President's Welcome Message for the SWE-Boston Web Site
Getting Involved!
I first discovered the Society of Women Engineers in 2006 when my company sent me to the Society Conference in Kansas City. I wasn't as lucky as a lot of our younger members to have the opportunity to know SWE in college. I missed out, but that's just how things happened ... it wasn't my choice.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the Conference and I pursued going to several more after that, it took me years to get more active on a local level. I attended the occasional Professional Development meeting that was held near my work or home but that was it. Ok, maybe I even helped in an outreach event or two every year. I felt I was learning something for myself and doing something good for others. I thought I was fully enjoying the benefits of my membership.
Until, I know when but don't ask me how- at some point I got more involved with the Boston Section. I didn't do it because I was looking for a job, I didn't do it because I had plenty of free time to give ... on the contrary! That was the busiest time of my life but somehow, I just did it and realized that again, I had been missing out. My SWE membership had a lot more to give and I was missing out, by choice this time! I was choosing to be a simple participant and by-passing a huge opportunity to learn and a serious chance to grow.
September 30th is the last day to renew your membership. So do it and get involved! No matter what stage you are in your career, whether a new engineer or a seasoned and accomplished professional, make this the year that you make the most out of your membership. Use the safety that the SWE environment provides you to not just hear about a new technology, but also to learn how to run a project or how to motivate people or if you've mastered all that, accept the challenge to stretch yourself doing something that's not exactly your cup of tea!
Denise Radkowski
SWE Boston President
swebos@sweboston.org
Getting Involved!
I first discovered the Society of Women Engineers in 2006 when my company sent me to the Society Conference in Kansas City. I wasn't as lucky as a lot of our younger members to have the opportunity to know SWE in college. I missed out, but that's just how things happened ... it wasn't my choice.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the Conference and I pursued going to several more after that, it took me years to get more active on a local level. I attended the occasional Professional Development meeting that was held near my work or home but that was it. Ok, maybe I even helped in an outreach event or two every year. I felt I was learning something for myself and doing something good for others. I thought I was fully enjoying the benefits of my membership.
Until, I know when but don't ask me how- at some point I got more involved with the Boston Section. I didn't do it because I was looking for a job, I didn't do it because I had plenty of free time to give ... on the contrary! That was the busiest time of my life but somehow, I just did it and realized that again, I had been missing out. My SWE membership had a lot more to give and I was missing out, by choice this time! I was choosing to be a simple participant and by-passing a huge opportunity to learn and a serious chance to grow.
September 30th is the last day to renew your membership. So do it and get involved! No matter what stage you are in your career, whether a new engineer or a seasoned and accomplished professional, make this the year that you make the most out of your membership. Use the safety that the SWE environment provides you to not just hear about a new technology, but also to learn how to run a project or how to motivate people or if you've mastered all that, accept the challenge to stretch yourself doing something that's not exactly your cup of tea!
- If you are a new member, Get Involved! You are more likely to be satisfied from your experience and continue being a member for many years to come.
- If you are an unemployed member, Get Involved! You will expand your network with people that are not just acquaintances. You will build the sort of connections that you'll never get by chatting at networking meetings. You'll have a large group of friends that know you can get things done, know you are a pleasure to work with, and can sponsor you to get that new job in ways you didn't expect.
- If you are a long time member and you still need some encouragement, Get Involved! You will be surprised how easy it is to make new friends and learn how to influence what you get from your membership. I bet you will regret you haven't done it sooner.
- If you are a SWE Boston officer or Committee Chair, speak about your experience and encourage everyone to Get Involved! Yes, a larger team is harder to manage, but a more involved team can accomplish tons and it's a pleasure to lead.
- If you've been there, done that, you were an officer for many years and stepped aside to let others take the lead, thank you for your service, but don't think you've done it all! You can always help our Leadership Committee pass on your experience to the current and future leadership or you can Get Involved yourselves at the Region F or at the Society Level. If you're already doing it, you know what I'm talking about, so help me bring more people on board!
- Finally, if you are a Life Member or an accomplished professional, your career is soaring and you mentor all the people you can possibly handle, if you feel you don't have a lot to gain in any of the ways I offered above, let me challenge you with this one: I suspect you never had time to master social media -yet! Why don't you join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/sweboston/, or our LinkedIn Group http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1885305, or follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/SWEBoston or if you're a high achiever, do all of the above! You may find it may not be as intimidating as you thought it would be, and I may prove to you that SWE is still here for you to learn and grow, if you choose to Get Involved!
Denise Radkowski
SWE Boston President
swebos@sweboston.org
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