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The article discusses the highlights of the 2004 Micro-37 conference in the United States. The main thing that any conference must get right is the paper selection process. The issue is addressed by organizing committees that are in charge of issuing the call for papers and receiving enough submissions to make the event worth holding. Furthermore, it is also recognized that the most important aspect of the conference is its finances for events after the formal presentations that needed the expertise of someone with retail experience to plan the markdowns. Overall, the Micro-37 had a favorable outcome and the organizing committee got many thanks and congratulations for the after-dinner entertainment and activities it provided.

In January, 2004 Communications Society's first IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking Conference (CCNC '04), took place in Nevada. By all measures the venue was a complete success. CCNC '04 attracted over 340 registrants to hear 12 technical papers and 35 poster presentations, see 20 technical demos and experience eight panels including one Distinguished Expert Panel. And those presenting their work came from 31 countries. To help make the program possible, 17 volunteers served on the Organizing and Steering Committees, 64 on the Technical Program Committee, and 120 received submissions. By society norms, of the approximately 50 meetings and conferences sponsored by the society each year, CCNC is not the largest, and there are quite a few that are smaller, especially their more intimate workshops. If the CCNC statistics for volunteer support is to be considered and scaled to encompass all such conferences, the number become very impressive. Furthermore, like the proverbial iceberg where so much is not visible to the casual viewer, this count does not include the many volunteers who are busily engaged in facilitating the society's educational programs and noteworthy publications.