As I reported in my last letter, our Hudson Valley CC Conference date is set - July 17-19, 2012. Our planning team in New York, Dave Larkin at HVCC and Sam Chiappone at RPI, the McGills from HFO Allendale and other volunteers have been meeting and putting together the many meeting details that will go into making our 3-day educational event flawless. We're even planning a Monday evening Welcome Reception for attendees to get to know each other.

New location, new energy! The 6th Annual HTEC CNC Educators Conference 2012 promises to be the best conference yet and you can be a part of it as a presenter!

Each year our conference is an outstanding opportunity to share our educational experiences. The 2012 Conference Theme is:

"Growing Your Manufacturing Education Triangle"

The three areas of focus are:

• Recruiting - Attracting students to careers in manufacturing & engineering and to your specific school programs.
• Programs - Building programs through alliances with instructors, administration, industry & associations.
• Employment - Jobs for students through partnerships between education and industry.

Presentations and forums in each segment will provide attendees with ideas of how they can grow their own Education Triangle.

I would like to ask you to contribute your expertise and become a presenter at our July conference and tell us about successful collaborations in your CNC program that are growing your program and promoting your fight to keep a manufacturing career exciting, relevant and up-to-date. Details are included in The Call for Paper Abstracts prepared by Sam Chiappone, RPI, and Jerry Crucetti, HVCC.

Abstracts are due by February 17, 2012, by email to Bob Skodzinsky at bobskodzinsky@gmail.com. For more information & instructions go to Call for Presenters & Papers on the HTEC Home - News. Again, any HTEC Educator that would like to present and profile a Best CNC Educational Practice from their program is encouraged to submit your ideas for selection to our final agenda.

We hope you've marked the dateson your calendar - July 17-19, 2012 - and are already making plans to attend. I look forward to seeing you in Troy, New York. Online registration will open shortly.