Conventions

Mar. 27-29, 2012. WESTEC, reportedly the California region’s definitive manufacturing event, returned to the Los Angeles Convention Center redefined, and with renewed commitment to area industry. WESTEC is a manufacturer’s think-tank where creativity, vision, and strategy join forces to spotlight the promise of ground-breaking products for vital global markets.  The focus is on people using technology to innovate. Delegates could chase down the very latest technologies – from cutting tools to multi-tasking machine tools, all from top international equipment manufacturers. New features included the Emerging Technology Showcase, highlighting applications for micro, nano, and additive manufacturing; and Milestones in Manufacturing, a celebration of key technology developments.  As the old Bread song had it, “I’d like to “make” it with you….”

Mar. 10-12, 2012. The ACE referred to is the American Council on Education, a meeting that attracts over 1,200 presidents, chancellors and other senior administrators from all sectors of American higher education, domestically and abroad.  50 sessions afforded the opportunity to interact with renowned higher education leaders, historians, authors and foundation representatives.  At the top end of the educational hierarchy were university presidents, vice presidents, rectors, and directors, as well as education ministry officials and even embassy staff.  On their minds were such topics as outreach, engagement, and developing successful leaders in the Academy …particularly, it seems, among women.  The whole program was, in fact, quite an education….

Mar. 06-08, 2012. OFCNFOEC 2012?  Yesssss! We have a winner…. in the competition for “Most Baffling And Unpronounceable Acronym On The Expo Circuit”.  There was some stiff competition out there, but these folks just kept on adding initials until the judges started reaching for the Advil.  Okay, OFCNFOEC 2012 is The World’s Leading Event for Advancing Optical Solutions in Telecom, Datacom, Computing and Related Industries.  So this is about the optical communications business.  Nearly 800 technical presentations covered topics such as an elastic optical network for enabling terabit speeds, a graphene-based optical modulator, a record-speed wireless data bridge, and optical interconnects for enabling faster future computers. Mostly, it seems, these people feel the need… the need for speed…

Feb. 22-25, 2012. CAA is a Book and Trade Fair, hosting more than 130 publishers of art books, journals and magazines, manufacturer and distributor of materials for artists, and providers of digital images and resources, among other companies and organizations. Delegates could attend book signings, discuss book ideas with art editors, learn about graduate-degree programs, digital-image archives, new survey textbooks, and teaching aids for the classroom, discover new grant and fellowship opportunities, learn about academic testing and research firms, and meet representatives from other professional associations.  Reason enough to “book” a place at the show….

NAMM is the International Music Products Association. The NAMM Show claims to be the largest, most important music products show in the world, drawing people from more than 100 countries to check out the latest musical products. The theme for this year’s NAMM Show was “Take It to 11.” Did NAMM Members get the reference, and how do they plan to “take it to 11″ in the coming year? Well, partly it was by catching an impressive array of concert appearances by a total of ten bands playing the show. One featured location offered tailored educational sessions to piano dealers from around the world. A new Native American Pavilion celebrated Native American instrument craftsmen and other contributors to the community of music making. The Pavilion also featured exhibits, educational materials and resources, performance stages and displays of vintage musical instruments.