NSBE - January/February 2008 - (Page 13)

From the ExecutiveDirector The Power of Belief By Carl B. Mack NSBE Executive Director E arly this past December, at NSBE WHQ, I did what Brother E.D. always does at that time of year. I watched the stop-animation, televised version of the classic 1939 story by Robert L. May, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”! This year, the tradition was shared with my favorite director of membership, Ms. Erin Teague, who, strangely, had never seen Rudolph before. Where has she been? Nonetheless, as I do every year at the end of the show, when Rudy, Santa and the gang are flying away, “me” got sense-a-tive. Yes, Brother E.D. got misty-eyed. Ms. Teague noticed and asked why, and I answered, “It’s because of BELIEF.” “What? Your belief in Santa Claus?” she asked. “No, that’s not why. And of course I believe in Santa Claus!” I responded, still misty-eyed. “Then what exactly do you mean, ‘belief’?” she asked. I explained that Robert May’s belief that he could bring joy to the world with a story led him to create this classic that has positively touched the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world every year! I explained to her how that proves the power of the concept of belief. ’Nuff said. Well, family, inside our very own NSBE, that power is all around us. For example, the power of belief made six young brothers at Purdue University start an organization to increase the number of blacks in the field of engineering. Now, 33 years later, their belief has helped hundreds of thousands of young blacks graduate as engineers, scientists, mathematicians and technologists. For another example, a little boy named Gary listened to his father’s wise words: “It is always best to have your own.” As young Gary matured into a man, he became the 10th national chair of NSBE and led the effort, against much dissension, for the organization to purchase its own building. Today, in large part because Dr. Gary S. May www.nsbe.org realized the power of belief, NSBE resides in its own beautiful building, which has a lobby dedicated to the memory of his wise and loving father. The power of belief does not need a big stage to make a positive impact. Take, for instance, the NSBE chapter at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho…black population .001 percent. Chapter President Richard Hill’s power of belief led his chapter into action not only to expose children to STEM but, as important, to make black technical talent visible to them. NSBE University of Idaho made a plethora of trips to Spokane, Wash., a city an hour and 45 minutes away that has a black popu- “The power of belief does not need a big stage to make a positive impact.” lation of maybe 4 percent; partnered with The Links; found a facility; applied for and was awarded a grant; secured additional funds from the UI engineering department; held a successful robotics camp, which was covered fantastically by the local media; and powerfully demonstrated black technical academia’s commitment to community. Family, I want you to envision this headline: “NSBE Produces 100,000 Black Engineers Per Year.” Do you believe? ■ • january/february 2008 • 13 http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - January/February 2008

NSBE - January/February 2008
Contents
The Pursuit of Excellence
Using Our Power
The Power of Belief
Saying It Well
Premier Profile: Owen Weston of U.S. Steel
NSBE Protégés Receive White House Honor
Regional News
International News
Fostering Competitiveness Through Innovation and Diversity
'Netting a Job
Why Graduate School?
NSBE Love
NSBE Calendar
"Igniting the Torch: Engineering in Action"
NSBE Golden Torch Awards
The AE Niche
Thinking Green
AE Members On the Move
CE Cover: Rough Road, Fun Ride
Join NSBE's Journey to Mars!
Advertisers Index

NSBE - January/February 2008