Dear Members of NEATT,
As the conference chair of the 72nd NEATT annual conference, I would like to take the opportunity to invite all Technology Education teachers across the six state New England area to this event. This year's theme of Let's Talk Green… is certainly present day appropriate with regards to our economic forecast. Technology Education teacher are the perfect medium for addressing energy needs and applying it directly into the curriculum of our classrooms. By having vendors and presenters with similar "green" thinking, we can all come together and further our knowledge of energy conservation and be better prepared to direct activities for our students in our classrooms.
This year we have a wonderful opportunity to work with Fitchburg State College. Dr James Alicata, Department Chair and his staff including Diane Whitham and Dick Gould will graciously open up the entire department and welcome our members for a great day of learning and professional development. Future Technology/Engineering students at Fitchburg State College will be on hand to present, guide and learn from the days activities.
Last year's conference in Rhode Island with their Secretary of Energy luncheon keynote set the tone and direction for future NEATT conferences. We have the chance to change America through our curriculums. This year's keynote speaker will be the Under Secretary of Energy from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Ms. Anne Berwick. In her work she has similar ideas in producing a "green" curriculum for our students in the Commonwealth.
A variety of workshops will occur through out the day. The format will be very similar to Technology Education Association of Massachusetts (TEAM )conferences with the front loading of three workshop sessions with some vendor time followed by an awards luncheon banquet at the end of the day. There will continental breakfast items available through out the morning as the luncheon will be last on the agenda at approximately 1:30pm. Scheduled to be with us is Steve Siefert showcasing the new Ford Escort hybrid vehicle and Christopher Colquitt showing the GM Equinox Fuel Cell Electric vehicle. Additional workshops include Ken Hanson from Marlboro High School speaking about New England Student Woodworking Design Competition and Jack Grube from Pinkerton Academy presenting a two part workshop that will share dozens of innovative strategies Pinkerton Academy has implemented to reinvent and rejuvenate its Technology Education classes as well as their Career and Technical offerings. Dan Caron, a long time contributor to NEATT and ITEA will also present the NASA unit for Engineering byDesign.
Possible planned tours included the newly constructed "green" dorm rooms on the campus and a tour of the Biomass campus of Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, Massachusetts.
Pre-registration is now open. Please take advantage of the opportunity to pre-register and save $40 in meals and registration fees! Pre-registration conference fee is $75.00, for an active member, and includes membership dues, access to continental breakfast and lunch. Registration will be $85.00 at the door and does not include lunch.
The NEATT Executive board will do it's very best to provide a quality workshop program to meet your professional development needs. Please consider presenting to share your knowledge. Presenter forms are available here. If you are new to the association, please help us presenting or getting involved at caucuses or helping by becoming a member of the Executive Board. New ideas and energy along with some very experienced members will help make NEATT better for all.
Thank you.
Jeffrey J. Jobst
NEATT Conference Chair
