Student Summit at 2008 IMTS

Add comment July 16th, 2008

I am excited to be writing about the 2008 International Manufacturing Technology Show Student Summit at McCormick Place, Chicago Illinois, Tuesday, September 9, 2008.

Superior Joining Technologies, Inc. has participated in this event each year. Each mentor we have sent has really enjoyed the experience. The school districts send students that are well behaved and interested in what they can see on this trip. Our mentors try to explain to the students and teachers that there is more than making parts going on at the show. If you step back you see all the advertising, opportunity for sales, human resources, management, invention, and banking. Our mentors try to hit home the fact that manufacturing touches all aspects of the community. Our community benefits as a result.

The reason we enthusiastically support the Student Summit is because manufacturing is a big part of the Rock River Valley’s local economy and we want to encourage young people to be intereted in Manufacturing.

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce Manufacturers’ Council Education Outreach Committee and  The Manufacturing Council are who got us started taking students to IMTS. This is a great opportunity to give students a first-hand look at the exciting world of manufacturing and engineering. IMTS is the largest manufacturing and technology show in North America. For information on the IMTS show itself, see http://www.imts.com. 

This will be the fourth bus trip to IMTS.  During the last summit trip in 2006, over 200 students were sponsored by area business leaders.  So far there are commitments to send 250-300 students from school district 205 and 100 for this years show. There is a need for 12 mentors and $4400 to take 220 students and teachers to the IMTS show Sep 9, 2008. $4400 includes the cost of the buses and a sack lunch for the students, teachers, parents, and manufacturing mentors traveling on the bus.

I hope you will consider sponsoring five students for $150, ten students for $300, or an entire bus for $1,100, so that as many students as possible can attend IMTS on September 9 at McCormick Place, in Chicago Illinois. Please make contributions payable to: The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL.) Indicate in the memo line: IMTS as your sponsorship is also tax deductible to the full extent of the law.  For more information regarding IMTS sponsorship, please contact the Teri Watts at (815) 316-4337 or mail contributions to the Rockford Chamber Attention: Teri Watts 308 W. State St. Rockford, IL 61101. 

Export to China-Update #4

Add comment July 16th, 2008

Good news, our quotation, based on price, was favorable!  I mentioned that we submitted a slightly different design, based on our design standards and he checked with his customer and said it was acceptable.  It was, however, interchangeable as far as fit and performance.

Now my contact wants to become our agent.  So I have asked for information about his company, the territory that he covers, his sales staff, etc.  Since our quotation was to check price, I have informed him of payment terms and shipping instructions.

So far, so good, let’s see if I make it to the next step!

Manufacturing Camp Looking for Students!

Add comment July 16th, 2008

Goodwill/Abilities has openings for 10-12 students to fill up spaces for the summer manufacturing camps at TechWorks. If you know of any 6^th-8^th graders who may be interested in the camp, please have them contact Sam Schmitz or Courtney Geiger (815-965-3795). They will supply you with an application form.

The camps are scheduled for the afternoons of the week of July 28^th and mornings of August 4^th.

This is a great opportunity for our youth to learn first hand about manufacturing. If you know of someone that may be interested, please pass this information along.

Are twixters hurting the economy?

Add comment July 16th, 2008

Wikipedia puts forth “Twixters are typically young adults (ages 12-29) who live with their parents or are otherwise not independent by other means, primarily financial. If they are employed, it is often unsteady and low-paying.”

With the recent spate of financial deals going south I cannot help but wonder if twixters are one of the root causes. That is to say, are people making risky financial decisions because they know if things get rough they can move back home?