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Mother-Daughter Day A few years ago I was the keynote speaker at a Mother-Daughter Day in Michigan. The day started with everyone attending my talk and then the girls went with college students to do engineering projects while the moms got to listen to me again. I gave my “Grow your own Engineer” talk and we discussed my 10-step program. We laughed as these moms envisioned trying to encourage their teenagers towards an engineering career. The girls and moms had a happy reunion in a few hours and they got to hear more stories of real-life engineers and all the possibilities that an engineering degree affords. It was one of the best events that I had ever attended because it seemed that every girl left with the very best impression of what engineers do and how they fit into the profession. Last weekend I happily participated in another Mother-Daughter Day and again, it was a remarkable event. The day was put on by The Center of Excellence for Materials and Process Development at Edmonds Community College and the Center of Excellence for Marine Manufacturing & Technology at Skagit Valley College in Washington State. Originally, the event was scheduled for October but there were no registrants. Feeling disappointed but still believing that mothers and daughters would be ecstatic to attend, the centers rescheduled it for February 7. Ann Avery, the Director of the Center of Excellence for Marine Manufacturing & Technology at Skagit Valley College Whidbey Island Campus contacted the Girl Scouts and Mary Kaye Bredeson, the director for the Center of Excellence for Materials and Process Development at Edmonds Community College gave an interview on their local radio and television shows and advertised to all the local schools. Hoping to get 40 girls and their mothers, she was soon overwhelmed with the response. At 60 girls, she began turning people away. The night before the event, worried that people would just show up, she was very alarmed to receive emails from people on Craigslist saying that they also wanted to come. When the room seemed like it wouldn’t hold another person, we closed the doors and got busy with problem solving activities, engineering quizzes, building hovercrafts and shooting rockets. By the end of the day, the girls wanted to have engineering project birthday parties, the moms were delighted and we were exhausted. One mom told me that her daughter enjoyed the day so much, she thanked her mom for bringing her. That, in itself, was cause for celebration. Of course, even though we were exhausted, we were already planning how to hold another event! I was told that if you are planning an engineering workshop for girls, never overlook the Girl Scout in your advertising plans. We didn’t directly offer a badge but it’s my understanding that many professional societies such as the Society of Women Engineers and the ASME offer a Girl Scout engineering badge or patch. This is a great opportunity to collaborate, investigate and have a fantastic event with eager participants. If you are looking for more information about holding an event, don’t hesitate to drop me a line. If you are holding an event, what are you doing to make it successful? What would you say is the secret to your success? -- Posted by Celeste Baine on February 10, 2009 Talkback Post your comments to Mother-Daughter Day |
