Every year when the SolidWorks World buzz really gets going, a lot of conversation focuses on "how many have you attended"?

Plenty of SolidWorks users can say they've attended multiple events, far fewer can lay claim to every single one (four, based on my very unscientific data).

But what if this is your first SolidWorks World conference?  Where do you go for advice, tips, and general information on how to make your first experience a good one?  Try the SolidWorks Discussion Forums.

There's a category specifically to discuss SolidWorks World.  Some of the conversations you can get involved in include "best technical sessions", "best airfare", "best hotels", etc.  You can learn more about the CSWP offsite event, and eventually discuss announced keynotes, the general offsite event, or get tips on visiting the exhibit hall.

First-timers should also take a look at the SolidWorks World Survival Guide written last year by Muggs Ferguson (with Wayne Tiffany and Brian Lindahl contributing).  The document can be found in the SWW category as well.

If this is your first time, you're in for quite a treat.  I've never heard anyone come back from their first SolidWorks World and not want to go back again.

As for the four "every timers", well, I hope to see the other three of you there in 2010.

Wayne Tiffany knows how to please his KSWUG members with unique presentations, and uses enticing titles and descriptions when he announces them.  Last year, Wayne brought in Aukse Kalantaite, Marketing Programs Manager at SolidWorks for a session titled "What's the Deal with SolidWorks Marketing?"  "What's in it for Me?".  I was at that meeting, and it went very well.

On October 27th, Wayne will host Julie Napolitan, Product Definition Specialist from SolidWorks.  It's not uncommon for the PD department to send people out to user group meetings, but this one is a little different.  Wayne's title - "A Year in the Life of a Product Definition Specialist".  The plan is to have Julie explain how customer feedback is essential to the development of future SolidWorks releases.  In addition, she'll present new functionality in eDrawings 2010, and then lead a mock design session intended to give first-hand experience at solving some of the challenges involved in designing software features.  Sounds like a great way for KCSWUG members to get some real insight into the process.

Julie has done a couple of other user group meetings, and was one of the presenters at NESWUC last week, so she has some exposure to this already.  I think she's in for a few surprises this time, but I know that Wayne and his members will be gracious and energetic, and Julie will gain some valuable input from all of them.

Have fun Julie!!

Last Friday I attended the second annual NESWUC event and came away with a new appreciation for the good folks that manage the SolidWorks User Groups in the Eastern US.  Everything ran smoothly, the technical sessions were outstanding, there was great food, and a nice collection of SolidWorks Partners were there to share information with the 400+ people that showed up.  Even the freak October snow shower didn't put a damper on the event.  NESWUC is truly a team effort, and every member of the committee deserves high praise for its success.  At the risk of leaving someone out, I would like to thank the following people for their efforts and for their hospitality:

Randy Lennox, Ed Poole, Tom Cote, John Matrishon, Rob Rodriguez, Bill Dalpe, Ed Gebo, Glen Lepage, Ryan Foss, and Cindy Berend.

Not surprisingly, there were many well-known members of the SolidWorks Community there too.  Muggs Ferguson made the drive from the Philly area, and Randall Bock left the friendly confines of Happy Valley to make the 8 hour trek.  And it wouldn't be a SolidWorks event without Mike McLaughlin, who I seem to see nearly everywhere I go.

I didn't get to spend a lot of time with the exhibitors, but it was great to see Matthew Cummins again.  I sat in on Matthew's Tacton presentation over lunch, and it was 30 minutes well spent.  Jay Jacobs from Rapid Sheet Metal was there, and I made sure to thank him for the support his company continues to provide to SolidWorks User Groups everywhere.

I attended some very good technical sessions, but the one that really stands out was Bruce Holway's session on Blocks and Layout Sketches.  I sat next to Cindy Berend during the session and we both agreed it was one of the best ever.

By the end of the day, you could tell the NESWUC Committee was a little tired - understandably so.  It's no easy task to put together such a large event, spend 14 or 15 hours on your feet, and make sure eveyone is getting everything they paid for.  It wouldn't have surprised me to hear them talk about taking a year off or even retiring the event.  But noooo....one of the last things they did after Tom Cote's "What's New in SolidWorks 2010" session was to announce the date for next year's NESWUC event.

I'll see you there everyone.

As much as it pains me to utter that phrase, I'm compelled to use it because of the very nice gift I received from Lynnette Sabatka and the SolidWorks User Group of Nebraska yesterday.  The football in the picture was designed. modeled, and manufactured by one of Lynnette's students - Brent Bogenrief - who wanted me to have a little memento from my trip to Nebraska earlier this year.  It was designed in SolidWorks (of course) and machined out of acrylic on the Makino A55 milling machine he runs at TMCO in Lincoln.  The tee that it stands on was designed and manufactured by the Southeast Community College multi-access tube laser department and then powder coated the ugly red color you see (just kidding Husker fans).

So thanks Brent, Lynnette, and the rest of the good folks at SWUGONE and SCC.  I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent there, and I'm grateful for the present.  It will have a prominent place on my memorabilia shelf.

Since I didn't get you anything, here's a little something given in the same spirit (school spirit that is). 

I think y'all remember it as "ROLL LEFT.."