Greetings NSBE, As your national chairperson, and dues-paying member, I am extremely excited to see how the upcoming year will unfold. With the closing of another successful year in the life of NSBE, now is the time for us to look forward, focusing on the issues that will continue to strengthen and grow our organization. The 2003-2004 NSBE National Executive Board is committed to you, the individual member, and each of us stand ready to enhance your NSBE experience. Going forward, we will focus on filling the NSBE pipeline�through recruitment and retention�with the following National Directives as our guide: Operational Efficiency: In this area, we will continue to align the organization both vertically and horizontally to best meet our needs and implement our programming. Our programming will be documented and standardized in much the same way a business unit is franchised in order to give NSBE the same feel in each region. Ideally, the difference across the nation will be in the delivery and the touch of regional �flava.� In this way, everyone gets the same �food for thought.� Further, in becoming a more efficient organization, we must focus our attention and activities toward mission-related activities. Member Recruitment: To make more of an impact on our collective communities, we must be committed over the next year to increasing our membership. With a rejuvenated �Strength in Numbers� initiative, we can launch activities to engage additional pre-college students and alumni members, develop plans to target community college students, and participate in community advocacy and program development. Leadership Development: Our experiences as NSBE leaders should empower us with a new and specific skill set. We will attempt to identify and codify the skill set that is relevant for each leadership position, and refine these positions to ensure that officeholders gain expertise from their leadership experiences. Industry will be able to identify leadership positions and levels with certain skill sets that should result in enhanced resume visibility. Cultural Enrichment: As we attempt to become a larger part of our collective communities, we must immerse ourselves�and our neighbors�in the beauty (and the tragedy) of black history, with a focus on black technical contributions. We hope to establish enrichment outlets such as general session foci on black inventors, black technology museums, cultural speakers, etc., all with the intent of raising our consciousness and awareness in our communities. Sincerely, Mario Church II National Chairperson National Society of Black Engineers
