SWE - Spring 2009 - (Page 5)

PRESIDENT’S NOTE Women’s History – A Source of Inspiration M arch is Women’s History Month, and so it is appropriate to reflect on some of the women who have inspired me. I’ve often spoken of my mother as one of my role models. I was fortunate in that she exposed me to women who were much like her — strong and independent, many of them making history in their own right. Because my mother worked in politics, many of my early role models were active in public service. I remember meeting several such notable Phoenix women, including one who served as mayor, one of the founders of Planned Parenthood of Phoenix, and a lawyer who later ran for the Senate and has just finished service as the ambassador to Finland. My mother’s boss loved flying and had strong connections to the piloting community. Consequently, I met a number of women pilots, and I have vivid memories of attending a “Powder Puff Derby,” a transcontinental air race for women pilots. I had the opportunity to board the plane of Jean Schulz, a well-known pilot and the widow of the Peanuts cartoon author, Charles Schulz. In hindsight, it’s clear that my interest in mechanical engineering has its roots in this experience. I also met several members of the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs) — the first women trained to fly American military planes in non-combat missions to free up male pilots for combat missions during World War II. My exposure to phenomenal and history-making women continued through college and, with the wonderful women of SWE, into my career. I feel fortunate to have met and known some of the Society’s pioneering members. We honor women’s history through this month-long celebration to ensure that women’s contributions are recognized and remembered. As we preserve our history, many of you will serve as role models and sources of encouragement for others. Our upcoming 60th anniversary celebration in 2010 affords a great opportunity for your section to collect its own history. Now is the time to do so. For information, visit the Archives on My SWE Communities. As I was growing up, I didn’t realize how privileged I was to meet such remarkable women. These encounters helped to form a vision for my life and let me know that I, too, could aspire to great achievement. Who has inspired you to achieve? Whom will you inspire? As we preserve our history, many of you will serve as role models and sources of encouragement for others. Virginia Connolly, P.E. FY09 SWE President Congratulations to SWE President Elect Nora Lin, recipient of the 2009 Asian American Engineer of the Year Award. SWE SPRING 2009 5

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SWE - Spring 2009

SWE - Spring 2009 Heritage Club Contents President's Note View from the Executive Suite Editor’s Page Honoring Women’s History Public Policy Update First Lady: The “Second-Hardest Job in America” Bringing Science and Engineering into Public Policy At the Intersection of Engineering and Public Policy From Research to Reality Coffee Table Dialogues Membership Information & Calendar A&B Winning Essays from the Lava Lounge Engineering World: Issues • Events • Technology • People Point of View: Your Role in Public Policy Career Toolbox: Communicating with Congress; Finding Your Voice Corporate Partnership Council Media Shelf: Women’s History Opportunity Index SWE Scrapbook: Dressed for Success

SWE - Spring 2009

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