I can't believe that I am already home. After being gone for a week, it's nice to be home, but I will have a lot of work ahead to catch up.

After a late night on Tuesday (and I didn't even make it to the hospitality suites!), I have to admit that I got off to a late start.

I am surprised to find that after a much longer Tuesday, plus my final presentation, I am not as tired as I was yesterday.

The morning started with the Women in Quality Networking walk, and then I had the priviledge of seeing Jerry of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream talk about how they started a company that ended up doing well through doing good for the community. Since I am a fan of both their company and how they do business, it was a real treat to listen.

I attended the panel discussion on social responsibility Tuesday after lunch. Three speakers from local Minneapolis firms - Target, Ecolabs, and 3M - each gave a brief presentation. Then they addressed questions from the audience.

The Triple Bottom Line was mentioned several times:

• Profit
• Planet
• People

 The proper mix of all three is necessary for corporate (and government and NGO) success.

I also picked up the importance of transparency. It forces accountability, which tends to result in more attention to social responsibility.

Dennis Arter

ASQs 2009 freshman class of Fellows (that's me in the first row, first person on the left sitting next to Joanne Mayo).

We get to ask questions of others and explore topics deeper. (Yes, that's me with the hat!)

Dennis Arter

Professional conferences are like family reunions. They allow us to make new friends and catch up with old friends.

Dennis Arter

It's not about Coffee, it's about People.  those were the words of wisdom brought to us by former Starbucks President Howard Behar beginning the first full day of ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement 2009 in Minneapolis, MN.

'I am a leader, I know now; I have very high level of energy; it was awesome; it was inspiring...'

I wrote a blog last night and I can not find it. May be I did not know how to post this one. So I will try again. if you read this, please comment and then I will update more. The response to Monday's Keynote has been owerwhelming. I will let the folks who attended decide.

Monday evening is the traditional time for networking in a more relaxed and informal manner. The addition of snacks and adult beverages certainly increases the amount of sharing. After the afternoon technical sessions are finished, I intend to head for the reception designed to honor and recognize the authors and teachers of the ASQ. Having contributed in both aspects, I always enjoy these receptions.

Between 9 and midnight, many of the ASQ Divisions open up their hospitality suites for friends, members, and potential new members. This is the Division's opportunity to meet face-to-face with members and member leaders, share the past year's accomplishments, and receive input on how to proceed next year. Headquarters staff, member leaders, and members all mingle and exchange cards - and sometimes germs - in this close and loud and fun environment. From what I have gathered so far, all Divisions will be in the Hyatt Hotel, generally on the upper floors:

• Statistics will be in room 2123
• Quality Management and several others will be in the Greenway Ballroom
• Aviation, Space, and Defense will be in room 2337
• Electronic and Communication will be in 601-603
• Design and Construction will join Energy and Environment in room 2432
• Biomedical might be in 2412 (it was not crystal clear to me)
• Software will be in the Penthouse of the Millenium Hotel

Often, one can go to the higher floors or the hotel and just "follow the noise."

(I am writing and posting this prior to the event. When I return to my hotel room after midnight, I intend to go directly to bed!)

Dennis Arter

Today is Monday and the first day of the World Conference.

It started off quite early for me, as I choose to attend an informal gathering the ASQ Fellows. We have a new group on LinkedIn, established for the purpose of providing a virtual forum for communication amongst the Fellows. We had our meeting from 7-8 a.m., so we would be finished in time for the World Conference opening session. About 25 guys and gals showed up and we used a modified world cafe approach to generate discussion on topics like,

• "What is the purpose of Fellows and the LinkedIn group?",
• "How can Fellows mentor others?",
• "Should we have any structure?",
• "Can we ever get the financial community into our gatherings?"

Of course, we came up with no answers (in one hour!), but we enjoyed the community and associated conversations.

Dennis Arter

Last year I reported that Sunday was the day that I transitioned from Business meetingas to the 'play' time of the conference.  While there were more meetings to attend this year than last the day truly was a transition day.