A Message from your PES Chair

Greetings Everyone! I am pleased to report PES gains Momentum as we develop our business model for meetings. The account is nearly finalized, thanks to efforts of Treasurer Tama Littley. Steve Walk and Dawn Ostenberg are working various details of meeting venues and topics for the upcoming schedule. And with our core group of about 24 members in regular contact with me, pieces are falling into place with the Fall line up.

I would like to thank Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Newport News for their support in establishing the HR- PES. My Department leadership has given me some time at work to iron out some administrative details of establishing a new Professional Organization Chapter. Tama Littley has also received recognition and support from her Department. It is gratifying to know those we work for believe in professional development opportunities for their people, and that there is corporate benefit in good citizenship by supporting organizations like IEEE and PES.

The Oct meeting lecture addresses Nuclear Power Technology Advances, and November has good potential to have a Lecture from the PES Distinguished Lecture Series, focusing on a 'green' theme for the fall, and possibly January.

This is an important point though, as the 'Green Theme' is the current hot topic. Members canvassed wanted to learn more about Green, but that was not the only area of interest/ concern. Many of us already recognize many other critical issues going on in the Power and Energy world. Often the less exciting issues until a loss of power, or serious injuries occur. These are equally pressing to cleaning up our environmental habits as a species. We must continue to address safety and reliability concerns for existing power and energy systems, while strategically planning future concerns that had been tabled for several reasons, and in some cases, several decades.

A head's up to all that the business model for PES meetings is going to be different from the Section meetings. We must be frugal with limited budget and significant expenses on the horizon. The cost schedule for meetings is going to have greater variation than what the Section has traditionally followed. Donations and sponsorships will be seriously entertained.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the various Sections and Chapter meetings planned. It is an exciting season of challenges ahead for us all!

Thank you Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding!"

Jennifer Ammentorp