A Message From the Alumni Extension Chair
For the U.S. positions with NSBE sponsors who are seek-
work force, and ing a talent pool of diverse technical talent to
those about to hire. Hot Jobs provides a twofold benefit to
join it, the current AE members, by providing jobs and by provid-
economy is the ing sponsorship for AE programs. At the same
severest possible time, the AE Arsenal Bulletin is introducing the
test of foresight in Alumni Executive Board and its goals to the
choosing a career. membership.
In this regard — • To increase Alumni visibility and NSBE National-
at least among AE International collaboration, NSBE-AE has devel-
members — sci- oped Facebook, Linked-In and Twitter pages.
ence, technology, These enable members to network with each
engineering and other between NSBE conferences.
math (STEM) has • To increase participation in our programs and
turned out to be a to enhance professional/technical achieve-
wise choice. While industries and professions across ment among our members, we are taking
the board have seen increases in unemployment dur-
steps that include streamlining the Professional
ing this deep economic downturn, a good majority of
Development Conferences, benchmarking
AE members remain secure in their careers, supported
our chapters’ Pre-College Initiative Tutorial
by their solid work histories and professional track
Programs for high school students and investi-
records.
gating strategic partnerships to aid in increas-
ing the number of African Americans with PE/
Of course, this is not to say that all is well in the
FE certifications.
workplace. Many NSBE Alumni who remain employed
• To develop and generate additional revenue,
have voiced concerns about current moves within
we are executing the NSBEpreneur program
Corporate America to disregard the value of diversity.
and gathering data about technical business
We also hear strong voices from the minority of our
owners to create a database of potential
members who have been negatively affected by the
minority-owned suppliers.
downturn, either personally or by association.
• Moreover, metrics created by Njema J. Frazier,
Ph.D., national AE chair emeritus, are helping
But perhaps most telling about the size of the
substantiate the goals established by the AEB
challenges we face are our membership numbers. As
this year. These metrics will be reflected within
of October 2009, membership is up 20 percent from a
the Chapter Development Program (CDP) to, at
year earlier. Past and prospective members, faced with
the least, establish starting points for accom-
pocketbook issues, are choosing to join AE in record
plishment in the areas being measured.
numbers, even as they re prioritize their financial and
time commitments. Implicit in that choice is a silent
It is up to all of us — leaders as well as rank-and-
demand that NSBE-AE show them its true value.
file — to make the remainder of this program year an
unprecedented success for NSBE-AE, in community
Clearly, this is not the time to be halfhearted about
service, in mentorship and in professional networking.
NSBE’s mission. To meet our new, larger challenges,
In doing so, we will show the world what our organiza-
NSBE-AE is creating new programs and initiatives:
tion is truly worth.
• The AE Hot Jobs publications and AE Arsenal
Bulletin are addressing membership develop-
ment. Hot Jobs communicates and markets
4 • Alumni Arsenal | November 2009 The Official Magazine of the NSBE Alumni Extension
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