1. the highest point or part, as of a hill, a line of travel, or any object; top; apex.
2. the highest point of attainment or aspiration: the summit of one’s ambition.
3. the highest state or degree.

I really like parts of all 3 of the definitions of summit; apex, aspiration, state.  Summit make me think of something lofty that you look towards.  The intent of the SolidWorks User Group (SWUGN) Technical Summits is to give users of all levels a day of training from fellow users of SolidWorks and also a chance to casually network with your peers.  So why haven’t you attended a SWUGN Technical Summit?  With a total fee of just $40 which covers multiple training sessions, breakfast AND lunch, how can you go wrong.   I’ve enjoyed the privelege of attending 3 SolidWorks Technical Summits over the past 3 years and I have presented at 2 of them.  My latest escapade involved a fellow SolidWorks user, teacher, user group leader and all around Good Egg, Randall Bock.  I met Randall at SolidWorks World 2009 in Orlando and we became quick friends.  He mentioned that one of the SWUGN Technical Summits was going to be held in his stomping grounds (Penn State University) in June.  When I arrived home from World, I asked my wife how she felt about spending our vacation in Pennsylvania.  We agreed it would be nice to see since there was so much to experience and we had never been there.  This way we could mark another state off our maps.  Fast forward to May.  After getting a short scare from work that a project may be due, it wasn’t, I finalized my travel plans for the Happy Valley Summit.  Randall and family (Brenda, Sarah and Evan) were nice enough to invite us to their family farm for a day of leisure after our long drive in.  The weather was great and we had a fantastic day (thanks again Brenda, that strawberry cake I won’t soon forget)!

Building a Volcano

Yum! Milkshakes

 

Summit day!

 Tuesday started with a brisk walk from my hotel to the on campus venue called the HUB.  I helped with the setup as did some of the other presenters and some of Randall’s students.  Richard Doyle (SWUGN himself) was getting the opening session ready to go.  The expected turnout was in excess of 90 so we were all excited.  Breakfast was served and Richard jumped right in at 8:00 to kick everything off. 

 

HVSWUG Summit is open!

Breakfast is served

Richard addressing the attendees

At 8:45 it was time to let the fun begin.  Session 1 included Assemblies  with Greg Yohn of DesignPoint Solutionsand Simulation with Randall Bock. Session 2 included Mold Design with Mike Puckett of SolidWorks Corp and PDM with Mike Sabocheck of SolidWorks Corp.  Lunch was from 11: 30 to 1 and lots of great door prises were given away including a FREE Pass to SolidWorks World 2010 in Anaheim, Ca.  Are you still wondering why you should attend?  The afternoon kicked off and session 3 included Drawings  with yours truly Richard Hall from WestWind Technologies (and also NASWUG) and Sheet Metal with Jeff Beardsley of Prism Engineering.  Session 4 included CAD Management with Richard Doyle of SolidWorks Corp. and Rendering  with Arthur Young-Spivey of CADD Edge.  Closing out the day in session 5 was Surfacing with Muggs Ferguson of John Ferguson Design and Weldments with Timothy Theiler of CADDWorks.  Each session had great content and I was able to get photos of all the sessions except for Sheet Metal which was the same time I was presenting (sorry Jeff).  Maybe someone else has a picture they can share?

Session 1 Assemblies with Greg Yohn

Session 1 Simulation with Randall Bock

Session 2 Mold Design with Mike Puckett

Session 2 PDM with Mike Sabocheck

Lunch Buffet

Nothing was left of the lunch buffet after the attendees went through.  I would like to say the food was great personally but, I was prepping for my session and when I came out to get a quick bite, the pans were empty as if someone had licked them clean or sopped them with loaf bread.  Oh well, it’s not like I couldn’t go without a meal or 2, maybe next time?

 

Session 3 Drawings with Rich Hall

 

Session 3 Sheet Metal with Jeff Beardsley

Session 4 CAD Management with Richard Doyle

Session 4 Rendering with Arthur Young-Spivey

Session 5 Surfacing with Muggs Ferguson

Man, I should have finished this last night.

"so three men walk into a bar....."