NEWSLETTER OF THE BALTIMORE SECTION OF THE IEEE
MARCH 2004
The web site for the Baltimore section of the IEEE is:
http://www.ewh.ieee.org/r2/baltimore
IN THIS ISSUE:
4. ASME/IEEE Joint Rail
Conference
5. ASME/IEEE Joint Rail
Conference Registration Form
6. ASME/IEEE Joint Rail
Conference Hotel Registration Form
1. Engineers Club
The following is a notice from the Engineers Club of Baltimore. Their web site is:
Any member in good standing of ESB Associate Societies can join The Engineers Club as a full member. Consult the contact below for the fee. The following are some of the benefits of membership:
· Room use is complimentary for members when they order food and beverage service - perfect for client interaction, staff meetings, and family meals
· High-speed internet access, LCD projector available
· Weekday lunch buffet, Thursday night Pasta (now featuring live piano!), Saturday night theme dinners (Monthly tot-drop nights with childcare provided onsite)
· Lounge with 53" TV and comfortable couches
· Private fully stocked bar with happy hour specials
· Clubroom with billiards, cards, darts, music and cable TV:
· FREE PARKING for members starting in January! (one per member# per day)
· Networking opportunities, clubs and committees
You’ve attended meetings and dinners at the Club, you know how good the food is, how wonderful the Mansion is, now’s your chance to experience the Club any time you like! Entertain your clients, dine with your spouse, hold a planning meeting, catch the game on the big screen, shoot some pool or just relax in the bar.
The following is the contact information:
Matthew Riggs
Director of Membership/Marketing
The Engineers Club
11 W. Mt. Vernon Place
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-539-6914
410-783-9372 fax
mriggs@esb.org
Contact your Society if they are not yet members.
2. Robot Challenge
There has been some significant growth in robot kits ordered during the past months, as follows:
November December January February
# of Schools 16 17 21 22
# of Teams 36 38 58 64
# of Kits 41 44 67 74
We do not expect any additional registrations at this time. For comparison, last year's numbers were: 19 schools, 50 teams, and 57 kits distributed locally.
Our challenge now is to follow-up on all these teams, and make sure that most of them complete their robots and come to the Challenge at the end of March. Typically we lose about 30% along the way.
The Teacher and Mentor Workshop was held on January 24, and was attended by 14 teachers and mentors. This was our best turnout to date. This will insure that teachers become better qualified to handle the difficulties their students encounter.
Another benefit of the workshop is that we have identified two new IEEE members willing to get more involved in this program. They are Jay Gamerman and Bill Semancik, and they should be very helpful in ensuring that all teams are followed-up carefully.
We have identified some new judges this year: Joel Glazer (Northrop Grumman), Jay Gamerman, his wife and son (a freshman at the University of Maryland), and Aaron Stoller, a freshman at UMBC, who participated in one of the teams last year. Now is the time to get our names together for these important jobs.
We need at least 8 judges for the written reports on Monday, March 22, about 24 people for the main event on Saturday, March 27, and about 12 people on Sunday, March 28. The times for the Saturday event are 8:45 AM to 3:00 PM. The times for the Sunday event are 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM.
We had some serious quality problems with the 67 kits recently received from Kelvin. After receiving assurances that all of the items from China (parts #3 and #4) would be 100% retapped in China, it turned out that this was not done. We got complaints that 30% of these parts were not fitting smoothly. All parts were recalled and Kelvin sent in replacement parts. It was a lot of frustrating work trying to figure out which schools got which kits.
We've received checks this month from North Carolina for the 5 automation kits and for the 10 regular kits, and from the Barrie School for 5 regular robot kits.
Finally, we received a postcard from the Baltimore County Public Schools requiring us to register as a supplier.
3. Robot Challenge Schedule
The Robot Challenge will be held at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway, near the Inner Harbor, on Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28. The starting times for the Saturday event are 9:30 AM and 11 AM, while the starting time for the Sunday activities is 1 PM.
4. ASME/IEEE Joint Rail Conference
The annual ASME/IEEE Joint Rail Conference will be held in Baltimore, MD, on April 6th-8th, 2004, at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel. An interesting variety of technical presentations are planned, and a tour of the Port of Baltimore will be conducted. Information on the technical paper abstracts and conference and hotel registration is available at:
http://www.asmeconferences.org/jrc04
ASME/IEEE Joint Rail Conference
April 6
- 8, 2004
Experience Charm City in
a place that's destined to charm you - the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel.
Perfectly situated in Baltimore's famed Inner Harbor area, the hotel is truly
your personal Gateway to the Harbor - ensuring business, leisure and meetings
guests an enchanting and distinctive stay.
- Adjacent to Baltimore's Inner
Harbor attractions
- Connected to upscale Gallery
shopping mall
- Distinctive meeting and event
space
- Your personal gateway to the
Harbor
Renaissance Harborplace Hotel
202 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Phone (410) 547-1200
(800) 535-1201 Toll Free (U.S. & Canada)
(800) 228-9290 International Toll Free
METHOD OF RESERVATIONS
Individual attendees will make reservations
for the event directly with Renaissance reservations at (800) 468-3571 or (410)
547-1200. It is important
for the attendees to identify themselves with the ASME/IEEE Joint Rail
Conference in order to receive the group rate and to help support the
Conference.
5. ASME/IEEE Joint Rail Conference Registration Form
ASME/IEEE JOINT
RAIL CONFERENCE
APRIL 6th, 7th,
and 8th, 2004
CONFERENCE
REGISTRATION
|
RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO: |
|
|
|
Vinaya (Vinny) Sharma |
|
|
Sharma & Associates Inc. 5810 South Grant Street Hinsdale, Illinois 60521 |
|
Telephone: |
(630) 655-4630, Ext. 201 |
|
Fax: |
(630) 655-4662 |
|
E-mail: |
vsharma@sharma-associates.com |
|
Name: (Please Print) |
|
|
|
|
Last First Initial
|
Company: |
|
|
|
Address: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
City State Zip
Code
|
Telephone: |
( ) Fax: ( ) |
|
E-mail: |
|
|
Status: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
IEEE Member |
|
ASME Member |
|
|
|
Non Member |
|
Session Chairman / Author |
|
|
Membership
Number |
|
|||
Payment
by check or money order (U.S. currency) made payable to “2004 ASME-RTD JRC”. Also, VISA, MasterCard and American Express
accepted. Advance registration must be received by March 29, 2004.
|
Credit Card Type and
Number: |
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expiration Date: |
|
|
Card Holders Name: |
|
|
Signature: |
|
All
prices listed below are in American Dollars.
|
Includes
Proceedings and Luncheons |
||||
|
Members/Authors: * |
Full Conference |
$350 |
$_______ |
|
|
|
Single Day |
$200 |
$_______ |
|
|
Non Members: |
Full Conference ** |
$475 |
$_______ |
|
|
|
Single Day |
$300 |
$_______ |
|
|
|
||||
|
Does not Include
Proceedings and Luncheons |
||||
|
Students/ Retirees: |
Full Conference |
$100 |
$_______ |
|
|
|
Single Day |
$75 |
$_______ |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Luncheon tickets
(each day): *** |
$30 |
$_______ |
||
|
Copy of
Proceedings: *** |
$25 |
$_______ |
||
|
ON-SITE
REGISTRATION CHARGE: |
$50 |
$_______ |
||
|
TOTAL |
|
|
$_______ |
|
CHECK, IF INTERESTED IN A
TECHNICAL TOUR _________.
PROCEEDINGS:
PAPER PREFERRED _______
CD PREFERRED _______
*
Member fee applies to Session Chairman and Authors.
** Non-members who pay full Conference rate
will be eligible for one year free Membership in the ASME or IEEE if they fill
out an application.
*** Luncheon Tickets and Proceedings will be
available at the Registration Desk.
6. ASME/IEEE Joint Rail Conference Hotel Registration Form
ASME/IEEE JOINT
RAIL CONFERENCE
APRIL 6th, 7th,
and 8th, 2004
HOTEL RESERVATION
|
MAIL,
PHONE OR FAX RESERVATIONS TO: |
|
|
|
Renaissance Harborplace
Hotel |
|
|
202 East Pratt Street |
|
|
Baltimore, MD 21202 |
|
Telephone: |
(410) 547-1200 |
|
Fax: |
(410) 539-5780 |
Please communicate directly
with the Hotel using this form or by phone.
When you make your reservations by telephone ask for the Reservations
Desk and identify with 2004 ASME/IEEE
Joint Rail Conference to obtain the special room rate.
Room
Rate is $159.00 for a single night.
Please circle accommodation
required.
|
Single |
Double |
Smoking |
Non-smoking |
Arrival Day/Date:
Departure Day/Date:
|
Name: |
|
Last First Initial
|
Address: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
City State Zip
Code
|
Company: |
|
|
Telephone: |
( )
--- |
The conference rate is
guaranteed for reservations no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 9, 2003. After this
date, room and rate will be reserved on a space available basis. All major
credit cards accepted. Suggested check-in time is after 3:00 p.m. Checkout is
12:00 noon. For arrival after 3:00 p.m., a reservation guarantee by a major
credit card is required.
|
Credit Card Type and Number: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expiration Date: |
|
|
Card Holders Name: |
|
|
Signature: |
|
LOCATION
The
Hotel is located in Baltimore’s famed Inner harbor area, and connected to the
upscale Gallery shopping mall.
TECHNICAL TOUR
A
technical tour is being planned for the afternoon of April 6.
Tour
site selection was not finalized as of this Newsletter publication date.
