Nearly 60 people attended the Laser Institute of America's Northeast regional chapter meeting last night at the Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA. The social event featured a local version of the Beer's Law Band providing entertainment. More than 20 door prizes were raffled off. The prizes were provided by the LIA, PhotoMachining, Coherent, PennWell, and a variety of local businesses and individuals.
LIA President Bill Shiner gave a short talk regarding benefits of LIA membership as well as next year's scheduling. The next event will be held in February at Springfield Technical Community College and will feature lasers in education. This meeting will be hosted by Professor Nick Massa of the college, who in collaboration with Professor Judy Donnelly of Three Rivers Community College and Fenna Hanes of the New England Board of Higher Education, is developing Web-based curriculum for photonics-related problem based learning scenarios. Next year will also feature an event sponsored later in the Spring by TRUMPF, as well as Aerotech and General Electric later in the year.
