BEST PRACTICESBEST PRACTICES

Eastern Washington SectionEastern Washington SectionCelebrating 30 YearsCelebrating 30 Years

1976-20061976-2006

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

This presentation is based on This presentation is based on interviews Joan Young did with interviews Joan Young did with Wanda Munn, a SWE-EWS Charter Wanda Munn, a SWE-EWS Charter Member, and input from section Member, and input from section members.members.

Photos are from Wanda’s scrapbook Photos are from Wanda’s scrapbook

SWE-EWS Members in the SWE-EWS Members in the AudienceAudience

Alicia Boyd - Vice PresidentAlicia Boyd - Vice President Wanda Munn - Section Historian & Wanda Munn - Section Historian &

Go-To WomanGo-To Woman Pam Ankrum - Section Co-RepPam Ankrum - Section Co-Rep Chryssie Nigl - SecretaryChryssie Nigl - Secretary Joan Young - PresidentJoan Young - President

Discussion TopicsDiscussion Topics

History & Background of SWE-EWSHistory & Background of SWE-EWS Best PracticesBest Practices Audience Discussion & QuestionsAudience Discussion & Questions

The BeginningThe Beginning

The Eastern The Eastern Washington Washington

Section of the Section of the Society of Society of EngineersEngineers

Chartered Chartered

June 23,1976June 23,1976

SWE National SWE National ConferenceConference

Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado

SWE-EWS was chartered SWE-EWS was chartered by National President of by National President of SWE, Arminta Harness SWE, Arminta Harness in 1976.in 1976.

Arminta was technical Arminta was technical

advisor to advisor to Westinghouse Hanford. Westinghouse Hanford. Former Lieutenant Former Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force. Colonel in the Air Force.

View video clips from View video clips from Arminta Harness's oral Arminta Harness's oral history interview on history interview on SWE website.SWE website.

The BeginningThe Beginning

“Dream what you dare to dream, go where you want to go, and be what you want to be. And I think that kind of sums up my life.”

Early GoalsEarly Goals

Two goals at time of chartering:Two goals at time of chartering: To establish a legitimate place in the To establish a legitimate place in the

technical world for female engineers; technical world for female engineers; and,and,

To encourage more women to become To encourage more women to become engineersengineers

These goals still inspire what we do today and are the sources of our Best Practices...

Best Practice #1Best Practice #1Target your AudienceTarget your Audience

Success required Success required learning basic learning basic marketing.marketing.

Hosted many Hosted many different conferences different conferences and events open to and events open to all local women.all local women.

Conferences raised Conferences raised money and money and awareness of new awareness of new SWE section.SWE section.

Women in Engineering Conference 1978

Women, Finance, and the Women, Finance, and the Law Conference in 1978Law Conference in 1978

Popular topics were “Investing” Popular topics were “Investing” and “How to Pack for Travel”and “How to Pack for Travel”

Best Practice #2Best Practice #2Raise Awareness Raise Awareness

Example #1: Expanding Your HorizonsExample #1: Expanding Your Horizons

Expanding Your HorizonsExpanding Your Horizons

Expanding Your HorizonsExpanding Your Horizonshttp://www.expandingyourhorizons.org

……because the next because the next generation is important!generation is important!

Best Practice #2Best Practice #2Raise AwarenessRaise Awareness

"Science Expedition Day" "Science Expedition Day" for Junior Girl Scouts for Junior Girl Scouts (ages 8 to 11)(ages 8 to 11)

WhenWhen: Saturday, March 4, : Saturday, March 4, 200620069:30 am to 3:00 pm9:30 am to 3:00 pm

WhereWhere: Kiwanis Building at : Kiwanis Building at Columbia Columbia

WhyWhy: ExxonMobil program : ExxonMobil program development grantdevelopment grant

Example #2

Best Practice #2Best Practice #2Raise AwarenessRaise Awareness

Special Awards 2006 Corporate and Professional Society Awards 51st Mid-Columbia Regional Science and Engineering Fair

Society of Women Engineers

Taylor Vance Best 6th Grade Female Science Fair ProjectSarah Smith Best 7th Grade Female Science Fair ProjectDanielle Bright Best 8th Grade Female Science Fair ProjectElvira Chiprez Best 9th Grade Female Science Fair ProjectMorgen Anyan Best Senior Female Science Fair ProjectHonorable Mentions: Tensie Petersen, Jordan Kerslake, Mariya Afonina, Marisol Garza, Catalina Alverez, Haydee Navarro, Noemi Correa, Mayra Serna, Ashley Talbert, Jacqlyn Brown, Megan Loroche, Brittney Schuler, Monica Freshley

Example #3: Judging the Local Science Fair

Best Practice #3Best Practice #3Creation of ScholarshipsCreation of Scholarships

In the early years, scholarships In the early years, scholarships were granted whenever funds were granted whenever funds permitted.permitted.

Current Scholarships:Current Scholarships: Wanda Munn ScholarshipWanda Munn Scholarship New in 2006: EWS-AREVA New in 2006: EWS-AREVA

ScholarshipScholarship

Best Practice #4 Best Practice #4 Recognize MembersRecognize Members

Nominating members for awards raises Nominating members for awards raises awareness of SWE and female engineers.awareness of SWE and female engineers.

Tri-City Engineer of the Year Winners:Tri-City Engineer of the Year Winners: Wanda MunnWanda Munn Pam AnkrumPam Ankrum Barbara PhilippBarbara Philipp

SWE’s Distinguished New Engineer SWE’s Distinguished New Engineer Award: Cherri DeFigh-Price.Award: Cherri DeFigh-Price.

1983 - Distinguished New 1983 - Distinguished New Engineer Engineer

Cherri DeFigh-Price

She is currently the Director of Engineering Standards with CH2M Hill Hanford Group, Inc.

Best Practice #5Best Practice #5Have a Strong Core GroupHave a Strong Core Group

Wanda – the HistorianWanda – the Historian Pam – the BrainPam – the Brain Sandy – the Scholarship QueenSandy – the Scholarship Queen Nguyen – the C of M GuruNguyen – the C of M Guru Jenny – the Web GoddessJenny – the Web Goddess

Best Practice #6Best Practice #6Match Tasks to Match Tasks to PersonalitiesPersonalities

This Helps Keep Turnover LowThis Helps Keep Turnover Low Section Co-RepresentativesSection Co-Representatives Certificates of MeritCertificates of Merit

Needed new approach to fundraising in Needed new approach to fundraising in early 1980s.early 1980s.

At first, no one was assigned At first, no one was assigned responsibility for the certificates.responsibility for the certificates.

Now: one constant, contact name on Now: one constant, contact name on webpage, one person in charge of webpage, one person in charge of mailing, and Treasurer acts as liaison mailing, and Treasurer acts as liaison and handles money. and handles money.

Best Practice #7Best Practice #7Find a NicheFind a Niche

Certificates of MeritCertificates of Merit Clothing Sales at National ConferencesClothing Sales at National Conferences

We identified a niche that was not being met, We identified a niche that was not being met, and made items that appealed to all and made items that appealed to all members. members.

Selling at National Conferences resulted in Selling at National Conferences resulted in some money, and gave EWS a larger some money, and gave EWS a larger presence at the conferences.presence at the conferences.

My SWE Shirt is

Amazing!

Best Practice #8Best Practice #8 Provide Leadership OpportunitiesProvide Leadership Opportunities

SWE-EWS gave its members lots of SWE-EWS gave its members lots of leadership opportunities at a time when leadership opportunities at a time when they weren’t available professionally. they weren’t available professionally. These opportunities are still important for These opportunities are still important for younger members today.younger members today.

Many members have gone on to Many members have gone on to significant leadership positions significant leadership positions professionally and within SWE.professionally and within SWE.

Danell Friar, Charter Member Elizabeth Bowers, Charter Member

Wendy Moore

Edna Bowman

Charlene Watson,

Charter Member

Fran Berting,

Charter M

ember

Patricia Eng, another founding member, Program Executive and Risk Management Officer for Advanced Capabilities and Exploration at NASA

Best Practice #9Best Practice #9Don’t be Afraid of Big Don’t be Afraid of Big

EventsEvents Having a large, long-term goal that Having a large, long-term goal that

requires lots of planning can motivate requires lots of planning can motivate current members, attract new ones, and current members, attract new ones, and gives everyone something important to gives everyone something important to rally around.rally around. 1988 “The Dream Begins with You”1988 “The Dream Begins with You” 1996 National Conference1996 National Conference 2004 Region J Conference2004 Region J Conference 2006 Engineers’ Week Banquet2006 Engineers’ Week Banquet

1989

Winner of numerous outstanding section awards

1996 National Conference 1996 National Conference in Portland, Oregonin Portland, Oregon

In the 1990s, National Conferences were In the 1990s, National Conferences were hosted by individual sections. Our hosted by individual sections. Our section was too small to undertake one section was too small to undertake one alone, so we introduced the idea of a alone, so we introduced the idea of a Region hosting the Conference.Region hosting the Conference.

Portland, Seattle, and EWS worked Portland, Seattle, and EWS worked together to produce the 1996 National together to produce the 1996 National Conference in Portland, Oregon. Conference in Portland, Oregon.

2004 - Region J 2004 - Region J ConferenceConference

SWE-EWS Hosts Engineers SWE-EWS Hosts Engineers Week Banquet 2006Week Banquet 2006

ConnectingConnecting Educators to Educators to EngineeringEngineering

Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, President & CEO of President & CEO of The Museum of The Museum of Flight and former Flight and former NASA astronaut NASA astronaut was our keynote was our keynote speaker. speaker.

Dr. Dunbar is Dr. Dunbar is originally from originally from Outlook, WA.Outlook, WA.

Marie and Pam Describe Marie and Pam Describe EWeekEWeek

Dr. Bonnie DunbarDr. Bonnie Dunbar

Dr. Dunbar autographing picturesDr. Dunbar autographing pictures

3030thth Birthday Celebration Birthday Celebration

Society of Women Society of Women EngineersEngineers

AdvanceAdvance AspireAspire AchieveAchieve

And We Do!And We Do!

We Believe!