The Chesapeake Section Young Professionals (YP) group
strives to keep young members engaged in SNAME. Mixing a social aspect in with
industry-related opportunities, monthly events include movie nights, museum
tours, and engineering-related community outreach projects.
Movies have included
Poseidon, The Abyss, and the Discovery Channel’s Destroyer: Forged in
Steel. They were selected to offer
some technical information and some entertaining interpretations of physics by
the movie industry. Social events
attempted to offer networking opportunities with other local societies, such as
Kings Point alumni. A group tour at the
maritime exhibit, "On the Water," at the National Museum of
American History had a good turnout, with interest in similar activities to
follow.
The YPs have also made
an effort to participate in community outreach, particularly in
engineering-related programs to encourage students to start thinking about the
maritime industry as an option from a young age. The Chesapeake YPs volunteered for the Prince
William County Public Schools’ third annual SeaPerch Competition, supported the
Teaching with Small Boats Conference, and served as judges for the Center City
Public Charter School Science Fair. They
will also participate in Alexandria Seaport Foundation volunteer activities
this month, with potential for on-going involvement.
How have you engaged YPs in your section? What would you, as either a YP or a Member, like to see organized that would draw your interest?