Inspire a girl to change the world!

The Society of Women Engineers is partnering with Techbridge, an award-winning national nonprofit that is engineering a revolution for girls to change the world through science, technology, and engineering. Since 2000, more than 6,000 girls from under-served communities have participated in Techbridge’s award-winning after school programs, which present technical concepts through fun, hands-on activities. Funded in part by the National Science Foundation, we expanded to Seattle in 2014.

Techbridge is recruiting passionate, dynamic women engineers to serve as role models through a one-time 90-minute commitment at a high-quality, comprehensive after-school program in the Highline School District (in Burien, SeaTac, and Seattle).

Techbridge will equip you with tips and ideas for engaging with the girls, and is especially looking for women from underrepresented ethnic groups to reflect the diversity of the girls they serve. In particular, Techbridge is looking for electrical, chemical, structural, and mechanical engineers to visit this winter.

Click here for a map of Techbridge’s Greater Seattle programs. For more information or to sign up, contact Callista Chen at cchen@techbridgegirls.org or 917.214.3203.

(Article by Dana Day; originally published in Notes from the Northwest, Volume 1, Issue 04)

Upcoming Outreach Opportunities

SWE PNW is gearing up for our season of outreach. Check out below for the latest list of upcoming opportunities - and be sure to check back and/or read the latest Notes from the Northwest for even more!

PSEC Mentor Night: Seattle Central

This is being held on Thursday, January 21, 2016 and they are expecting 120 - 135 students. PSEC would like to have more Electrical and Computer Mentors.  Sign up at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-seattle-central-college-engineering-mentor-night-tickets-19828296970?ref=ebtnebregn

Mentoring Opportunity: Engineering Exploration Night

The University of Washington College of Engineering is looking for a few more U.W. engineering alumni to volunteer for their Engineering Exploration Night. It will to be held on Thursday, January 28 at 5:30 pm in Maple Hall.   If you can make it, contact Sue M. Brennan at suemb7@uw.edu directly

PSEC Engineering Fair

February 6, 2016

10AM to 4PM

Museum of Flight

The Puget Sound Engineering Council (PSEC)  hosts an Engineering Fair in conjunction with local chapters of engineering societies, colleges, and businesses. The Engineering Fair generally has about 25 display booths, staffed by practicing engineers and technical people representing many types of engineering disciplines.

Volunteers needed throughout the day to participate in our SWE PNW booth.  Contact swepnw.president@gmail.com if you'd like to sign up. 

Expanding Your Horizons (EYH)
We need a team of volunteers at each event to guide a group of 20 middle or high school girls through a hands on activity. EYH is usually an all day event, typically running from 8-2 pm. We participate each year and the girls who come to our workshop have selected us based on their interest. It's been very successful in the past and we need your commitment to continue our success!
This year's dates and locations are:

• Saturday March 12, 2016 at Seattle University. (Middle School)
• Friday, March 25, 2016 at Bellevue College (High School)
• Saturday, April 02, 2016. Bellevue College (Middle School)

If interested, please email Lynette at lynette.a.lopez@boeing.com

Elementary Explore Engineering

These events will run from March 26, 2016 through May 22, 2016. Holly Bork is coordinating and will have additional information in the near future. 

Call for FY16 SWE PNW Leadership Team Volunteers

We have a great team behind the scenes helping to lead & plan activities for SWE PNW – but we can always use more help!

If you are interested in taking on a volunteer role from small to large, let us know. Below are the current areas where we could really use your help and the contact emails.

Outreach (swepnw.outreachvp@gmail.com)

• Outreach Vice President (please contact swepnw.president@gmail.com if you are interested in this role)
• Exploring Engineering Activities committee and/or event hosts
• Event photographers
• Outreach event recap authors for newsletter and/or blog

Professional Development (swe.pnw.prof.develop@gmail.com)

• Event photographers
• PD event recap/key take-aways authors for newsletter and/or blog

Virtual Brand Team (swe.pnw.virtual.brand@gmail.com)

• Committee members to help with the behind the scenes infrastructure planning, development, and maintenance
• SWE PNW Member Forum Conversation Starters/Leaders
• Newsletter Reviewer(s)
• Guest Contributors to help with content (written or photos) for newsletter, blog, and/or social media postings

Embrace the Power of Mentoring

SWE Pacific Northwest professional section will be partnering with the SWE student sections at the University of Washington, Seattle University, and Everett CC in a structured mentoring program, and we want you to be a part of the program.  It is a short time commitment, but a very valuable experience for the students.  If you are interested in being a mentor, please see below for details of the program!

Who:  
Experienced engineers of any discipline.  Each interested mentor will complete the short bio/experience questionnaire found here: http://goo.gl/forms/A4oRiim1Gx

Please submit questionnaire by December 4th. We will need enough mentors as there are students signed up to the program and it will be first come first serve for mentors.  Please help spread the word!

What:
A structured, on-going mentorship with an experienced engineer so engineering students can gain access to professionals’ experiences.  We would love to have SWE members as mentors, but it is not a criteria.

When:
The program will meet with everyone 4 times over the course of the academic year.  The first meeting will include a speaker to discuss mentoring.  It will also be a chance to network and meet your potential mentor/mentee (similar to speed mentoring).

We will pair mentor and mentees based on preference questionnaires submitted after the first meeting. The mentor and mentee will then schedule meetings on their own (over the phone, over a cup of coffee, etc.) to engage in a mentoring relationship.

The kick-off/pairing meeting will be Monday, December 7th at 6:00PM (location details to follow). You must attend in order to participate in the program.

Future Dates for Group Mentoring Meetings:
March 1st
May 18th
Note: All meetings include dinner. Please save the dates now.

Questions?
Contact kay.pre@gmail.com and tamairaross@yahoo.com

Girl Scouts of Western Washington STEM Fair

The Girl Scouts of Western Washington is hosting a STEM Fair. They are having a bridge building contest (Tiny Trusses) and on the testing day will be hosting a STEM fair during bridge testing.

When: Saturday February 27th 10:00-12:00
Where: Burlington-Edison High School

They are inviting all Girl Scouts in the area to come out to our STEM fair and bring their families and friends . Girls at the fair will range in age from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Contestants are 4th—12th grade. Girl Scouts of Western Washington would like to have a wide variety of STEM based tables, activities and displays to interest and educate girls on STEM opportunities, careers and companies.

If you, your group or your company are interested in hosting a table/activity, please let them know. Email the information listed below to Erica.fifer@gmail.com

• Business/Group Name
• Contact Person Name
• Contact Number
• Email
• We will bring a: Display/Game/Activity
• Space needed (approximate area you’d like)
• Brief description of activity/game/display

SWE Region J Awards Program FY16

General Information:
The Region J Awards Program consists of two section awards, two individual awards, one employee
resource group award, and three membership awards. The awards will be presented at the ABJ Region Conference in Seattle, WA on February 20, 2015.

All submissions are to be submitted electronically to regionj.swe.awards@gmail.com. Please note that if your section or MAL group applies for more than one award, then a separate application must be submitted for each award. The submission deadline is December 23, 2015.

Incomplete packages, packages that do not follow the specified format, or those that exceed the word count requirements will be removed from consideration. In the event of a tie for any region award, honors and/or cash prizes will be split between the submissions included in the tie.

Specific questions concerning the Region J Award Program can be directed to the Region J Awards
Chair at regionj.swe.awards@gmail.com.

Award Summary

• Professional Development Program Award
• Collegiate and Professional/MAL sections invited to apply
• Event must have been executed during FY15 or FY16 to be eligible
• One $50 cash award presented to collegiate AND professional section
• Outreach Program Award
• Collegiate and Professional/MAL sections invited to apply
• Event must have been executed during FY15 or FY16 to be eligible
• One $50 cash award presented to collegiate AND professional section
• Emerging Leader Award
• Collegiate and Professional/MAL members invited to apply
• One award presented to a collegiate AND professional member
• Distinguished Outreach Service
• Professional/MAL members invited to apply
• One award presented
• Employee Resource Group Award
• Professional/MAL sections invited to apply
• Event must have been executed during FY15 or FY16 to be eligible
• Membership Awards (No application needed)
• Awarded to sections with best growth and retention

The awards packet can be found here: http://www.swe-pnw.org/awards--recognition.html

Announcing the FY16 Region J Mentorship Program!

The SWE Region J Mentoring Program is officially underway!

We invite SWE professional members to join as a mentor and/or as a mentee.  Resource packets and virtual sessions on various SWE related topics will be provided as part of the program to make this a successful and rewarding experience for mentor and mentee.

Call for Mentors:

• You might be a mentor if you:
• Are you a current SWE member
• Have a passion to inspire and develop others in SWE 
• Have a desire to grow your own leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills
• We are looking for SWE members in Region J of ALL experience levels to mentor more junior members in the region. 
• Whether you’re only a couple years in or have been a member of SWE for as long as you remember, there are other SWE members out there who can benefit from your experience and guidance! 
• Mentors can share experiences in professional development and personal choices as well as grow SWE connections.  
• Sign up to be a SWE Region J Mentor here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/766SYD5

Call for Mentees:

• You might be a mentee if you:
• Have been thinking about developing you SWE path
• Are looking for someone who can share experiences in professional development and personal choices  
• As part of this program you’ll be paired with a more senior SWE member who can help you build your career and also help you navigate the many benefits of SWE, including award applications, opportunities to be involved, and also networking.
• Sign up to be a SWE Region J Mentee here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7ZR3Y6Q

The FY16 Region J Mentoring Program will be taking sign-up through 11/30/15. For any questions please contact the Mentorship Chair, Pratima Rao (pratima.gn.rao@gmail.com).