SWE and WETA Pledge Drive

ALEXANDRIA, VA
On March 6, several members of the Baltimore-Washington Section of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE-BWS) answered phones for the pledge drive for our local PBS television station, WETA. In return, SWE-BWS got their logo broadcast on PBS during the pledge breaks. A few friends sent me email saying they recognized me in the front row when the live camera showed all the volunteers participating in the telephone bank. My fifteen seconds of fame.

Volunteers were treated well throughout the evening. Each of the coordinators expressed their profuse gratitude for having SWE-BWS come to volunteer. They provided cheese and crackers, fruit, cookies, soda, hot chocolate, and coffee. At the end of the evening, there was a raffle for a $100 dinner at a swank restaurant downtown. I was still taking pledges after everyone else was off the phone, so I didn’t pay much attention to the drawing. But at some point, one of the volunteer coordinators placed a sheet of paper in front of me while I was working on my last phone call. When I got off the phone, I realized it was the $100 certificate!

I was pleased to have the opportunity to get SWE's logo on public television and to interact with the volunteer coordinators because I feel it is important for SWE to publicize women engineers. The general public needs to be aware of the capable problem solvers that women can be. We are great role models that deserve the attention of the next generation more than most of the role models young people are usually exposed to in the media.

This article appeared in the May issue of the SWE-BWS newsletter.