October 13, 2010
The American Ecological Engineering Society is a team made mostly of biological engineering students that aims to educate the community about minimizing impact on the local environment.
The society promotes environmental stewardship and prepares ecological engineering student body for life after the undergraduate degree, according to the RSO website.
"My favorite thing about the organization is that it's fun. It's fun just to get together informally and be active for the community," said American Ecological Engineering Society president, Katy Rutledge. "Most of the time, we're in huge auditoriums with no opportunities to get to know the people around us. It's a good excuse to hang out with people in a different environment."
Who can join?You don't have to be an engineering student, or even a biological engineering student to join the AEES.
“Anyone can join our organization,” Rutledge said. “We have a sophomore interior design major and a nursing student that are in the society.”
The society coordinates closely with the Biological Engineering Group, so most AEES members are biological engineers. Even still, Rutledge is not an ecological engineer and the Carnival of Clubs attracted the attention of a variety of majors to the society. “That got more people interested (in us),” she said.
What do I have to do? There are no membership requirements and no membership fee. Members are encouraged to attend meetings and volunteer for the community.
American Ecological Engineering Society meets and volunteers actively. Unlike other student organizations, members are not required to participate in a certain amount of events; there are no penalties for not being involved, but participation is encouraged.
Rutledge said the main focus is simple: to leave minimal impact on the environment and educate the community.
Events and projectsThe local chapter of the society has two big service projects each year and this time the society is planning a trail cleanup at 2 p.m. on October 24, as one event.
“We want to see more people conserving natural resources,” Rutledge said.
AEES plans a watershed education day in partnership with IRWP because, Rutledge said, cleaning up local lakes is a good way for public to realize their own impact on the environment. Last year’s watershed day was mostly canoeing the lake and taking water samples.
“A lot of people don’t realize the impact of even just building a parking lot,” she said. “That affects the way the water runs off.”
So far, the organization hasn’t teamed up with ASG Vice President Billy Fleming’s Paperless Campus Initiative campaign, but Rutledge seemed interested in moving the society that direction.
AEES also plans more active recycling on campus, especially during (home) football games.
OfficersNathan Holeman is Vice President of the society; Evan Childress is secretary and Clark Trapp is the AEES Program Chair.
Rutledge explained that these officers are mostly juniors and seniors, because freshmen and sophomores are typically more hesitant to get involved.
Among the more unique officer positions is AEES treasurer, Jacob Taylor.
“He handles the RSO funding that we receive from ASG and coordinates the funds from the department, which we use for food during the meetings and for travel expenses,” Rutledge said.
Rutledge said the unique thing about leadership in the American Ecological Engineering Society is that the responsibility is not set, not completely based on which chair you hold because the officers are friends.
“We do have a service outreach chair. He is supposed to organize our events, but…me and (Nathan) the VP do it, too,” she said. “We’re all friends, so it’s kind of hard to make each other do what we’re supposed to do.”
Advisers“We have a few professors help us out,” Rutledge said. “Dr. Osborne is there (at meetings), Dr. Griffis likes to stand in, and sometimes Dr. Verma, the department head.”
Also, 2009 AEES president, Zak Johnson continues to lend a hand to the officers of the society.
Later this year, AEES hopes to bring a lecture weighing the benefits of grad school comparitively with entering the workforce.
What can I do?
Rutledge encourages Fayetteville residents to do as much as you can to reduce environmental impact, no matter how small the task seems.
She suggested composting and making rain barrels as beneficial activities.
“Walk, bike or carpool. Those are some of the easiest things you can do, with our trails around here,” she said.
One thing you can easily do but might not know about:
“There are a lot of chemicals in drinking water, which are hard to filter out,” Rutledge said. “What doesn’t help this is (what is harmful is) people flushing old or unwanted prescriptions down the toilet or drain.”
Instead, she suggests either sending or dropping off your unwanted prescriptions at Walgreens. There, a service, which costs only two dollars, will dispose of these prescriptions in a more environmentally safe manner.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
EWB solidifies Make a Difference Day project
October 12, 2010
The NWA EWB decided on the Illinois Watershed project for their service in the Make a Difference Day, October 16.
This project lasts from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., so if you would like to carpool with other members, meet in the Bell parking lot at 8:50 a.m., so all can leave at 9 a.m. and arrive a little early, about 9:30.
The NWA EWB started organizing the first official fundraiser of the year: a bake sale with two stands, one in front of the union and one in front of Bell Engineering Center, simultaneously.
So far, members are planning to market breakfast items and baked goods in the morning, then cookies, brownies, other sweets in the afternoon.
To do so, the group will meet at a few different apartments on October 21 to have a bake off, while other members contribute by making granola.
The times of the bake sale are not solidified because of conflicting student schedules and opinions on good marketing.
“Early morning would be good because so many students don’t eat breakfast,” said EWB Vice President, Cody LaBarber.
Another EWB member suggested October 22 as the target date for the bake sale, because it’s during Family Week and “parents spend money.”
EWB members are corresponding with local businesses, such as Chik-fil-A and Qdoba for possible donations, but plan to make the majority of the products themselves.
EWB members expressed concern for putting specific spending amounts on the upcoming Belize trips, so International Project Chair, Ben Marts continued his work with the long string of contacts to confirm the price structure.
“I’m emailing a third party that’s emailing the other (person) who’s talking to Randy,” Marts said. “I should know by next week.”
The general cost is $30 per day plus the $600-650 flight and an exit fee between $35-40, so approximately $1000 should cover most expenses. The trip requires a minimum of four people to attend and has an unclear maximum of 35 people.
Connections made during previous trips to Belize by Dr. Soerens and Ben Marts will help keep the costs relatively low, especially in comparison to class-connected trips.
If you are planning to join EWB on the Belize trip in January, officers suggested securing your passport as soon as possible, since there is an average of a month, month and a half for the process to be completed.
One EWB member brought new fundraising information to the table after actively searching contacts for advice in requesting donations from professional organizations and other businesses.
One person suggested (since you’re students) go to your discipline to search for money.
“For example, civil engineering students should go to civil engineering firms to ask for money because they are the future of the company. Basically you can ask them for funding by essentially saying, ‘We are your future. Do you want us educated?’”
More local service outreaches are being considered, such as helping other schools by engaging students with engineering projects, having more creek cleanups or possibly a weekly bike trail-cleanup.
Once EWB t-shirts are decided upon, they’ll be sold within the department to professors and students before other groups.
The October 6 meeting was brightened by surprise gifts from Jenny Doyle, flash drives, bracelets and water bottles with the EWB logo proudly printed on front.
A total of six or seven people can attend the Dallas conference (November 12-14) for free as a result of ASG RSO funding.
This week, officers worked on conference details, finding out which students want to attend the conference the most-who will go based on the initial funding--who will attend, despite a cost and settling on the overall cost of the trip.
The October 13 meeting will be preceded by a half hour session with information about the EWB Regional Conference, starting at 5:30 p.m.
(Please join the group “Engineers Without Borders-University of Arkansas” on Facebook for more updates and timely information.)
The NWA EWB decided on the Illinois Watershed project for their service in the Make a Difference Day, October 16.
This project lasts from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., so if you would like to carpool with other members, meet in the Bell parking lot at 8:50 a.m., so all can leave at 9 a.m. and arrive a little early, about 9:30.
The NWA EWB started organizing the first official fundraiser of the year: a bake sale with two stands, one in front of the union and one in front of Bell Engineering Center, simultaneously.
So far, members are planning to market breakfast items and baked goods in the morning, then cookies, brownies, other sweets in the afternoon.
To do so, the group will meet at a few different apartments on October 21 to have a bake off, while other members contribute by making granola.
The times of the bake sale are not solidified because of conflicting student schedules and opinions on good marketing.
“Early morning would be good because so many students don’t eat breakfast,” said EWB Vice President, Cody LaBarber.
Another EWB member suggested October 22 as the target date for the bake sale, because it’s during Family Week and “parents spend money.”
EWB members are corresponding with local businesses, such as Chik-fil-A and Qdoba for possible donations, but plan to make the majority of the products themselves.
EWB members expressed concern for putting specific spending amounts on the upcoming Belize trips, so International Project Chair, Ben Marts continued his work with the long string of contacts to confirm the price structure.
“I’m emailing a third party that’s emailing the other (person) who’s talking to Randy,” Marts said. “I should know by next week.”
The general cost is $30 per day plus the $600-650 flight and an exit fee between $35-40, so approximately $1000 should cover most expenses. The trip requires a minimum of four people to attend and has an unclear maximum of 35 people.
Connections made during previous trips to Belize by Dr. Soerens and Ben Marts will help keep the costs relatively low, especially in comparison to class-connected trips.
If you are planning to join EWB on the Belize trip in January, officers suggested securing your passport as soon as possible, since there is an average of a month, month and a half for the process to be completed.
One EWB member brought new fundraising information to the table after actively searching contacts for advice in requesting donations from professional organizations and other businesses.
One person suggested (since you’re students) go to your discipline to search for money.
“For example, civil engineering students should go to civil engineering firms to ask for money because they are the future of the company. Basically you can ask them for funding by essentially saying, ‘We are your future. Do you want us educated?’”
More local service outreaches are being considered, such as helping other schools by engaging students with engineering projects, having more creek cleanups or possibly a weekly bike trail-cleanup.
Once EWB t-shirts are decided upon, they’ll be sold within the department to professors and students before other groups.
The October 6 meeting was brightened by surprise gifts from Jenny Doyle, flash drives, bracelets and water bottles with the EWB logo proudly printed on front.
A total of six or seven people can attend the Dallas conference (November 12-14) for free as a result of ASG RSO funding.
This week, officers worked on conference details, finding out which students want to attend the conference the most-who will go based on the initial funding--who will attend, despite a cost and settling on the overall cost of the trip.
The October 13 meeting will be preceded by a half hour session with information about the EWB Regional Conference, starting at 5:30 p.m.
(Please join the group “Engineers Without Borders-University of Arkansas” on Facebook for more updates and timely information.)
RSO Highlight: Tau Beta Pi
October 7, 2010
Tau Beta Pi is the Engineering Honor Society which invites initiates based on academic achievement, according to the Tau Beta Pi website.
The organization is designed to develop communication and leadership skills and provide scholarships, fellowships, networking and career opportunities to distinguished engineering students.
“My favorite thing about Tau Beta Pi is witnessing the power and prestige of our network,” said David Fryauf, current Tau Beta Pi president. “Many successful and influential engineers both in professional fields and in academia are members of Tau Beta Pi, and they always recognize the achievement and commitment it takes to become a member of this organization.”
TBP is the only society representing the entire engineering profession and was founded in 1885 by Edward H. Williams Jr. The University of Arkansas chapter began December 14, 1914.
Membership requires having earned a distinguished scholarship, academic rank in the top 1/8 of the junior engineering class or the top 1/5 of the senior engineering class and having exemplary characteristics of integrity, adaptability, breadth of interests and a record of unselfish service, according to Tau Beta Pi posters.
To become an official member and participate in the initiation ceremony on November 18, “initiates must participate in the required service events and one social event, make a plaque, collect student and faculty member signatures, and thoroughly learn the history and details of Tau Beta Pi,” Fryauf said.
Tau Beta Pi has three required service events each semester, which is followed later in the semester by social events and other, optional service events.
The first service event this semester is a coordinated creek cleanup, which involves choosing a local creek or river and picking up trash.
“We also pick up trash in our highway pickup along Exit 62 off of I-540,” Fryauf said. This year’s trash pickup is October 19.
The third, required service event is the annual fall Tau Beta Pi canned food drive, Let’s Can Hunger, which takes place October 25-29. All collected food will be donated to the local NWA foodbank, to help feed families in need in the region.
“There are two parts to our canned food drive: the neighborhood door-to-door food drive, and the inter-departmental food drive competition that the engineering departments compete in,” he said. “The recipient of our donated food changes from year to year, and this year we are partnering with Students of Free Enterprise (SIFE) and Campbell Soup Company.”
In addition to the service events, President Fryauf plans to add several social events to the TBP calendar, including a few pizza-and-ice cream dinners and a baseball game tailgate party.
The end of the spring semester brings the traditional Spring Banquet, which includes all active members, new initiates, and family members, to recognize the individual member accomplishments.
Tau Beta Pi Officers for the 2010-2011 school year are equally divided between juniors and seniors, but the majority of the officers have been members for at least one semester.
President Fryauf, Vice President Thomas Rembert and Treasurer L. Patrick Doyle are electrical engineering majors.
Recording Secretary Rachel Townsley and Program Chair Natassia Taylor are industrial engineering majors.
Corresponding Secretary Stanislav Boboyvch and Service Chair Andrew Tackett are Computer Engineering majors and Initiate Trainer Kristin Gangluff is a Mechanical Engineering major.
In addition to the typical officers of an organization (pres., v.p., secretary), Tau Beta Pi has an Initiate Trainer, to help new members get started on TBP activities. “The initiate trainer is responsible for all communication and assistance given to the students who have chosen to become members of Tau Beta Pi,” Fryauf said.
This is no simple task for an organization with a distinguished membership and a hefty list of requirements for initiation.
Not only is the Initiate Trainer responsibility to account for the member requirements (participation in service events, social events, member plaques, signatures), she also offers assistance to the initiates if they need help.
Tau Beta Pi Chief Adviser is Dr. Alan Mantooth of the Electrical Engineering department. He earned his electrical engineering bachelor and masters degrees from the University of Arkansas, then secured his PhD from the Georgia Institute of Technology . Mantooth provides strong leadership, with much experience in device modeling, published articles and multiple patents on software architecture and algorithms for modeling tools, in addition to titles of 1996 Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Analogy, 1999 Eta Kappa Nu Outstanding Electrical Engineering Faculty Award and the Arkansas Academy of Electrical Engineers Outstanding Faculty Award 1999-2000, Outstanding Teacher in Electrical Engineering in 2000-2001.
Even still, Mantooth is not alone in guiding Tau Beta Pi. There are an additional four official advisers of TBP. TBP members are chosen for distinguished qualities and at the University of Arkansas, the membership has seen a steep rise.
“For the past several years, our active student membership has been around 70,” Fryauf said. “We are always striving to increase this number, and we have an initiation class of 37 this semester, which is the highest we have seen in years."
Tau Beta Pi is the Engineering Honor Society which invites initiates based on academic achievement, according to the Tau Beta Pi website.
The organization is designed to develop communication and leadership skills and provide scholarships, fellowships, networking and career opportunities to distinguished engineering students.
“My favorite thing about Tau Beta Pi is witnessing the power and prestige of our network,” said David Fryauf, current Tau Beta Pi president. “Many successful and influential engineers both in professional fields and in academia are members of Tau Beta Pi, and they always recognize the achievement and commitment it takes to become a member of this organization.”
TBP is the only society representing the entire engineering profession and was founded in 1885 by Edward H. Williams Jr. The University of Arkansas chapter began December 14, 1914.
Membership requires having earned a distinguished scholarship, academic rank in the top 1/8 of the junior engineering class or the top 1/5 of the senior engineering class and having exemplary characteristics of integrity, adaptability, breadth of interests and a record of unselfish service, according to Tau Beta Pi posters.
To become an official member and participate in the initiation ceremony on November 18, “initiates must participate in the required service events and one social event, make a plaque, collect student and faculty member signatures, and thoroughly learn the history and details of Tau Beta Pi,” Fryauf said.
Tau Beta Pi has three required service events each semester, which is followed later in the semester by social events and other, optional service events.
The first service event this semester is a coordinated creek cleanup, which involves choosing a local creek or river and picking up trash.
“We also pick up trash in our highway pickup along Exit 62 off of I-540,” Fryauf said. This year’s trash pickup is October 19.
The third, required service event is the annual fall Tau Beta Pi canned food drive, Let’s Can Hunger, which takes place October 25-29. All collected food will be donated to the local NWA foodbank, to help feed families in need in the region.
“There are two parts to our canned food drive: the neighborhood door-to-door food drive, and the inter-departmental food drive competition that the engineering departments compete in,” he said. “The recipient of our donated food changes from year to year, and this year we are partnering with Students of Free Enterprise (SIFE) and Campbell Soup Company.”
In addition to the service events, President Fryauf plans to add several social events to the TBP calendar, including a few pizza-and-ice cream dinners and a baseball game tailgate party.
The end of the spring semester brings the traditional Spring Banquet, which includes all active members, new initiates, and family members, to recognize the individual member accomplishments.
Tau Beta Pi Officers for the 2010-2011 school year are equally divided between juniors and seniors, but the majority of the officers have been members for at least one semester.
President Fryauf, Vice President Thomas Rembert and Treasurer L. Patrick Doyle are electrical engineering majors.
Recording Secretary Rachel Townsley and Program Chair Natassia Taylor are industrial engineering majors.
Corresponding Secretary Stanislav Boboyvch and Service Chair Andrew Tackett are Computer Engineering majors and Initiate Trainer Kristin Gangluff is a Mechanical Engineering major.
In addition to the typical officers of an organization (pres., v.p., secretary), Tau Beta Pi has an Initiate Trainer, to help new members get started on TBP activities. “The initiate trainer is responsible for all communication and assistance given to the students who have chosen to become members of Tau Beta Pi,” Fryauf said.
This is no simple task for an organization with a distinguished membership and a hefty list of requirements for initiation.
Not only is the Initiate Trainer responsibility to account for the member requirements (participation in service events, social events, member plaques, signatures), she also offers assistance to the initiates if they need help.
Tau Beta Pi Chief Adviser is Dr. Alan Mantooth of the Electrical Engineering department. He earned his electrical engineering bachelor and masters degrees from the University of Arkansas, then secured his PhD from the Georgia Institute of Technology . Mantooth provides strong leadership, with much experience in device modeling, published articles and multiple patents on software architecture and algorithms for modeling tools, in addition to titles of 1996 Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Analogy, 1999 Eta Kappa Nu Outstanding Electrical Engineering Faculty Award and the Arkansas Academy of Electrical Engineers Outstanding Faculty Award 1999-2000, Outstanding Teacher in Electrical Engineering in 2000-2001.
Even still, Mantooth is not alone in guiding Tau Beta Pi. There are an additional four official advisers of TBP. TBP members are chosen for distinguished qualities and at the University of Arkansas, the membership has seen a steep rise.
“For the past several years, our active student membership has been around 70,” Fryauf said. “We are always striving to increase this number, and we have an initiation class of 37 this semester, which is the highest we have seen in years."
EWB Fundraising
October 6, 2010
EWB discussed a number of fundraising ideas in the past two meetings. This is the most basic level of the organization, since most activities are within a travelling distance and require funds.
Nerd Club, Engineer Date Night, various t-shirt designs for retail, pancake dinners, chili cookoffs and company donations are priority on the fundraising ideas list.
In the “Nerd Club” event, $10 tickets would be sold for an evening of pizza, soda and video-game-playing in a large public area, like a cafeteria or gym. Members discussed finding a location and put off the rest of the details for another meeting.
EWB would like to sell a few t-shirts of varying themes. Some members suggested ideas that would be safe marketing, such as placing a Razorback logo on event tees.
The Engineer Date Night will most likely have a T-shirt, but members also discussed t-shirts with lists, such as “Top 10 Reasons to be an Engineer” and “Top 10 Ways Engineers Save the World.”
Other members will focus on requesting donations from large companies, such as J.B. Hunt and Walmart.
“There are ways to donate to the RSO,” said Thomas Soerens, professor of civil engineering and supervisor of the student chapter.
He emphasized that the process of donation might vary depending on the source, amount or type of donation, but that the money would find its way to EWB if someone was willing to donate.
If you have any ideas for EWB fundraising, let us know by commenting on this note!
EWB discussed a number of fundraising ideas in the past two meetings. This is the most basic level of the organization, since most activities are within a travelling distance and require funds.
Nerd Club, Engineer Date Night, various t-shirt designs for retail, pancake dinners, chili cookoffs and company donations are priority on the fundraising ideas list.
In the “Nerd Club” event, $10 tickets would be sold for an evening of pizza, soda and video-game-playing in a large public area, like a cafeteria or gym. Members discussed finding a location and put off the rest of the details for another meeting.
EWB would like to sell a few t-shirts of varying themes. Some members suggested ideas that would be safe marketing, such as placing a Razorback logo on event tees.
The Engineer Date Night will most likely have a T-shirt, but members also discussed t-shirts with lists, such as “Top 10 Reasons to be an Engineer” and “Top 10 Ways Engineers Save the World.”
Other members will focus on requesting donations from large companies, such as J.B. Hunt and Walmart.
“There are ways to donate to the RSO,” said Thomas Soerens, professor of civil engineering and supervisor of the student chapter.
He emphasized that the process of donation might vary depending on the source, amount or type of donation, but that the money would find its way to EWB if someone was willing to donate.
If you have any ideas for EWB fundraising, let us know by commenting on this note!
Intro to the NWA Chapter of Engineers Without Borders
What is EWB?
Engineers Without Borders is an organization that puts engineering skills to use- to help disadvantaged communities. EWB focuses especially on sanitation and clean drinking water. There is something for everyone to do to help.
We have the power.
In EWB, there are professional chapters and student chapters. We’re the only student chapter in Arkansas and there is one professional chapter starting in Little Rock. There are many groups in Oklahoma, which is a great networking opportunity.
Who does EWB need?
We need everybody.
Our projects will include well building, so we need people that know how to use water and how to bring it up.
The projects and trips take money, so we also need people to generate fund-raising ideas.
“We can always use medical, nursing and biology students. But the majority of the work is fundraising and labor. We need people ready to do designs,” said Ben Mart, Engineers Without Borders project leader.
In this organization, “we lose so many people with the word ‘engineer,’ but we can use anybody.”
Trips-
November Regional EWB meeting, a weekend trip to SMU
The Northwest Arkansas chapter of EWB began in 2006 under the wings of a student, Julianna Jones. Now that she has graduated, she’s involved in another chapter within the same region and will attend this particular meeting.
“The regional meeting at SMU in Dallas is the easiest, most convenient trip we can make,” said Thomas Soerens, professor of civil engineering and general supervisor of the student chapter. “The past year and a half, the student chapter has been having meetings. We paid our $400 EWB student fee a year ago and sent a student team to the national EWB meeting this past spring.”
“We’ve had $500 donated to us, which should cover everyone for the regional meeting expense to SMU in November, depending on how many want to come,” Marts said.
The Belize Project—in two parts
1st Belize Trip in December or January
The initial trip to Belize is to secure a pump from the water tower to local bathrooms and do some plumbing. This will last five or six days during the winter break.
The local water tower was built by the European Union, but they left without securing a pump, even though all the electrical parts are hooked up.
“It’s real common for the government to put up the well, then the town doesn’t have money to keep it running,” Marts said. “School bathrooms and showers are ten feet from the water tower, but are unusable because there is no pump bringing the water from the tower to the restrooms.”
On this trip, “there is no lack of tasks for this expedition. It will be a matter of choosing tasks.”
2nd Belize Trip during Spring Break
EWB commitments are to the church of the town, who will pay for the electricity for the pump put in place and the school, (but) members are still unsure who owns the rights to the tower.
EWB members must contact the village elder for permission before digging and placing PVC pipe.
This trip will include about two days of looking at (assessing) the projects; three days of work and one day of relaxation.
The trip costs $1500 per person and will cover a plane ticket that costs between $600 and $700 (after a large-group discount); $150 for travel insurance and the rest goes largely to supplies because food and lodging are low-cost.
General:
“I went to the International Conference in Denver and a trip to Belize during a summer class project. It lit the fire, we have contacts…it’s a snowball-effect,” Marts said.
Marts experienced culture shock as he realized difference in dress code, valued items and lifestyles.
“The dress code in Belize is different. Girls wear skirts half way up the thigh, even when playing soccer,” he said. “People in Belize hang all important (objects) on their wall. Usually the most expensive things in the house are pots and pans.”
In Belize, a typical house will have a hammock in the corner, a bed along the wall, a clothesline across the room, pots and pans on the wall in one corner and a fireplace.
EWB officers mentioned more benefits of a trip to Belize, in addition to helping disadvantaged communities.
“Belize has the second largest reef. On these trips, during the break you can swim, snorkel…feed birds while on a boat and see the Mayan ruins,” Marts said. “It is $1500 per person, which includes transportation, food and shelter. This does not include air conditioning.”
Engineers Without Borders Officer Election
EWB Officer Election, September 29, 2010
The Northwest Arkansas chapter of Engineers Without Borders elected a new set of officers for the 2010-2011 school year and organized the first few, local projects.
Elections for President and Vice President had two candidates each, while the positions secretary, treasurer, international project chair, local project chair and website manager had only one candidate running for each officer position.
Even still, the candidates without opponents were not automatically instated to the organization. They were asked to share briefly why he or she is the best person for the job.
Nikki Lorenz, Engineers Without Borders Vice President-2010, ran for presidency and won.
“I’ve been here basically since we started EWB two years ago. So, I know what works and what doesn’t,” she said. “I know what we have to do to get funding from ASG, which sounds really simple but it’s not.”
Aside from having skill sets pertaining to EWB specifically, Lorenz said she would work hard for the organization on all levels.
“I think I’m reliable and easy to get in touch with. If you email me, I’ll be pretty quick to respond,” Lorenz said. “I plan to work really hard. No matter what (officer I am), I just enjoy working with this organization.”
International Project Chair, Ben Marts worked with Lorenz on several projects in EWB last year.
“Anytime something needs to be done, she’s been there,” Marts said. “I don’t know how she does it—I couldn’t. But anytime we have something going on, she’s right there, reminding me.”
Zach Beaver ran for Engineers Without Borders presidency against Nikki Lorenz.
“I’m not opposed to co-presidency,” Beaver said.
However, he did come to the meeting with a strong presidential campaign.
“I have a strong work ethic. I’ve tutored at an elementary school… In high school, I ran Students Taking Action Today,” he said. Beaver explained that Students Taking Action Today is an organization helping younger students understand the national elections.
“I also raised $10,000 for a band trip,” he said. “I just really want to make a difference.”
Beaver was not established as a co-president because the organization found him as a valuable resource for fundraising and named him the Fundraising Chair of EWB. With this title, Beaver will organize fundraising events based on all the ideas generated from the group and contribute valuable information from his past experiences.
Sebastian Mena ran for Vice President against Cody LaBarber.
“I’ve been working for four years in Miami, on my own business. I know Spanish and French. I’d make a good addition for Engineers Without Borders,” Mena said.
Opponent LaBarber had a broader focus to his ambitions as Vice President.
“I want to get involved and I think it’d be cool to help the president out,” LaBarber said.
EWB members agreed that both Mena and LaBarber have very different skill sets, both of which are vital to the organization. The organization voted Mena and LaBarber into a co-vice presidency, to which the candidates seemed glad to accept.
Jenny Doyle ran for EWB Secretary unopposed.
“I would like to be your secretary because I already have all of your emails added into my account and all the notes from EWB meetings from the past two years,” she said.
After a light-hearted chuckle from EWB members, she was voted in unanimously.
Gavin Smith ran for EWB Treasurer unopposed and was voted in. Smith said his experience working with a property manager outside of the states earned him the expertise necessary to be EWB Treasurer.
Ben Marts ran for International Project Chair, unopposed. He explained that he had a headstart on the international projects because of his involvement in a service project in Belize over the summer, along with his other EWB involvement.
Marts was voted into International Project Chairman.
Sarah Beth Dalby ran for Local Project Chair, also unopposed.
“I’m a junior engineering student,” Dalby said. “I’d like to get involved and I’m already going to the cleanup on Saturday, so I’m ready to get started.”
Dalby was voted in unanimously as Local Project Chair.
Halley Malle ran unopposed for NWA Engineers Without Borders Website Manager.
“I’m a senior engineering student and I built the website last year, so I’m planning to continue that this year,” she said. EWB members voted Malle to keep her position as Website Manager.
The next NWA EWB events are participation in the Lee Creek Cleanup at 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. on October 2, at Devil’s Den State Park, selecting a service project for Make a Difference Day on October 16 and the EWB Regional Conference in Dallas on November 15.
Students wishing to participate in these events should let officers know as soon as possible. They can reach President Nikki Lorenz at nlorenz@uark.edu.
The Northwest Arkansas chapter of Engineers Without Borders elected a new set of officers for the 2010-2011 school year and organized the first few, local projects.
Elections for President and Vice President had two candidates each, while the positions secretary, treasurer, international project chair, local project chair and website manager had only one candidate running for each officer position.
Even still, the candidates without opponents were not automatically instated to the organization. They were asked to share briefly why he or she is the best person for the job.
Nikki Lorenz, Engineers Without Borders Vice President-2010, ran for presidency and won.
“I’ve been here basically since we started EWB two years ago. So, I know what works and what doesn’t,” she said. “I know what we have to do to get funding from ASG, which sounds really simple but it’s not.”
Aside from having skill sets pertaining to EWB specifically, Lorenz said she would work hard for the organization on all levels.
“I think I’m reliable and easy to get in touch with. If you email me, I’ll be pretty quick to respond,” Lorenz said. “I plan to work really hard. No matter what (officer I am), I just enjoy working with this organization.”
International Project Chair, Ben Marts worked with Lorenz on several projects in EWB last year.
“Anytime something needs to be done, she’s been there,” Marts said. “I don’t know how she does it—I couldn’t. But anytime we have something going on, she’s right there, reminding me.”
Zach Beaver ran for Engineers Without Borders presidency against Nikki Lorenz.
“I’m not opposed to co-presidency,” Beaver said.
However, he did come to the meeting with a strong presidential campaign.
“I have a strong work ethic. I’ve tutored at an elementary school… In high school, I ran Students Taking Action Today,” he said. Beaver explained that Students Taking Action Today is an organization helping younger students understand the national elections.
“I also raised $10,000 for a band trip,” he said. “I just really want to make a difference.”
Beaver was not established as a co-president because the organization found him as a valuable resource for fundraising and named him the Fundraising Chair of EWB. With this title, Beaver will organize fundraising events based on all the ideas generated from the group and contribute valuable information from his past experiences.
Sebastian Mena ran for Vice President against Cody LaBarber.
“I’ve been working for four years in Miami, on my own business. I know Spanish and French. I’d make a good addition for Engineers Without Borders,” Mena said.
Opponent LaBarber had a broader focus to his ambitions as Vice President.
“I want to get involved and I think it’d be cool to help the president out,” LaBarber said.
EWB members agreed that both Mena and LaBarber have very different skill sets, both of which are vital to the organization. The organization voted Mena and LaBarber into a co-vice presidency, to which the candidates seemed glad to accept.
Jenny Doyle ran for EWB Secretary unopposed.
“I would like to be your secretary because I already have all of your emails added into my account and all the notes from EWB meetings from the past two years,” she said.
After a light-hearted chuckle from EWB members, she was voted in unanimously.
Gavin Smith ran for EWB Treasurer unopposed and was voted in. Smith said his experience working with a property manager outside of the states earned him the expertise necessary to be EWB Treasurer.
Ben Marts ran for International Project Chair, unopposed. He explained that he had a headstart on the international projects because of his involvement in a service project in Belize over the summer, along with his other EWB involvement.
Marts was voted into International Project Chairman.
Sarah Beth Dalby ran for Local Project Chair, also unopposed.
“I’m a junior engineering student,” Dalby said. “I’d like to get involved and I’m already going to the cleanup on Saturday, so I’m ready to get started.”
Dalby was voted in unanimously as Local Project Chair.
Halley Malle ran unopposed for NWA Engineers Without Borders Website Manager.
“I’m a senior engineering student and I built the website last year, so I’m planning to continue that this year,” she said. EWB members voted Malle to keep her position as Website Manager.
The next NWA EWB events are participation in the Lee Creek Cleanup at 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. on October 2, at Devil’s Den State Park, selecting a service project for Make a Difference Day on October 16 and the EWB Regional Conference in Dallas on November 15.
Students wishing to participate in these events should let officers know as soon as possible. They can reach President Nikki Lorenz at nlorenz@uark.edu.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Back to the Future in Feature
The future of journalism is a very ambiguous topic, something that can’t be well defined. I think it won’t differ much from the transformation of many other things, in that journalists will need to continually learn, to constantly be trained to keep up with what works to keep the art of journalism alive. Just as teachers have workshops and medics have conferences, journalists will need to transform their skills.
I believe the most successful publications will maintain a balance in writing about what readers want to hear about, entertaining them in a sense and objectively covering those issues that are most important, the world news that should be covered despite what everyone wants to hear because it is the bigger picture; something that might affect readers well after the desired topic is gone.
Search Engine Optimization is, in a sense, defining a part of the news process today, but I could see its popularity going downhill as well. If publications can effectively hook readers into longer stories, those readers might eventually tire of profound articles with too-obvious titles, even if it makes finding them easier.
Reporters can optimize their readership through a number of tactics, many of which entertain the reader. The millenials’ generation places a large emphasis on entertainment, so it is only natural for them to enjoy things more and remember things more easily if they are entertained. For example, high school students may enjoy a particular class because an occasional video is shown. It gets a portion of the job done, informs them, but maybe in a more entertaining way than a lecture would. A college student might choose a church because of the musicians that play during the worship service or the lax rules on dress code and behavior, each of which could be arguably entertaining. The problem might be the expectation of entertainment after so many accommodations.
Student newspapers, such as the Traveler, have an opportunity to hook student readers with entertainment: more graphics, more color, more feature-style articles, but the invisible line separates the newspaper from the next magazine or mindless Web site. The survival of a student newspaper might depend on entertainment, but the reputation of the student newspaper depends on the balance maintained with clear, concise, relevant news.
I hope that my future in journalism lies in writing, primarily. I’m sure that most current journalist positions would entail a lot more than the reporting and writing, so I feel that a large part of the career would be a learning process; something that won’t stop, even after a wide-spread transition of one-function journalists or "writers and reporters only" is made to journalists that produce the entire piece (video, photos, writing, reporting, graphics).
At first, I would be learning a lot more about the video and photography process, possibly creating graphics as well. I’ve had little experience in design and layout, so all these would be new things for me. Part of the allure I found in a print journalist’s job is the constant learning process, whether it is from the technology or from the people I interview.
I believe the most successful publications will maintain a balance in writing about what readers want to hear about, entertaining them in a sense and objectively covering those issues that are most important, the world news that should be covered despite what everyone wants to hear because it is the bigger picture; something that might affect readers well after the desired topic is gone.
Search Engine Optimization is, in a sense, defining a part of the news process today, but I could see its popularity going downhill as well. If publications can effectively hook readers into longer stories, those readers might eventually tire of profound articles with too-obvious titles, even if it makes finding them easier.
Reporters can optimize their readership through a number of tactics, many of which entertain the reader. The millenials’ generation places a large emphasis on entertainment, so it is only natural for them to enjoy things more and remember things more easily if they are entertained. For example, high school students may enjoy a particular class because an occasional video is shown. It gets a portion of the job done, informs them, but maybe in a more entertaining way than a lecture would. A college student might choose a church because of the musicians that play during the worship service or the lax rules on dress code and behavior, each of which could be arguably entertaining. The problem might be the expectation of entertainment after so many accommodations.
Student newspapers, such as the Traveler, have an opportunity to hook student readers with entertainment: more graphics, more color, more feature-style articles, but the invisible line separates the newspaper from the next magazine or mindless Web site. The survival of a student newspaper might depend on entertainment, but the reputation of the student newspaper depends on the balance maintained with clear, concise, relevant news.
I hope that my future in journalism lies in writing, primarily. I’m sure that most current journalist positions would entail a lot more than the reporting and writing, so I feel that a large part of the career would be a learning process; something that won’t stop, even after a wide-spread transition of one-function journalists or "writers and reporters only" is made to journalists that produce the entire piece (video, photos, writing, reporting, graphics).
At first, I would be learning a lot more about the video and photography process, possibly creating graphics as well. I’ve had little experience in design and layout, so all these would be new things for me. Part of the allure I found in a print journalist’s job is the constant learning process, whether it is from the technology or from the people I interview.
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