RCR/RCNE Elections

To:                  SWE Collegiate Members

Cc:                  RCRs/RCNEs and Region Governors 

From:               Pam Snyder, RCR/RCNE Coordinator, 
                       Jennifer Vallero RCR/RCNE Coordinator Elect, 
                       Charleen Laughlin Senator Transition Team, 
                       Jessica Flasche Senator Transition Team

 Date:              December 11, 2008

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Collegiate Members,
The time to start thinking about Region Collegiate Leadership positions for next year has arrived.  This is a great opportunity to take your leadership experience to another level in SWE.  We would like to take this opportunity to tell you more about the Region Collegiate Representative (RCR) and Region Collegiate Newsletter Editor (RCNE) positions and the changes coming in FY10. In addition to RCR and RCNE positions, the COR has approved a new collegiate leadership role - the Senator.

SENATOR
At National Conference this year the Council of Representatives (COR) voted to create the position of collegiate Senator, one to serve in each of the ten regions. Senators will serve on the National Senate (the new body in FY10 replacing the current COR).

What does the Senator do?

• The Senator is a vital collegiate voice within the Region and to National leaders in SWE. 
• Serve as the collegiate voice for the region on the National Senate. They will help set the direction for the society working with 2 Professional Senators from the 10 Region, 2 International Senators, and 2 Special Directors. 
• Attend 2 face-to-face Senate meetings at National Conference and in the spring, as well as monthly conference calls.
• Trained with the other Senators

What does it take to be Senator?

• Member of SWE for at least 2 years and in good standing
• Be a collegiate member during term (graduate or undergraduate)
• Have been in a leadership role in their section, region or national SWE.  Acceptable leadership roles:
  • Officer at any level
  • Committee chair at section level
  • Committee member at regional and/or national level
• Have attended at least one regional or national conference
• Good Academic Standing

How/When Do I Apply?

Elections for Senator are unique from those for RCR/RCNE and will follow the timeline outlined below.   

RCR
There will continue to be 2 RCRs in Regions with more than 1,000 collegiate members by Dec 31^st 2008.  Right now this includes regions D, E, and H.  Several other regions are very close and could need 2 RCRs when numbers are final on December 31^st 2008. 

So great we have more RCRs, but what do they do?

• Vital collegiate voice within the Region and to Region leaders in SWE. 
• Serves on Region Council as the voting collegiate member for the region. 
• Serves on the Region Collegiate Team working to make sure collegiate and section interest and concerns are discussed among the region leadership and plans are made to improve the region collegiate experience. 
• Prepares the Collegiate Report to the Governor 3 times a year after collecting Collegiate Section Reports.  In regions with 2 RCRs sections will be split between the 2.
• Leads the Collegiate sections of the Region meeting at the National and Regional Conferences.
• Works with other RCRs and RCNEs on yearly goals to improve the collegiate experience in SWE.
• Attends Collegiate Leadership Forum (CLF) in the summer to receive Leadership and SWE Training. 

What does it take to be RCR?

• 2 Years in SWE
• Current Paid Member
• Collegiate Member in FY10 (Graduate or Undergraduate Member)
• Good Academic Standing
• Interest in getting involved in SWE at Regional and National Level
• Ability to Travel (CLF - paid, National - some help available in some regions, Region Conference - some help available in some regions)

RCNE
There is 1 RCNE in each region.  They maintain the Region Collegiate Blogs and support the RCR(s).

So what does the RCNE do?

• Maintain the Region Collegiate Blog, by working with the Region Web Master, Region Governor, RCR and Collegiate Sections.
• Write and Post Monthly Hot Topics on the Blog - Topics could include Membership, Fund raising, Rewarding Members, Program Ideas, etc.  You don't have to know all the answers there will be resource to help write these.
• Work with Collegiate Sections to get 2 postings/articles a year from each section.
• Serves on the Region Collegiate Team working to make sure collegiate and section interest and concerns are discussed among the region leadership and plans are made to improve the region collegiate experience. 
• Prepares Report to the Governor 3 times a year updating the Governor on the blog, region collegiate team and other happenings.
• Works with other RCRs and RCNEs on yearly goals to improve the collegiate experience in SWE.
• Attends Collegiate Leadership Forum (CLF) in the summer to receive Leadership and SWE Training.   

What does it take to be RCNE?

• 2 Years in SWE
• Current Paid Member
• Collegiate Member in FY10 (Graduate or Undergraduate Member)
• Good Academic Standing
• Interest in getting involved in SWE at Regional and National Level
• Ability to Travel (CLF - paid, National - some help available in some regions, Region Conference - some help available in some Regions)

How/When Do I Apply?

As many of you know Region Collegiate Representative (RCR) and Region Collegiate Newsletter Editor (RCNE) election occur during Region Conference in the spring.  Applications will be coming out from National ~ 2 months before each Region conference and need to be completed 3 weeks before conference, see the Region Schedule below.  

* # of RCR will be based on collegiate membership as of 12/31/08.  Regions with 1 RCR could increase to 2 if collegiate membership in the region increases over 1,000. 

More Questions
If you have more questions, please contact your current RCR or RCNE, Region Governor, or any of us.

Pam Snyder, RCR/RNCE Coordinator
Jennifer Vallero, RCR/RCNE Coordinator Elect     
Charleen Laughlin , Senator Transition Team
Jessica Flasche, Senator Transition Team

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Society of Women Engineers
230 E. Ohio St., Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60611
312-596-5223; fax 312-596-5252

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