Michael Zwach / SEDS-USA / SEDS-USA and International

1. SEDS-USA
Michael Zwach
Chairman
www.seds.org

2. History
• SEDS-USA
o Founded at MIT – 1980
o Early Years (1980 – 1991)
◊ Founding by Peter Diamandis, expansion
o SEDS-USA – 2nd Gen (1994 – 1998)
◊ The Lewiki Era; the chapters rebuild
o The new SEDS-USA (2004-Present)
◊ The chapters reconnect

3. Current Organization
• National Organization
o 7 Executive Board Members
o 1 Executive Director
o Council of Chapters
• Chapters
o 36 Active Chapters Spread out across United States
◊ Make up the bulk of various projects, activities, members
◊ Over 1500 members (as of the fall)

4. Chapters

5. Current Organization
• Organizational Successes
o 501(c)3 for several years
• Steady growth
• Good chapter activity
o Feeds national urge to grow
• Organizational Projects:
o Connecting back with Alumni
o Connecting members better
o Becoming a more effective Organization (GAAP, etc)

6. National Projects
• Rocket Competition
o Simple rocket competition - .5 kg payload to 3050 m
o Open to International Competition
• High Frontier Book Distribution
• National Endowment Fund
• Student Business Plan Competition
• Government Outreach and Legislature visits
• Student Membership System
• More in the works!

7. Chapter Projects
• Some cool activities our chapters do:
• Building Satellites
o Currently ~9 chapters involved with active satellite
construction (Nanosats mostly)
• Space Days
o One Day events promoting space to public (large events)
• Microgravity Teams
o Through NASA
• Lunabotics Competitions (Regolith digging rovers)
• High Altitude Hybrid rockets
• Telescope Construction

8. SpaceVision
• National Conference of SEDS-USA
o 2004 Onward
o Nations Largest Student Run conference for Space!
o 300-400 Attendees for the proceedings
o Later this year: Tempe, AZ, November 8-12
Spacevision.seds.org

9. Reporting and Transparency
• Annual Report Publishing
o 2012 is being polished
o 2011 online
• Strategic Plan
o Passed first strategic plan since 2003 last November
◊ 25 Major goals for 2013-2022
◊ Reorganizing Advisor and Trustee Boards
◊ Added Executive Director Role
• Online Visibility
o Social Media
o GuideStar.com

10. SEDS-USA and International Work
• SEDS-USA & SEDS Canada
o Trying to re-engage SEDS Canada
• Overall, SEDS International Efforts could be
better
o UK & US is a good place to start (Europe Too!)
o Currently under investigation:
◊ Competitions – Rocketry? Citizen Science?
◊ Projects -

11. SEDS-International/Earth
• Organization envisioned years ago
o Promote SEDS across countries
o Maintain connection and dialogue
• Activities
o Had Teleconferences periodically
o Questionable success
◊ Failed and went defunct after lack of leadership or other?

12. SEDS-International/Earth
• SEDS-USA’s Thoughts:
o The only way to fail is to not try
o We are open to interaction!
◊ The Internet makes the world a smaller place
◊ Facebook or Google Group?
o Open to quarterly teleconferences (Skype or other)
o Possibilities of Summer time leadership conference
◊ Re-starting IAC SEDS Earth Conference possible?

13. SEDS-USA
Questions and Discussion
• Michael Zwach
o Chairman SEDS-USA
o chair@seds.org
o mzwach@gmail.com