Operations Research Management Science Today - June 2001 - President's Desk

<BODY bgcolor="#ffffff" link="cc0000" vlink="cc0000" text="#000000"> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=4 border=0><br>   <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=480><tr valign=top> <td width=10><img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 hspace=4 border=0></td> <td width=470> <FONT face="verdana, arial, helvetica" SIZE=2><B><I><A HREF="../../ORMS.shtml" TARGET="_top">OR/MS Today</A> - June 2001</I></B></font><BR> <hr size="1"> <img src="cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=4 border=0><br> <font face="times new roman, times"> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=4 border=0><br> <FONT face="verdana, arial, helvetica" SIZE=2><B>President's Desk</B></FONT><br> <IMG SRC="../barbluehook.gif" WIDTH="468" HEIGHT="4"><br> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=8 border=0><br> <FONT SIZE="+2"><B>The Growing Role of Subdivisions</B></FONT><BR> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> <FONT face="verdana, arial, helvetica" SIZE=2><B>By James Bean<BR> <I>INFORMS President<BR> <A HREF="mailto:jbean@umich.edu">jbean@umich.edu</A></I></B></FONT><br> <hr size="1"> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> <IMG SRC="../art/bean.jpg" WIDTH="122" HEIGHT="178" HSPACE="4" VSPACE="0" BORDER="0" ALT="James Bean" align=left>In the merger of ORSA and TIMS we sought to empower our subdivisions to provide value for INFORMS members. A recent market survey of members indicates that subdivision membership correlates strongly with member satisfaction. Members who participate in subdivisions feel that they get more value from their membership. INFORMS has more than 100 subdivisions that include Societies, the largest and most mature subdivisions; technical sections, organized around specific interest areas within operations research and the management sciences; chapters, organized around geographic regions (including international); student chapters, at many universities; and Fora, organized around a non-technical common interest of a group of members.<BR> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> Several subdivisions publish a newsletter, and sponsor paper sessions and business meetings at INFORMS national meetings. Most have Web pages with information of interest to their membership.<BR> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> Some subdivisions are associated with an INFORMS journal. For example, the INFORMS Computing Society (ICS) is associated with INFORMS <I>Journal on Computing.</I> Many members of the journal's editorial board are ICS members, ICS participates in the editor selection process, and the editor of JOC reports on its status to both ICS and INFORMS.<BR> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> Other subdivisions hold special interest meetings. For example, the Applied Probability Society has a very successful recurring meeting. Such special topic meetings provide an excellent venue for exchange of ideas that target a specific technical area. Their strengths compliment those of the large national meetings that are notable for networking and sharing ideas across technical areas. Beginning this year, INFORMS has changed from two large meetings per year to a single national meeting each fall. This new format will allow and encourage subdivisions to fill the spring slot with a variety of excellent special-topic meetings.<BR> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> Through participation in track at national meetings, journals and special topic meetings, subdivisions are developing the next generation of INFORMS leadership, an important role.<BR> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> One indication of the strength of subdivisions within INFORMS is that, as a whole, subdivisions are accumulating an increasing fraction of INFORMS' reserve funds. Primarily through successful meetings, some subdivisions have accumulated the resources necessary to fund many activities.<BR> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> This transfer of wealth from INFORMS to its subdivisions is a cause for both congratulations and concern, and enables a new partnership between INFORMS and its subdivisions. Congratulations to subdivisions for developing excellent products that add value to our members. However, we have some concerns that the balance of funds between INFORMS and its subdivisions not get too skewed; as only INFORMS has legal fiduciary responsibility. However, the wealth in subdivisions enables a new partnership in funding activities. On a number of occasions subdivisions have agreed to support activities of particular interest. Examples include Roundtable partnership in the Minority Forum, Applications Meeting and Continuing Education Program, and Information Systems Society's assistance with <I>Information Systems Research</I> journal expenses. I see these partnerships as a key indicator of the growing maturity of INFORMS subdivisions.<BR> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> As subdivisions have developed, we have experienced the expected growing pains. Communications between INFORMS and its subdivisions have been noisy at times, with misunderstandings of intents and interests. As a result, the 2000 Strategic Planning Committee looked at how the Board could be restructured to improve communications with subdivisions and streamline other INFORMS processes.<BR> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> A first restructuring proposal was presented at the Interim Board Meeting in August 2000. After substantial Board input, a revision was presented to the Board at the San Antonio Meeting that fall and to a congress of subdivision representatives. A new Board considered an updated proposal at the February 2001 Interim Board Meeting. Proposal revision and feedback continued via e-mail conversations and discussion at the La Jolla Applications Meeting. Our goal is to have a final proposal for vote by the Board in November at the Miami National Meeting.<BR> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> A full copy of the proposal is posted at <A HREF="http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~jbean/INFORMS/structure.pdf" TARGET="_new">www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~jbean/INFORMS/structure.pdf</A>. It is our hope that this new structure will support continued growth and maturation of the subdivisions within the INFORMS family.<BR> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> Let me conclude with a few suggestions. If you do not belong to any INFORMS subdivisions, please look into them. With more than 100 to choose from, you are bound to find something of value. Subdivision dues are typically less than $10, so it is quite reasonable to join multiple sections and the appropriate chapter for your geographic region. See <A HREF="http://www.informs.org" TARGET="_new">www.informs.org</A> and follow the subdivisions link to view many options. If you are active in a subdivision, please let us know how INFORMS can partner with you. If there is no chapter in your area, or section in your interest area, please consider starting one. INFORMS can help.<BR> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=6 border=0><br> We welcome comments at <A HREF="mailto:jbean@umich.edu">jbean@umich.edu</A>. We would also be glad to put you in touch with INFORMS staff and volunteers who can help you with new subdivisions and activities.<br>  <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=5 border=0><br>  <img src="../barblue.gif" width=468 height=1 border=0 alt=" "><br> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=8 border=0><br> <font face="verdana, arial, helvetica" size="1"> <CENTER><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></CENTER><br> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=8 border=0><br> <FONT face="verdana, arial, helvetica" SIZE=1> <LI> <A HREF="tocfr.html" Target="_top"><I>Table of Contents</I></A><br> <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=4 border=0><br> <LI> <A HREF="../../ORMS.shtml" TARGET="_top"><I>OR/MS Today</I> Home Page</A><br>  <img src="../cleardot.gif" width=1 height=1 vspace=8 border=0><br> <img src="../barblue.gif" width=468 height=1 border=0 alt=" "><br> <b><i>OR/MS Today</i></b> copyright © 2001 by <A HREF="http://www.informs.org/" target="_new">the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences</a>. 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