEEE is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics among others. Members rely on IEEE as a source of technical and professional information, resources and services. To foster an interest in the engineering profession, IEEE also serves student members in colleges and universities around the world. Other important constituencies include prospective members and organizations that purchase IEEE products and participate in conferences or other IEEE programs.

IEEE Quick Facts

more than 375,000 members including nearly 80,000 student members in more than 160 countries 324 sections in ten geographic regions worldwide 1,784 chapters that unite local members with similar technical interests 1,616 student branches and 452 student branch chapters at colleges and universities in 80 countries 38 societies and 7 technical councils representing the wide range of technical interests 390 affinity groups consisting of Consultants' Network, Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD), Women in Engineering (WIE) and Life Members (LM) groups nearly 1,300 standards and projects under development more than 1.7 million documents in the IEEE/IET Electronic Library publishes a total of 144 transactions, journals and magazines sponsors more than 850 conferences annually *Data current as of 31 Dec 2007

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IEEE Computer Society Technical Councils, Committees (TCs), and Task Forces (TFs)

Technical & Conferences Activities Board (T&C)

IEEE Computer Society Technical Councils, Committees (TCs), and Task Forces (TFs) are international networks of professionals with common interests in computer hardware, software, applications, and interdisciplinary fields. They serve as the focal point for the society's activities within a technical discipline and directly influence society standards development, conferences, publications, and educational activities.

The Technical Councils, Committees, and Task Forces provide a variety of opportunities for YOU to become an active and vital member of your community. Organize a conference or workshop, become involved with publications, develop and run programs which support student activities, affect the development of standards, create an online tutorial, or simply communicate with your colleagues at conferences or through electronic dialogue.

Free membership in Technical Committees, Councils and Task Forces is a superb opportunity to network and stay ahead of the state of the art. (However, there is a fee for membership in IEEE.) These groups meet at conferences or through electronic dialogue, and range in size from 500 to 8,000 members. Many distribute complimentary newsletters containing valuable technical information.

Emerging Technologies
The Computer Society is quick to identify emerging technologies and provide forums for their exploration.

Technical Councils
These large and dynamic groups cover broad areas of technology, have a large membership base, and offer a wide variety of activities and services for their members.

Software Engineering
Test Technologies

Technical Committees
Technical Committees are generally smaller and more keenly focused than Technical Councils. They provide a more hands-on approach to becoming involved in one's technical community. Members can easily become part of organizing a conference, have access to working with Computer Society publications, join the TC leadership team, experiment with starting new programs, and more easily meet and collaborate with your colleagues.

Task Forces
Task Forces are budding Technical Committees, just becoming organized and determining their style. If you don't see a Technical Council or Committee which meets your needs, consider forming your own Task Force."