Chair's welcome: Summer 2018

Lydia Amaraquaye, Young Members Chair, looks back over Summer 2018 and forward to events where you can get involved

The summer is a busy one for the young member community with four challenges taking place. With varying weather conditions, another series of students and apprentices competed and produced innovative solutions to the various problems they were presented with. We are always proud of the young members who participate and they showcase different aspects of engineering.

The Young Member of the Year Awards 2018 is now open. This year's categories for are:

• IMechE Volunteer of the Year
• Developing Engineer of the Year
• Young Member Visionary.

We would like to recognise those who give up their time to keep the Institution, as well as those who have made a commendable starts in their careers. The Young Member Visionary will be someone who we see as a role model and an inspiration to all young members.

The Photographer of the Year Competition is still open. This year, we'd like you to capture images around the theme of 'Engineering a Better World'. This is a fun and easy way to be involved, and there are some great prizes up for grabs! Competition closes on 30 September.

As the Young Members Board, we aim to represent the Young Members as well as we can, and to give the relevant information back to the members in the most relevant way for those members. This is why during our strategy weekend in February, we included a communications strategy. The first part was understanding what the young members would like. If you haven't done so already, please complete the communications survey.  The closing date for this is 7 September.

For those who have already filled in the survey but did not get the opportunity to enter the prize draw for £100 Amazon voucher and would like to be entered, please send your email address to youngmembers@imeche.org

Whatever degree of involvement you have with the Institution, I would like to thank you for being a Member, and ask you to help us to continue to try and shape the Institution into what we need it to be for our professional careers and beyond, by engaging in any level you can

Your voice is important.