About Us

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Section
​History

The SWE Central New Mexico (SWE CNM) section received its charter on December 5, 1988. A small group of SWE members living and working in the area took the initiative and decided to pursue the creation of a new SWE section in central New Mexico. The section began as a subsection (serving the Albuquerque area) of the Southwest Section based in Phoenix, Arizona. The documentation shows that the Albuquerque Southwest Subsection started meeting as early as July 1987. Before then, in September 1986, Deborah McIver, who later became the section’s first Vice-President, wrote a letter to Mary Shewmaker in Phoenix, soliciting approval and support for the new section.  Later, in February 1987, to gage interest, Deborah wrote a letter to SWE Members in the area. That same year in August, another letter, also soliciting support from the Southwest Section Officers was written and sent by Jan Williams. Below are copies of all three letters.

Deborah McIver’s Letter to Mary Shewmaker
Deborah McIver’s Letter to SWE Members in the Area
Jan William’s Letter to Southwest Section Officers

Documented in the July 1987 meeting notes, the attendees, Stephanie Kuzio, Deborah McIver, Robin Ross and Margie Whipple (Tatro) brainstormed possible section activities which included “judging and giving awards at the local science fairs; distributing scholarship applications and supporting the local student sections; giving Student Achievement Awards; organizing career guidance activities; and having meetings with technical seminars, professional workshops, and social functions.” It’s interesting to note that after 20 years, some of the same activities are still pursued by the section.
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In September, the first dinner/speaker meeting was attended by 17 women. Bi-monthly meetings continued to occur and in February 1988, the group decided it was time to start thinking about petitioning for a charter. 

At a potluck picnic in July 1988, the first section elections were held. Debbie McIver, Barbara Bridgeman and Ellen Hippeli served as the nominating committee. At the picnic, the committee was able to count the votes and announce the results of the election. The first elected officers were:

President - Margie Whipple (Tatro)
Vice President - Deborah McIver
Secretary - Debbie Brunt
Treasurer - Shirley Bryant (Mondy)
Section Representative - Jan Williams

The Petition to Charter a Section of the Society of Women Engineers was submitted on August 26, 1988. It was signed by Marjorie Whipple (Tatro), Deborah McIver, Deborah Brunt, Shirley Bryant (Mondy), Linda Long, Ellen Hippeli, Barbara Bridgeman, Barbara Mills, Stephanie Kuzio, Phyllis Pei, Jan Williams, Robin Ross, Suzi Balogh, Ellen Burgess, and Paula Chabai. The charter was granted on December 5, 1988. The letter below notified the new section of the charter.

Notification of Charter by the Society of Women Engineers

Organizations in the area were notified and congratulations were received by the new section. Below are letters sent by the American Society of Safety Engineers and the American Society of Women Accountants.
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Congratulations from the American Society of Safety Engineers
Congratulations from the American Society of Women Accountants

The charter was presented by SWE president, Suzanne Jenniches on January 28, 1989.

Many announcements were mailed, including the Governor of New Mexico and the Mayor of Albuquerque. The letter below was sent to the governor.

Announcement of New Section Charter to the Governor of New Mexico

As a result, January 28, 1988 was declared “Society of Women Engineers Day” by the Albuquerque Mayor’s office. Below is the Executive Order received by the section.
Society of Women Engineers Day, Executive Order

​Below are some pictures from the Charter Presentation Banquet.

​Section Officers and SWE President; Margie Whipple (now Tatro), Jan Williams, Suzanne Jenniches, Shirley Mondy, and Debbie Brunt

​Suzanne Jenniches presents the charter to Margie Whipple (Tatro)