DOI: 10.1145/1629175.1629180 Wendy Hall
it is a
monumental
testament to
the value
of an Acm
membership
that the
Association
continues to
thrive in size,
in scope, and in
global reach at
a time when the
world struggles
with widespread
economic
uncertainty.
Acm’s Annual Report
It’s been an exhilarating first year as President of
ACM. As a longtime member of this Association,
I’ve come to count on an amazing and far-reaching
assembly of committed volunteers and staff to
ensure the Association’s goals are met
and pledges kept. But to have a front-row seat to the whirlwind of activities
and initiatives that make up a year in
the life of ACM is a remarkable and, at
times, daunting experience.
At the close of FY09, ACM stood
as the largest educational and scientific computer society in the world.
After seven consecutive years of steady
growth, ACM ended the fiscal year with
membership at an all-time high. It is a
monumental testament to the value
of an ACM membership that the Association continues to thrive in size,
in scope, and in global reach at a time
when the world struggles with widespread economic uncertainty.
Initiatives to broaden and share
ACM’s rich array of professional resources and services with a far greater
global audience were a top priority
this year, and the results of these efforts have been most rewarding. It was
my honor to preside over the launch
of ACM Europe in October, thus establishing a strong ACM presence
throughout Europe and a base to support ACM’s European members and
activities. As you read this, we are preparing to launch ACM India in January
to offer similar support and strengthen ACM’s visibility in a country rich in
high-tech opportunities. Both these
initiatives were the result of exhaustive
efforts of devoted ACM volunteers and
executive staff working with industry
and academic leaders in Europe and
India to determine how best to serve
current members and to attract new
ones to the organization. Next up: China.
ACM is also committed to addressing the multifaceted issues related to
the image of computing and the health
of the discipline and profession. It is
a challenge that has been embraced
across the ACM spectrum—from its
Education Board, Public Policy committee, ACM-W Council, and Computer Science Teachers Association, to
NSF-funded initiatives involving ACM
partnerships with other scientific organizations, and its many Special Interest Groups working to raise awareness and promote the possibilities
offered by the computing field.
The following report gives you but
a glimpse of some of the major highlights of ACM’s FY09, none of which
would have been possible without the
influential efforts of so many dedicated and generous volunteers worldwide. The Association is also grateful
for the ongoing endorsements from
major corporations who value ACM’s
ability to recognize technical excellence by sponsoring or supporting a
number of ACM’s prestigious awards
and student competitions.
As we look forward to another fruitful year, the challenges may appear
great, but the opportunities are even
more so. As always, I will count on the
ACM to triumph.
