News of the Month

New Professional Development Meeting Location!!!

Dallas ASQ Section 1402 is meeting at a new location now. We are meeting at the Holiday Inn Select, 1655 North Central Expressway in Richardson. The choice of a new meeting location was made by the ASQ Dallas 1402 Leadership Team after careful consideration of multiple factors at several locations around the DFW area.

New lower prices for member registering early! As a result of the arrangements at our new location, we are able to offer our members who register early for the meeting a dinner price of $15. The early registration deadline will be announced in the newsletter and on the website, but is generally the Sunday prior to the meeting. The price for member late registration and non-member registration remains at $25.

Note on directions to the new location: A map and directions are available on our website at http://www.asqdallas.org/directions/directions.html. Of course the route you take depends on your originating location, and it is difficult to go anywhere in the DFW area during rush hour without encountering traffic. However, if you are coming from the west most of the mapping websites have you take IH 635 to Hwy 75, then go up to Campbell Road . The experience of the Leadership Team members, who have met a couple of times at the new location, is that a better route is to take an east-west road such as Campbell, Arapaho or Beltline over to 75. Likewise, westbound 190 (GBT) can become very congested and it may be faster when coming from the northwest to take a southbound road down to one of those mentioned above, then go east over to 75.

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National Quality Month Reinforces Critical Role of Quality in Every Industry

Twenty-four years may have passed since National Quality Month was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, yet there are still many quality-related issues we face on a daily basis—food safety, toy recalls, the mortgage industry crisis and the subsequent current financial turmoil. As a reminder of the critical role that quality can play in solving many cross-industry problems, it is important to recognize and celebrate the United States’ commitment to quality during National Quality Month this October.

“One only needs to read the headlines we’ve seen over the past year to understand and acknowledge the critical importance that quality concepts and processes can play in today’s business landscape,” said Roberto Saco, president of ASQ. “I applaud the commitment of companies everywhere that are reaping the rewards of their quality systems, and encourage others to reflect on their current quality strategies to ensure they are optimized for future success.”

National Quality Month focuses on the strategic importance of quality and continuous improvement. It also strengthens the commitment to quality and performance excellence by organizations across the country. Many organizations have created their own special events, and recognition programs, in an effort to convey the strategic impact of quality on every industry for National Quality Month.

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ASQ Membership Benefits

Are you getting the most out of your ASQ membership? You may be interested to know that through ASQ you can receive discounts on computers and business services among other things.

CDW Personal Computer Discount Plan
Through CDW, ASQ members can buy personal computers, software, accessories and peripheral hardware at discount prices.

Members receive a username and password so they can log to CDW’s Web site and see the special member prices available for all items. They also receive contact information for a special CDW sales associate who will help them complete their orders and receive the discount prices.

The CDW discount program is available to all ASQ members.

FedEx Office (Formerly FedEx Kinko's) Mobile Professional Discount Program
FedEx Office printing products and services are now available to ASQ members at FedEx Office locations at a 20% discount. FedEx Office offers comprehensive copying and digital printing services for any business need. Some exclusions apply.

The FedEx Office Mobile Professional Discount Program is available to ASQ Associate, Full, Senior, Fellow, and Honorary members.

Go to http://www.asq.org/membership/benefits/index.html and scroll to “Personal and Leisure Benefits” for more information.

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Welcome to New Leadership Team Members

Gwen Kelbe, Membership Chair
Gwen Kelbe has taken on the role of Membership Chair for the Dallas Section this year. Gwen has worked in the Quality Department for E-Systems/Raytheon/L-3 (one company) for 24 years. She has been a Program Quality Engineer and Task Leader for 20 of those 24 years. One of Gwen’s major efforts was preparing her company to become ISO 9000/9001 and AS 9000 certified and working to maintain certification. She has also performed outside audits for companies wishing to become ISO certified. 

Gwen joined ASQ and the Dallas Section over 10 years ago and is a Senior Member of ASQ. She is also a Certified Quality Auditor.

Shawn Turner, Tutorial Chair
Shawn Turner is our new Tutorial Chair for the Dallas Section. Shawn started her career in the Department of Defense where she worked for 9 years and then moved over to IT, stepping into the role of QA Engineer.  She has worked in the IT industry for the last 16 years across multiple disciplines within IT, including Quality Assurance, Business Analysis, Project Management, Production Implementation and Support, Business Process Re-engineering, and Change Management. Shawn has also had the opportunity to work in many different industries: Government Defense Contracting, Telecom, Health Care, Banking, and Retail. Her primary focus has remained in the field of software quality assurance.

Shawn currently serves as the IT QA Manager at Carlson Restaurants Worldwide. She recently joined ASQ with the goal of obtaining certification as a CQM/OE. Shawn and her husband have been married for 18 years and have 4 children.

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2008 Texas Quality Cruise – It's Not Too Late!

Don't delay – reserve your cabin today for the Seminar at Sea! Prices have gone up but there are still cabins available. Join ASQ Sections from Houston , Dallas , Austin and Fort Worth (host Section) along with the Quality Texas Foundation and ASQ Human Development and Leadership Division for the Texas Quality Cruise October 26 – November 2. Seminar sessions will be held on days at sea with up to 3.0 RUs available depending on participation. The rest of the time is yours!

Prices start at around $800 for an inside cabin plus $125 for seminar participation. Compare this to $1500 and up for conference fees plus lodging, meals and ground transportation if you were to attend a “land-based” conference.

For more information and to register, click on the logo above.

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