The Senior Member grade is a way for IEEE members to receive recognition for their professional experience and significant performance in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and related fields, including: Computer Science and Information Technology, Physical Sciences, Biological and Medical Sciences, Mathematics, Technical Communications, Education, Management, Law, and Policy. Senior Member advancement provides IEEE members with significant and distinct benefits:

1. Recognition: The professional recognition of your peers for technical and professional excellence.
2. Senior Member Plaque: Since January 1999, all newly elevated Senior Members have received an engraved Senior Member plaque to be proudly displayed for colleagues, clients and employers to see. The plaque, in an attractive fine wood with bronze engraving, is sent within six to eight weeks after elevation.
3. US$25 Coupon: IEEE will recognize all newly elevated Senior Members with a coupon worth up to US$25. This coupon can be used to join one new IEEE Society. The coupon expires on 31 December of the year in which it is received.
4. Letter of Commendation: If you indicate that you would like one, a letter of commendation will be sent to your employer on the achievement of Senior Member grade.
5. Announcements: Announcement of elevation can be made in Section/Society and/or local newsletters, newspapers and notices.
6. Leadership Eligibility: Senior Members are eligible to hold executive IEEE volunteer positions.
7. Ability to Refer Other Candidates: Senior Members can serve as a reference for other applicants for Senior Membership.
8. Review Panel: Senior Members are invited to be on the panel to review Senior Member applications.

To encourage and assist Worcester County Section members achieve Senior Member grade the IEEE Worcester County Section is holding Senior Member Elevation Clinic informational dinner meetings on February 9, 2011 and March 9, 2011. Multiple meeting dates are scheduled anticipating potential adverse weather conditions and to provide alternative dates, one of which may be convenient to your schedule. You do not need to attend all the meetings, but you are certainly welcomed to. The no charge dinner meeting will be held at the Imperial Buffet, 380 Maple Ave., Shrewsbury, MA 01545 (http://www.yelp.com/biz/imperial-buffet-shrewsbury ). The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. with an all you can eat, open buffet dinner followed by a Senior Member Clinic. During the clinic we will review IEEE requirements for Senior Member elevation, explain the Senior Member application process, assist members with their application, and help arrange for the required references.

If you are interested in elevating your IEEE membership to Senior Member grade and you really should be, please:

1. Review the Senior Member requirements: http://www.ieee.org/web/membership/senior-members/requirements.html
2. Email your resume (or cv) to Ilir Progri, ifprogri@ieee.org, Worcester County Section Senior Member Elevation Committee Chairman, by February 7, 2011. If you do not have an updated resume/cv you are still encouraged to attend the dinner meeting to learn about the advantages of Senior Member grade and what you can do to attain it.
3. Attend the Senior Member Elevation Clinic informational dinner meeting on February 9, 2011 or March 9, 2011 (see above), after which you will receive an email providing the step-by-step application procedure you should follow along with all the relevant on-line links to monitor the progress and status of your application.

If you cannot attend the Senior Member Elevation Clinic on February 9, 2011 or March 9, 2011, but feel you qualify for Senior Member elevation, you should:

1. Review the Senior Member requirements: http://www.ieee.org/web/membership/senior-members/requirements.html
2. Email your resume (or cv) to Ilir Progri, ifprogri@ieee.org, Worcester County Section Senior Member Elevation Committee Chairman no later than February 8, 2011.
3. After review and assessment of your resume/cv you will receive an email with comments and recommendations suggesting appropriate further action.
4. If appropriate you will receive an email providing the step-by-step application procedure you should follow along with all the relevant on-line links to monitor the progress and status of your application.

The 2011 Worcester County Section Senior Member Elevation Committee encourages all Worcester County Section members, eligible for elevating their member grade to Senior Member grade, to submit there application to the IEEE by the end of March. The IEEE Admission & Advancement Review Panel will meet in April 2011 to evaluate all submitted, completed applications and elevate those members satisfying Senior Member requirements to Senior Member grade. On May 11, 2011 the Worcester Counter Section will host a section Awards Dinner to recognize the achievements of the newly elevated Senior Members.

The Worcester County Section Senior Member Elevation Committee encourages all non-Senior Member Worcester County Section members to consider applying for elevation to Senior Member. Elevation to Senior Member does not require being a Nobel Prize winner or a holder of several patents. If you have 10 plus years of relevant industry experience or educational accomplishments in IEEE designated areas, you can be eligible for an upgrade to Senior Member grade. If you have ever considered applying for elevation to Senior Member grade, but are not sure you qualify, you should definitely attend the Senior Member Clinic.

The Worcester County Section Senior Member Elevation Committee is looking forward to providing this opportunity to Worcester County Section members and to assisting you achieve a significant career advancement milestone and IEEE recognition of your professional accomplishments. If you have any questions or require additional information please contact

Ilir Progri, Ph.D., Senior Member IEEE
IEEE Worcester County Section
Senior Member Committee Chairman
eMail: ifprogri@ieee.org
Phone: (508) 791-3304