Last Updated: 9 July 2007
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July 4, 2007
Happy Fourth of July
John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776:
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.
Adams was off by two days, however. Certainly, the vote on July 2 was the decisive act. But July 4, 1776 is the date on the Declaration itself. Jefferson's stirring prose, as edited by the Congress, was first adopted by the July 4 vote. It was also the first day Philadelphians heard the official news of independence from the Continental Congress, as opposed to rumors in the street about secret votes.
Section Board
Recertification Notice
June 5, 2007
LAST REMINDER - For Recertifications Expiring Dec 31, 2006
June 30, 2007, is the last date to submit your Re-Certification Application for those certifications that expire Dec 31, 2006.
- To all of you that have not yet submitted your recertification packages, please do so before June 15th, to allow for review and submission to headquarters in a timely manner.
- Note that after 30 June 2007, certification packages will need to be sent to a new address, as our current Recertification chair is retiring. Pay attention to the web site for further information, or email
 with your questions.
- Thank you for your cooperation.
Check out all our Recertification Page for further information.
Re-certification Committee
May 28, 2007
New Senior Fellows
Congratulations to the most recent 18 members promoted to Senior Fellow.
New Senior Fellows (Section 502) (2007, Feb - Apr):
- DeGraves, Douglas A.
- Everett, Charles R.
- Fabyan, Rebecca B.
- Howard, Harry H.
- Humenik, Victoria
- Kfuri, Toni E.
- Lentz, Mark William
- Merz, Vincent P.
- Nickel, Daniel J.
- Paolino, Maria Angela
- Schaeffer, Howard J.
- Sisk, James A.
- Sklar, Ian B.
- Stewart, Kimberly C.
- Toalston, Sandra
- Ward, Gordon M.
- Weidmyer, Thomas
- White, Jonathan Edward Barrett
Examining Committee
May 23, 2007
Maryland Performance Excellence Awards: Call for Examiners
The Maryland Performance Excellence Awards program, which honors organizations working to increase their effectiveness through performance excellence, is accepting applications for examiners in the 2007 awards program. This Baldrige-based program recognizes organizations for performance excellence with the U.S. Senate Productivity Award and Maryland Quality Award.
- Examiners receive valuable training and experience in applying the Criteria for Performance Excellence by reviewing an award application as a member of an Examiner Team.
- Learn how leading organizations achieve performance excellence.
- Gain visibility, credibility and recognition in the state and from your U. S. Senators.
- Develop analytical, consensus-building and systems-perspective skills that can be applied to your organization.
- Must participate in 3 days of training, led by national Baldrige examiners, and commit to spending 100 to 150 hours for pre-work, training, application review individually and as a team member, and writing the final feedback report. Examiners meet with their applicant at the MPEA Conference and Awards Ceremony in April 2008 to provide feedback.
- Being an examiner is the best way to learn the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and to develop skills that can be applied in your organization.
- Examiner Applications due: June 15, 2007
Flyer: MPEA: Call for Examiners
Learn more about being an MPEA Examiner at http://www.mpea.umd.edu/examiners.html, email
 , or call 301-405-7173.
MPEA is a program of the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland.
MPEA is supported by U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin.
For further information, check out our Calendar page to review the deadlines, look at ASQ Baltimore's MPEA Information page, or the MPEA home page, http://www.mpea.umd.edu/.
Quality Community - MPEA
Recertification Notice
May 14, 2007
For Recertifications Expiring Dec 31, 2006
June 30, 2007, is the last date to submit your Re-Certification Application for those certifications that expire Dec 31, 2006.
- To all of you that have not yet submitted your recertification packages, please do so before June 15th, to allow for review and submission to headquarters in a timely manner.
- Note that after 30 June 2007, certification packages will need to be sent to a new address, as our current Recertification chair is retiring. Pay attention to the web site for further information, or email with your questions.
- Thank you for your cooperation.
Check out all our Recertification Page for further information.
Re-certification Committee
Upcoming Dinner Meeting
April 19, 2007
May Dinner Meeting - Maryland Performance Excellence Awards Recipients
Information on the Tuesday, May 8th Dinner meeting has been posted:
Tutorial:
Howard Community College, Zoe Irvin, Silver MPEA Award Recipient
Program topic:
Chimes, Terry Collard, 2006 U. S. Senate Productivity Award Recipient
About the MPEA Award recipients:
"Deeds not Words" characterizes Chimes approach to meeting the challenge of responding to the needs of people with disabilities. Since 1947, Chimes has been a leading nonprofit agency serving children, adults, and senior citizens with disabilities. Founded as a school for children with moderate mental retardation, programs today benefit over 11,000 people with special needs in Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina and Israel.
Howard Community College is a publicly funded two-year community college serving the educational needs of the citizens and employers in Howard County since 1970. With its slogan, "You Can Get There From Here", the college has forged a variety of partnerships to offer career and transfer programs to 22,000 students annually at its main campus in Columbia, the Charles I. Ecker Business Training Center, Laurel College Center, and historic Belmont Conference Center. The college has practiced a formal continuous quality improvement program since the late 1990's.
Registrations are closesd. Thank you. If you wish to attend without a meal guaranteed, you are welcome to attend the tutorial/program.
Congratulations to Susan Spurgeon, who won the Door Prize of a free upcoming meeting at the April Dinner Meeting. Thanks to all who attended.
Check out all our local upcoming events and training.
Program Committee
April 17, 2007
Calendar of Events
The Calendar of Events has been updated with the remaining ASQ 0502 events for the year, as well as other events that will be of interest to our membership.
The events includes QAAM, MPEA, and other affliated organization events, as well as training courses that are scheduled to come up in the Baltimore area.
The calendar is now also in a monthly layout, to make it easier to visualize the events taking place.
To see the Calendar of Events, click on the "Calendar of Events" button on the navigation bar to the left, or click on Calendar page. As usual, any comments, let me know.
Webmaster
April 15, 2007
Maryland Performance Excellence Awards Program Information
Since 1983, Maryland's U.S. Senators have honored the quality, productivity and business achievements of Maryland organizations by presenting the Senate Productivity Awards for Maryland. In 1997, they built on these prestigious awards by creating the 1997 Maryland Quality Awards -- a new and expanded recognition and learning process for leading Maryland organizations. Both the Senate Productivity and Maryland Quality Awards are offered through the Maryland Performance Excellence Awards Program, part of MTECH.
ASQ Baltimore has been a proud supporter and sponsor of Maryland Performance Excellence Awards Program, and for the May program, holds a Dinner Program where our members can hear the stories of that year's winners.
For further information, check out our Calendar page to review the deadlines, look at ASQ Baltimore's MPEA Information page, or the MPEA home page, http://www.mpea.umd.edu/.
Program Committee
April 11, 2007
April Dinner Meeting - ASQ Baltimore Member Needs
In order to address requests and comments from our membership,
the Section Board is holding a tutorial and program focused on
addressing the needs of our members.
We have received numerous ideas for meetings and ways that
the Section can serve it members, and want to get your input.
Come by and particpate in our next meeting, become part of the
planning process.
One of the topics we will discuss is how the Section can help
with Educational needs, in particular sponsoring or supplying
certification education.
If you have suggestions, please forward to us, or attend and
join the discussion.
Information on the Tuesday, April 17th Dinner meeting has been posted:
Tutorial:
Member Value: Your Needs As A Member Of The Baltimore Section Of ASQ
- Section Board
Program topic:
Panel Discussion: Aligning The Section's Plans With Your Needs
- Panel Discussion, members to be announced
Registrations will be accepted until 13 April 2007.
Congratulations to Nancy Hall, who won the Door Prize of a free upcoming meeting at the March Dinner Meeting. Thanks to all who attended.
Inclement Weather Notice: Please watch the website or listen to the Section voice mail for cancellation update.
Check out all our upcoming events.
Program Committee
Volunteers Needed
March 20, 2007
Judges still needed to volunteer for the 52nd Annual Baltimore Science Fair
The ASQ Baltimore Section has once again been invited to participate in the 52nd Annual Baltimore Science Fair at Towson University. As in past years, the Baltimore Section again will provide volunteers and awards to students at the Baltimore Science Fair.
- Local members will volunteer as independent judges.
- Judging will take place on March 24th and the awards ceremony will be on March 25th. It will take place at Towson University.
- Volunteers will judge the student exhibits for their use and understanding of statistical principles and
statistical thinking,
- The Section will also recognize teams of students for effectively working together to solve their chosen problem.
- Members interested in volunteering may contact the Science Fair Committee Chair, Kevin Gilson at
 .
The Fair attracts winners of school and county-based science fairs from Maryland’s Baltimore Region. Students represent public, private, and home, middle (Division 1) and high (Division 2) schools within Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard Counties and Baltimore City. Fair is sponsored by Towson University, Kiwanis Club of Towson-Timonium, Kiwanis Club of Baltimore City, Lockheed Martin Corp., Baltimore Co Public Schools, Constellation Energy Group, Howard Co Public Schools, BD Diagnostics.
Winners from the Baltimore Science Fair will compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair, May 13-19, 2007 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This is a great way to give back to the local community.
Quality Community - Science Fair Committee
February 15, 2007
Maryland Performance Excellence Awards Conference and Awards Ceremony
Don't miss the Maryland Performance Excellence Awards Conference And Awards Ceremony on Monday, March 12, 2007 when business and organizational leaders gather at the University of Maryland in College Park to learn and celebrate performance excellence.
Since 1983, Maryland's U.S. Senators have honored the quality,
productivity and business achievements of Maryland organizations by presenting the Senate Productivity
Awards for Maryland. The 1997 Maryland
Quality Awards -- became a new and expanded recognition and learning process for leading Maryland organizations.
Both the Senate Productivity and Maryland Quality Awards are offered through the Maryland Performance
Excellence Awards Program, part of MTECH .
This full day conference includes:
- Morning presentations by recipients of Baldrige National Quality Awards--
- Branch-Smith Printing: The Branch-Smith Journey (Fort Worth, Texas-2002 Award Recipient)
- Baptist Hospital: Baptist Hospital-The Baldrige Journey (Pensacola, Florida-2003 Award Recipient)
- Community Consolidated School District 15: Charting the Course to Performance Excellence (Palatine, Illinois-2003 Award Recipient)
- Luncheon and Presentation of the 2006 Senate Productivity Award and Maryland Quality Awards by Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, and University of Maryland President Dan Mote
- Afternoon breakout sessions with Baldrige National Quality Recipients-smaller group sessions to learn more from a morning speaker and to ask your specific questions about their Baldrige experience and how it has made them a world class organization
- Opportunity to network with leaders of Maryland organizations who are working to improve Maryland's economy through performance excellence in the workplace
A copy of the flier is available and if you have questions, call 301.405.3883 (4837); or, email to mpea@umd.edu, or check out their website at http://www.mpea.umd.edu/
December 20, 2006
Holiday Wishes
The Board of the Baltimore Section of ASQ wishes to offer our membership best wishes for the year-end holidays.
We look forward to serving you in the coming year.
ASQ Section Board
December 4, 2006
December Dinner Meeting - ASQ Fundamentals
Information on the Tuesday, December 12th Dinner meeting has been posted:
Tutorial: ISO Implementation Success - Geoff Withnell, Federal Services Manager, BearingPoint
Program topic: ASQ Fundamentals
- Richard Litts, ASQ Regional Director
Please join us for our Deceember Dinner Meeting. Please check out
our meeting page to get details and make your reservation.
Check out all our upcoming events.
Program Committee
November 16, 2006
November Dinner Meeting - Mission Assurance Capability and Focus
Information on the Tuesday, November 21st Dinner meeting has been posted, with a single presentation.
Program topic: Mission Assurance Capability and Focus
- Elizabeth Iversen, Vice President, Mission Assurance, Northrop Grumman
Please join us for our September Dinner Meeting. Please check out
our meeting page to get details and make your reservation.
Check out all our upcoming events.
Program Committee
Special Social Event
October 15, 2006
November Social Event --- Sunday with the Baltimore Symphony, "Heavenly Beauty"
Best-selling author and astronomer Mario Livio, a featured speaker at previous ASQ Baltimore Section Dinner Meetings, will introduce stunning galactic imagery from the Hubble Telescope, choreographed to the stirring melodies of Christopher Theofanidis' award-winning and immensely popular Rainbow Body.
Cost: $20 per Rear Orchestra Seat payable in advance. Time: 3:00 PM Concert. Pick up confirmed tickets by 2:40 PM from ASQ at the front entrance of Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.
Please join us for this special social get-together.
Check out all our upcoming events.
Program Committee
Special Afternoon Event
October 6, 2006
October Afternoon Event --- "What Works" - Ethics and Virtues in the Business World
Information on the Tuesday, October 17th Dinner meeting has been posted, with two presentations.
Program: "What Works" - Ethics and Virtues in the Business World
- James W. Brinkley, Vice Chairman - Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
Please join us for this special afternoon meeting. Please check out
our Event page to get details and make your reservation.
Check out all our upcoming events.
Program Committee
Upcoming Dinner Meeting
September 27, 2006
October Dinner Meeting - Mission Assurance Capability and Focus
Information on the Tuesday, October 10th Dinner meeting has been posted, with two presentations.
Tutorial and Program: Lean Enterprise - Basics and Advanced
- Mike Rothmeier, SIMPLE SOLUTIONS
Reservations for this meeting are no longer being accepted.
Check out all our upcoming events.
Program Committee
September 22, 2006
Website updates
A number of updates have been added to the website this month.
- The Calendar of Events has been updated. A significant portion of the year has been planned out. Please let us know if there are any particular topics, or if you wish to present a tutorial or program.
- Updated a number of links to the ASQ website.
- The Newsletter archive has had newsletters from the 2000-2001 program year added to it.
- A change to the web page code has been performed so that the "Refresh" problems that some users have been noticing should go away
(makes the site slightly slower, but guarantees that you are always seeing the latest version of the web page).
Too many people where claiming that they were unable to immediately see information that was posted, it sometime took up to a day for
it to show up.
- A version page has been added with version information, technical information about the website, and the Section's
privacy policy (in the process of being updated).
- A Tools and Utilities page has been added to the site (see the navigation bar to the left), that contains utilities
that allow users to view files, as well as perform other useful tasks (for work or for home).
There are a number of Section Board positions available, check out the Section Board page to see the openings and the descriptions.
Webmaster
Dinner Meeting
September 13, 2006
Excitement at the September Dinner Meeting
Many thanks to all who attended last evening's ASQ Baltimore Section opening session meeting at the Historical Electronics Museum - great location and great planned agenda. Unfortunately, the meeting had to be abruptly terminated when smoke from a malfunctioning oven in the kitchen area activated the fire alarm and sprinkler system, and the Fire Marshall determined that the building was not safe to return.
Good news: Another free dinner meeting has been scheduled at the same location (Historical Electronic Museum) with the same speaker and topic.
-
Date for the rescheduled meeting (“Mission Assurance Capability and Focus" – Elizabeth Iversen, Vice President, Mission Assurance, Northrop Grumman) will be Tuesday November 21, 2006. This meeting will be held in addition to the planned social event on November 12, 2006 at the Meyerhoff to hear Dr. Livio speak on Heavenly Beauty to be followed with a BSO concert!
- Thanks to all who attended and sat through the Tutorial. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us.
- There were a number of links / events / organizations that were mentioned during the Tutorial last night:
- At least the weather was nice. It would have been a lot worse if the weather was not cooperating.
- Because the tutorial was nearing completion, .3 recertification points will be awarded to those in attendance.
- Since so many people left behind their handouts, they will be available on the web site here on the front page, and in the Presentations Page.
- Thanks to the two people who filled out the evaluations and gave the Tutorial a 4.5 and the location a 5
 .
- Hopefully, our next meeting at the Historical Electronic Museum will remain Emergency Services-free .
Check out all our upcoming events.
Program Committee
September 6, 2006
General News
Hopefully, all of our members survived "Big Windy Rain" Ernesto last weekend with minimal consequences.
- The September meeting looks to be a very popular one. If you are still interested, sign up soon before time runs out, or we reach our occupancy limit!
- If you have any questions that you would like to see addressed by your Board, please forward them to
 .
- We will have a list of dates of the future meetings for the upcoming Program Year, along with the Programs.
- You are still in need of Board members, as there are a number of postions open, that need to be filled for the upcoming. Come by and talk with us.
Click this link to get to the Section Newsletter page, or use the navigation bar to the left to get to the Newsletter page, or any other parts of our website.
Webmaster
Upcoming Dinner Meeting
September 6, 2006
September Dinner Meeting - Mission Assurance Capability and Focus
Information on the Tuesday, September 12th Dinner meeting has been posted, with two presentations.
Tutorial: ASQ Baltimore Section Progress and Plans - Executive Board Members, Section 0502
Program topic: Mission Assurance Capability and Focus
- Elizabeth Iversen, Vice President, Mission Assurance, Northrop Grumman
Please join us for our September Dinner Meeting. Please check out
our meeting page to get details and make your reservation.
Please sign up by Friday, Sept 8, as any reservations after that date will not be able to be accepted.
If you are unable to pre-register, a meal will not be able to be provided for you (although you will be welcome to attend the tutorial and program).
Check out all our upcoming events.
Program Committee
Upcoming Conference
September 6, 2006
ASQ’s Government Division Conference
ASQ’s Government Division is presenting a one-day event: Leadership Dialogues: Perspectives in Leadership on October 19 in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Review all of the information at http://www.gov.mb.ca/csc/servicemb/PSB_Maryland/index.html
or contact Sharon Helman at shelman[at]gov.mb.ca/ (204) 945-7928
ASQ Government Division
Website Update
August 31, 2006
Section Newsletter Archive updated
The newsletter archive has been updated with archives back to the 2001 Program Year, just in time for the 2006-2007 Program Year.
Click this link to get to the Section Newsletter page, or use the navigation bar to the left to get to the Newsletter page, or any other parts of our website.
Webmaster
Website Update
August 31, 2006
New website look - minor changes
The website has been improved slightly. The navigation bar to the left is now text, rather than graphics, thereby speeding up the downloading of the site. The loading of the site in MS Internet Explorer is still slower than using Firefox.
Information on the website (version information, technical information, and privacy policy) is now available for anyone interested at Website Information page, or use the navigation bar to the left to get to the Website Information page, or any other parts of our website.
Webmaster
Upcoming Board Meeting
Board Meeting open to any interested
August 22, 2006
August Section Board Meeting
Please join us for our August Section Board Meeting, opening up our 2006-2007 Program Year.
If you wish to join us, please contact us at for directions and further information.
All members and potential members welcome.
Check out all our upcoming events.
Executive Board
July 3, 2006
Reasons to Volunteer for your Section
It is that time of the program year when positions on the Section Board open up and we need to request for
volunteers for the next program year. Reasons for getting involved:
- You have an input in the future programs and direction of the Baltimore Section.
- A chance to contribute to help further the Quality Profession and those impacted locally by it in Maryland.
- You can get up to 1.5 Certification RUs per year participating in a Committee (up to 4.5 RUs per certification).
- A chance to network with others in your field and in a similar position to yourself.
- You get to wear a handy-dandy badge pointing out your membership in the Section Board .
Note, if you are interested, you do not need to wait for the beginning of the program year, just contact us now.
Lauren Fagan, Publicity
July 1, 2006
Slate of Officers
The Section Board is presenting the slate of officers for the 2006-2007 Program Year.
- Chair - Jina Eckhardt
-
Jina Robbins Eckhardt is current acting Chair of ASQ Baltimore section
0502, with 27 years experience in the Software Engineering and Software
Quality fields. She received her bachelor's degree from New York York
University in 1979, and later attended George Washington University
while studying for her M.S. in Information Management. She is a Senior
Member of ASQ, with ASQ certifications in Software Quality Engineering
and Quality Auditing. Jina is a Staff Principal Engineer at ARINC in
Annapolis, Maryland.
- Vice-Chair - Eric Whichard ("Eric W")
-
Eric Whichard (BS, MBA) is currently Section Treasurer. He has 20+
years experience in chemical manufacturing quality, currently as manager
in a divisional quality organization of W.R. Grace & Co. (HQ in
Columbia, MD). He is a senior member with certifications including QM,
QE, and SSBB, who joined in 1982.
- Treasurer - Aron Brall
-
Aron Brall (BS, MBA) is currently Section Arrangements Chair. He has 30+
years experience in Reliability and Quality, currently as Reliability
Services Area Team Leader for SRS Technologies at Goddard Space Flight
Center. He is a Senior Member with certification in Reliability Engineering
and has been an ASQ member wince 1992.
- Secretary - Eric Finegan ("Eric F")
-
Eric Finegan CQA, CBA, is currently VP, Regulatory and Quality Affairs at
DeJarnette Research Systems, Inc, a small medical imaging company in Towson, MD.
He has 15+ years of software development and software quality experience in the
financial, air traffic control and medical imaging sectors.
Eric is currently an Advisor to the Board, as well as the current Webmaster for the
ASQ Baltimore section website.
Your local section is always looking for volunteers to assist your section work for its members.
If you have something to offer, please review our Section Board position page
and contact us if there is something you are interested in.
Every committee can use help from the membership.
Section Board Elections
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by noon on June 12.
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by noon on May 14.
![jobseeker[at]asqbaltimore.org](img/email/jobseekers_1.gif)
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