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Vogt Engineering Supports Pride Month

Jun 23, 2023

When hate is loud, love should be louder

Vogt Engineering was disheartened by the hateful comments posted online in response to The Woodlands Pride advertisement of their inaugural Summit earlier this month. We, at Vogt Engineering, believe that everyone has intrinsic value. We respect everyone, regardless of race, religion, color, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national origin, citizenship status, veteran’s status, disability, or neurology. No longer can we remain a silent ally.  The voices of support must outweigh the voices of hate. 

 

Pride month is celebrated annually in June. The word 'pride' is an integral cultural concept within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex (LGBTQI) community, representing solidarity, collectivity, and identity as well as resistance to discrimination and violence.

 

The Library of Congress explains, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as "Gay Pride Day," but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the "day" soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

 

Locally, we are fortunate enough to celebrate Pride month alongside The Woodlands Pride. The Woodlands Pride is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect, celebrate, educate and foster relationships in the LGBTQIA community while promoting equality, unity, and love in The Woodlands and beyond.

 

Recently, Vogt Engineering attended the Talking With Pride Summit hosted by The Woodlands Pride. The event featured speakers from across the greater Houston area who were discussing topics from small business support to advocacy pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community.  We walked away with the desire to see more businesses in attendance. Why? Because Vogt Engineering learned how to better support the LGBTQ+ community after hearing about their unique experiences.  The business world should strive to hear and understand the different lens in order to be more welcoming and understanding. 

 

Join Vogt Engineering in advocating for equity in our LGBTQIA community. The conversations we have with friends, colleagues, and strangers are conversations that not only create change but also create safe spaces for those whom we don’t know need a safe space.


To show your support for the LGBTQIA+ community, you can:

  • Follow The Woodlands Pride on their social media accounts
  • Be a vocal ally
  • Join them on October 21, 2023 for the Pride Festival in The Woodlands

Safety Saturday: Forklift Safety

08 Jun, 2023
The industrial truck manufacturing sector has been an important and active part of the American economy for 100 years. Texas is a state where industrial truck firms have generated one of the highest economic impacts, nearly $2.7 Billion. We can continue to be safe and free from injury by following these tips and by encouraging workers to stay abreast of forklift operator training.

Safety Saturday: Motorcycle Awareness

27 May, 2023
As the warmer season revs up, drivers are now more likely to be sharing the road with motorcycles. Motorcycle Awareness Month is observed in May and is a good time to remind drivers to take extra care while sharing the road. Agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the National Safety Council, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) come together to remind vehicle drivers and motorists that safe driving and riding practices plus cooperation from all road users will help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation's highways. Did you know more than half of fatal motorcycle crashes result from collisions with other vehicles? Because of its small size, motorcycles can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots or masked by objects such as bushes or fences while at an intersection. Furthermore, the combination of congested roadways and distracted driving increase the difficulty of seeing motorcycles in traffic. These factors have led to many preventable fatalities each year. On average, more than one motorcyclist is killed on Texas roads every day . In 2022, 562 motorcycle riders were killed in motor vehicle crashes, an 8% increase over the previous year. And another 2,422 people were seriously injured. TxDOT’s annual safety campaign "Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles" aims to protect motorcyclists by educating drivers on how to safely share the road. Below are a few safety precautions all motorists should keep in mind to help prevent motorcycle crashes: Stay alert. Give driving your full attention. Even a momentary distraction, such as answering a phone call or changing the radio station, can have deadly consequences. Pay special attention at intersections. One-third of all motorcycle fatalities happen at roadway intersections. Take extra care when making a left turn. Always assume motorcycles are closer than they appear and avoid turning in front of an oncoming motorcycle. Look twice when changing lanes. Check mirrors, check blind spots, and always use turn signals. Following these safety tips can help save lives and reduce injuries on our Texas roads.

Safety Saturday: Stress Awareness

29 Apr, 2023
Stress in our lives is inevitable. After polling the staff at Vogt Engineering, here are some of the ways our team manage stress: meditating, taking a walk and breathing in the fresh air, maintaining an optimal environment using temperature and lighting controls, listening to calming music, and squeezing a stress ball.
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