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 A Chapter serves (and in some respects represents) the associated IEEE Technical Society within the local IEEE Section. A Chapter instantiates and runs events to serve local members, among other activities.
These events might include Distinguished Lectures (perhaps expanded into larger programs such as Workshops), educational or professional events (e.g., Summer Schools), social events (e.g., dinners with after-dinner speakers), and discussion or problem-solving sessions on hot topics.
Chapters have a variety of tools available to assist their functioning and maximize resulting benefits for members of the local Society. Particularly within VTS, Chapters have an extensive breadth and depth of Distinguished Lecturers/Speakers available to speak at events on an expenses-paid basis, when called upon.
Further, there is dedicated annual Chapter events/activities funding from the VTS distributed among the Chapters, as well as funding for “Special Projects”—larger-scale events typically of a different scope—that would usually not be sufficiently or appropriately served by the Chapter activities annual funding pot.
VTS Chapters can be found all over the world. The geographical areas of coverage of individual VTS Chapters ranges from multiple countries, down to sub-parts of countries (e.g., states) and even individual cities. The number of members of such Chapters ranges from around 160 to the low 10’s, depending on the scope and profiles of IEEE membership in the associated Section.
The strongest technical interests of VTS members, in a generalized sense, are Wireless/Mobile Communications, and Vehicular Technology. In general, all Chapters broadly serve both of these broad categories, however, in some cases there can be a weighting more towards specific topics or technologies.
For example, Chapters in areas with a strong car manufacturing profile might have a particularly strong coverage of electronic vehicle-related topics—such as electric vehicle power trains. Other Chapters in areas with particularly strong wireless/mobile communications interests might tend to more strongly cover related specifics, such as radio interfaces, antennas and propagation, and the development of pioneering 5G communications systems, among others.
Finally, many Chapter events and activities span the strong overlap between wireless/mobile communication and vehicular technology, covering topics such as vehicular communication and intelligent transportation systems, vehicular remote control, and others. Such localized optimization underlines the fact that Chapters are about their members—serving the local VTS membership and their interests as best possible.
VTS is actively working to further enhance the work and development of Chapters. It has had a number of successes recently in the development of new Chapters, with those that have been added including Centro-North Brazil, Colombia, Hong Kong, New Zealand North, Spain, Victoria (BC, Canada), and Xi’an (China).
In addition, VTS has continued to ensure strong funding to enhance Chapters activities—increasing the baseline pot available for Chapters in 2018 by more than 100% over the 2017 value. It has also worked to keep the still relatively-new concept of “Special Projects”.
VTS continues its protocol of holding Chapter Chairs meetings at VTC conferences. This practice allows the dissemination and discussion of training/suggestions on procedures, opportunities, events and activities, and other aspects, with the local Region Chapter Chairs. The Chairs can initiate important interactions on topics linked to the optimization of their Chapters’ functioning.
The VTS Leadership strongly encourages you to be active with your local VTS Chapter—both in terms of awareness of and attendance to its events—to look for opportunities to play leadership/volunteering roles, and suggest/host future events.
If you have an interest in participating in your local VTS Chapter’s events, or in volunteering to assist your Chapter, please contact your local Chapter Chair. Note that Chapters often also publicize information on their upcoming events at IEEE vTools Events. | 
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