This is the time of year when roadside campaign signs become thick at every intersection in my town. Smiling faces, eye-catching graphics in the red, white, and blue of the American flag or the copper star of the state of Arizona, and pithy campaign statements vie for attention. These signs give scant evidence upon which to place your vote, but they certainly remind you that election season is growing nearer.
There’s an election happening at SPIE, too. The candidates don’t have billboards or flashy commercials (although I’d enjoy those—can you imagine the taglines? “I Stand for Light” or “Put Photons First!”). What’s better, candidates for the SPIE Board of Directors and Vice President have provided solid information about their experiences, commitment to the Society, and plans for its future. Read the candidates’ bios and statements at SPIE.org/24election, decide who you’d like to best represent your Membership, and vote by 1 August!
Election season is a good time to reflect on how SPIE governance is open to and relies upon you, its Members. A great first step for getting involved is to join a committee. SPIE has many committees to choose from, from Awards, to Education and Outreach, to Engineering, Science, and Technology Policy. Read about our governance committees at SPIE.org/committees, then scroll to the bottom of the page and apply to join a committee that could use your energy and perspectives. The commitment is usually a three-year term, during which you agree to devote the necessary time to the committee’s work and to attend at least two committee meetings per year. Most committees have transitioned to virtual meetings. A higher-level commitment comes with chairing a governance committee. Committee chairs work directly with SPIE staff liaisons to set agendas, plan activities, and participate in a governance briefing at SPIE Photonics West.
While not a requirement for serving on the SPIE Board of Directors, governance committee membership and leadership—as well as other evidence of a Member’s commitment to SPIE, including conference and publication participation/leadership—is considered carefully by the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee when drawing up its slate of candidates. A full term of service on the Board of Directors is required for candidates for SPIE Vice President. This leadership role is one in a four-year series, as the Vice President moves on to become President-Elect, then President, and, finally, Immediate Past-President.
When my time in the SPIE Presidential chain is complete, I’ll continue to stay involved in the Society. It’s an impeccably run organization with an important mission, and volunteering is a great way to network with interesting, committed people. I always feel that my time dedicated to SPIE is meaningful. For today, I’m settling in to make my election choices for our next group of SPIE leaders. Please do the same and VOTE!
Jennifer Barton
2024 SPIE President
