Executive Director's Message

In today’s whirlwind society we do not get many chances to even think about professional and personal development, but as a member of NSEE you have that at your finger tips. If we don’t invest in ourselves now, we will have to pay for it later. So no matter how busy you are, schedule time to be that constant learner. You don’t want to be the person who is passed by because you didn’t take the time to develop your skills, such as leadership, communication, strategic thinking and experiencing the experience. Where can you learn all this? NSEE, just look at our mission!

Next I guess you will ask, well ok, but how do I do all this when I am busy and I can’t afford the time from work or away from home? You just ask. If you have one of those bosses who is hard to ask, prepare yourself by putting together the facts of why going to an educational session/ conference will benefit you as an employee, which will then benefit your institution. Most of the times if you have the reasoning behind the question the answer will be yes. And if the answer is no, well you tried and you keep on trying.

I just recently read and article on-line titled “Why Should I Attend”. It was really geared toward why you as an individual should attend, but many of the reasons could be used when preparing those facts for the boss, like:

• Don’t want to be left behind in the industry and through active learning and commitment to the profession, I can stay ahead of the curve
• By being a member of an association I can save on educational cost, since these programs are designed to provide professional education to a group and I am not being educated as an individual.
• Because an association is designed for a specific industry the program normally is designed to keep “me” up-to-date on trends so I can help the institution operate more effectively and efficiently.

It is hard to take time away from work and I know I could learn it by reading about it, but networking is an invaluable tool. I can seek out others that have ideas that would help me grow in my position by hearing their techniques or obtaining their contacts, along with sharing my own. Conversing and making friends of fellow counterparts is what it is really all about. By the way, that is called networking, if you want the fancy term, which is one of my favorite things to do.

Making time for yourself today will keep you competitive in the future. The best way to do that is by being a member of NSEE and attending our Annual Conference, attending Regional Workshop or having your institution become a Strategic Partner!

See you at a meeting soon.