While we have a pretty packed schedule for this year’s conference, we do expect you’ll have some down time and opportunities to check out all that St. Louis has to offer.
Enjoy the fall weather at take a stroll through Forest Park (http://www.explorestlouis.com/myStl/memberDetails.asp?mID=229&pt=1&ic=2), which is 500 acres larger than Central Park in NYC. The fresh air might be just what you need after a day of learning and networking!
Flirt with lady luck and visit one of five area casinos including: Lumiére Place (www.lumiereplace.com), Harrah’s (www.harrahs.com), The President (www.presidentcasino.com/stlouis), Ameristar (www.ameristarcasinos.com) and Casino Queen (www.casinoqueen.com). Just be sure to remember what Kenny Roger’s said, “you gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em!”
For all you car lovers, check out the Museum of Transportation (www.museumoftransport.org). Here you can see over 300 exhibits showcasing the history of everything transportation. Best part is that admission is FREE!
Spend the evening out on the Mississippi on the Tom Sawyer Paddle Wheeler (www.gatewayarch.com). What better way to see the sights of St. Louis than from the water. Bonus—they have dinner cruises as well!
With all that St. Louis has to offer we hope you’ll think of that as an added plus to attending this year’s annual conference---just don’t let us catch you skipping out on sessions! :)
Meet you in St. Louis!
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
Saturday, October 17, 2009
A night to wine and dine!
New this year, we are offering a “free” night for our industry partners to entertain their customers (or better yet, future customers!) We also view this as a great night for our members to hit the town with their peers and continue the networking in a less formal atmosphere. Added bonus—you pick the cuisine and atmosphere!
St. Louis has everything from Mediterranean, to Italian, to Turkish, to your typical Steakhouse! With restaurants to please every palate, you can’t go wrong. Check out www.opentable.com to search all the restaurants, read reviews, and make reservations so that your party will be all set.
After dinner, why not take in some live music? St. Louis, aside from being known as the “Gateway to the West” also carries the nickname of “Home of the Blues.” Check out the list of places you can visit to hear some of this great music: http://www.explorestlouis.com/visitors/see.asp?c=60&r=0&k=&kt=1&pt=1
Bon appetite!
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
St. Louis has everything from Mediterranean, to Italian, to Turkish, to your typical Steakhouse! With restaurants to please every palate, you can’t go wrong. Check out www.opentable.com to search all the restaurants, read reviews, and make reservations so that your party will be all set.
After dinner, why not take in some live music? St. Louis, aside from being known as the “Gateway to the West” also carries the nickname of “Home of the Blues.” Check out the list of places you can visit to hear some of this great music: http://www.explorestlouis.com/visitors/see.asp?c=60&r=0&k=&kt=1&pt=1
Bon appetite!
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
Become an approved CMRP proctor
Are you trying to get more folks at your organization certified as CMRPs? If so, take advantage of three opportunities to become an approved proctor at this year’s annual conference.
In order to be an approved proctor you must meet the following criteria:
1. Have been a CMRP for at least one year
2. Shadow an already approved proctor during an exam administration
3. Be approved by our Exam Administration Committee
Assuming steps 1 and 2 are fulfilled, step 3 really is just a formality.
We will be offering the exam three different times during the conference and we invite anyone interested in shadowing to help us help. The exams will be given on the following days:
Monday, October 19; 12:30-3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 21; 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 22; 8:30-11:00 a.m.
If you are interested, we ask that you send Ali Sturman, our certification coordinator, an email at asturman@smrp.org. She’ll let you know where to show up and when. Keep in mind this is also a great opportunity to earn some credit hours for your recertification.
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
In order to be an approved proctor you must meet the following criteria:
1. Have been a CMRP for at least one year
2. Shadow an already approved proctor during an exam administration
3. Be approved by our Exam Administration Committee
Assuming steps 1 and 2 are fulfilled, step 3 really is just a formality.
We will be offering the exam three different times during the conference and we invite anyone interested in shadowing to help us help. The exams will be given on the following days:
Monday, October 19; 12:30-3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 21; 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 22; 8:30-11:00 a.m.
If you are interested, we ask that you send Ali Sturman, our certification coordinator, an email at asturman@smrp.org. She’ll let you know where to show up and when. Keep in mind this is also a great opportunity to earn some credit hours for your recertification.
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
Get certified!
Have you been looking for an opportunity to become a Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP)? If so, than the annual conference is a great opportunity for you to make that goal a reality!
We’ll be offering the exam three different times during the conference:
Monday, October 19; 12:30-3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 21; 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 22; 8:30-11:00 a.m.
The CMRP program involves a more robust curriculum than other certifications. It's an internationally-recognized, ANSI-accredited exam with all-inclusive M&R content. Covering the five pillars of M&R, it's all the knowledge you need to gain confidence and advance your career.
· Business and management
· Manufacturing process reliability
· Equipment reliability
· People skills
· Work management
You can register for the CMRP exam with your conference registration-how easy is that?
Join the 2,500+ CMRPs worldwide and begin reaping the benefits of being a CMRP!
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
We’ll be offering the exam three different times during the conference:
Monday, October 19; 12:30-3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 21; 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 22; 8:30-11:00 a.m.
The CMRP program involves a more robust curriculum than other certifications. It's an internationally-recognized, ANSI-accredited exam with all-inclusive M&R content. Covering the five pillars of M&R, it's all the knowledge you need to gain confidence and advance your career.
· Business and management
· Manufacturing process reliability
· Equipment reliability
· People skills
· Work management
You can register for the CMRP exam with your conference registration-how easy is that?
Join the 2,500+ CMRPs worldwide and begin reaping the benefits of being a CMRP!
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
Fair Minded
For the first time ever, SMRP will host a Job Fair in conjunction with our Annual Conference. Unemployed maintenance and reliability professionals, members and non-members alike, are invited to attend the job fair free of charge. The Job Fair will be held in the Exhibit Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 21st, 2009 from 10am to 2pm. Registrants may pick up their badges and packets starting at 9am on the 21st.
Unfortunately, we do not have the budget to provide a full-meal for everyone, but refreshments will be available in the exhibit hall at 10am. Make sure you plan to have lunch on your own, unless you are attending the full conference.
SMRP has invited all of our exhibiting companies to participate in the job fair as a part of their exhibitor package, and has opened up paid Employer Registration to other companies as well. You can find both the job-seeker and employer registration forms on our conference website (http://www.smrp.org/Conference/2009/2009_conference_Special_Events.htm).
If you want more information, or have questions, email me at equinn@smrp.org, or call me at 703-610-1260.
Erin Quinn
SMRP
Unfortunately, we do not have the budget to provide a full-meal for everyone, but refreshments will be available in the exhibit hall at 10am. Make sure you plan to have lunch on your own, unless you are attending the full conference.
SMRP has invited all of our exhibiting companies to participate in the job fair as a part of their exhibitor package, and has opened up paid Employer Registration to other companies as well. You can find both the job-seeker and employer registration forms on our conference website (http://www.smrp.org/Conference/2009/2009_conference_Special_Events.htm).
If you want more information, or have questions, email me at equinn@smrp.org, or call me at 703-610-1260.
Erin Quinn
SMRP
Putting SMRP to work for YOU
Join us for a session that will cover all that SMRP has to offer you. Now that you are an SMRP member come find out about all the ways that you can get involved. Involvement in SMRP is a great way to expand your network, enhance your leadership skills, and enables you to give back to the maintenance and reliability community.
This session will highlight all the committees and the great work that each is doing to achieve the strategic goals of SMRP. You’ll also have the opportunity to get your questions answered and will have instant access to the volunteer leaders who will help get you plugged in right away!
This session will be facilitated by Shon Isenhour, CMRP, current volunteer Director of Education and incoming SMRP Secretary. With several years of experience volunteering with SMRP, he will be a great resource for you as you start you SMRP journey.
Join us on Wednesday, October 21 from 8:15-9:15 and start putting SMRP to work for YOU!
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
This session will highlight all the committees and the great work that each is doing to achieve the strategic goals of SMRP. You’ll also have the opportunity to get your questions answered and will have instant access to the volunteer leaders who will help get you plugged in right away!
This session will be facilitated by Shon Isenhour, CMRP, current volunteer Director of Education and incoming SMRP Secretary. With several years of experience volunteering with SMRP, he will be a great resource for you as you start you SMRP journey.
Join us on Wednesday, October 21 from 8:15-9:15 and start putting SMRP to work for YOU!
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
Network, Network, Network!
The SMRP Annual conference is about more than just learning, it’s also about making connections with your peers in the industry. Every year we strive to provide valuable networking opportunities and this year is no exception.
Start your conference experience off right by attending our Welcome Reception, located on the exhibit floor, on Monday evening from 6:30-9:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity to meet up with friends, old and new, while checking out all that our fantastic industry partners have to offer.
After your first full day of learning on Tuesday, we invite you to kick back with a few cocktails, and spend some more quality networking time on the show floor during our Exhibitor Reception taking place from 5:30-7:00 p.m. This is a great time to chat about all your “Aha” moments from the day.
Then for some extreme networking, we invite you to register for our reception taking place at the Arch. This is a great opportunity to tour the national landmark, commemorating the westward growth of the United States. Attendees will even have an opportunity to ride the tram to the top of the arch, while taking in spectacular views of St. Louis and the Mississippi River. Space is limited for this unique networking opportunity, so sign up early! ($30 per person)
After this year’s conference your rolodex will be filled with lots of new contacts and hopefully some new friends as well!
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
Start your conference experience off right by attending our Welcome Reception, located on the exhibit floor, on Monday evening from 6:30-9:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity to meet up with friends, old and new, while checking out all that our fantastic industry partners have to offer.
After your first full day of learning on Tuesday, we invite you to kick back with a few cocktails, and spend some more quality networking time on the show floor during our Exhibitor Reception taking place from 5:30-7:00 p.m. This is a great time to chat about all your “Aha” moments from the day.
Then for some extreme networking, we invite you to register for our reception taking place at the Arch. This is a great opportunity to tour the national landmark, commemorating the westward growth of the United States. Attendees will even have an opportunity to ride the tram to the top of the arch, while taking in spectacular views of St. Louis and the Mississippi River. Space is limited for this unique networking opportunity, so sign up early! ($30 per person)
After this year’s conference your rolodex will be filled with lots of new contacts and hopefully some new friends as well!
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
How to best utilize your conference experience
You’ve convinced your boss to let you attend the conference, you’ve booked your travel, and mapped out the sessions you want to attend. However, there is more you can do to prepare yourself for an amazing and meaningful conference experience.
First of all, is anyone else from your organization attending? If so, get together head of time and make sure you cover all the sessions that you think you’d benefit from and those that your organization will benefit from. Try not to attend the same sessions-you’ll cover more ground if you split up.
If no one else from your organization is attending, then you are your organizations delegate and you’d do well to bring back as much knowledge as possible (no pressure!) Meet with your team ahead of time and find out what sessions they might want you to attend—even if it isn’t one that you’d have chosen on your own.
Onsite, you’ll want to take really good notes that you can share with your team when you return. Even better would be to summarize the day listing out all your “Aha” moments in an email back to the team so you that you don’t forget what you learned and so they can start implementing the new ideas right away.
Don’t forget that you’ll be provided with all of the papers for all of the sessions, so you’ll have a wealth of resources to bring home with you and review—share this with your team as well.
Once you return from the conference you’ll be hit with a full inbox and lots of work to catch up on. That being said, you’d do well to set aside some time to meet with your team so you can review in person the “Aha’s” you came away with and to start working through ways that you can implement the knowledge you gained in St. Louis at your organization. Don’t let al that good information go to waste!
Finally, start gearing up for next year’s conference—maybe you’ll even want to submit a paper of your own so you can share your best practices with next year’s attendees!
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
First of all, is anyone else from your organization attending? If so, get together head of time and make sure you cover all the sessions that you think you’d benefit from and those that your organization will benefit from. Try not to attend the same sessions-you’ll cover more ground if you split up.
If no one else from your organization is attending, then you are your organizations delegate and you’d do well to bring back as much knowledge as possible (no pressure!) Meet with your team ahead of time and find out what sessions they might want you to attend—even if it isn’t one that you’d have chosen on your own.
Onsite, you’ll want to take really good notes that you can share with your team when you return. Even better would be to summarize the day listing out all your “Aha” moments in an email back to the team so you that you don’t forget what you learned and so they can start implementing the new ideas right away.
Don’t forget that you’ll be provided with all of the papers for all of the sessions, so you’ll have a wealth of resources to bring home with you and review—share this with your team as well.
Once you return from the conference you’ll be hit with a full inbox and lots of work to catch up on. That being said, you’d do well to set aside some time to meet with your team so you can review in person the “Aha’s” you came away with and to start working through ways that you can implement the knowledge you gained in St. Louis at your organization. Don’t let al that good information go to waste!
Finally, start gearing up for next year’s conference—maybe you’ll even want to submit a paper of your own so you can share your best practices with next year’s attendees!
Maureen Gribble
SMRP
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