 August Newsletter |
Event Highlights Trash Pandas Tour and Game SWE members enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium where they learned about the logistics of maintaining the stadium as well as the logistics of MLB teams.  New Futures STEM Camp During this year’s STEM camp, participants got to experiment with Alka-Seltzer rockets, send Peeps into space, and make their own paper helicopters. There were 20 total campers ranging in ages from 2 to 14 who were all excited to participate and learn. |
| Upcoming Events |
| September Section Meeting and Social Saturday, September 14, 1 PM – 2 PM Downtown Huntsville Public Library Meeting Room A 915 Monroe Street Huntsville, AL 35801 Meet fellow members and learn about what is going on in the section! The meeting will begin at 1 PM with the social immediately to follow. |
| Outreach Opportunities |
| James Clemens High School Call for Support SWENext Guest Speaker The JCHS SWENext club is looking for guest speakers for their meetings. They meet once a month on Fridays from 11:25 AM – 12:05 PM (see the schedule below). If you are interested in being a guest speaker, please reach out to Allison Turner, the club advisor, using the link below. 24-25 JCHS SWENext Meeting Dates 9/13/2024 10/18/2024 11/15/2024 1/17/2025 2/14/2025 3/21/2025 4/18/2025 |
| General Announcements |
| Call for Q2 Chairs We are seeking volunteers for the chair positions listed below. If you are interested in volunteering, please email us using the button below. Chair positions are available on a first come, first served basis. Professional Development Chair Commitment Length October – December Duties Plan one professional development event for the section per quarter Examples include Speaker event, educational seminars, resume reviews, interview prep, financial health sessions, etc. Outreach Chair Commitment Length October – December Duties Support continuance of recurring outreach Note: NAL SWE does not currently have any recurring outreach for this quarter Coordinating new partnerships and outreach opportunities Coordinate volunteers who are focused on K12 outreach events Email us |
| Vote on Merch Designs Use the poll below to vote for our shirt for the year and other items! Vote |
| Presidential Volunteer Service Awards Announcement NAL SWE is now a certifying organization for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). The PVSA is a civil award created to recognize those who volunteer hours on behalf of their community. We are excited to offer the awards for free to members of our section who meet the award criteria. If you are interested in earning an award, you’ll need to keep a record of your volunteer hours throughout the fiscal year (July 2024 – June 2025) and turn it in at the end of the year. Volunteer hours from outside organizations/events count towards your award as well! The hours required to earn an award can be found below. If you have further questions, please reach out to us using the button below.  Email Us |
| Membership Programming Poll What would you like to see from NAL SWE? Use the poll below to give us feedback and let us know what types of events you’d like to see in the future. Poll |
| Call for Speakers We’re hosting a virtual speaker series, and we’re looking for speakers! Interested in presenting? Use the interest form below to briefly pitch your ideas. You don’t need to have fully formed presentations yet, and we can help with development as needed. Poll |
| Behind the ScenesFY25 NAL SWE Goals We will reference our events from the previous year and use the results from the membership programming poll to build goals for FY25! NAL STEM Essay Contest Co-chairs Shela and Michelle have a meeting coming up with Mazda-Toyota, the contest sponsor, for planning for this year’s contest. Conference Meet-up We want to plan a NAL SWE get-together for those attending conference this year! |
| Topic of the Month |
| Back to School Summer is coming to an end, and most K12 schools have started back for the year, and universities are prepping for it as well. As we dive into this back-to-school season, many of us are navigating significant transitions—whether it’s balancing work with continued education or managing the excitement and challenges of sending your children off to school. This time of year can be a unique blend of motivation, stress, and new beginnings. For this month’s topic, let’s explore how these dual journeys impact our lives. How do we balance our professional ambitions and educational goals with the demands of family life? What strategies are you using to manage your own or your child’s educational path while maintaining your career responsibilities? Let’s share our experiences and insights on thriving in this back-to-school season as learners, parents, or both. For those interested in tips about continuing education as a professional, check out the links below. Balancing grad school & work full time How to Choose a Graduate Program That’s Right for You For those interested in tips about back-to-school season, check out the articles below. ROADMAP TO BACK-TO-SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH Navigating Back to School: A Memo for Working Parents |
 Have ideas for outreach or events? Email us! We’d love to have your input on what is important to you or how you’d like to see SWE participate in the community. NAL SWE is always open to feedback and ideas. Email Us |
| Donate North Alabama SWE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are 100% tax-deductible. Donations go towards providing resources to students and members through outreach, professional development, and more. We appreciate your support! If you are no longer interested in receiving emails from NAL SWE, please email us at nal@swe.org. |