January 31, 2009          

Monday, February 2 is the last day to register for the February 9 lunch meeting at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids.  Please email your RSVP by 4:00 p.m. to info@wmsbf.org if you are planning to attend.

Our PayPal account has been set up and you can now pay meeting and membership fees by credit card through the following links.  Please note that PayPal charges a fee for processing, and that fee has been added to defer costs to the WMSBF.

Meeting Fee -- $11
Membership (1-5 employees) -- $155
Membership (5-100 employees) -- $310
Membership (101+ employees) -- $515

As always, please feel free to contact me at kyle@wmsbf.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank You,
Kyle Ten Broeke

Monthly Membership Meetings

Aquinas College :: 1607 Robinson Road, Grand Rapids, MI  49506

February 9, 2009 :: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Programming for the February meeting has yet to be finalized, but will be relayed as soon as it is.    

There will be an arraignment fee of $10.

Lunch will begin at noon

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to info@wmsbf.org by February 2. 

Sustainability Events

A West Michigan Manufacturing Event: Automotive Diversification: If Not Now, When?

February 18, 2009 :: GVSU Eberhard Center

The Automotive Diversification event is a one-day, interactive conference to assist West Michigan's automotive manufacturers in identifying opportunities in four rapidly growing industry sectors.

After a general introduction into each market, suppliers will be able to explore each in further detail. Industry and diversification experts will review market diversification assistance programs and tools currently available. Presentations will also discuss how to build a specific diversification strategy that reflects a company's competencies and addresses its barriers to market entry.

Cost and Registration is $65/person; lunch included

For more information or to register, visit http://rightplace.org/events/Auto-diversify

Michigan Energy Conference

April 16-17, 2009 :: Ferris State University

More information will be available on the WMSBF calendar as it becomes available.  In the meantime, save the dates!

Green Today, Jobs Tomorrow

May 11, 2009 :: Lansing Center

The Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) is now accepting registrations for the “Green Today, Jobs Tomorrow” conference to be held on May 11, 2009 at the Lansing Center. The registration form is at available online at www.michigan.gov/greenjobsconference.

The conference is a once in a lifetime opportunity for everybody to play a role in devising the strategy to create a vibrant green economy in Michigan.  The conference is aimed at partners from the renewable energy, environmental, workforce, and economic development communities, as well as labor, education, student, community and faith-based leaders.  The conference will highlight what green jobs are coming and what training is needed for these jobs. The conference will feature dynamic national leaders soon to be announced.

Interested participants are encouraged to register as soon as possible since space is limited and to take advantage of the early registration fee of $110 offered through March 15. The registration fee increases to $135 for registrations submitted between March 16 and the May 4^th cutoff date. Registration on the day of the event, if still available, will be $185.

Members wishing to have an event included in this newsletter must submit their notice to info@wmsbf.org by the end of the day on Friday, January 30.

Our website is being updated regularly, please visit www.wmsbf.org for more information.