5:30 PM:
Another intense day! We had over 200 girls at the “Invent It! Build It!” event. They seemed to have a great time and we adults had a great time working with them. They did 3 Design Squad activities – Pop Fly, Kick Start, and Electric Gameboard. I can’t begin to tell you how much duct tape we went through! One highlight was a keynote address by Judy Lee. You may know her from the “Engineer Your Life” website where she is featured in a video clip. Judy is the co-host of a new PBS show called “Design Squad Nation” that premiers in January on PBS. Look for it.
I got to the convention center at 6:30 AM to start setting up and got back to my hotel at 5:00 PM. It was well worth the time and energy involved. I set a new record for myself at this convention – I went to ZERO sessions, one tour and one meeting. Part of that was because we tried to see the shuttle on Friday, but mainly it was due to preparing for IIBI. The first year you do something, it always takes more effort.
It will happen again next year in Chicago. If you come to conference, please consider being involved.
10:30 EDT/9:30 EST PM:
Back from “Celebrate SWE” and ready to sleep. On top of everything, it is time change tonight.
Good news! Wichita won the Communications Award for our Website. Way to go, Kim!
The day started out on a high note. They were fueling the shuttle and we had a car. Everyone was excited as we hit the road to the Kennedy Space Center. About an hour later & 10 miles from the Visitor Center, Cindy decided to check for updates….It was scrubbed!!! And scrubbed until November 30th!
BUMMER!!!
We proceeded along and spent several hours at the visitor center. It was my first time and maybe Cindy’s. We took pictures galore, gaped at the rockets, climbed up to see the shuttle mockup, and much more. Astronaut Encounter was neat. Usually it is just one astronaut who talks about her/his experiences. Today there were 4….Former shuttle astronaut Jon McBride, current astronaut James Reilly (who was the duty astronaut) and former shuttle astronauts Tammy Jernigan and Jeff Wishoff who spoke on working at Lawrence Livermore Labs and what’s up with the National Ignition Facility (more later). That briefing was better than many sessions.
We wandered back to the hotels about 3:30 PM. Marsha, Jess and Cindy had to get beautiful for the Awards Banquet. Allison & I did our own thing. First we went out for seafood at McCormick’s & Schmick’s. It was very good once we found it. After getting lost a couple times, we had to circle this huge mall and avoid several valet parking areas before we got there. Once we were full, Allison took me to IKEA – my very first time. We finished off the evening in the whirlpool at my hotel. It was a little cool outside, but the water felt great. I’ll bet the others didn’t have as much fun.
It proved to be a complicated day. I woke up at 6:30 – way before my usual time – so I decided to check on the shuttle. Today it is a weather delay. The good part of that is that Cindy can do Friday, so cross your fingers!
It also means that I can do my tour of NAVAIR and that I should go to the Region I meeting. Also, we will be here for the Career Fair opening.
I should be writing up instructions for the materials people for Saturday. More later…..
5:30 PM:
The NAVAIR tour was fun. This facility is the Training Systems Division which is responsible for designing and supporting all the Navy’s simulation training. They took us into the “Dome Room” which had a huge curved screen with this amazing simulation of a KC-135 doing a refueling mission. If you weren’t careful, you could get motion sickness. We even had a Rear Admiral as an escort.
I barley got back when Kate, National Girl Scouts, jumped me. Our goodie bags for “Invent It! Build It!” finally showed up. We did some final materials work and packed everything in sturdy boxes for when they move it Saturday. After that, we set up an assembly line and packed about 275 bags in a very short time. SWE volunteers are amazing. Ladies just came up and asked if they could help.
Right now, Kathleen, Marsha and I are waiting outside the Career Fair. Let the stuff collecting begin!!!!
8:30 PM:
I’m bushed. Career Fair is over for the night. Marsha & I hit it hard hoping that we will be gone tomorrow watching the shuttle. The plan is to check in the morning and if it’s a go…Cindy, Marsha, Jess and I hit the road between 8 and 8:30 AM. We all passed on the hospitality suites tonight. It was not worth the trouble. Nothing in this place is close and even with shuttles there is a LOT of walking.
Very busy day today. Marsha & I walked the nature trail here at the condo. Lots of palms & ferns, no alligators. Hurray!!!!!
Next was a run to Wal-Mart for candy for the region meetings. Colleen & Cindy are planning to give everyone sugar shock.
We finally made it to the pool after lunch. It was hard hanging out, reading and networking.
The next big problem to solve was how we get 6 people, a ton of luggage to two hotels tomorrow morning in a car that fits 4 and still have Cindy and Colleen make their conference calls. First shuttle run is 8:30 tomorrow.
Region govenor giving you trouble? Feed her to the shark!
We spent today at Universal Studios theme park. Jess rode the Jess rode the Rocket roller coaster, but I was chicken. We had a lot of fun. The other ladies are staying until Midnight for a special Halloween event. Wandering around for 6+ hours was enough for me.
I did get one thing on my wish list checked off…Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville!!! It is in the Universal City Walk area – a mall just outside the actual parks. I had my dinner, a couple of margaritas and bought a t-shirt. Parrotheads forever!!!
Marsha got in today. we are sitting around planning a busy Monday by the pool.
One thing we plan to do is connect with Kathleen Callanan, the first president of our Section & a charter member. She arrives Tuesday and we are going to track her down.
I made it! I left Wichita this morning at 6:20 wearing a long sleeved shirt and a jacket. I’ve switched to a tshirt and am wishing I could wear shorts!
It’s a beautiful day, only slightly clouded by the fact that the shuttle launch has now moved to Wednesday. We’ll just have to play it by ear.
Colleen and I are here early.
We’ll get the rest of the gang at the airport around 6.
My only travel issue came as we were sitting in the 737 at
Atlanta about 20 minutes after our scheduled departure time. The pilot came on the intercom to apologize about the delay. Aparrently “…the take-off numbers had come back wrong and they were working to solve the problem.” We were an hour late leaving Atlanta.
2012 Society of Women Engineers Wichita Area Section I05 PO Box 1096 Wichita, KS 67201 E-mail: Wichita@swe.org
This non-profit organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
