IEEE Johnstown Section History

IEEE Johnstown Section History and Officers

Johnstown Section (USA, Pennsylvania) IEEE History

Compiled by M. Ed Brandau III, Johnstown Section Chair 1997-2000, 2004-2009, 2012-2014. February 20, 2014

Geography

The Johnstown Section IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) comprises about 200 active members, students, and affiliates. Our members are scattered across Pennsylvania to Maryland from Brookville to Altoona Mount Union to Somerset in Pennsylvania, down to Cumberland Maryland. The Johnstown Section includes the counties of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana and Somerset (from Brookville to Altoona to Johnstown to Somerset) in Pennsylvania, to the counties of Allegany and Garrett (Cumberland to Accident) in Maryland.

The Section has about 100 members near Johnstown (159XX zips), 60 near Altoona (166XX zips), 20 near Brookville/Clearfield, and 26 near Cumberland. The other members are scattered throughout areas in the Brookville-Altoona-Bedford-Johnstown-Cumberland polygon.

Origins

The Section started in 1948 with members in the AIEE, the American Institute for Electrical Engineers.

"The American Institute of Electrical Engineers was a United States based organization of electrical engineers that existed between 1884 and 1963 (when it merged with the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE)). The 1884 founders of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) included some of the most prominent inventors and innovators in the then new field of electrical engineering, among them Thomas Alva Edison, Elihu Thomson, Edwin J. Houston, and Edward Weston. The purpose of the AIEE was stated "to promote the Arts and Sciences connected with the production and utilization of electricity and the welfare of those employed in these Industries: by means of social intercourse, the reading and discussion of professional papers and the circulation by means of publication among members and associates of information thus obtained." The first president of AIEE was Norvin Green, president of the Western Union Telegraph Company. Other notable AIEE presidents were Alexander Graham Bell (1891-1892), Charles Proteus Steinmetz (1901-1902), Schuyler S. Wheeler (1905-1906), Dugald C. Jackson (1910-1911), Michael I. Pupin (1925-1926), and Titus G. LeClair (1950-1951).

The early technical areas of interest of AIEE were electric power, lighting, and wired communications. Radio and wireless communications became the major focus of a rival organization, the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE, established 1912). The dynamic growth of radio technology and the emergence of the new discipline of Electronics in the 1940s led to stiff competition between AIEE and IRE, with IRE showing faster growth in the 1950s and early 1960s, and attracting more students. In 1957, IRE, with approximately 55,500 members, surpassed AIEE in membership size; in 1962 IRE had 96,500 members to AIEE’s 57,000. AIEE and IRE merged in (July 11) 1963 to form the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)." (Direct quote from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIEE)

The Johnstown Section IEEE members from the IRE were originally part of the Pittsburgh IRE. The Section revised its By-Laws on August 22, 1968 to further reflect the changes from this merger.

Johnstown Section Challenges

The Johnstown Section was very active up through the 90’s, with active members from across industry, with a large participation from the local electric utility who employed many engineers, and heavy influence from academia. Chairmen included utility and heavy industry employees as well as professors from the local university. The Section had over a dozen Committee Chairman managing thriving areas of education, fellowship, programs, and student members.

In 1994, the local large steel mill finally closed its doors, resulting in the loss of many industry and mining members. The Johnstown Section’s Members, Directors, and Officers began to see a decline in participation.

The Section obtained a web presence in February 1998, with a web site announcing meetings, technical tidbits, job openings, lighter fare, and officer announcements. Student participation at the local university varied from year to year with the student officers and their interest, but efforts were made every year to support them financially at the school and at local meetings. Scholarships were given to deserving students to help encourage student involvement, awards were given for senior projects of merit, and funding was provided to student member activities. Budgeting made provisions to grow a reserve fund to help pay for a conference or training seminar.

As a result of a trend away from technical organizations, membership in IEEE declined, and local participation was tough to come by. Other local professional organizations also experienced dramatic reductions, partly due to a lack of interest in time away from families.

Johnstown Changes

Meetings were changed from a heavy business meeting or technical nature to one of more of a lighter nature with tours of local industry to help give members a break from the technical day to day work and encourage participation. Technical presentations were still held perhaps once or twice a year as well to help keep members informed.

In October 1997, The Allegheny Mountain Section IEEE was dissolved due to inactivity, with members from Jefferson and Clearfield counties merging into the Johnstown Section IEEE. The Section picked up a couple dozen members from this merger.

In 1999 electric deregulation resulted in the local utility selling its generating assets to another company who subsequently pulled operations from the Johnstown area. Additional Section officers and members discontinued their participation and or membership in the Section. This year an oil-filled equipment training program was sponsored by the Section in 1999 to help about 35 members comply with regulations and understand the issues with this type of equipment.

Setting a Course for the Future

On January 15, 2002, the Section Executive Committee had to review the By-Laws to comply with a corporate IEEE change. During this change, Johnstown streamlined Section management, including making Directors optional, allowing the Secretary and Treasurer to be combined, and allowing an officer to hold office for up to three consecutive years.

Members seemed to appreciate a lighter fare from the local Section, but most were still using membership more for the technical information provided by corporate. Local Section management continued to offer get-togethers and tours to help build a social event and bond the members, even if only a few attended. This networking proved to be a vital piece of the Section’s growth through years of waning corporate support.

This lighter management structure served the Section well for several years while industry in the area began to shift and diversify. The Johnstown area picked up employers from defense, electronics, and new heavy industry that began to improve the Section membership and attendance. New members were brought into the Section management and encouraged to try new things to remain an on-going asset. Members began to express an interest in Section management positions.

Revitalization

In 2008 the Section added a GOLD (Graduates Of the Last Decade) Chairman to help keep the recent graduate members, and again added a Student Liaison to enhance our student relationship. Work was also begun on a Chapter and an Affinity Group at a large local employer with many IEEE members. 2008 also was a year when the Section branched out to help with a Teacher In Service Program, developing engineering projects for the secondary classroom while hoping to spark an interest in engineering as a career. Over the years we continued to help the students in our nearby engineering school and in 2014 we added an officer who was a new graduate...a sign hopefully of new future growth!

Career positions are advertised in the Section newsletter to provide yet another IEEE member benefit during tough economic times. Section membership remains stable, and attendance is steady.

In 2014 the IEEE turned 130, and the Johnstown Section IEEE will celebrate its 65th birthday! The Johnstown Section is reaching out to the press and developing ways to help celebrate its 130 anniversary. The Section believes it has prepared a foundation to continue to grow into a vital tool for local engineers and their employers.

Johnstown Section Chairmen and Directors...

Chairman	Director	Term
A. M. Baker	None	1948-1949
W. R. Wood	None	1949-1950
B. H. Drum	None	1950-1951
R. S. Bogar	None	1951-1952
A. M. Dawson	None	1952-1953
J. D. Pryce	None	1953-1954
R. H. Barnes	None	1954-1955
G. W. Murdock	None	1955-1956
Alan E. Molinski	None	1956-1957
G. T. Evans	None	1957-1958
R. D. Good	None	1958-1959
J. F. Worden	None	1959-1960
T. C. Pitzer	None	1960-1961
P. Pasternak	None	1961-1962
M. L. Swanson	None	1962-1963
G. F. Shumaker	None	1963-1964
R. H. Ressey	None	1964-1965
Ralph J. Bacha	None	1965-1966
Herman W. Ober	None	1966-1967
Charles H. McCullough	None	1967-1968
Howard A. Hiltz	None	1968-1969
Raymond M. Frank	None	1969-1970
Charles E. Murphey	None	1970-1971
Eugene F. Carter	A. H. Baker, F. A. Bartlett, J. Robert Jones	1971-1972
Thomas J. Gallus	A. M. Dawson, F. A. Bartlett, J. Robert Jones, Raymond M. Frank R. E. Shostek	1972-1973
Harry W. Donahue	G. W. Murdock, Raymond M. Frank, R. E. Shostek, Ralph J. Bacha, Charles E. Murphey	1973-1974
Kenneth E. Johnson, Jr.	Alan E. Molinski, Ralph J. Bacha, Charles E. Murphey, G. F. Shumaker, Charles H. Mccullough	1974-1975
Gerald I. Erway	R. D. Good, G. F. Shumaker, Charles H. Mccullough, Thomas J. Gallus, W. W. Turner	1975-1976
J. Robert Jones	T. C. Pitzer, Thomas J. Gallus, W. W. Turner, Kenneth E. Johnson Jr., M. L. Swanson	1976-1977
Thomas F. Kennedy	P. Pasternak, Kenneth E. Johnson Jr., M. L. Swanson, Harry W. Donahue, Gerald I. Erway	1977-1978
Daniel A. Hydock	M. L. Swanson, Harry W. Donahue, Gerald I. Erway, J. Robert Jones, Charles E. Murphey	1978-1979
Donald R. Boore	G. F. Shumaker, J. Robert Jones, Charles E. Murphey, R. E. Shostek, R. M. Ressey	1979-1980
James V. Kopriva	Ralph J. Bacha, R. E. Shostek, R. M. Ressey, Thomas F. Kennedy, George A. Mostoller	1980-1981
Stephen T. Jarabak	Herman W. Ober, Thomas F. Kennedy, George A. Mostoller, Daniel A. Hydock, Kenneth E. Johnson, Jr.	1981-1982
James L. Hales	Charles H. Mccullough, Daniel A. Hydock, Kenneth E. Johnson, Jr., M. L. Swanson, R. D. Good	1982-1983
Bruce R. Hulburt	Howard A. Hiltz, M. L. Swanson, R. D. Good, Raymond M. Frank, Alan E. Molinski	1983-1984
J. E. Davidson	Raymond M. Frank, Alan E. Molinski, James V. Kopriva, Harry W. Donahue	1984-1485
Raymond C. Himes	Charles E. Murphey, James V. Kopriva, Harry W. Donahue, Stephen T. Jarabak, James L. Hales	1985-1986
Thomas R. Woleslagle	Kenneth E. Johnson , Jr., Stephen T. Jarabak, James L. Hales, Bruce R. Hulburt, Charles J. Neuhoff	1986-1987
William P. Siska	P. L. Lumnitzer, Bruce R. Hulburt, Charles J. Neuhoff, J. E. Davidson, Raymond C. Himes	1987-1988
David E. Watters	David J. Bechtold, J. E. Davidson, Raymond C. Himes, Kenneth E. Johnson, Jr., Raymond M. Frank	1988-1989
John A. Cernetich	R. E. Nevarre, Kenneth E. Johnson, Jr., Raymond M. Frank, Daniel A. Hydock, James V. Kopriva	1989-1990
Edward J. Gilles	R. F. Pfister, Daniel A. Hydock, James V. Kopriva, James L. Hales, William P. Siska	1990-1991
Stephen T. Jarabak	Charles J. Neuhoff, James L. Hales, William P. Siska, Bruce R. Hulburt, Harry W. Donahue	1991-1992
George A. Mostoller	F. A. Bartlett, Bruce R. Hulburt, Harry W. Donahue, David E. Watters, Edward J. Gilles	1992-1993
Raymond C. Himes	J. Robert Jones, David E. Watters, Edward J. Gilles, Daniel A. Hydock, James V. Kopriva, R. E. Shostek, G. J. Toth, D. G. Varmecky, J. Senuta	1993-1994
Terry L. Conrad	Daniel A. Hydock, James V. Kopriva, Gregory M. Dick, Stanley J. Kieta Jr.	1994-1995
Robert G. Chumrik, Jr.	None	1995-1997
M. Edward Brandau, III	John Grumling, William R. Wieserman	1997-1999
M. Edward Brandau, III	None	1999-2000
Terry L. Conrad	None	2001-2005
M. Edward Brandau,III	None	2006-2008
R. Dennis Molly	None	2009-2010
Doug Atterbury	M. Edward Brandau III, Edward Olshefski, William Wieserman	2010-2011
R. Dennis Molly	M. Edward Brandau III, Edward Olshefski, William Wieserman	2011-2012
M. Edward Brandau, III	Doug Atterbury, Edward Olshefski, William Wieserman	2012-2013
M. Edward Brandau, III	Edward Olshefski, William Wieserman	2013-2014

Are you a member of this section? Please help expand the article by using the edit tab....

Link to Section Homepage

IEEE Geographic Unit Organizing Document - Johnstown