IEEE Central Illinois Section Seeks Volunteers for Affinity Group
- The IEEE Central Illinois Section announced a call for volunteers to establish a new Life Members Affinity Group.
- IEEE operates more than 160 Life Member Affinity Groups worldwide, but none currently serve the Central Illinois area.
- IEEE automatically grants Life Member status to active members who meet two explicit age and tenure criteria.
The IEEE Central Illinois Section announced a call for volunteers to establish a new Life Members Affinity Group. Organizers are currently seeking qualified members willing to serve as interim chairs or organizing volunteers to get the new unit off the ground.
Establishing a Central Illinois Affinity Group
IEEE operates more than 160 Life Member Affinity Groups worldwide, but none currently serve the Central Illinois area. These specialized units provide senior engineers with dedicated opportunities to stay active within the organization and maintain professional networks. They also facilitate direct contributions to local engineering communities. Because no specific programming or predetermined structure exists for the planned group, early volunteers will shape its primary direction. Potential local activities range from mentoring university students and early-career engineers to organizing technical workshops, professional seminars, and social gatherings. The founding members will ultimately decide which initiatives best serve regional professionals.
Membership Qualifications and Petition Requirements
IEEE automatically grants Life Member status to active members who meet two explicit age and tenure criteria. Members must reach age 65, and their age combined with their total years of IEEE membership must equal or exceed 100 years. Service in any IEEE predecessor organization also counts toward meeting this combined membership requirement. To formally establish the Central Illinois affinity group, at least one Life Member must submit a completed petition through the IEEE website. Applicants must outline the group’s proposed objectives and planned activities using the organization’s geographic unit formation guidelines. The initial petitioner will be designated as the interim chair pending endorsements from six additional members, approval by the IEEE Section Chair, and final endorsement by the IEEE Region Director.
Additional Section Volunteer Opportunities
Beyond leadership roles for the affinity group, the IEEE Central Illinois Section is actively recruiting volunteers for several other operational areas. Open positions include support for educational outreach, web administration, technical instruction, and event coordination. Interested members can learn more about these support roles by attending upcoming online or in-person section events.
