Yesterday, the Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (S. 601). The final $12 billion package includes several of ASCE top priorities for WRDA such as the reauthorization of the National Dam Safety Program, the creation of a National Levee Safety Program, the eventual move toward trust in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, and reforms to accelerate project review and delivery.

The next step in the process is passage of the bill by the House of Representatives. This is where you come in. Reaching out to your legislator is important. Members of the House and Senate often tell us that they are influenced by their constituents and in particular, those whose voices are loudest. Make your voice heard and help represent our profession as experts on infrastructure.

The best way to demonstrate your support for WRDA and other legislation important to civil engineering is to visit with your lawmaker face-to-face.  You can do this by making an appointment to meet in their local district office, or by attending a Town Hall Meeting, fundraiser, or other local event – check your local news source or the lawmaker’s website for upcoming appearances.  ASCE has resources available to help you do this through the Key Contact Program.

If you can’t meet with your lawmaker, you can send an email voicing your support directly to your Representative. Don’t forget to point out why the Water Resources Development Act benefits not only your community, but strengthens the nation’s water infrastructure as a whole.  You can write an email to your Representative in a matter of minutes using ASCE’s “Click and Connect” Internet Advocacy Website. Just a few clicks of your mouse and your message will be on its way.

Another option is to write an opinion piece for your local newspaper. Don’t be intimidated – we have Op-ed samples and more information on the process to guide you. And a final option is to talk about the WRDA legislation with your colleagues, family and friends both in-person and online.  Encourage them to spread the word and reach out to their legislators. Together we can create a grassroots effort to make a difference on this issue.

For more information on this bill’s progress and why we consider it important, follow along on ASCE’s Save America’s Infrastructure blog. Our Government Relations staff is glad to help if you have any questions.

What other ways have you been involved in supporting legislative initiatives?

 

Audrey Caldwell

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

Tags: advocacy, Click and Connect, infrastructure, Key Contact Program, Water Resources Development Act, WRDA

A primary goal of our Society is building support for the civil engineering profession through public awareness and understanding.  In this blog, we’ve shared many ideas on how to spotlight our Report Card, awards program, high school engineering club, and other products/events to generate public interest. The ideas keep coming.

The ASCE Philadelphia Section (celebrating its centennial this year) partnered with their local newspaper to build awareness.  In an article on their section website they detail their effort. “The Philadelphia Section was one of 15 technical societies in our region that participated in the ‘Newspapers in Education”‘ program. This Philadelphia Inquirer program creates newspaper supplements highlighting different professions, and distributes them to over 40,000 students throughout the region. The newspaper supplements are created with students in mind, and are used by teachers to bring real-world information into the classroom. Special thanks to the Engineers’ Club of Philadelphia who administered the engineering newspaper supplement. They deserve a lot of credit for organizing this successful engineering outreach publication. Thanks also to our Younger Member Forum for providing the Section’s submission for the publication.”

Take a look at the supplement and see if it could be used as a model for your local newspaper.  Contact the editor and offer to help organize a similar special edition in their paper.  You’ll increase awareness in the community and help local schools bring the “E” in STEM education alive.

What engineering profession was best represented in the supplement?  Can you think of different aspects of civil engineering to feature?

 

Audrey Caldwell

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

 

Tags: Civil Engineering, Media Relations, Newspaper, Outreach

Civil engineers make the world a better place. Building awareness of that message in our communities is a job we all share. To ensure the pipeline for our profession  is continually resupplied with talented young people, it’s important to give them opportunities to learn about civil engineering.  By getting involved with your schools, you can help encourage interested kids and model the work that civil engineers do.  ASCE has the resources to help you make a difference!

A great way to interest high school students in civil engineering as a career is to establish an official ASCE Civil Engineering Club.™ Sound intimidating? Don’t worry – a complete club guide has already been created in coordination with high school teachers, engineers, curriculum developers and feedback from pilot high school clubs. In the guide, you’ll find: ideas for planning, guidelines for partnering with schools, hands-on engineering design projects and tips for working with students. Email Pre-College Outreach to request a copy of the Civil Engineering Club Guide.

Interested but want more information? Attend the upcoming eLearning Webinar, free for ASCE members, hosted by ASCE Pre-College Outreach on May 1, at 3 p.m. ET. You’ll hear from ASCE members Tony Cioffi, P.E., M.ASCE, Jon Young, P.E., M.ASCE, and Melissa Wu, P.E., M.ASCE as they share insights from participating in ASCE’s 2012-2013 pilot test of this new program, one that proved very popular among students who participated. You’ll learn how to approach a school, build a plan, recruit volunteer support, get the word out to students, launch the club, and run it successfully with the help of a faculty advisor. Take a chance and learn more by registering today!

What civil engineering examples do you think high school students would most relate to in their lives? What would you say to help them understand why civil engineering is a great career choice?

Audrey Caldwell
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

Tags: High School Civil Engineering Club, High School Students, Outreach

On Tuesday morning March 19, ASCE will release the 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, an in-depth assessment by civil engineers of the state of the nation’s public works, with grades in 16 categories, plus an overall GPA. The all-new Report Card goes well beyond updating the last one issued in 2009. This year, it will be available anywhere there’s a smartphone or tablet, with an app that will be available to download Tuesday morning when the report is released via the iTunes and Google Play stores, and at www.infrastructurereportcard.org.

Consider what that portability will allow you to do – you’ll be able to go anywhere and pull up an instant resource that will help buttress your case for investing in any of 16 categories of infrastructure. Extensive graphics, charts, videos and other multimedia support and clarify each grade. New “Success Stories” provide more than 100 examples of what’s working from around the nation.

ASCE’s Government Relations team, via its Save America’s Infrastructure Facebook page, has offered two highly compelling Report Card samples — videos on the nation’s roads and bridges and on the electric grid. “We’re still driving on roads that my grandparents paid for and built,” says Pennsylvania state Sen. Michael Sturla in the roads and bridges video.

The Report Card release in Washington will include 2013 ASCE President Greg DiLoreto, Past President Andy Herrmann, former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and other notable infrastructure advocates. Watch for coverage in the news, and seize on it as an opportunity to talk with friends, colleagues, and officials you know, even your member of Congress.

How do you think you might you use the Report Card findings to advocate for infrastructure renewal in your community? Were you surprised to see how your state fared?

John Marston
Manager, Digital Media Communications

Tags: American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE, infrastructure, Infrastructure Advocacy, report card

Greetings from the International Space Station! I’m, Commander of Expedition 34. Congratulations on the 62nd observance of National Engineers Week. This week, volunteers from engineering societies and professional organizations are stimulating interest in math and science among our youth who will one day be the engineering and scientific talent our national needs to succeed in the future. All across the nation there will be science fairs, mentoring, educational outreach and student design competitions.

Recognition of engineering professionals is also occurring at celebrations that highlight their many, many contributions to making earth an even better place. We appreciate what you do every day to keep us safe up here, to keep our families secure at home, to contribute to the economic vitality of our nation, and to make continued technological progress for the benefit of all. Have a great week on our beautiful planet, Earth!

 

Leslie Payne

Senior Manager, Pre-College Outreach

Tags: 2013 Engineers Week, American Society of Civil Engineers, Civil Engineering, EWeek

When it comes to outreach, are you (or your Section/Branch) wondering where to put your effort? If so, you may want to consider five key findings of a 2012 Girl Scouts of America Report: Generation STEM What Girls Say about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. It turns out that girls are saying a lot, making them prime target audiences for engineering outreach this Engineers Week, February 17 – 23.

According to the report, Girls are VERY interested in STEM. Not only are they interested, but STEM Girls, as they call them, are well suited to the pursuit of STEM careers due to their high level of curiosity and naturally high achieving ways. Still, when it comes to choosing a STEM career – and especially engineering – there is a large gap between their STEM interest and their career choice.

Among STEM Girls only a third report being interested in engineering. Helping girls get passed perceived gender biases is an important step in helping girls to realize that engineering may, in fact, be the fulfilling career option they are looking for. One in which they can collaborate with others, make a difference in the world, and make a good salary at the same time. Let’s look more closely at the findings:
1. Girls like STEM!
     • Seventy-four percent of high school girls across the country are interested in the fields and subjects of STEM.

2. The creative and problem solving aspects of STEM draw girls
    • Girls are interested in the process of learning, asking questions, and problem solving.
    • Girls want to help people and make a difference in the world.

3. The DNA of a “STEM Girl” sets her apart
    • Girls who are interested in STEM are high achievers who have supportive adult networks and are exposed to STEM fields.
    • Girls who are interested in STEM fields are actually interested in many subjects and career opportunities—STEM is just one area of interest among many.

4. A gap exists between STEM interest and career choice
    • Perceived gender barriers are still high for girls and may help explain why STEM fields aren’t their top career choices.

5. The story differs for African American and Hispanic girls
    • African American and Hispanic girls have high interest in STEM, high confidence, and a strong work ethic, but have fewer support systems, less exposure, and lower academic achievement than Caucasian girls.

What can be done about it? Plenty! This year, ASCE and SWE are teaming up for Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, February 21, 2013. Together our societies are encouraging our members to join forces to introduce girls to civil engineering and help break down gender stereotypes and barriers that keep girls from pursuing a career they may love. By forming partnerships, ASCE and SWE members will have access to free resources to make their job easier and help them reach young women with messaging and experiences that will turn them on to the awesome possibilities of having a civil engineering career.

Ready to make a difference? Here’s how to get started:
    • Locate your ASCE/SWE partner and start planning your event
    • Need volunteers? Find them through the SWE and ASCE websites
    • Register your event at the SWE volunteer management site – SWEeter Futures®
    • Once registered, get free resources:
    • EYL posters (1), EYL brochures (30), EYL postcards (50), Aspire information cards (25) Future Engineer buttons (30) and more
    • To order, email SWE’s Randy Freedman

Questions? Email outreach managers Randy Freedman at SWE or Leslie Payne at ASCE for more information.

What have you planned this year for Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day? Leave a comment here or send a photo and description of your event to outreach@asce.org. We’re looking for ideas to share.

Leslie Payne
Senior Manager, Pre-College Outreach

Tags: Engineering and Math, Engineers Week, Generation STEM What Girls Say About Science, Girl Scouts of America, Introduce a Girl to Engineering, Society of Women Engineers, STEM education, Technology

Are you on LinkedIn? Does your public profile portray you well? If you established a profile long ago and haven’t really changed anything since then, it’s time to revisit and reflect on your presence there. Think of your profile as the window dressing of your LinkedIn brand. If the display is bare or has a few feeble props, your audience is not going to linger long enough to see what you offer. In Part I of this post, I discussed the importance of having a professional picture and creating a title that is easily searchable. Here are three more tips to help you make your profile shine.

3) Include past and present experience and education
Although it’s easier just to fill out the last couple of jobs you had and your last educational institution, don’t stop there. Everything on LinkedIn is indexed by Google so you want to have as many key words as possible included. Some people search by skill set, others by company experience, still others by college or university to find fellow alums. Remember, when people search on Google, it’s very common for LinkedIn profiles to come up. Below each experience entry, there’s a box where you can detail your experience in either bullet points or paragraphs. Bullet points are easier to scan for the reader. Keep the entries concise and highlight your strengths.

4) Choose keywords for the “Skills & Expertise” section
Once again, put yourself in the place of someone doing a search on LinkedIn. Say a potential client uses the advance search feature and is looking for someone who is a construction engineer with experience in rebar column cages. If you only list “civil engineer” in your skills section, your profile might not come up. You want to add in your specialties and certifications to increase the chance that your profile will be in the search results. What if a recruiter was looking for a water resources engineer with experience in dam safety and sustainability? The keywords you use in the Skills & Expertise section can lead that recruiter right to you.

5) Ask for recommendations from colleagues
Recommendations establish credibility. It’s a good practice to find other people on LinkedIn that you have worked with in the past and ask them to write you a recommendation. Try to build a well-rounded recommendation section. A senior professional might describe your management skills and your ability to deliver a project on time. A colleague, on the other hand, might be able to highlight how well you worked on the team and praise your leadership role. Consider the competition. Profiles with personal testimonies are going to be viewed in a stronger light than those without any endorsement. Don’t forget to return the favor, if appropriate, and offer to endorse the person who crafted a personal testimonial for you.

Creating a strong profile showcases your brand online. Use these five tips to strengthen your profile and you’ll stand out from the crowd.

Oh, and one last tip – consider putting your Linkedin URL on your business card. You’ll find your personal URL on your profile under the “Connect” button. Think of your LinkedIn profile as an extension of your business card. It’s a great way to help the person you exchange cards with remember more about you. Next time you have a meeting with a prospective client or you’re on your way to a seminar and want to meaningfully engage with someone you know will be there, check their LinkedIn profile before you go. You can bet that knowledgeable LinkedIn users are checking you out as well. Good luck!

Audrey Caldwell, MBA
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

Tags: Civil Engineering, Job searching, LinkedIn, Social Media

 

With just 10 weeks to go before Engineers Week 2013, you may want to clear your mind of those hundreds of good ideas swimming in your head and focus on just the essential information you need to celebrate civil engineering February 17 – 23:

1. Identify a leader in your section or branch.  Recruit someone passionate about educational outreach and who knows how to get things done.  A savvy leader knows when to start from scratch and when to go to the pros  for resources and information that will make the most of the planning time available between now and February.
2. Embrace the national theme: “Celebrate Awesome”.  It’s all about the celebration this year – celebrating civil engineering, celebrating educational outreach, celebrating volunteerism.  Plan your activities around one, two or all three key ideas for a thematic push that will get you noticed.
3. Download graphics and banners.  From your very first ‘Save the Date’ announcement, to your call for volunteers, to your newsletters, flyers and programs, use ASCE’s coordinated Engineers Week graphics and national Engineers Week images to promote and customize your information.
4. Order National Engineers Week Foundation poster and volunteer kits. There’s a kit for Engineers Week and another for Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. Comb over the information in the kits to get inspiration. (Limit: one each kit per member while supplies last.)
5. Research options and select from a menu of suggested activities. ASCE has plenty of ideas to get you started.  Plan events that are feasible and manageable for your location.
6. Seek out partners that make your life easier. ASCE and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) are partnering this year for Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.  Register your partnership online and you will receive help finding volunteers and plenty of free resources to make your Girl Day a success!
7. Include hands-on activities  in your events.  Kids love them, and it makes volunteering and talking about civil engineering so much more fun!  Be sure to test your activity first, and have plenty of materials on hand for the anticipated crowd.
8. Order free and low cost resources online.  Brochures and giveaways promote ASCE and leave both kids and parents with a powerful reminder about the benefits of a career in civil engineering.
9. Recruit volunteers and treat them well.  Provide training  if needed. Make provisions for comfortable shifts and be flexible with job assignments.  Remember to feed your volunteers, and don’t forget a special note of thanks for their participation. Building volunteers’ confidence and keeping them happy is a smart investment in building a strong educational outreach program
10. Let us know about your event.  Visit ASCE’s Pre-College Outreach Facebook page, like us, and tag us next time you upload a photo.  Did you do something unique this year?  Email outreach@asce.org and you may see your event featured in ASCE News in March.

 
Good luck planning!  What idea or tip do you think would be the most helpful for other volunteers?

 

Leslie Payne

Senior Manager, Pre-College Outreach

Tags: ASCE, Celebrate Awesome, Engineers Week 2013, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, Outreach Activities, Pre-College Outreach

By now, you’ve probably heard of LinkedIn.  It’s a social networking site used for business. LinkedIn reported over 175 million registered users as of June 2012. That’s a lot of potential connections.  If you’re a working professional or job searching, having a presence on LinkedIn is essential. Although LinkedIn offers a premium membership with lots of special services, the free basic version is a great way to begin.

 

Once you become a member, setting up your profile is your first priority. Your profile conveys who you are, establishes your personal brand identity and builds credibility.  Think of it as the digital version of your resume – only customized for Google searches by like-minded professionals, recruiters and potential employers.

In Part I of this post, I’ll provide the first two of five tips to make your profile shine:

1)    Upload a professional picture of yourself.

The first impression people form of you on LinkedIn will stem from the image you choose for your profile. A photo provides that personal connection. Take advantage of the opportunity to show you are a professional. Dress in the clothes you would wear for an interview, pay attention to personal grooming (get that updated hair cut) and get someone to take a nice picture of you. If you have the resources, visit a portrait studio or, for a low cost option, check out Sears, JC Penney, and other large stores which may have in-house photo studios and offer portrait packages for a reasonable price. Coupons abound in the newspaper and online.  Make sure you tell the photographer you need a digital copy of your photo to post online to LinkedIn.

 2)    Create a “searchable” title.

Don’t just use your business card title – include descriptive words that capture the professional expertise you offer. Recruiters and future employers are trying to fill needs and you want to position yourself as someone who can take charge and provide a solution.  Your profile will be found based on keyword search terms so take advantage of the opportunity to provide plenty of descriptions. You can provide multiple terms separated by commas. For example:  when I search on “Engineer” on LinkedIn, the first entry is Anthony Fasano, P.E. who defines himself as “Executive Director, Engineer, Professional Speaker for Engineers,  Bestselling Author.”  Anthony’s profile is very robust and is a good model for those interested in improving their own LinkedIn profiles.

Stay tuned for three more tips in the next blog post.

What’s your advice for standing out from the crowd on LinkedIn?

 

Audrey Caldwell, MBA

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

 

Tags: Job searching, LinkedIn, Social Media tips

Albert Einstein once said “In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.” Einstein could easily have been one of the supporters of the Dignity & Respect Campaign that was celebrated in October. Although the month is over, the issue of “Making the world a better place for all to live – with all of our differences” is a goal whose timeline should be endless.

Dignity and respect are important societal issues. As a nation and a member of the global society, we all need to do our part. By encouraging change in our schools, communities and organizations, we help forge a stronger chain of inclusion. You can make a difference by becoming a champion of dignity & respect in your own life.

Here are Five Tips of Dignity & Respect:

1) Break the ice. Start a conversation with someone new.
2) Lead the way. Let your inclusive behavior light a path for others.
3) Be a relationship builder. Seek ways to expand your network.
4) Listen. People feel respected when they know you’re listening to their point of view.
5) Be a champion of dignity and respect. Encourage others to do the same.

For a look at the other 25 tips of dignity and respect, click here. What steps do you think could create the biggest change?

Constance Thompson
Senior Manager, Diversity

*Content on this page has been provided by the Dignity & Respect Campaign. For more information visit www.dignityandrespect.org. Dignity & Respect Campaign © 2012

 

Tags: ASCE, Civil Engineers, dignity, Diversity, respect