Exhibitors are being sought for TECHFEST 2008, a celebration showcasing emerging technologies in Western Illinois, to be held November 7, 2008 from 2 pm to 5:30 pm at the Sandburg Mall in Galesburg.
An initiative of the West-Central Illinois Technology Source (WITS), the third annual event will feature displays, demonstrations and discussions relating to cutting-edge advancements in commerce, education, health care and the environment, currently being used or developed in the region. Free to the public, the exhibition is geared to persons of all ages, and is expected to draw a large number of K-12 and college students as well as community leaders and business owners.
Knox College is the educational host for this year's event and will be the location for a luncheon prior to this year's event. The luncheon will feature Burt Chojnowski from Fairfield Iowa who will talk about economic gardening and in particular fostering high tech start ups in the rural Midwest. If you are interested in attending the luncheon tickets are $25 and can be reserved at the Workforce Investment Office in Galesburg.
Roger Taylor, Knox College President, noted, "Technology already touches our lives in many ways and offers the potential to enhance many lines of endeavor. Knox is pleased to host TECHFEST 2008." Roger Taylor will be welcoming the luncheon speaker and then opening the exhibition floor at TECHFEST 2008. Joining him at the event will be the presidents of Monmouth College, Western Illinois University and Carl Sandburg College, which are co-sponsoring the event in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois, the Regional Office of Education #27, the Prairie Tech Learning Center and R Cubed Technologies.
Exhibits from last year included electric cars, thermal camera from the Monmouth Fire Department, spinal scanning equipment from Midtown Chiropractic, alternative energy, clay-mation movies produced by Monmouth Roseville students, and robotics from Sherard schools. In addition to exhibits this year's TECHFEST will include fun and games including geocaching, video game demonstrations, live electric guitar demonstration, floppy disc toss, and door prizes. Committee co-chair, Linda Lee Blaine, noted, "We are also very excited this year to be working with the Sandburg Mall which provides us a large attractive space and plentiful parking for individuals and busses. "
"We are particularly seeking exhibits that have a hands-on component," said Nathan Rockhold, chairman of WITS. "We also encourage exhibitors to provide information about available positions-particularly jobs related to technology-as well as the skills necessary for those jobs." If your company or organization is using or developing technology in West Central Illinois we invite you to come and share what you are doing at TECHFEST 2008!
The event will be held from 2 to 5:30 p.m. at the Sandburg Mall. The registration fee to participate in the event is $25. Non-profits and public schools are exempt from the registration fee.
Registration materials are available online at www.WITStechfest.com. For more information, call the Prairie Tech Learning Center at 309-734-1068.
(Submitted by Prairie Tech Learning Center) |
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