President's annual report

During the past year, SID engaged in a number of activities and projects. Each venture was interesting, challenging and different. All, we feel, were worthwhile and pertinent. We have progressed in two important aspects: (1) as a vehicle for the exchange of technical information and ideas; and (2) as a bonafide organization with workable structure and specific goals. We have realized a transition from the level of ideals and philosophy to the solid ground of ideas and Implementation. The symposium held in Boston in October was a major, tangible indication of progress on the technical side of our activities; it produced an encouraging number of interesting and topical technical papers. In addition, our Society journal continued to expand in calibre and content. On the organizational side, SID realized a long soughtfor position. A revision of the Articles of Incorporation established SID as a non-profit, scientific society, and not a business league. In addition to the professional image gained by this action, we accrued some practical benefits in the form of tax deductions and mailing privileges. Approval of the revision was given by members at the annual business meeting. In February of this year we established a Central Office with a full-time manager. Located at 654 N. Sepulveda Blvd., in Los Angeles (see Fig. 1, 1A), it is comprised of three suites serving as SID's main business offices. In the final planning stage is an answering and request service which will receive and record incoming calls 24 hours a day. The business manager will act on these calls during normal working hours. Installation is anticipated within the next few months. In addition, we are planning to establish a permuted index (author or key word in context) for use by SID members. Although in the planning stage, the index should be a realization sometime this year. When deemed necessary, other office equipment will be installed. We have retained the firm of Seidman and Seidman, accountants and auditors. They have established recognized accounting procedures which meet the requirements of SID. We've prepared a new membership directory which was distributed to our members last summer. The first of its kind, the directory will be an annual project. The next edition will include expanded additional membership information and special formating for chapter, regional and state identification. The financial resources and expenditures are indicated in the accompanying chart (Fig. 2). Our increase in fund balance has continued to rise and it is expected that this will continue in spite of the increased operating costs of the new Central Office. The area of honors and awards has been given specific attention. A special Francis Darne Memorial Award was established to be awarded an SID member for outstanding technical achievement in the Display field. A suitable plaque was designed (see Fig. 3), and several models purchased for future awards. We have also designed and approved fabrication of a membership pin for distribution to SID members. A quantity of these pins, tie-tack and lapel versions, was purchased. They're available to the SID membership at $3.00 each. Recognition was given to a number of our outstanding members in the following manner. Mr. William Ross Aiken - for his development of the flat cathode-ray tube and continued advancement of the display state-of-the-art. Dr. George H. Dorion - for his work in applying photochromic techniques to display systems. Mr. Solomon Sherr - for his contributions in the areas of display system analysis, generalized functional design, and display system transfer functions. Dr. Sid Deutsch - for his extensive work in television systems, pattern recognition, and education. Mr. Phillip Damon - for his long and dedicated service to the SID in both National and Chapter activities. Progress has been reported in the area of standards and definitions. The committee is comprised of a member from each Chapter, who in turn is a Chairman of a local Standards and Definitions Committee. Since standards and definitions promulgated by the Society must represent the consensus of the membership, work performed by the local Chapters and submitted to the National Committee should have received prior test of acceptance by the local Chapter membership. In this manner, a sample of the membership will at least have had an opportunity to interact with the proposed standard and/or definition. Initial activity has been to emphasize definitions. This was due primarily because the issuance of standards is a large, time consuming activity and requires extensive procedural apparati and coordination with other agencies. Such activity was not considered an effective initial activity of the Society. In the area of definitions, primary emphasis was placed upon those definitions which imply or define measurements of significant display parameters. Assignments made to Chapters were: The emphasis and concentration on the areas mentioned restricted somewhat the attention to membership details by our officers. Activities concerning the increase of either chapter or total membership, though not specifically ascented, did not remain static. The Society did grow in total membership, and did increase the sustaining memberships. The present membership status is shown on the accompanying photo (Fig. 4). We might add that two organizational meetings were held - one in the Philadelphia-Delaware area, and the other in the Chicago area. Both areas seem to offer extremely promising prospects as new chapters. The above terms (e.g., resolution, etc.) were meant to denote broad areas of measures and terms (e.g., acuity, grating bar, sine-wave, etc.) rather than a singular term to be defined. It is expected that the end product of this effort will be a comprehensive listing of the various definitions already in use by others in each of these areas. Of course, if editorial comment and/or proposed revisions are suggested by the Chapters, they will be considered. It will be noted that the majority of our efforts were of the organizational type. This was essential because our Society has rapidly expanded. It was apparent that specific procedures were required for a number of organizational functions. In this aspect, we consider our efforts in the past year to have been extremely successful. The attendant duties and responsibilities of their respective offices are a source of major concern to all elected officials. In order to clarify the situation, a concerted effort by all officers was undertaken during the past year. The result was a specific “job description” of each officer, outlining the responsibilities entailed in his position. This effort is the first step toward the preparation of an operations and procedures manual for our Society. The development and realization of such a manual will be accomplished during the coming year. The objective of the Society's officers is to concentrate on the areas of expansion and growth, from both a Chapter aspect and membership total and sustaining. It is toward this end that our efforts will be directed during the coming year. WILLIAM P. BETHKE is Chief of the Engineering Division, Rome Air Development Center. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he received his BEE from Marquette University College of Engineering and also studied radio and microwave theory at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He was directly responsible for the Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE or Taxi Control Radar) which involved the use of K-band frequencies and extremely narrow pulses. (The equipment was subsequently installed at Idlewild Tower in New York City where it remained for operational evaluation for about a year). Since 1961, he has had complete responsibility for the over-all planning, direction, coordination and management of the Division program. He directs applied research and development in solid state devices, reliability and maintainability, mechanical engineering and displays. Mr. Bethke is President of the Society for Information Display (SID); a senior member and past Chairman, Mohawk Valley Section, IEEE; Chairman, Scholarship Committee, National Communications Symposium; a member of the Professional and Technical Group on Engineering Management, as well as the Professional and Technical Group on Military Electronics, IEEE; Chairman, Scientific and Professional Committee, RADC; Chairman, Vocational Advisory Committee, Board of Education, Rome, New York; past Northeast Regional Director, SID; past Chairman, Definitions and Standards Committee, SID: past member, National Editorial Advisory Board, SID; listed in Who's Who in the East, 1963. Mr. Bethke received the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service in 1964. This is the highest civilian award made by the Air Force. He was elevated to Fellow in SID in 1966. He has been nominated for Fellow in the IEEE in 1967.