Region Collegiate Representatives and Region Collegiate Communications Editor: The RCR is responsible for representing collegiate members’ interests among regional leaders. The RCCE is responsible for communicating important SWE events and best practices through the region’s blog. Plus, the RCR(s) and RCCE from each region will have the opportunity to attend next summer’s Collegiate Leadership Forum in Minneapolis, MN. Click here to learn more about the positions.

Region Collegiate Senators: The RCS is responsible for chartering the strategic direction and adopting long-range goals for the Society. The alternate RCS is responsible for fulfilling her Senator’s duties if the Senator is unable to perform her tasks. The RCS from each region will also have the opportunity to attend next summer’s Collegiate Leadership Forum in Minneapolis, MN. Click here to learn more about the positions.

The RCR, RCCE and RCS positions provide invaluable interaction and coaching from SWE leaders. These leadership opportunities sharpen your career skill-set in the areas of leading and facilitation, group dynamics and communication, and project leadership. Click here to review the RCR/RCCE/RCS Qualifications.

Please click here to apply or copy and paste the following URL in your browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/fy13_rcr_rcce_rcs_appl

• To apply you will need:
• Member number
• Section/Region
• School and Permanent Address
• Position of interest
• SWE leadership positions
• Other leadership positions
• Why you want to be RCR/RCCE/RCS
• What you bring to the RCR/RCCE/RCS position
• What SWE means to you
• Interest outside of SWE
• Reference to confirm GPA/academic standing

Please also submit a 1-3 minute video that describes why you are running for the position, your name, year in school, major, SWE leadership experience, why people should vote for you, etc. Send the video to SWE.Collegiate.Elections@gmail.com by February 5, 2012 . Note that the video does not need to be submitted with the Survey Monkey application but does need to be emailed before the deadline. The video must be high enough quality to post on YouTube and should be under 25MB.

Applications are due by Sunday, February 5.

Similar to past years, in FY13 there will be one to two RCRs for every 1,000 collegiate members in each region. If collegiate membership reaches 1,000 members by January 31, 2012, a region will add or maintain a second RCR. There will be one RCCE and one RCS elected per region. Alternate RCSs are optional, and the position will go to the RCS candidate with the second highest number of votes.

Disclaimer: Be aware that if elected, you will need to secure your own housing accommodations for the WE12 Conference in Houston. There are resources available through your Region Governor.

If you have any questions regarding the positions or the election process, please contact your RCR(s) at example:rcr-x@swe.org, where X is replaced by the letter of your region, RCCE at example:rcce-x@swe.org, or Jessica Kiefer or Jasmine Harris at rcr-rcce-coordinator@swe.org.

• Jessica Kiefer, RCR/RCCE Coordinator
• Jasmine Harris, RCR/RCCE Coordinator Elect
• Linda Thomas, Director of Regions
• Colleen Layman, Deputy Director of Regions
• Helen Patricia, Speaker of the Senate
• Deborah Willems, Deputy Speaker of the Senate

You complete one application and are considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible. The online application is entirely electronic – including submittal of reference recommendation letters and transcripts.

The SWE Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to women admitted to accredited baccalaureate or graduate programs, in preparation for careers in engineering, engineering technology and computer science. In 2011, SWE disbursed 188 new and renewed scholarships valued at $540,000.

For more information about eligibility and requirements and a link to the application, go to our website at www.swe.org/scholarships.

Region Awards

The Region D Awards packet is now available on the Region D community.  Take a look and submit your section or program for one of these awards.  They will be given at the Region D conference in Charleston in March.

Congrats SEFL Section!

SEFL SWE recently received a grant from the ERM Foundation-North America in support of the Girl Scout Eco-Action Workshops!  The Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida Council requested that SEFL SWE develop a STEM grant event, which has led to a program for Cadette/Senior level scouts.  By partnering with the River Center located in the Jupiter Burt Reynolds Park, SEFL SWE designed a workshop based on the Girl Scout Eco-Action Interest Patch (IP) requirements.  As stated in the IP Program Book, “Eco-Action is the Girl Scout name given to efforts to sustain and improve the quality of the environment-air, food, water, land, people, and animals.  Eco-Action informs you on ways to ‘walk the talk’ for a quality of life that includes caring for the earth.”  The program module is designed to help illustrate the positive impacts on the environment, including an education component related to the environment and sustainability, and contributions to the improvement in the quality of life of our community by promoting sustainable resource management with an emphasis on our local water resources.

This is SEFL SWE’s third year organizing this event and the second year in a row that the ERM Foundation-North America has provided financial support for these workshops.  The ERM Foundation-North America grant has enabled SEFL SWE to inspire young women to consider environmental engineering in their future.

Per Article IV, of the Region’s bylaws, the nominating committee is charged with the responsibility for selecting at least one qualified candidate for each of the following positions for FY13:

• Governor (2 yr. term)
• Lt. Governor
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Senator (2 yr. term)

 Please address all submissions to the Region D Nominating Committee Chair, Cassie Bayer, at envgator@aol.com.  Limit nomination pages to one sheet in MS Word.  Please submit your nominations no later than January 17, 2012 to support the February 1^st date for submission to the membership and/or the Region Council.  

Submissions shall contain the following information:

• Officer position
• Name of nominee
• Contact information for nominee (including day/evening phone number, and email address)
• Section of nominee
• List of previous positions held (if any)
• Provide a 200-word maximum candidate statement (why the candidate wants to be in the officer position and what they hope to accomplish)
• Provide a 150-word maximum candidate history (qualifications and previous SWE leadership experience).
• Photo

 POSITION DESCRIPTIONS

 The governor shall:

• Execute the business and policies of the region;
  • Serve as the nonvoting chair of the region council;
  • Authorize the disbursement of region funds within the budget approved by the region council;
  • Represent the region before the public;
  • Be an authorized signatory on all region accounts; and
  • Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the director of regions or the region council.

 The lieutenant governor shall:

• Assume the duties of the governor if the governor is temporarily unable to serve;
• Provide guidance, and oversight to collegiate leaders in the region; and
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the governor or the region council.

 The secretary shall:

• Maintain the records of the region;
• Have an up-to-date roll of the representatives at all meetings of the region council; and
• Perform other duties incident to the office of secretary, or as may be assigned by the governor or the region council.

 The treasurer shall:

• Be responsible for the collection, distribution, and safekeeping of region funds;
• Prepare, maintain, and report as directed on the financial position of the region in relation to the approved budget;
• Submit a financial report to the Society in accordance with established procedures; and
• Perform other duties incident to the office of treasurer or as may be assigned by the governor or the region council.

 The senators shall:

• Represent the voice of the region on Society issues and developments;
• Participate in all Senate meetings; and
• Report to the Region as necessary.

Check out the full article below.  Enjoy!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karl-a-pillemer-phd/top-10-lessons-for-living_b_1133585.html

Applications are due by January 20 and more information can be found
here: http://alltogether.swe.org/blog/call-for-swe-collegiate-leadership-forum-coordinator-elect-applications.html.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact me.

Thank you,

katherine.vandellen@swe.org
(818) 974-8947 (cell)

If 2011 was the year for talk surrounding women in tech, here’s hoping 2012 will be the year for action.

Check out this article!  Enjoy!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/85broads/2011/12/09/less-talk-more-action-making-2012-the-year-of-women-in-tech/