BIG News! SME North Bay Attains Full Senior Chapter Status
There’s great news for SME North Bay!
When a new SME chapter is formed, it’s normally in forming status for the first 2 years before being eligible to be granted full senior chapter status. This is why the chapter had the “F” in its chapter number, not for flunking out, but for Forming.
However, due to the vitality of the chapter, participation of members in events, and the impact the chapter has had in the North Bay manufacturing community, the chapter has been fast tracked to full senior chapter status. We, the chapter leadership team, are proud to announce that SME North Bay was just granted full senior chapter status, almost 6 months ahead of schedule! For those that are into the details, you’ll see that our chapter number is now 431 instead of F429.
Thanks again for helping to make the chapter a reality!
Best regards,
Glenn Mattsson
Founder & Past Chair, SME North Bay #431
Building a Case for Manufacturing Relevance
Making stuff still matters.
Manufacturing in the U.S. is rebounding and this article by Justin Lahart makes the argument that manufacturing matters. This appeared in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal. The full article can be found HERE.
A Case of Caring

I received the following email yesterday from Bob Skodzinsky, who’s Haas Automation’s Manager of Americas HTEC (Haas Technical Education Center) Program. Bob recently wrote an article in Production Machining magazine on SME North Bay Member Dan Sunia and his many educational accomplishments. See Bob’s email below along with a link to the Production Machining article. Enjoy!
“Chris Koepfer, Editor-in-Chief of Production Machining magazine gave me the opportunity to address their readership in the Last Word column about CNC education & training, student recruitment & how industry can help. My thoughts appear on the last page of the November print issue and also at http://www.
Dan Sunia, at Petaluma HS along with many others like him inspired my thoughts about what can be done to interest and recruit more students into CNC programs and careers. And how also to work more closely with local industry to develop job opportunities for those students. Dan, as many of you know, has been active on all the fronts discussed.”
SME Annual Conference 2012 – Extra Early Bird Registration Rate!
If you missed the 2011 SME Annual Conference and were thinking of attending in 2012, the regular SME Member registration rate is $695. However, from now until October 31st, there’s an Extra Early Bird Registration Rate of $295 available to members. More information is available in October’s Manufacturing Engineering magazine online SME Member Only Supplement.
The 2012 SME Annual Conference will be held in Cleveland, OH, on June 3-5. The SME Annual Conference pulls together the best that SME has to offer into just a few days. Discover the year’s biggest trends and developments that span the scope of manufacturing. In addition to interactive conference sessions from leaders in the industry, this incredible event features state-of-the-art tours, invaluable networking opportunities, Innovations that Could Change the Way You Manufacture, SME International Awards Gala, and so much more!
See the videos below to see what you missed if you weren’t there in 2011. See more event information HERE.
Register for the 2012 SME Annual Conference HERE.