February, 2004 Signal

Volume 13, Number 2 IEEE SIOUXLAND SECTION NEWSLETTER February, 2004
http://www.siouxland.org

The Siouxland IEEE Section is pleased to announce the offering of the Managing Negotiations Workshop to be held on Friday, April 2nd from 8AM until 5 PM at the Sioux Falls , SD Convention Center. This workshop will be presented by Shelby Bybee of Baker Communications Inc., Houston , TX , via a special arrangement with the Siouxland IEEE.

The Managing Negotiations Workshop focuses on the need for developing and strengthening the win-win negotiation skills of its participants. This workshop will be greatly beneficial to engineers of all levels of expertise although it is targeted to the mid-career and executive-level professionals. The intense program features the latest in cutting edge thinking, strategies and tactics, presented in a stimulating, challenging format. This hands-on workshop, using extensive role playing, interactive exercises, games and personal feedback, improves participant's abilities to communicate, negotiate and handle difficult negotiation situations. Heavy emphasis is placed on planning and executing both one-on-one and team negotiations. With these improved skills, participants will be able to handle any face-to-face or telephone negotiation situation, both internally and externally, with greater confidence and impact. Each participant will receive one workbook and a skill guide card.

· Maximize the effectiveness of participants who must negotiate in strategic, tactical, telephone and face-to-face negotiation situations

· Increase profits through well-planned and executed collaborative negotiations

· Minimize conflict and deadlocks by providing participants with the skills necessary to handle win-win negotiations

· Integrate learned skills with the client and participant’s behaviors to enhance personal effectiveness as negotiators

· Change the focus from negotiation tactics to planning and strategy while reinforcing key corporate values

· Increase confidence of participants as negotiators through successful practice and extensive feedback

· Successfully enhance communications through the development of a common negotiation language

Where: Sioux Falls Convention Center
1211 N. West Avenue
Sioux Falls South Dakota

Schedule:        8:00 - 8:30       Check-in and continental breakfast
8:30 – Noon    Negotiations Workshop presented by Shelby Bybee
Noon - 1:00      Lunch provided in Class Room
1:00 – 5:00       Negotiations Workshop continues

After 1 PM Wednesday, March 24th, subject to available space, add a $15.00 late fee.

Cancellations: 50% penalty will be charged if you cancel after 1 PM , Wednesday, March 24^th. However, substitutions will be allowed.

The registration fee along with a reservation form shall be mailed to Jeff White c/o Interstates Control Systems, Inc. 444 12^th St. NE , Sioux Center , IA 51250 in the form of a check or money order payable to Siouxland IEEE Section. We cannot accept credit cards. In order to qualify for the early registration cost, the fee and reservation form shall be postmarked no later than Wednesday, March 24^th.

IEEE Membership applications will be available at the door. Membership rates will be extended (refunds will be provided) to anyone who completes the application and turns it in with a check for the full membership fee ($73.50 basic dues for ½ year membership through December – Note: other options you select may increase that amount.).

Limited to 25 participants, first-come, first-served. IEEE members have priority over student members and non-members until noon , Wednesday, March 24^th. To reserve your place and qualify for the early registration fee rate, contact Jeff White at 712-722-1663 x182 or via e-mail to jeffwhite@ieee.org before 1PM Wednesday, March 24^th. After that time, on a space available basis the $15.00 late fee will apply.

April 2 – Annual Soft-skills Workshop: Negotiations @ Sioux Falls Convention Center

October – Tour: EROS Data Center (tentative) @ EROS Facilities near Sioux Falls , SD

In this newsletter you will find the announcement for the upcoming Managing Negotiations Workshop offered by the Siouxland IEEE Section. I have high expectations for the value this workshop will provide our members. Please take some time to consider attending. I would also like to encourage you to share this information with other professionals you work with (in your business or through your business contacts) who could benefit from this workshop. Over the past month I have had some great conversations with the representatives of Baker Communications, and I am very excited about the opportunity to offer this event to our members. This workshop will provide a great service to engineers in our section.

The Siouxland IEEE Section can organize an economy of scale and use the advantage of the Section’s budgeting power to bring this workshop to you at a rate that is half or less of what you or your company could otherwise obtain. Additionally, we will be able to obtain Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for this workshop which we realize is an important requirement for Professional Engineers (PE) in our section. Along with the valuable content of the workshop there will be some nice fringe benefits to attending this workshop.

If you have any questions or concerns about this workshop or would like additional information regarding the content, please contact me at jeffwhite@ieee.org.

Steve Wolterstorff (Section Vice Chair) and I attended the IEEE Region 4 meetings held in Chicago in late January. In addition, Brian Matherly (Member-At-Large Executive Committee Officer) will be attending the IEEE-USA workshops to be held in Atlanta , GA in late March. Our section had not been active in attending these events during the 1998–2001 years, and as a result missed out on some great learning opportunities on how our section can provide for our members. In the near future the Executive Committee members will meet to review information provided at recent IEEE leadership meetings, and begin planning how we can effectively incorporate these ideas to better serve you. If anyone has other ideas on how our section can better serve your needs, or would be interested in helping serve the section please contact me.

If you are an IEEE member who graduated with your first professional degree within the last ten years, you are automatically part of IEEE GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade)!

IEEE recognizes that you are a key to the future of the technical profession. IEEE GOLD can empower you to make the most of your developing career and to help you find your place in the world of technology. Make a connection with your peers and colleagues - a GOLDen opportunity awaits you! GOLD offers:

IEEE technology and information
Online research & career Resources
Online job search
Professional networking opportunities
Peer connection
Local social activities
Leadership opportunities

Minutes of the IEEE Siouxland Section Executive Committee Meeting held December 12, 2003 in Sioux Falls can be found along with past issues of the Siouxland Signal at: www.siouxland.org/newsletts.htm

Please send comments or items to include in the newsletter to the Electronics Communications Coordinator ( John Weber / PO Box 88920 / Missouri River Energy Services / Sioux Falls , SD 57109 / Telephone 605-330-6979, e-mail johnw@mrenergy.com). Make address corrections online at http://www.ieee.org/update or call them at (800)-678-IEEE.