Thompson Okanagan Section
| Executive Officers: | |
|---|---|
|
Chair |
Youry Khmelevsky (youry at ieee.org) |
|
Secretary |
Billy Spelchan (BSpelchan at okanagan.bc.ca) |
|
Secretary/Treasurer |
Chaoping Guo (CGuo@okanagan.bc.ca) |
|
Treasurer |
Matthew Fritter (MFritter at okanagan.bc.ca) |
|
Vice Chair |
Position Vacant |
Technical Chapters (https://www.ieee.org/communities/societies/index.html):
New (03 April 2025): IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Systems Council Chapter — Chair: Youry Khmelevsky and Vice Chair Chaoping Guo
- Welcome_Letter_Systems Council_Chapters Thompson Okanagan.docx
- Thompson Okanagan Section Chapter, SYS45
New (04 April 2025): IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Microwave Theory and Technology Society Chapter — Chair: Vishal Balasubramanian
New: Joint IEEE Computer and Computational Intelligence Chapter (we still need 4 out of 12 votes from both societies)
New: Industry Applications Chapter (5 out of 12 signatures collected. We still need 7 signatures from the members of IEEE Industry Applications Society )
New: Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) Joint Chapter with IEEE V Section (in the process of organization. We still need more members affiliated with the Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society in both sections.
New: Joint Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society Chapter between TOK and Vancouver Section (in the organization process, but we need more members).
Electron Devices (planning)
Engineering in Medicine & Biology (planning)
Aerospace & Electromagnetics (planning)
Applied Physics (planning)
Circuits & Systems (planning)
Communications (planning)
Control, Robotics & Cybernetics (planning)
Management (planning)
Power & Energy (planning)
Solid State Circuits & Technology (planning)
Power Electronics (planning)
Sensors Council (planning)
Signal Processing (planning)
Transportation (planning)
Affinity Groups:
New (30 March 2025): Joint Life Members with V. Section — S. Carl Zanon, Chair
New: Young Professionals (all signatures are collected — waiting for the approval)
Women in Engineering (organizing)
Consultant Networks
Student Branches:
STB60099029 – Thompson Rivers University Student Branch
| Executive Officers | |
|---|---|
|
Chair |
Gavin Edwards |
| Other | |
|
Counsellor |
Joseph Brown |
|
Secretary |
Position Vacant |
|
Treasurer |
Logan Hendry |
|
Vice Chair |
Position Vacant |
|
Webmaster |
Position Vacant |
STB05251 – University of British Columbia – Okanagan Student Branch
| Executive Officers | |
|---|---|
|
Chair |
Charlotte Ford (charlotte.ford@ieee.org) |
| Other | |
|
Counsellor |
Jonathan Holzman |
|
Secretary |
Christina Yee |
|
Treasurer |
Richard Lessan |
|
Vice Chair |
Position Vacant |
|
Webmaster |
Position Vacant |
STB18661 – Okanagan College Student Branch
| Executive Officers | |
|---|---|
|
Chair |
Kristina Cormier (kristina.cormier at myokanagan.bc.ca) |
| Other | |
|
Counsellor |
Chaoping Guo (CGuo@okanagan.bc.ca) |
|
Secretary |
Position Vacant Recent Past Officers: Alexander Ross |
|
Treasurer |
Dale Hendricks (dalerhendricks at outlook.com) |
|
Vice Chair |
Ajitesh Parihar (ajiteshparihar at live.com) |
|
Webmaster |
Dolcy Sareen (dolcy.sareen at myokanagan.bc.ca) |
Committees:
| Advertising & Publicity | Vacant | |
| Archivist | Vacant | |
| Awards | Vacant | |
| Communications Officer | Vacant | |
| Conferences | Matthew Fritter | MFritter at okanagan.bc.ca |
| Educational Activities | Vacant | |
| History | Vacant | |
| Humanitarian Initiatives | Vacant | |
| ICF Liason | Vacant | |
| IEEE Industry Liaison | Youry Khmelevsky | youry at ieee.org |
| Membership | Vacant | |
| Multimedia Team | Vacant | |
| Newsletter Editor | Vacant | |
| Nominations and Appointments | Vacant | |
| Professional Activities | Vacant | |
| Student Activities | Billy Spelchan | spelchan at gmail.com |
| STEM | Vacant | |
| Webmaster | Ajitesh Parihar | ajitesh.parihar at myokanagan.bc.ca |
| Student section representative | Kristina Cormier | kristina.cormier at myokanagan.bc.ca |
+++++++++++++++++
Dear All,
The Thompson Okanagan Section accepts applications for the following vacant committee positions for service in 2025. These committees play a vital role in the Section’s success and growth, and we seek dedicated individuals to contribute to their efforts.
The available standing committees are as follows:
- Advertising and Publicity
- Archivist
- Awards
- Communications
- Educational Activities
- History
- Humanitarian Initiatives
- ICF Liaison
- Membership
- Multimedia Team
- Newsletter Editor
- Nominations and Appointments
- Professional Activities
- STEM
If you want to serve on these committees, please email your application to Billy Spelchan, the TOK Section Secretary.
Below are high-level descriptions of the Section standing committees to help you understand the scope and responsibilities associated with each role:
Please see below the high-level descriptions of the Section standing committees at the IEEE Vancouver Section and the Requirements below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FbRqtoorFcbuXv5-lXOueTvnut-AfNm0xa9Bn8Ud5fA/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.q2x8fx1sjh4r.
We encourage you to consider these opportunities and apply for the committee that best aligns with your interests and skills. Your involvement will contribute to the success of the Vancouver Section and provide a rewarding experience for both personal and professional growth.
Thank you for your continued support of the Section, and we look forward to your applications.
Youry Khmelevsky – Ph.D. Comp Sci, SM.IEEE
Chair, IEEE Okanagan Section (www.okanagan.IEEE.ca)
tok-section [at] ieee.org
Requirements and Rules for New Members:
The Nomination Committee is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and nominating qualified candidates for key leadership positions within the section. Its members must have a great deal of experience in the section, ideally as past section chairs, and possess strong leadership evaluation skills. Given the importance of their role, they must have a deep understanding of the section’s operations, governance, and history to make informed and impartial decisions. The committee ensures that only the most capable candidates are nominated, supports the selection of committee chairs, and assists chapters, affinity groups, and student branches with their nominations and elections when needed. To maintain fairness and objectivity, committee members should not be current officers or have close associations with them.
The IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section adheres to a set of bylaws. Below are links to the bylaw documents.
- MGA Operations Manual Section 9
- The IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Bylaw Addendum (draft) was approved by the IEEE MGA (Member and Geographic Activities) board for the IEEE Vancouver Section.