SPE in Europe
All eyes are on Europe as we board planes for the K-Show. SPE has expanded its activities in Europe considerably in the past few years, thanks in large measure to our European Representative, Yetty Pauwels, and the institution of a European Board to help direct activities.

SPE now has seven technical groups in Europe. We are introducing a new seminar program to Europe populated with European instructors, the first of which will take place at the K-Show this year. But most importantly, the European Board has decided to create a conference model based on ANTEC to be run for the first time in the fall of 2009. The conference will be titled EUROTEC, and will be the first conference of its kind for plastics in Europe. More.

Executive Director

September 2007 Financial Report
September financial statements follow the annual pattern. Again, as has been repeated throughout this year, primary contributors to SPE’s poor performance this year are lack of advertising sales income for Plastics Engineering magazine and, to a lesser degree, soft membership.

Click here for the monthly dashboard of SPE’s performance through September 30, 2007.

In Memoriam
We are saddened to announce the passing of G. Palmer Humphrey on October 1, 2007. Palmer joined SPE in 1946 and was named a Distinguished Member in 1968. He was best known to many for his motion to close the SPE Annual Business Meeting each year at ANTEC, a duty he and Guy Martinelli (also recently passed) shared for more than 40 years. Palmer was fond of using the motion to expound his own views and observations about the industry and SPE. Executive Director Susan Oderwald commented, “He was himself to the very end, active and involved. There is certainly a hole left in our SPE community with Palmer’s passing. His wit and enthusiasm for the industry and SPE will be sorely missed.”

ANTEC 2008 Registration Site Open
The ANTEC registration site (including Plastics Encounter and SPE Seminars) is now open for business! Access to online registration is available via the ANTEC homepage.

Papers Now Being Accepted for ANTEC 2008
Papers may now be submitted for consideration for the ANTEC 2008 technical program in Milwaukee, WI, May 4-8, 2008! The paper deadline is December 3, 2007, at 5 p.m. (ET). To learn more, click here.

Plastics Encounter @ ANTEC 2008
Exhibit space at Plastics Encounter @ ANTEC 2008 is moving quickly. To ensure that your company gets a space at the leading plastics industry event in the United States next year, click here.

Call For ANTEC 2010 Chairs
The SPE ANTEC Technical Program and Operating Committees have issued their calls for applicants for the positions of ANTEC 2010 Technical Program Chair (TPC) and General Operating Committee Chair (GOC). ANTEC 2010 will be held in Orlando, Florida, May 16-20. To learn more about the positions and to download the applications, click here.

Husky Section Education Award Contest
It’s time to start thinking about an educational activity your Section would like to do next year, but doesn’t have the funds to accomplish. Once your plan is in place, be sure to apply for the Section Education Award sponsored by Husky Injection Molding Systems. The $5,000 prize will be awarded to the SPE Section judged to have the best plan for the use of the funds within their community. Applications are available on the SPE website or can be requested from Laurie McDougal at SPE.

Pinnacle Award
Reminder: Applications for the Pinnacle Award are due December 31st. The Pinnacle Award recognizes Sections and Divisions that successfully create and deliver member value during year. Click here to download the Pinnacle Award application. Questions about the Pinnacle program can be directed to Tricia McKnight.

Division Sponsorship Sought
Last year, the Thermoforming Division sponsored the Outstanding Student Chapter Award (like Pinnacle) by providing $500 to each Student Chapter that received the OSC Award at ANTEC 2007. The Division has agreed to sponsor this award again in 2008, but asks that other Divisions consider sponsorship of this award as well. In addition to meeting requirements regarding Student Chapter administration, educational activities, technical meeting attendance, etc., the students must indicate what their plans are for the $500 should they be an OSC Award recipient. Most schools last year planned to use the funds for student travel to educational or technical events.

If your Division would like to contribute to the sponsorship of this award, send a check in any amount to the OSC Award Fund, c/o The SPE Foundation, 14 Fairfield Drive, Brookfield, CT 06804. Additional information is available from Gail Bristol at SPE.

Division/SIG Board Meetings
Division and Special Interest Group Chairs - Do you have a Board meeting coming up (in-person or telephone/web-based)? Don’t forget to let us know about it! An online meeting notification form is available on the SPE website or you can request a copy from Tricia McKnight.

Are You on the List?
Section and Division Leadership Rosters were due to SPE Headquarters by June 30. As of this publication, a number of reports are still pending. Click here to find out if your group still needs to send in its roster. If you are on the list, you can download the 2007-08 Leadership Roster template from the SPE website. If you have any questions about this form, contact Tricia McKnight.

Newsletter Contest Retired
Just a reminder – as we mentioned in the June issue, 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!

September Council Meeting Summary
Click here for a summary that will help you review the highlights of the Council Meeting held in Irvine, California, on September 29, 2007.

ANTEC 2008 Student Usher Registration Opens October 17
Students have an opportunity to serve as ushers at ANTEC and receive complimentary full-conference registration. To be eligible, students must be current members of SPE and full-time undergraduate or graduate students carrying 12 credits or more in the current semester (at the time of registration). Registration will be available online beginning October 17. Names will be randomly selected and assigned to a timeslot. Every effort will be made to ensure representation from each participating university. Approximately 200 timeslots are available to student ushers during Plastics Encounter @ ANTEC 2008. Students are encouraged to register early, as high demand has forced early closure of registration in previous years.

2008 Scholarship Program
The SPE Foundation 2008 Scholarship brochure/application is available for interested students who will be attending college in the 2008-2009 school year. General Foundation Scholarships range up to $4,000/year. Special Scholarships requiring specific knowledge or background range up to $7,500/year.

The Plastics Pioneers Association (PPA) now offers their scholarship program through The SPE Foundation. Ten $3,000 PPA scholarships are available for undergraduate students, including those enrolled in associate degree or technical degree programs, who are committed to becoming “hands-on” workers in the plastics industry – students who are dedicated to careers as plastics technicians or engineers.

Three additional scholarships are offered to students with specific interest in design, modifiers/additives, and thermoplastic materials/foams:
      Robert E. Cramer/Product Design & Development Division/Mid-Michigan Section Scholarship – One undergraduate award of $1,000 is made annually.
     Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarships – Three $4,000 undergraduate awards are made annually.
     Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Division Scholarship – One $2,500 undergraduate award is made annually.

Applications for these, and all other Foundation scholarships, are available on the Foundation website or can be requested from Gail Bristol at SPE HQ. The application deadline is January 15, 2008.

Topical Conferences Help Membership Grow
Topical Conferences and trade shows are great ways to share technical knowledge and grow membership. The Thermoforming Conference™ presented by the Thermoforming Division garnered 84 new members and 19 renewing members. The TPE SIG’s recent conference yielded 24 new members and 5 renewing members. The Color and Appearance Division will be adding 54 new members and 15 renewing members to their roster as a result of their recent CAD RETEC™. A special thanks to all groups that have coordinated conferences and trade shows.

Interested in learning how your group can host a TopCon? Click here to learn more.

Fall 2007 Acquisition Campaign is Underway
At the end of September, we mailed over 90,000 letters to domestic and international prospects, inviting each to join SPE. A series of email reminders will be sent to prospects to supplement direct mail efforts.

Acquisition letters have been completely revamped to reflect the technical information and other membership drivers and values that emerged from the Membership Marketing Survey data and the $108 new-member offer that resulted from the February 2007 price tests. The campaign is testing some new lists and letters targeting three key segments of the SPE market: processing, automotive, and injection molding. An insert containing a brief technical paper from ANTEC 2007 is included with each letter.

We are also testing a premium offer of a CD-ROM of ANTEC 2007 papers. It is too early to report on results, so stay tuned for future updates.

Need a Technical Speaker for your Meeting?
SPE maintains a list of Division members who are willing to address technical topics at Section meetings, schools, MiniTecs and conferences. To view the SPE Technical Speakers List, click here.

Financial Reporting Deadline is Approaching
Treasurers, don’t forget that the November 15 financial reporting deadline is quickly approaching. Please visit the Treasurer Resources Page to learn more about these reporting requirements. If you have any questions about financial reports, contact Tricia McKnight by phone  at +1 203-740-5430 or email.

Changes in IRS Reporting
Many US-based Sections and Divisions recently received a form letter from the United States IRS Department titled, "2008 Annual Electronic Notice Filing Requirement.”

Please be advised that the changes in filing requirements referenced in this letter do not affect the current year's filing activities. This letter refers to policy changes scheduled to take place next year. For more information about this policy change, please see the IRS website.

Employment Anniversaries
Congratulations are extended to SPE staff celebrating employment anniversaries this month: Martha Charris (13 years), Hope Molinaro (9 years).