NSBE - September/October 2008 - (Page 55)

By Njema J. Frazier, Ph.D., NSBE National Alumni Extension Chair tHeAENIcHe G NSBE’S PErfEct Storm and technology arena. Things such as college tours, professional services, think tanks, mentoring programs, speakers bureaus, summer schools and community centers — ideas that would have raised eyebrows a few short years ago — are now not only feasible but getting off the ground as we speak. reetings, members and friends. I’ll start by introducing myself to you, the members and stakeholders of the National Society of Black Engineers. I now serve as the national Alumni chair for the Society. I have served previous terms as the national Alumni chair elect, Technical Excellence chair, Region II Alumni Extension chair and chair elect, Region II Alumni Extension secretary (two terms), Publications cochair for the D.C. Alumni Extension chapter (two terms), a NSBE Jr. Advisor and a Try-Math-A-Lon coach (two years). In the 10 years I have been involved with NSBE Alumni Extension, and in the 20 years, overall, that I’ve been involved with NSBE, I have seen the organization change in some pretty significant ways. Most of these changes I had hoped for and am pleased to see come about. All of them I support, because I support wholeheartedly the model of student and professional leaders working to promote academic and professional excellence, leadership development and community service. And through all of our changes, we’ve succeeded at keeping that core. Our model has withstood the test of time, because people who believed in themselves, in the other members of the Society and in our larger community of youth and families have invested their time and energy in this organization. Since 1975 and 1988, NSBE and NSBE-AE, respectively, have maintained their commitment to the central tenets of the Society. That said, I believe we are now entering a season of change, turning the corner from maintenance to mastery, networking to nation-building and execution to impact. The combination of organizational knowledge, programmatic maturity, membership growth and engagement, and resources has the potential to be the positive perfect storm for NSBE’s next phase of development. Our Alumni members are technical professionals at Fortune 500 companies, officials for government agencies, and entrepreneur/CEOs. Our partnerships with industry, government and academia, as well as our increasing visibility and recognition, are laying the groundwork for a number of initiatives that could greatly impact students, the community and the global science www.nsbe.org “I believe we are now entering a season of change, turning the corner from maintenance to mastery, networking to nation-building and execution to impact.” Through flagship programs such as the Special Interest Groups (SIGs), Try-Math-A-Lon, NSBEPreneur and A Walk for Education, and using our network of members and partners, we are burning the name of NSBE into the engineering community, the business community and local communities nationwide. No mean feat, for the 6,000-plus members of the Alumni Extension — or for the 30,000-plus members of the Society overall. So, while it won’t all happen during my short tenure, I am honored to be a part this year’s leadership, as NSBE-AE strives to become THE premier organization for delivering networking, development, outreach and service opportunities for black technical professionals. There is much work yet to be done before we can claim such a brand in an absolute, irrefutable way. But I have always believed — and continue to believe — that we, the members and supporters of NSBE Alumni Extension, are more than equal to any task set before us. ■ • september/october 2008 • 55 http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - September/October 2008

NSBE - September/October 2008
Contents
The P.O.W.E.R. to Move
Legacy Through Education
The Programs Zone
International News
NSBE’s 2008–09 National Executive Board
NSBE’s Amazing Membership Growth Continued Through July ’08
Chapter News
SEEK Hits the Mainstream
The Values of Generation Y
The AE Niche
The 2008-09 Alumni Executive Board
CE Cover Election 2008
AE Members on the Move
NSBE Calendar
Advertisers Index

NSBE - September/October 2008