The benefits of SWE membership come in many forms—from the empowerment of finding the right mentor to the satisfaction of seeing the look on the face of a 12-year-old girl successfully completing a science project and “getting it” for the first time.
There are many reasons to become a member of SWE. Hear from several SWE-OC members about why they joined.
"I joined SWE in college to get to know the other female engineers and also to enjoy the free pizza they offered at meetings. Attending SWE conferences was a great way to get me thinking about what type of field I wanted to pursue after college and allowed me to practice my networking skills. I have remained involved with SWE after college because I think it helps me stay grounded. Sometimes work can get stressful and SWE activities remind me of why I chose to go into engineering. It is also extremely beneficial to have a professional network that is outside the workplace. What I enjoy most about SWE-OC are the Outreach activities that allow you to explain and encourage engineering to the younger generation." -- Kathleen Monk, SWE-OC Vice-President
"In college a friend asked me to go with her to a SWE meeting my freshmen year and everyone I met was nice. I liked the outreach activities the section was working on and decided to join. Eleven years later I stay involved in SWE because several of my closest friends are also members and I like the activities the Orange County Section provides to members. There is a huge amount of leadership and networking opportunities at local, regional and national levels and you can be as involved as you want at any level of the organization." --- Jeannette Lindemann, SWE-OC Past President and Region B Lieutenant Governor
"I have been a SWE member for over 20 years and have been involved on the local and national levels. I credit SWE for helping me obtain a management position. Although I learned engineering skills from college, SWE helped me develop management, organizational, and leadership skills. I remain a member because of the continued professional development opportunities, as well as the friendships." -- Charlotte Wagner, P.E., SWE-OC Awards Committee Chair
"I joined in college to meet other women engineers and to network. My involvement with SWE got me my first engineering job. I stayed involved because of my love for the Outreach activities. The Girl Scout Workshop is one of my favorite events. It's an amazing experience to see young girls getting excited about science and engineering and realize this is something they can do." -- Shannon Pollock, SWE-OC Past President
"When I started working in 2000 I was the only female engineer in the office and my manager referred me to SWE. I was impressed when I attended a dinner meeting and decided to join. I am glad I made that decision! I found that SWE-OC is one of the more active engineering organizations in the area. I continue to remain actively involved because I truly enjoy participating in various Outreach and Professional Development programs. My favorite being going out to middle and high schools and interacting with young kids while informing them about engineering. SWE also offered me networking opportunities with other women engineers. Thanks to SWE I have gained several leadership and interpersonal skills." -- Sonalee Tambat, SWE-OC Past President