Repository: UIHistories Project: SWE - Proceedings of the First International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists [PAGE 21]

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Our First International Conference gives us a timely opportunity to think and plan together - to recognize and evaluate our likenesses and differences. The future demands that we utilize both. If we are to work together effectively, we should recognize that, while each of us is different from every other person, our likenesses are of great importance. This applies both to skills and to satisfactions. The interdisciplinary researches going on prove this. We must come to know each other better, world wide. This means better communication, definition of words to make sure they have the same meaning to all, and better interpretation and translation. This means more travel and exchange of experiences, more opportunities to know one another internationally, not only through books and all the library can bring us, but in our meeting, our work places, our social life, our homes. One of our resources is what has been called "management," which makes it plain that people everywhere have similar responsibilities. Everyone everywhere must learn (1) to manage himself, (2) to participate constructively in home and family life, (3) to be a good citizen, (4) to be a helpful volunteer, and (5) to earn one's way by doing a job that needs to be done. Our success in our engineering job is affected by our success in our other four jobs, and vice versa. We have much to be thankful for, much to appreciate. Women engineers and scientists have welcomed and helped newcomers in the profession. Men engineers and scientists have helped us get education, training, jobs, promotion, and membership in organizations. SWE has special gratitude to express for our welcome into the United Engineering Building and for freely given help, where this was needed. I am sure that engineering women from other countries are grateful for similar help. The sharing of experiences in our First International Conference should help us to focus more effectively on the future and to go forward into it together, courageously and in the spirit of service.

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