Champion Toolkit

CHAMPION ACTIVITIES HOW-TO TOOL KIT
Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 2
Spark the Conversation ............................................................................................................................. 2
So What is a Global Marathon Champion? ............................................................................................... 2
Questions? ................................................................................................................................................ 2
About us .................................................................................................................................................... 2
Fact Sheet...................................................................................................................................................... 2
Frequently Asked Questions ......................................................................................................................... 3
Examples of Champion Activities .................................................................................................................. 5
Organization.............................................................................................................................................. 5
Group ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Individuals ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Other ideas you might want to consider .................................................................................................. 5
How to Conduct Your Champion Activity ..................................................................................................... 6
Champion Activity Resources........................................................................................................................ 7
How to Share Your Champion Activity .......................................................................................................... 7
Samples ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Sample Press Release ............................................................................................................................ 8
Sample Email ......................................................................................................................................... 9
Tell Us What You’re Doing ............................................................................................................................ 9
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Introduction
Spark the Conversation
The Global Marathon is the only free virtual event of its kind uniting women in engineering and
technology around the world. It includes a 3-day virtual program plus Champion (locally organized, inperson) activities and events. Together we elevate the conversation about the importance of women in
engineering and technology.
So What is a Global Marathon Champion?
A Champion is an individual, group or organization willing to conduct an activity or event that brings
attention to the Global Marathon and its mission of building and supporting a worldwide community of
women in engineering and technology. Global Marathon Champion activities help spark the
conversation worldwide.
This How-To Tool Kit is designed to make it easy for you to be a Champion! Your involvement is key to
making the 2015 Global Marathon a success! Thank you for your support and involvement.
Questions?
If you have questions or would like to discuss ideas for your Champion activity please contact
[email protected].
Visit the Global Marathon at www.discovere.org/our-programs/global-marathon.
About us
The Global Marathon For, By and About Women in Engineering & Technology is a program of DiscoverE. We help
unite, mobilize, and support the engineering and technology volunteer communities. Why? They will increase their
collaborative footprint in pre-college education and celebrate with the public as it discovers the value of
engineering education and careers.
Fact Sheet
Website: www.discovere.org/our-programs/global-marathon
When is the globally connected virtual event?
 Monday, March 9 – 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
 Tuesday, March 10 – 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
 Wednesday, March 11 – 8:30 to 11:15 a.m.
All times are U.S. Eastern.
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When do Champion activities take place?
Champion (local and regional) activities can take place over a few hours or several days. They are
conducted, in general, to coincide with the Global Marathon virtual program 9-11 March and with
International Women’s Day on 8 March. However, all Champion activities during the months of
February and March are important and help support the Marathon mission of uniting E&T women.
What: 2015 Global Marathon – For Women in Engineering and Technology:
 Theme: Engineering New Horizons
 The Global Marathon is a virtual, global town square that brings together women in engineering
and technology regardless of work experience, country, culture, age or education.
 It is a free networking platform that is the sum of a virtual 3-day program and local (Champion)
conversations, events and activities.
 Each day has a theme:
o 9 March – New Horizons for Women in E&T
o 10 March – Your Horizon: Finding Perspective
o 11 March – Explore Your Next Horizon
Marathon Mission:
Further develop and build the worldwide community of women engineers and technologists with
participation and engagement from anywhere in the world.
Where:
Online at http://www.discovere.org/our-programs/global-marathon and various communities around
the globe. Here you can register (free) for the 9-11 March virtual online program.
Your Champion activity will be listed on the Events Calendar and, in addition, you will be able to see a
list of all the Champion activities being conducted worldwide. The Marathon is the sum of the virtual
program and Champion activities and events around the globe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is a Champion?
A Champion is an individual, group or corporation/organization willing to conduct an activity or event
which brings attention to the Global Marathon and its mission of building and supporting a worldwide
community of women in engineering and technology.
Why participate?
Effective solutions to global problems require diverse points of view and collaboration. Engineering is a
global profession but women are under-represented in most countries. The Global Marathon provides a
platform for networking, collaboration, support and inspiration.
Why are Champion activities important?
Through the Global Marathon women in engineering and technology benefit personally and the
community benefits collectively.
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Live online presentations and the Champion activities conducted worldwide help women to inspire and
inform one another and to make a difference in their personal and professional lives.
How will others know my activity is connected to the Global Marathon?
You may download the Marathon logo and artwork featured below from the DiscoverE website. You
can use these images in emails, articles, posters, etc. when you ‘spread the word’ about your activity.
These same logos will appear at the Global Marathon website and on all Global Marathon materials.
Your activity will be branded as part of the Global Marathon taking place worldwide.
How will others find my Champion activity?
We are excited to include your activity for the 2015 Global Marathon. Champion activities will be listed
on the DiscoverE Upcoming Events webpage.
Each day has a theme. What are they?
The daily themes can help frame discussions and a variety of topics. Feel free to create your own. For
the virtual event we have identified:
o
o
o
9 March – New Horizons for Women in E&T
10 March – Your Horizon: Finding Perspective
11 March – Explore Your Next Horizon
How do I add my activity to the Events Calendar?
 Step 1: Go to the Global Marathon webpage.
 Step 2: Click on “Got an Event” box on the left rail.
 Step 3: Add information about your Champion event to the online form.
How do I attend on 9-11 March?
The live presentations on 9-11 March are free, but registration is required. Register at:
https://vts.inxpo.com/Launch/QReg.htm?ShowKey=23694
Who do I contact if I have questions or need more information?
Contact us via email at [email protected].
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Examples of Champion Activities
Here are some past examples of Champion activities that you can use as thought-starters:
Organization
 Verizon created a program at their local museum for young women to showcase engineering
and technology. Verizon Business’s then Chief Information Officer spoke to the group.
 IBM China held a panel presentation of key women engineering executives and invited staff to
attend.
 DuPont Brazil hosted a day-long event and invited women from inside and outside DuPont to
attend.
 Bechtel women in Australia organized lunchtime speakers.
Group
 Young engineers at the University of Jordan hosted an online program and a live chat.
 Women in Technology and Science Ireland hosted a series of talks by prominent women
scientists and technologists leading up to International Women’s Day.
Individuals
 Individual professional women engineers in Europe organized coffee (or tea) talks at their
company to discuss each day’s theme.
 An executive women engineer in the UK offered to speak to local universities and other
organizations.
 A young professional engineer in India decided to talk with elementary school girls about
engineering and encourage them to continue their education beyond the government required
grade.
Other ideas you might want to consider:
 Conduct an online Q&A interview with an executive woman engineer at your workplace or in
your professional association and make it available to newspapers, magazines,
corporate/organizational newsletters, etc.
 Write an article about what you do and submit it to various media outlets.
 Suggest a topic and moderate a live chat in the Global Marathon Networking Lounge. Contact
[email protected] for details.
 Offer a science café for women engineers and select an important local issue connected to
women and engineering as the topic.
 Offer a series of lectures on topics related to how female engineers are addressing global
challenges such as access to clean air, safe water, healthy food, dependable medicines,
advanced materials, eco‐friendly products and/or sustainable energy.
 Create a display about high profile female engineers to be housed in your organization’s lobby,
conference room, etc.
 Plan an event focusing on women in science and highlight local women engineers who are
making a difference in community.
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
Host a geocaching event where geocaches with an engineering theme are stashed around your
local area.
How to Conduct Your Champion Activity
What constitutes a successful activity?
1. Conduct your activity 9-11 March to coincide with the Global Marathon and/or March 8 for
International Women’s Day. Both will receive maximum visibility and your activity will be a part
of all of the Global Marathon’s recognized activities. However, all Champion activities during the
months of February and March are important and help support the Marathon mission of uniting
E&T women. They will be publicized via the Marathon website at www.discovere.org/ourprograms/global-marathon.
2. The activity can be a large event with multiple organizations and sponsors or as simple as an
informal luncheon of two! Global Marathon Champions understand that it all begins with one
individual who is willing to start the conversation.
3. Make it fun, exciting; something you would want to attend or participate in. Choose an
interesting format. It could be a panel discussion or a live discussion among colleagues within
your company or organization worldwide. Think about whom you would like to hear from and
what you think would be interesting to discuss.
4. Consider designing your activity to build on each day’s theme:
o
o
o
Day 1 – New Horizons for Women in E&T
Day 2 – Your Horizon: Finding Perspective
Day 3 – Explore Your Next Horizon
5. Be sure to use the Global Marathon logo and artwork (http://www.discovere.org/resourcesdownloads) on all your Marathon Champion activity communications. The logo is a powerful
recognition tool.
6. Be sure to inform your engineering head and your corporate/organizational PR department (if a
corporate event) about what you are planning and follow-up with them on the results. If you’re
conducting a group or individual activity be sure to inform local newspapers, organizational
newsletters and relevant websites.
7. Think about after the activity and how those who attended/connected can keep the
conversation going.
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Champion Activity Resources




Create a video, up to 3 minutes, that highlights your Global Marathon Champion activity.
Use these logos and Global Marathon artwork in your emails, on posters, etc.
Use this sample press release to inform print and electronic media about your activity.
Use this sample e-mail text to inform colleagues, your professional network, and others.
How to Share Your Champion Activity
It’s important to reach out to co-workers, colleagues, and others who would like to be part of the
worldwide community of women in engineering and technology. Your Champion activity is key to
extending the reach of the Marathon to all regions of the globe.
Consider these actions to spread the word about what you are doing:
Facebook: Post information about your activity on the Global Marathon page and reach
thousands of Marathon fans.
Twitter: Announce your Champion activity and updates on twitter #globalmarathon.
LinkedIn: Reach business and other colleagues on LinkedIn and encourage them to attend on
9-11 March and to check out your Champion activity.
Be sure to send a news release or activity details to your local newspaper/radio/TV,
corporate newsletter, communications and corporate citizen departments, your local
professional association. See ‘Samples’ page.
Email colleagues, professional organizations to which you belong, and others interested in
further the conversation about women in engineering and technology. See ‘Samples’ page.
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Samples
Sample Press Release:
ANNUAL’GLOBAL MARATHON’
INVITES WOMEN IN ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
(Insert your city/state/province and date) – Engineering New Horizons is the theme of the
annual Global Marathon For, By and About Women in Engineering & Technology. Set for
9-11 March, 2015, the Marathon is a free, worldwide online forum for women in engineering and
technology to meet virtually and share their stories of personal, educational, and professional
challenges and successes. It is the only global event for women in engineering and technology
offered in conjunction with International Women’s Day, March 8.
The Marathon consists of a 3-day virtual program, which is free, plus numerous activities
conducted by local and regional Marathon Champions worldwide. These activities are an
important part of the Marathon and help extend the reach of the event around the globe.
(Insert details/information about your activity here. Consider a quote from you, your executives
or your participants about the value of the Global Marathon and your activity.)
Topics for the 3-day online program are:
o
o
o
9 March – New Horizons for Women in E&T
10 March – Your Horizon: Finding Perspective
11 March – Explore Your Next Horizon
This year’s Global Chair is Dawn McGinley, Global Leader and Strategist, Women's Leadership
Forum, 3M.
The Global Marathon is a program of DiscoverE dedicated to supporting volunteers in
engineering and technology. Major funders of the global event are:
 3M
 Motorola Solutions Foundation
 Bechtel
 Northrop Grumman Foundation
 Fluor
 Shell
 IBM
 TE Connectivity Foundation
To register for the 2015 3-day virtual program, 9-11 March, visit
https://vts.inxpo.com/Launch/QReg.htm?ShowKey=23694.
Join the Facebook community at www.facebook.com/globalmarathon.
For additional information about (insert your Champion activity here) contact: (insert Champion
email or contact info here.)
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Sample Email:
Use logo (available at www.discovere.org/our-programs/global-marathon). Click on downloads.
Subject: Attention: Women in Engineering and Technology - Mark Your Calendar for 9-11 March!
The Global Marathon is the only free online event uniting women in engineering and technology around
the world connected to International Women’s Day. It includes a 3-day virtual program plus information
on locally organized, in-person (Champion) events and activities.
Hear from exciting and dynamic E&T women on these topics:
o
o
o
9 March – New Horizons for Women in E&T
10 March – Your Horizon: Finding Perspective
11 March – Explore Your Next Horizon
Plus…check out our Champion activity (insert topic and any details) and learn about the many Champion
activities happening worldwide for the Global Marathon and International Women’s Day.
Register Today!
Visit: https://vts.inxpo.com/Launch/QReg.htm?ShowKey=23694
Tell Us What You’re Doing
Be sure to upload details to the DiscoverE Events page as soon as possible so that others can see what
you’re doing and plan to attend or participate if possible.
In addition, we will be highlighting Champion activities in our emails, e-newsletters and other
communications about the Marathon.
THANK YOU for participating in the Global Marathon. Together we can make a difference!
For additional information please visit www.discovere.org/our-programs/global-marathon or
email us at [email protected].
1.28.15
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