Through dedicated hard work focusing on our mission to benefit our members in the metals and materials community by providing technical knowledge, education, networking and professional development, our immediate past Chair, Stu Weiss lead the Hartford Chapter to 5 Star Chapter recognition for the 2002-3 year. Thank you to all who contributed to the success of the Hartford Chapter.

John Rugh got our chapter off to a great start toward another Five Star year this year. John attended Leadership Days on August 15-17 in Cleveland and Metals Park. Although the blackout caused some inconveniences, John came away with many ideas to help improve Chapter operations and service to our members.

On July 27-29, faculty members of the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering at the University of Connecticut introduced 19 engineering freshmen to Materials Engineering in Society. This one credit elective course, MMAT 100, was well received by the participations. The Hartford Chapter provided a stipend, from the proceeds generated from the 2002 Golf Outing, to partially offset the cost of this program, which included lodging and meals and was free to those attending.

Our best, certainly, was showcased at the 2003 ASM Hartford Hartford & AWS Connecticut Section Golf Outing on September 10 at Blackledge Country Club. Over a hundred and fifty members and guests came for golf, dinner and raffle. Rebecca Gatzen, with assistance from Jason Doody of AWS, provided the leadership, enthusiasm and focus, which inspired the members of the golf outing committee to produce an outstanding event that was enjoyed by all.

The golf committee will soon have a summary of the 2003 event, with photographs, posted to our website. The initial tally indicates that this event generated approximately $3,000 for our student scholarship and materials awareness fund. Rebecca forecasts an even more enthusiastic turnout at the 2004 Golf Classic.

To help achieve our mission of providing technical knowledge, education, networking and professional development we are introducing the ASM Hartford Apprenticeship/Mentor Program. Individuals, companies and the Chapter will benefit from the broad knowledge of materials issues and contacts obtained through this program. We are presently building a list of tours and workshops that will be part of the program. More details are found on our web site. Contact Jack Piela or me to add your company for at tour or workshop or to be part of this program.

Our meeting programs in 2003-2004 will be the product of the efforts of a coalition of Past Chapter Chairs. Stu Weiss has worked with the Society of Plastic Engineers to organize the October 1 meeting on Ceramic, Metal and Plastic Biomaterial Implants for Human Body Repair. Al Hutwagner arranged to have Dr. Marshl speak at our November 11 meeting on A Combined HIP and Heat Treat Process for Aluminum Castings.

On October 21, the Eli Whitney Armory, site of the Eli Whitney Museum in Hamden, will receive a citation and a plaque recognizing it as an ASM Historical Landmark. The Armory is one of three sites (including Lief Ericsson's iron smelter in Newfoundland and another site in Italy) so recognized in 2003 and the only one in the United States. Two previous sites in Connecticut have been designated Historical Landmarks by ASM: Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine in 1976 and Waterbury Brass Company Mill in 1977. Please join us on October 21.

A joint Hartford/Southern CT committee will start meeting soon to develop plans for Materials Week, April 12-16, 2004. Please contact me to be part of this team.

Networking to help you succeed through ASM Hartford,
Arnie Grot
Executive Committee

Based on the ASM vision "To be the first stop resource for technical knowledge, education, networking and professional development for members and customers in the metals and materials community," the Hartford Chapter is The first stop information source for the materials industry in northern Connecticut.