On Jan. 31, Focus the Nation (www.focusthenation.org), sponsored a national teach-in during which millions of faculty and students across the United States engaged in workshops, panel discussions and lectures to bring awareness and solutions to global warming and sustainability issues.

To date, more than 1,750 institutions across the nation have committed to change the direction of global warming and secure the future of our planet. Many in the ASME Auxiliary share the concern expressed by these institutions and individuals regarding the future of our planet and the need for sustainable global development.

At its November 2007 meeting, the ASME Auxiliary recognized the critical importance of sustainable global development by committing to support a student engineering project in the developing world through Engineers Without Borders — a not-for-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with communities in developing countries to improve their quality of life.

In celebration of the 85th anniversary of the founding of the ASME Auxiliary — and in keeping with the Auxiliary's strong tradition of supporting the education and professional development of mechanical engineering students through scholarships and loans — the Auxiliary will award a one-time scholarship to a university-level student engineering section to support their project in conjunction with Engineers Without Borders-USA.

Engineers Without Borders brings together engineering students and professional engineers to implement sustainable engineering projects that improve the quality of life in underdeveloped communities throughout the world. Since its founding in 2000, Engineers Without Borders has grown to 8,000 volunteer members in 200 chapters throughout the United States. They are currently working on 250 projects in 43 countries.

For one recently completed project, volunteers from the Johnson Space Center installed a 10,000-liter rainwater catchment system and assisted with the installation of solar-powered lighting systems, a UV water sanitation system and biogas generators for a hospital in Rwanda. These improvements will enable members of the community, many of whom are orphans, to secure safe, sanitary medical care and potentially save many lives.

Simultaneously, as these engineering improvements sustain the local population, they sustain the environment and our planet. For more information regarding completed and ongoing projects, go to www.ewb-usa.org.

In celebration of the Auxiliary's 85th Anniversary, the ASME Auxiliary has set the ambitious goal of raising $8,500 to fund a one-time scholarship to be awarded to a university-level student engineering section to support their project in conjunction with EWB-USA. Soon members and friends of the ASME Auxiliary will be receiving a letter inviting participation in the celebration of 85 years of the Auxiliary's strong tradition of helping young people reach their potential in engineering studies.

On this important occasion, please give as generously as you can. Give in celebration of the ASME Auxiliary and 85 years of significant, good work. Give in celebration of a family member's birthday, anniversary or Valentine's Day. Give in memory of a loved one. Give in the belief that peace in the world will be attained one small village at a time through the humanitarian actions of our engineering community. Or, give to fulfill your personal commitment to remediate global warming through sustainable global engineering and development.

We are deeply grateful for your help and commitment.

— Kathy E. Smith
Auxiliary publicity chair
Visit the ASME Auxiliary Web site

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