Results of SPE Member Survey
In my last column, I talked about the all-member value survey SPE completed earlier this year, and specifically discussed the key demographics of SPE’s current membership. In this article, I want to highlight what members identified as the key drivers and key benefits of their SPE membership.

Key drivers are those things that members identified as reasons they join or renew their membership with SPE. They help to articulate what members expect to receive in benefits when they join the organization. We also looked at how much awareness there is of the benefits SPE offers. Combined, they help to form a picture of what members identify as important to them about their SPE membership.

The report looked at the responses and grouped the member drivers into three tiers. More.

Executive Director

May 2007 Financial Report
The May financial dashboard and consolidated income statement are attached. Not much has changed in terms of the overall picture for SPE. SPE has experienced a good ANTEC, but has consistently had poor results for Plastics Engineering magazine this year, which is bringing down the overall financial picture for SPE. In addition, there have been slower than projected schedules and attendance at the early year SPE seminars and e-Live presentations. These are showing better progress as we head into the second half of this year. Advertising revenues for Plastics Engineering are also picking up for July through December, but are still significantly off budget. These May financials DO include either all actual or accrued expenses associated with ANTEC. More.

ANTEC Action Items
ANTEC and Plastics Encounter – Together Again
SPE and Plastics News will again co-locate their events in 2008. The combined conference and exhibition will be held at the Midwest Express Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from May 4 through May 8. For developing information, please visit the ANTEC website or the Plastics Encounter website.

ANTEC Abstract and Paper Deadlines
The ANTEC abstract deadline is October 15, and the paper submission deadline is December 3. An abstract is not required in order to submit a paper. The abstract submission site will open around July 1. For more information on the ANTEC 2008 Technical Program, click here.

Newsletter Award Contest Retired
The Connecticut Section developed the concept for the Newsletter Award Contest in 1968, and for 40 consecutive years, SPE has been presenting these awards in recognition of the outstanding work of newsletter editors from our Sections and Divisions. We’ve had some good competitions over the years and have presented hundreds of awards in recognition of the work done by our dedicated editors. However, we’ve seen fewer entries over the past five or six years, and more effort being put into applications for the new Pinnacle Award. It was time to make a change.

Therefore, a decision has been made to retire the Newsletter Award Contest. A portion of the Pinnacle Award deals directly with how effectively our Sections and Divisions communicate with members about SPE offerings and events to foster a sense of community, and to allow those members a means of responding to the Section/Division board of directors. We believe this Communication section of the Pinnacle Award adequately provides a way for outstanding newsletter editors to contribute to their Section’s or Division’s receipt of the award.

We thank all of you who serve as newsletter editors for the time and effort you spend on behalf of your Section or Division maintaining communication and sharing information with your members. Your work is truly appreciated!

Awards & Recognitions
Applications for Pinnacle, Outstanding Student Chapter, Honored Service Member, Fellow of the Society, Chase Student Chapter Education Award and Husky Section Education Award will be posted to the SPE website the first week of July. As it takes time to gather the information required to apply for these awards and recognitions, we suggest you download an application and begin the application process in July. If you have questions about any of these awards/recognition programs, contact Tricia McKnight (Pinnacle, OSC, HSM), Laurie McDougal (Chase, Husky), or Gail Bristol / Marie Salzo (Fellows).

Send Board Changes to Leadership Services Department
The 2007-2008 year begins on July 1, and we want to ensure we have an accurate volunteer roster for your group so leaders receive pertinent information sent from SPE Headquarters. Please download our volunteer roster template from the SPE website and email the completed form to Tricia McKnight as soon as possible. The form is available on the Leadership Services web page under the category Operations/General Information.

Fall Council Meeting
Wondering what airport to fly into for the fall Council Meeting on September 28-29, 2007, at the Hyatt Regency Irvine in Irvine, CA? Your best bet is the John Wayne/Orange County Airport (airport code SNA), just a few miles from the Hyatt. The Hyatt provides complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport. Pickup at the airport is 15 and 45 minutes after the hour, beginning at 5:15am on weekdays and 6:15am on weekends. The last pickup is at 11:15pm nightly. There’s no need to call the Hyatt – the vans run regularly. Go out of baggage claim and across the street to the ground transportation area and look for the blue van with white lettering that says Hyatt Regency Irvine. (Taxi service is approximately $8.00.)

Other Southern California airports (Long Beach, Ontario, Los Angeles) are served by Super Shuttle, which runs from $32 to $47 one way. If you’re considering one of these airports, ask about the time it will take to reach the Hyatt. Depending on your arrival time, it might mean a 2 ½ hr. trip!

Foundation Executive Committee
Thanks go out to Fred Steil, who is retiring from the Foundation Executive Committee, for his many years of service to the Foundation.

The Foundation is pleased to welcome Roger Kipp, Vice President of McClarin Plastics Inc., and long-time member of the Thermoforming Division Board, as a new member of The SPE Foundation Executive Committee.

Division Scholarships Announced
The SPE Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of scholarships sponsored by five SPE Divisions.
Blow Molding Division - $8,000
     Russell Ankenbrandt, Ferris State University
     Jason Merkle, Ferris State University
Composites Division - $1,000
     Martha Dufresne – Winona State University
Extrusion Division - $2,500
     Atakan Altinkaynak, University of Western Michigan
Thermoforming Division - $7,500
     Timothy McMaster – Pittsburg State University
     Kory Slye – Penn State Erie
     Lucas Stallbaumer – Pittsburg State University
Thermoforming Division Director’s Select - $1,000
     Kevin Desotell – University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Thermoset Division - $1,000
     Micah Bartlett – Western Washington University
     Matthew Gross – Pennsylvania College of Technology

Applications Available Online
Applications for 2008 Foundation Scholarships and for 2008 Foundation Grants are now available on the SPE website. If you would like an application mailed to you, contact Gail Bristol at SPE HQ.

Are You Using the Most Current Membership Application?
Effective July 1, 2007, dues will increase $3.00 to $118.00. Dues for student and emeritus members will increase $2.00 to $30.00. Initiation fees for new and returning members will remain $10.00. The SPE membership application has been updated to reflect the dues increase. Please discard any other applications you have and use the new one. Click here to download the current Section application or Division application. These applications are also posted on the membership area of the leadership services webpage and the newsletter editor resource page.

A Note of Thanks
For some of you, June marks the last month of your term as Membership Chair. Thank you very much for all your time and dedication helping SPE and your Section/Division with membership efforts. Though membership has had its ups and downs, it has been a relatively good year. Hopefully, we all have learned something along the way. Let’s share our knowledge with the new chairs taking office on July 1, 2007.

Have an idea to share? Email it to Tobi Gebauer.

SPE PolyTech Seminar Series
Irvine, California will be the site of the SPE PolyTech Seminar Series this fall (September 24-27). Click here to check out the 23 seminars being offered, register for one or more of the courses, and then encourage a co-worker or fellow Section/Division member to register for a course as well. All seminars will be held at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, the site of the SPE fall Council Meeting (September 28-29).

Employment Anniversaries
Congratulations are extended to SPE staff celebrating employment anniversaries this month: Linda Roos (1 year).