Information on the Tuesday, March 9th Dinner meeting has been posted:

Program: The Society, the Region, and the Section”, Eric Whichard, ASQ Region 05 Regional Director (RD).

Tutorial: ASQ Re-certification Process”, Joan Richter CQA, CQPA – Recertification Coordinator, ASQ Baltimore

Click on Events » Dinner Meetings on the webpage so you can get details on the dinner.

Click on Events » Event Reservations on the webpage in order to reserve your spot at the dinner.

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Join us for our sixth meeting of the 2009-2010 Program Year! Look forward to seeing you there for networking and a great meeting topic.

Stay tuned for upcoming announcements for our new Program for the upcoming year.

Check out our all our local upcoming events and training (see the Calendar of Events). Check out our education page for recent and upcoming certification courses.

Program Committee

On the ASQ JobSeekers website, there is a article titled “How Do I Get Started / Use LinkedIn?” to help get members started on using LinkedIn, now that there is an ASQ Baltimore Group within LinkedIn.

Please read and review the links in the article. Feel free to leave comments or email the author with comments/question.

Thank you.

Eric Finegan
Webmaster, ASQ 0502

What is LinkedIn and how can it benefit you?

LinkedIn is a free online network of more than 55 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing over 170 industries and 200 countries.

Through your network you can:

• Connect with former colleagues, alumni, or other ASQ 0502 members and discover new networking opportunities

• Get introduced to other professionals through the people you know

• Manage the professional information about you that’s publicly available

• Find and be introduced to potential clients, service providers, and subject experts who come recommended

• Create and collaborate on projects, gather data, share files and solve problems

• Be found for business opportunities and find potential partners

• Gain new insight from discussions with like-minded professionals in private group settings

• Discover inside connections that can help you land jobs and close deals

• Post and distribute job listings to find the best talent for your company

How can you join LinkedIn and add ASQ 0502 to your profile?

If you are a member of ASQ 0502, you are eligible to join the Section’s LinkedIn group. Click here to join LinkedIn, or if you are already a LinkedIn member and want to add the ASQ 0502 Group to your account.

When you join, you can create a profile that summarizes your professional expertise and accomplishments. You can then form enduring connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you. Your network consists of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know, linking you to a vast number of qualified professionals and experts. LinkedIn is free to join and has a stringent privacy policy. They will not rent or sell your personally identifiable information to third parties for marketing purposes or share your contact information with another user.

What are the benefits of adding the ASQ Baltimore Section 0502 Group to my profile?

• Many professionals advance their careers and business goals by counting on industry and professional groups, alumni organizations, industry conferences and corporate alumni groups to help them make new vital business contacts.

• Helps you manage your career through referrals/advice/networking from ASQ Baltimore members

• Allows you to interact with the ASQ Baltimore community of professionals who share a common experience, passion, interest, affiliation or goal.

• Provides access to a list of all fellow ASQ Baltimore Section 0502 group members currently on LinkedIn.

• Group members are able to communicate freely with one another through LinkedIn messaging.

• Offer members a private space to strengthen old business contacts, and to be introduced to new ones.

• A forum is available for topics to discuss topics and proffer solutions.

As a member of the Baltimore Section, am I required to join LinkedIn, add the ASQ Baltimore Section 0502 group to my profile, etc.?

No, this is an optional service for ASQ 0502 members as an added value to your current membership.

How do I get more information before I start ?

If you wish to read up on LinkedIn and how it may be useful to you before you sign up, please go to the JobSeekers website and review the Introductory article on LinkedIn.

Eric Finegan,
Internet Liaison/Webmaster.

If you have not taken the annual Satisfaction and Loyalty Study survey, please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Go to http://www.marketprobe.com/svy/ASQ/ASQsurvey.asp before February 28, 2010. All participants will be entered into a drawing to win one (1) of eight (8) $25 ASQ Bucks.

Based on the results of last year’s survey, I am proud to announce that the Baltimore Section received the GOLD level. Without you, we could not have achieved this honor. Thank you.

Region 5 Results:

• GOLD: Baltimore (502) and Reading (510)

• SILVER: Washington DC & Maryland Metro (509)

• BRONZE: Philadelphia (505), Delaware (506) and Southern Jersey (508)

In addition to the survey, please feel free to email me () if you

• have any suggestions or questions regarding the Section

• know of anyone (or you are interested in) speaking to the section

• have a particular topic of interest for a section meeting (helpful is you know someone who may be a speaker, but not required)

• are interested in helping with the Board (open positions include Treasurer; Secretary, and others)

• have a particular course you would like to take in the Fall (see the website for Education details for the Spring)

• Interested in teaching a course in the Spring (Audit; Six Sigma Green Belt or Software Engineer)

• Just want to say “Hi”.

Be safe and have a quality day.

Thanks,
Joan Richter
ASQ Baltimore Chair (Section 502)

Course Listing from ccbcmd.edu

The textbook will be the corresponding Primer from the Quality Council of Indiana (http://www.qualitycouncil.com) and will need to be purchased prior to the first class.

If you would like to take any of these courses, please go to the following website to enroll: http://www.ccbcmd.edu/ceed/classes/bus_smallbiz.html

Interested in teaching or have questions regarding these courses or have a particular course you would like to see in the Fall, please email .

ASQ Baltimore (Section 502) Education Committee

The next Board Meeting will be scheduled  for the evening of March 16th.  Check out the website to review the information and get directions (or email )

Thank you,

Eric Finegan
Secretary, ASQ 0502 Baltimore

Today, the February holiday has become well-known for being a day in which many stores, especially car dealers, hold sales. Until the late 1980s, corporate businesses generally closed on this day, similar to present corporate practices on Memorial Day or Christmas Day. With the late 1980s advertising push to rename the holiday, more and more businesses are staying open on the holiday each year, and, as on Veterans Day and Columbus Day, most delivery services outside of the U.S. Postal Service now offer regular service on the day as well. Over time, as with many federal holidays, few Americans actually celebrate Washington’s Birthday, and it is mainly known as a day off from work or school, although many non-governmental workers do not take the day off.

While Washington’s Birthday was originally established to honor George Washington, the term Presidents Day was informally coined in a deliberate attempt to use the holiday to honor multiple presidents, and is virtually always used that way today.

Modern Valentine’s Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards.

Information on the next meeting will be be posted soon.

Stay tuned for upcoming announcements.

Program Committee