K-Show Wrap-up
I had an excellent experience attending the K-Show this year. I was particularly pleased to meet many SPE members from both inside and outside of North America. Although I travel quite a bit around the world for SPE, I am rarely in a position to meet such a diverse group of members at one event. I also was able to meet with a number of my counterparts in various plastics organizations outside of the U.S., which highlighted to me the vibrancy of the plastics industry in many areas of the world where SPE is not so active. More.

Executive Director

October 2007 Financial Report
The SPE Financial Statements through October 31 improved over our September figures. As has been highlighted here for a while, SPE expects to end this year with a manageable loss. This is due primarily to the losses incurred by Plastics Engineering. The improvement in October is primarily a result of booking the fall Topical Conference incomes. Full Report.

Lock in Your Lowest 2008-2009 Membership Dues Now!
Members* with paid through dates between April 2008 and December 2008 can save $15 on their membership dues if they renew online by December 15, 2007 and enter acceptance code VEB-N. (*Note: offer not valid on student and emeritus memberships.)

Why are we making this special offer? We are currently in the process of setting up our 2008-2009 renewal program, and are preparing to place orders for the materials we’ll need. The more members who renew now, the fewer materials we’ll need, and the more we’ll save on mail processing and postage. And when we save money, it’s only fair that we pass along those savings to our members!

This offer is good only until December 15, 2007 – and will not be repeated! Click here to log in and renew your membership now. Be sure to enter acceptance code VEB-N, when prompted, to receive your discount.

ANTEC 2008 Housing Now Open
Reservations are now being accepted at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center (Headquarters Hotel) and the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. A limited number of rooms have been reserved for this event. Both hotels are conveniently located across the street from the Midwest Express Center, where all technical sessions and the Plastics Encounter exhibition will be held. Click here to reserve your room now.

ANTEC 2008 Paper Deadline Nears
Reminder: The ANTEC 2008 paper deadline is December 3, 2007, at 5:00 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.

Education Awards
Members of the SPE Education Awards Committee have begun calling Section Presidents, Education Chairs and/or Councilors to discuss their Section’s participation in the Husky Section Education Award. Committee members will also be discussing the Chase Plastics Student Chapter Education Award and the Outstanding Student Chapter Award with Student Chapter Faculty Advisors and/or Student Chapter Presidents. If you receive a call from one of the committee members, please take a few minutes to talk to him about the funding these programs can provide to make your educational plans a reality!

Pinnacle Applications Due
Reminder: Applications for the Pinnacle Award are due December 31st. Click here to download the Pinnacle Award application. Questions about the Pinnacle program can be directed to Tricia McKnight.

Support Student Activities at ANTEC
Each year, the Student Activities Committee (SAC) solicits sponsorship of activities for students at ANTEC. This year, according to Scott Peters, SAC Chair, those activities have changed.

On Sunday afternoon at ANTEC, a special Student Reception will be held to offer students and industry leaders an opportunity to mingle and further the networking experience that is such a value to SPE members.

Replacing the Student Awards Reception this year will be a Student Awards Luncheon! It will be held on Wednesday and will feature recognition of student authors and award recipients.

These two special events come with a cost ($14,000), of course, so the Student Activities Committee is seeking your support. The Mold Making and Mold Design Division has already pledged $4,000 in matching monies and asks that your Division/SIG also consider becoming a sponsor. The benefit of retained membership by our student members far outreaches the cost of these events.

Please review this program with your Board of Directors, complete the SAC Pledge Form, and return it to Tricia McKnight by December 15, 2007.

2008 Rebates
The end of the year will be here sooner than we realize. So now is the time to check to make sure that your Section or Division has submitted all the information required to enable the release of your 2008 rebate. Click here for complete details. Questions can be directed to Tricia McKnight.

Council First Call Issued
Marie Salzo recently sent out the First Call for the January Council Meeting, which included the attendance/proxy form, a hotel reservation form, and a schedule of events. Be sure to make your hotel reservations before the December 21, 2007 cut-off date and return your attendance/proxy form to Marie as soon as possible

Student Chapter Awards
Reminder: Be sure the Student Chapter at your school applies for the Chase Plastics Student Chapter Education Award this year. The Chapter selected as the recipient of this award will receive $2,500 to support its educational plans for the coming year. And don’t forget to have your students complete and return the Outstanding Student Chapter Award (OSC) application. Student Chapters selected as recipients will receive $500 to support their activities. Applications are available on the SPE website for both programs. Education Award. OSC Award.

More Foundation Scholarships
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.

Students with specific knowledge or experience in the composites, thermoset or vinyl plastics industry should be encouraged to apply for these scholarships:
        Composites Division/Harold Giles Scholarship – One undergraduate or graduate award of $1,000 is made annually.
        Thermoset Division/James I. MacKenzie Memorial Scholarship – One award of $2,500 is available for a graduate or undergraduate student. This scholarship also includes an all-expense-paid trip to, and speaking opportunity at, the 54th Madison Thermoset Molding Conference, to be held in October, 2008, in Madison, WI, USA.
        Vinyl Plastics Division Scholarship – One $3,000 undergraduate award will be 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.

TopCon Brings in New Members
Congratulations to the Vinyl Plastics Division for recruiting 25 new members at their 2007 Vinyltec conference.

Council Approves Membership Dues Increase
The SPE Council, as part of the 2008 budget process, has approved a dues increase. Effective January 1, 2008, new members will pay $140.00, which includes a one-time $15.00 initiation fee. Effective April 1, 2008, annual dues for renewing members will be $125.00. Dues for Student and Emeritus members remain $30.00. The cost for additional Divisions will be $10.00 each per year.

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

SPE Technology Seminars at Plastics Encounter at ANTEC 2008
A series of 22 fundamental, intermediate and advanced level one- and two-day seminars will be conducted at Plastics Encounter @ ANTEC 2008, May 4-8, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The seminars will be led by industry-recognized instructors in extrusion, injection molding, engineering properties and structure, materials and more! Registration fees have been reduced for 2008. To view the entire schedule, click here.

Financial Reports Overdue?
Reminder: Your Section/Division Annual Financial Report Form and any applicable IRS forms (or other governmental forms you are required to file) were due by November 15, 2007. If you did not file by the November 15th deadline, please contact Tricia McKnight as soon as possible.

Employment Anniversaries
Congratulations are extended to SPE staff celebrating employment anniversaries this month: Dolores Pruefer (28 years), Roger Ferris (20 years), Bonnie Kaczowski (15 years), Dawn Roman-Weide (1 year).