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ROCHESTER
BUFFALO
CENTRAL NY
ALBANY/HUDSON VAL
NYC/LONG ISLAND |
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Newsletter
| RRPC
NewsLetter
May,
2006, Volume 2, Issue 5
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| Defense & Security
Glance Back |
SPIE's Defense & Security  Symposium
took place in Orlando, April 19-21.
The D&S
Symposium has grown substantially during the past few years,
which is both good and bad depending upon who you talk to. This
year's attendance of 6,029 broke all previous records. According
to preliminary figures from SPIE, there were:
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3,369 conference attendees
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978 exhibit-only visitors
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1,682 reps representing 421 exhibitors
(vs. 333 exhibitors in ’05; about half that in ’04)
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2,150 technical presentations/62 Short
Courses (both up from ’05)
Several of the New York exhibitors, like Ariel Optics' Robb
Sawyer found the show well-targeted. Though the traffic was
not heavy, Sawyer found a few extremely hard-to-find leads that
he hoped to meet at the show. "I've been trying to find
this one contact for two-three years," said Sawyer, "and
here's his card."
OptiPro reps Bob and Lynda Bechtold say they continue attending
because so many of their customers are also exhibiting. "There
are not many conferences where so many of our customers can
be found in the same place."
Others questions whether they will return next year. "The
show may be getting too big," remarked one exhibitor, "It
is too big for some of the attendees to walk completely. I scanned
five people yesterday and one of them was my son..."
DSS is moving in 2007, to the Orlando Marriott World Center
Resort, 9-13 April, in Orlando.
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| Electromagnetic Windows
Symposium |
As this newsletter goes out, several RRPC members are attending
and exhibiting at the  2006
Electromagnetic
Windows Symposium.
Next month's newsletter will feature a report from the attendees.
Proceedings from previous Symposia are available through AMPTIAC.
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| There is This |
 It's
in Rochester, it's imaging science, and it is sponsored by The
Society for Imaging Science and Technology. It is at the Hyatt
Regency in downtown Rochester, May 17 - 12.
It is: ICIS'06
The Program committee looks like this:
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John Agostinelli, Eastman Kodak Company
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Douglas E. Bugner, Eastman Kodak Company
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Mark D. Fairchild, Rochester Institute
of Technology
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Po-Chieh Hung, Konica Minolta Technology
Ctr., Inc.
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Jin Jang, Kyung Hee University
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Sean C. Kelly, Eastman Kodak Company
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Howard A. Mizes, Xerox Corporation
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Carl Schauffele, University Of Rochester
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A. Murat Tekalp, University of Rochester
It is a long-running conference, it happens every 4 years, and
it's been happening since 1898. Who knew? |
| Photonics North,
Quebec City |
It will be held just following CLEO, and it
overlaps with MD&M East. Many New York State members seem
to consider Quebec City too far to go for this conference. Consider,
however, the members of the Quebec
Photonics Cluster who are hosting the event. There is real
business opportunity in the region. How do we tap into that?
New York Photonics is still considering a New
York State booth at Photonics North. We are looking for volunteers
to help man the booth and promote both the New York State Industry
and their own companies. Contact Tom Battley for details. |
| Worldwide Events |
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| Save the Date! |
Annual Tournament Benefits Golisano
Children's Hospital
 The
date for the 6th Annual WNY Optics / Photonics Golf
Tournament has been announced: Thursday July 20th.
Sponsorships and Registration can be found here.
Last year's event was a great success and many people asked
afterwards, "How come I didn't know about it?" So
forward this newsletter to a friend using the link at the bottom
of the page.
A list of sponsors from last year's tournament can be found
here.
Let's make the list longer this year!
You can help make the evetn an even greater success. Contact
your own prospects for sponsorship and forward them the sponsorship
registration form.
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| Last chance to sign
up! |
Glass Cartel - Red Wings Game
Deadline for sign-up is this Friday, May 5th.
When: Tuesday, May 16th, 2006
Where: Frontier
Field, Rochester
Starting at 6:00 PM, Game starts at 7:05 PM
Tickets: $45.00 - Includes BBQ, Beer & Game Ticket
Menu: Southern BBQ: (BBQ Pork Ribs, Southern Fried Chicken,
Hots, Hush Puppies, Cole Slaw, Corn-on-the-cob, Mashed Potatoes,Chips,
Popcorn, Watermelon)
Beer & soft drinks included.
Cash Bar for all other drinks until Game ends.
Payment must be made in advance, no later than Friday, May
5th. Credit Card or Check only.
Payable to:
Optimax Systems, Inc.
6367 Dean Parkway Ontario, NY 14519
Attention: Amy Augino
For questions contact Amy Augino 585-265-1020 x263 or email
at aaugino[at]optimaxsi.com
All proceeds in excess of cost will be donated to: CURE
Childhood Cancer Association, Inc.
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| Company Benefits Packages |
Improve Your Benefits and Bottom
Line At the Same Time
It's a continuing struggle for most businesses,
particularly ones that are growing, between offering competitive
benefit packages and watching the bottom line. Compounding the
problem are double digit increases in health and dental care insurance
that frustrate the caring owner or manager who sincerely wants
to help his/her employees. What's the solution?
A move to add voluntary benefits can help you
enhance your benefit package and, at the same time, help you reduce
your healthcare/dental costs and payroll taxes. Sound like magic?
Actually it's not.
First of all, does your company have a Section
125 plan which allows you to offer qualifying employee paid benefits
through pre-tax payroll deduction. These plans are relatively
simple and are available through payroll and healthcare insurance
providers, often for around $30-40 per month, although ours and
others are available at no charge. The value of these deductions
will lower your payroll and consequently you will save on FICA
and FUTA taxes. Secondly, consider adding
supplemental insurance to your benefits. These plans can be a
very valuable addition to a complete benefits package and can
also help you move to less costly health plans. They offer something
that is affordable, totally unique and does not compete with your
current benefits. Your employees use these plans to gain additional
financial security because, with the savings rate at an historical
low, people no longer have a financial cushion to protect them
financially when either a major or minor medical event occurs.
Again, there is no cost to your company for the program as the
benefits are totally voluntary.
The other area supplemental plans can assist
your company is in reducing expenditures for healthcare insurance.
As costs continue to rapidly increase, a move to less costly,
higher co-pay and deductible plans can result in significant expenditure
reductions. Supplemental insurance can help employees cover the
gap that is created so it provides them with an affordable solution
to the situation. They provide financial support on top of your
current (if any) healthcare insurance.
To summarize, the addition of supplemental insurance
has no direct cost to your company yet it can help improve your
bottom line through lowering your payroll taxes and easing the
move to a lower cost health plan. It really is a win-win situation
for you and your employees.
Tim Henderson is an independent agent for
Aflac New York and an RRPC member. He can be reached at (585)
223-0490 ext. 13 if you have any questions or would like additional
information.
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| Contact RRPC |
The Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster is
an active and growing collaborative organization. Efforts are
under way on joint training events, workforce development, collaborative
advertising opportunities, promoting the commericalization of
I.P., and development of our website to further facillitate
business development.
Join us! There are advantages to working together,
and we are interested in working with you. Send an email to
us at membership@rrpc-ny.org.
To subscribe, to unsubscribe, to submit a news item or upcoming
event, to suggest a feature or column, or to offer feedback,
contact Tom Battley,
at 585-329-4029.
Click here
to download a PDF version of this, or any of our previous Newsletters.
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Copyright 2006, Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster,
Inc.
The Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster (RRPC) is a non-profit organization
founded in 1999
to promote and enhance the region’s photonics, optics and imaging
industry
by fostering the cooperation of business, academia and government. |
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