NSBE - January/February 2009 - (Page 53)

By Njema J. Frazier, Ph.D., NSBE National Alumni Extension Chair THEAEnICHe a Good to Great s I prepare to step off the leadership stage and make way for the new guard, I reflect upon the work done within the Alumni Extension — not just this year but over the past 20 — and note that this is a time like no other. A black man has ascended to the highest office in the land and is the leader of the Free World. So what does this mean for NSBE? In my opinion, it means no more games. It means no more “I’m too good for this assignment” or “I can’t work with them” or “If I’m not sponsored, I’m out.” We’ve all heard it, and we’ve all excused it. But a lot of us don’t realize it wasn’t always this way. NSBE used to be people rolling up their sleeves, paying their own way to meetings and staying up all night to work through the issues of the day. That’s not to say we no longer do that, and that’s not to say we shouldn’t reward service, but we’ve gotten a little soft. Right here, right now, however, we have a chance to renew our core of passion for civic service. And if you’re feeling the desire to do the most you can, get whatever you happen to get (or not get) and leave the rest of the minutia at the door, well, then, you should step up to leadership. And I don’t just mean running for office! This is the time for the NSBE “A-Team” to take the engineering, educational and local communities by storm. NSBE is a vehicle to do great things. I would assert that NSBE now is doing “good” things, valuable things and things that with the right push could be great. Right now, NSBE can help you do a host of things: get trained or certified; host community events; be a part of an affinity group in your field by joining a NSBE Special Interest Group (SIG); develop a support/peer network of professionals with a NSBE chapter; mentor or tutor a high-school or college student, etc. These things are nothing to sneeze at, and if they were all we did, they would be contributions of which we all could be proud. But I believe NSBE is a vehicle to do great things: change the K–12 curriculum; have nationwide schoolafter-school programs; have professional NSBE Certifications; start a SIG-based LLC; consult on national science, technology and engineering (ST&E) policy; expand T.O.R.C.H. to National Community Centers and implement other ideas I’m sure you NSBE members have. However, as with all vehicles, NSBE needs a driver. It needs someone to get behind the wheel, turn the key and head down the road. So, again, we need that A-Team to step up to leadership. If you are a NSBE “weekender,” we love you, “…As with all vehicles, NSBE needs a driver. It needs someone to get behind the wheel, turn the key and head down the road.” and we need you. But know that your power is in how you and, after this year, I can support that A-Team. Let’s go from good to great. NSBE is full of individuals with vision and initiative, people willing to be that champion, people who will “be about it.” If you are such a person, don’t hesitate. Step up to leadership, now. ■ www.nsbe.org • january/february 2009 • 53 http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - January/February 2009

NSBE - January/February 2009
Contents
Image or Action?
Bringing It Home
Your Time
Nigerian Students Celebrate
Region III Makes ‘iImpact’
Fall Regional Energy
A Walk for Education
Member Benefits from Microsoft!
Success Catches On
Grad Conference Seeks Heavyweights
Al Collins of Fluor Corporation
What the meltdown may mean for U.S. engineers
Boosting NSBE on Wall Street
“Energizing Creativity to Achieve Exponential Growth”
NSBE Golden Torch Awards
The AE Niche
Jobs in Green Industries
AE Members on the Move
NSBE for Life!
Toronto 2010: Making It Happen
NSBE Calendar
Advertisers Index

NSBE - January/February 2009