August, 2010
A New Year Is Upon Us
Welcome to a new year of ASQ! We have a few new faces on the Board this year along with some familiar ones so there is a good mix of experience and newness there. I am looking forward to an exciting year with lots of new things going on within our section, our division and ASQ as a whole. We have some really good ideas for upcoming programs and clinics as well as training opportunities.
Business Plan
We did a great job last year in meeting our business goals for the year with a 96% completion of all planned line items! The Board is working now on developing our business goals for the upcoming year to continue with the outstanding work accomplished last year.
Employment Focus
Unfortunately, the economy remains a constant source of news and worry for many around the country and in our local area. ASQ does offer reduced dues for those members that find themselves unemployed. If you are having difficulty, please contact someone on your local Board or contact ASQ headquarters to find out what help is available for you.
We also have a job posting area on our Section website. Any time one of us is contacted about an open position, the information is posted here for our membership. I have had companies approach me and say that they preferred advertising on ASQ sites because the quality of the applicants was so much higher! What a great testament to ASQ, its members and our reputation!! Our section website is: www.asq-middletn.org
As a member service, since it remains a topic of interest, our first member meeting set for Sept. 9 will focus on employment. We have a speaker from Adecco, an employment agency with a division devoted to technical hiring and placement – both temporary and permanent. Whether you are looking for a job, looking to hire, manage projects or just want to freshen up your resume in this up and down economy, I am sure that you will find something of interest in the program.
If you know of someone who might benefit from this program, be sure to invite them. This could be a co-worker, a friend, a family member or a fellow ASQ member.
CQE/CQA Certification Exam Prep
ASQ – Middle Tennessee continues to partner with outside groups and educational institutes to offer certification exam prep among other helpful and timely courses. Here are a couple of the classes available:
Vol State is offering a CQE prep course beginning October 4. This class will meet on Mondays from 6-9 pm for eight weeks. The last class will be held on Nov. 22. This will get you prepared for the Dec. 4 CQE exam. The cost of this prep class is $675 plus $75 for materials.
Vol State is offering a CQA prep course beginning October 2. This class will meet on Saturdays from 9 am - noon for eight weeks. The last class will be held on Nov. 20. This will get you prepared for the Dec. 4 CQA exam. The cost of this prep class is $675 plus $75 for materials.
Additional information on these and other classes available through Vol State can be found on their website at: http://www.volstate.edu/ContinuingEd/Documents/ContinuingEdSchedule.pdf
ASQ Section 0111, Olde Colony, is offering a web-based CQA certification exam prep course. The course will consist of ten 1.5 hour sessions beginning Tuesday, Sept. 21. The courses will run 5:00 – 6:30 pm Eastern time. Participants will need to order the CQA Primer prior to class beginning. Discounted price for ASQ members is $300. More information on the course and the instructor can be found at: http://www.asqoldecolony.org/
We post available classes on our Section website as well, when we are made aware of them. If you know of an upcoming class, please share this information so that we can make all members aware. If you are looking for a certification prep class, check out our website to see what is available. Again, our section website is located at:
www.asq-middletn.org
Member Value
As I am sure many of you have done, I have spent a good bit of time in the last year focusing on my personal spending habits and evaluating the value of various products and services that I purchase. Some things in my mind are worth the money I spend while I have discontinued many other things that I viewed as less valuable. Part of this evaluation has been a result of listening to the news, part of this has been due to changes in my personal life, and a lot of it has to do with simply revamping my views on money, value and savings.
Along these lines, I would like to take just a minute and ask for your help. The money you spend for ASQ dues, membership dinners, certifications, various books and materials, etc. is hard earned and, probably these days, closely scrutinized. What can we do, as a local Section, to increase the value to you, the member? Please give this some thought and contact me or any other Board member with your thoughts. I want each and every one of you to feel that this is one expense that is more than worth the cost! Feel free to approach me at any meeting with your ideas. You can drop me a note if you are more comfortable with that. My email address is: Chair@ASQ-MiddleTN.org or call me at 662-722-1199 (cell).
Hope to see you all at the September meeting!
Elizabeth |