Happy Halloween all,
 

             I would like to thank Matt Pronovost for his presentation on October 9th.  Next month’s meeting will feature Dr Ron Blank and he will be talking about Integrating ISO 9001 and ISO 14000. Both of these gentlemen are from Intechra Corp located in Windsor CT. Matt’s presentation is posted on our website as the October PowerPoint. I gained a lot of new perspective on the subject of recycling and what Intechra Corp recycles and what is now required or what can be recycled properly to protect the environment and customer’s information. Please check out the PowerPoint.

           I have been receiving feedback on our website and the difficultly in finding the link to sign up for the monthly meetings. A couple of changes have been added to the website. “Events” is now “Meetings” and the sign up link is much larger. Hopefully this corrects the issues some members have been having. Please remember that even if you cannot sign up in advance for any of our meetings you can still show up at the door and join the meeting. Our set program is networking between 5 PM to 6 PM with a full bar available, dinner is served at 6 PM and goes to 7 PM with desert and coffee. Our speaker starts at 7 PM and if there is any, section business is also handled at that time. So if you walk in during the networking time Tony and his team at Adam’s Mill will handle your food order at that time. I would like to thank Tony and his team for their flexibility in handling our needs as a Section.

           The next subject I would like to talk about in this month’s Chair’s message is that we will be sending out a post card survey. We really need your input on the future of the monthly meetings. The Executive Committee has been working very hard to come up with a program every year that we hope meets the needs of the membership. Everyone’s opinion counts. The Executive Committee needs your thoughts and if you want to join us, our next Executive Committee meeting will be on Thursday October 16th starting at 5:30 PM. Please feel free to join us at Adam’s Mill. The hostess knows us well and will direct you to where we are meeting.

          I attended a phone conference of the Section Affairs Committee on Friday October 10th,  on the subject of surveys. The next survey from Headquarters will be different than in past years. This will be an online event and will be open to all members of ASQ. You will need your membership number in order to sign in. More information will be forthcoming. In past years the survey was a paper one and the turnout wasn’t as desired. This year and in the future, electronic surveys will be the new standard operating plan of ASQ. This information is very valuable to the section, divisions and forums. This will help all of us deliver what you the membership wants. This will start sometime in January.  The future direction of your Hartford Section and ASQ national is derived from this data. Please take the time, when you are notified, to complete this very important survey.

         I will be attending the North East Quality Council’s 60th anniversary Conference in Marlborough Massachusetts on October 14th and 15th. I do hope that I see a good representation from the Hartford Section at the conference.

        A special note-the Executive Committee has decided to drop the fee for the monthly dinner meetings to $25.00

Bob Dembkoski ASQ-CQA, ASQ-CQIA

ASQ Hartford Section Chair 2007/2009