2020-2021 Chairman’s Message
Greetings, Detroit Section!
We are in a new world today, one that the futurists of the previous centuries did not exactly predict. They did well on other predictions, like the telecommunications technologies we are all becoming skilled with this year, and with the level of information availability we now enjoy. Still waiting on flying cars, though.
STLE Detroit plays a critical role in ensuring that the future continues to grow.
Tribology is a young science. We only got our name in 1966! What that means is that we are unique in the materials world – old enough to have the basics down, young enough to be still uncovering the mechana of physics and chemistry that define our scientific and engineering pursuits. Every one of us has the chance to grow the field and the define the future.
Here in Detroit, we are at the forefront of many new engineering challenges that are only rivalled by the challenges of the Space Race. Today’s Road Race to alternative fuels, novel form factors, and a potentially driverless future is the entire reimagination of transportation. Friction management is finally becoming a primary goal, instead of a troublesome and esoteric system bug that gets shuffled off to some corner of the lab. It is our time to shine!
Our role as tribologists and lubrication engineers, our work as engineers and scientists, is to translate friction, wear, and lubrication to our colleagues and friends who see a simple black box. I ask you to take time to explain some of the details to those around you when the conversation offers the opportunity. Share the knowledge and use our unique language to do so. Perhaps, inspire a future tribologist.
I look forward to serving you this year as Chairperson of the Detroit Section of STLE. The 2020 Section Board is working as a team on an electronic program to bring tribological and lubrication science to your desktop, regardless of where it is. Please join us! I thank the outgoing board, especially Bulent Chavdar, Ed Becker, and Alene Urda, for the strong foundation they have given me to build on.
Respectfully yours,
Katherine Helmetag
ps – make some noise about tribology!
2018-2020 Chairman’s message
Dear Members,
I am honored to serve as the Detroit Section President of STLE for the 2018/19 calendar year. As the new President, I will work my hardest to fill the big shoes left by my predecessors Bill Kearney, Donald Cohen, Edward Becker, Arup Gangopadhyay and Simon Tung. For the last two years, I have had the privilege to serve as the secretary of the Detroit Section and am looking forward to my new role.
I have been a member of STLE since 1990 and attended local section meetings in Dayton, Chicago, and Detroit. Over the years, my membership in this excellent organization has allowed myself and countless others to keep up with the latest developments in tribology and lubrication technologies and engage with industry leaders who share a passion for solving our daily challenges. My engagement in STLE has advanced my career and furthered my technical proficiency and I am looking forward to increasing my participation and responsibility within the organization.
In the new term, we plan to continue with the bi-annual brunch meeting format that we followed for the last two years. For those who are unfamiliar we offer three high quality presentations at these meetings from the local pool of subject matter experts with light breakfast and lunch. We found that offering three presentations over a half day was a draw for members and allowed those living farther to attend. Attendance has doubled from 20 to 40 people per event compared to the monthly evening meetings of the past. We are very proud of this increased engagement and hope that members continue taking advantage of these opportunities. Additionally, we will continue our annual education seminar with five or six presentations over one day in October. Please reach out to myself or any other board members if you are interested in presenting your tribology knowledge during one of these meetings.
In the new term, we will also revitalize our educational and charitable activities, offer more scholarship opportunities, and strengthen ties with our membership. Kathy Helmetag and Kumar Kumarasekaran are leading the charity and the scholarship committees respectively. At this time, we are gathering suggestions for charitable activities for our section to participate in. Please reach out to Kathy Helmetag or myself if you have suggestions for volunteer opportunities for our organization. In order to strengthen ties with our members and recruit new volunteers and officers to the local section, we plan to hold the December board meeting in-person followed by lunch at a local restaurant. We will invite members to attend, socialize with the board, and observe the board meeting with hopes that participation will foster engagement.
We are looking forward to another fantastic year. We look forward to seeing you at future events and hope that the activities and opportunities are to your satisfaction. This organization is focused on serving its members, so please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
Bulent Chavdar
2017 Chairman’s Greeting
Detroit Section | STLE 