View from the top: What is the view from the top? Our involvement in resolving issues of concern at the top (of the IEEE) will ultimately help shape the quality of our lives

During the five years that I served on the IEEE Board of Directors, I was constantly reminded of how closely issues of concern to the IEEE reflect the concerns of the world. Consider, as an example, a current issue, which will be voted upon by the IEEE membership as a proposed constitutional amendment at the next election: Should technical activities have equal representation to regional activities on the IEEE Board? Immediately, one sees shades of the Great Compromise controversy of pre-Civil War days.