Last year at this time, I quoted T.S.Eliiot: “April is the cruelest month.” This April again proves it so. The Long Island Section has lost a dedicated and involved volunteer with the passing of Ron Pirich on March 31. Ron was the Vice Chair of the Executive Committee and very involved in the workings of the Section. We will miss his valuable contributions to the IEEE through his membership on the Executive Committee and Section Chapters. Ron was always a level and composed voice and lent his reasonable manner to many aspects of the Section’s operations. The family has requested that any donations to honor Ron be made to the IEEE Foundation.

On the brighter side of things, our year of pandemic is finally seeing some respite as things begin to open up again. We will start to plan in-person gatherings soon. For the time, meetings are still virtual and by that nature allow for attendance without geographic boundaries. This means that there are very many seminars, meetings and classes that have become available online. The challenge is how to attend so many. I would like to single out a couple that have the planning and involvement of Section members.

July 19 – 23
THE SIGNAL PROCESSING SOCIETY’S SCHOOL:
SIGNAL PROCESSING & COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS FOR 5G
Dr. Jess Donaldson, Dr. Alex Jung, and Dr. T.S.N. Murthy organizers
(Registration opening soon)

June 8
THE HAMPTONS OBSERVATORY LECTURE:
THE SKY: WHY IT MATTERS AND HOW WE MIGHT LOSE IT
Profressor Andy Lawrence, University of Edinburgh
(technically not an IEEE event, but promoted locally by Carl Meshenberg)

In the coming months, we can look forward to the possibility of in-person events that are still in the planning stages. More on these in the next issue.

As always, be safe and stay healthy.
Arnold Stillman
IEEE Long Island Section Chair, 2021