Every term the Waterloo Engineering Society decides how to spend its member fees in a way that will best benefit Waterloo Engineering students. A budget is composed, and funds are allocated to social events such as a termly trivia competition and professional development events like resume critiques. Undoubtedly these professional and social events benefit our students in numerous ways; one provides essential stress relief, the other helps our members find a Co-Op job. However, there is one type of event whose benefits to our constituents are not as well defined: Community outreach events. Community outreach events do not directly benefit our members, as the Engineering Society is essentially providing a service for the community instead of its constituents. Outreach events, however, have a massive effect on how Waterloo Engineering is perceived by the local Kitchener-Waterloo community, which in turn has a major effect on each one of our students.
Running good Community Outreach events allows the Waterloo Engineering Society to build up a positive rapport with organizations in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. One of the major organizations that Waterloo students routinely volunteer for is The Museum, a children’s’ museum in downtown Kitchener. Over the years the Engineering Society has helped The Museum with their K’NEX bridge building days for elementary students, their Open House where young children were taught the basics of science, and their Discovery Days at Waterloo Square. Through these outreach events Waterloo Engineering was given exposure to hundreds of Kitchener-Waterloo residents, which all came away with a positive feeling about how Waterloo Engineering students impact the local community. THE MUSEUM also views Waterloo Engineering students in a positive light due to these events. Having good relationships with both the residents and community organizations surrounding Waterloo is essential to each one the Society’s members as it allows the Engineering Society to be taken more professionally when it comes to advocating for the needs of students. If you were to look at recent news stories, there are many examples where an Engineering school’s poor community reputation has done them harm.
Community Outreach events also allows Kitchener-Waterloo residents to come and explore what Waterloo Engineering can offer them. Our annual Rube Goldberg building event (taking place in March of this year), is open to the public and is targeted towards elementary and high school students interested in Engineering. Through the Rube Goldberg event, some talented students may be compelled to come and study at the University of Waterloo, making our student body stronger.
One of my goals as VP External this term is to increase the media coverage we receive at our Community Outreach events. I will be contacting local media outlets, both print and television, to get them to cover our events, further strengthening the Engineering Society’s image.
The Winter 2015 term will feature numerous opportunities to get involved in Community Outreach. In March, National Engineering Month will feature our Rube Goldberg Building, CANstruction and Charity Bus Pull events. Throughout the term, Engineering a Difference will be volunteering at various organizations in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. If you are interested in helping out at any or all of these initiatives, please email me at vpexternal.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca
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