Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander was going to stop by the shop where I work at Keene State College. She had stopped by previously when she was running for Congress. During her llast visit she introduced herself to me. I then wished her luck with the election. She seemed like a nice lady, and she was younger than I expected. She wasn’t the only politician to stop by, however she was the only one that spoke to me. Of course I voted for her, as did my wife. As Tip O’Reilly said, all politics is local.

Political intrigue is for my boss, and he said he was nervous about the forthcoming visit. I really do not know how all these things are arranged, still I know that everything is choreographed. A little bit of time here, some more time there. Talk with this on then talk with that one. It is what the do. I told my boss not to worry, these people are professional talkers, that is what they do. I also said that is not a bad thing.

The reason for all this political interest is the federal government recently funded a new Ultra-Precision Diamond Turning Lab, and two diamond lathes were now in my shop. Big doings. Although I did not directly benefit from the funding, I had played a small part in it’s implementation. Also, the new machines were fun to play with and added interest to my job. I like technology and the political intrigue is above my pay grade.

I do not have a problem talking with people, I treat everyone as a person. Politician or student, I will treat them the same. I may modify my responses as a reaction to the way I am treated, but that is probably normal. As far as I am concerned everyone starts on equal ground.

When it comes to technological things it is easy for me to talk and cause the listeners eyes to glaze over. So I just try and keep to the relevant things. The last time Maggie visited I explained that the reason that diamonds are used as cutting tools is not only are the hard, they are thermally stable in dimensionality. That is what you need to have molecular level accuracy.

In our previous Ultra-Precision class we had set up the machines to teach centrality. Centrality is the ability to make things concetric. To do that we use probes with ruby tips. Knowing that Maggie was coming by the next day I made sure that the cameras in the machines showed both the diamonds and rubies. The cameras showed the images on big TV screens outside the machines.

I had my talking point. If the conversation went quiet I could mention rubies. It is about the kids, so I would let them talk. Typically I am surprised at how well they do. The future is in good hands. Still people become intimidated and do not know what to say, me I just want to move the conversation forward. I felt prepared, rubies are also dimensionally stable and wear resistant. Very important to teaching the art of measurement.

When driving the next day I had a thought. Why not give her a SPDI Jacket. A professor had recently retired and I thought it would be nice to give her a jacket with an embroidered logo as a retirement gift. Of course I wanted one also. I shared this thought of a gift with a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. He was very important in the starting of the SPDI program and liked the idea. He said SME would pay for the jackets. So we thought we should expand the recipient list to include all SPDI teachers and student teachers. I ordered two dozen. My goal became brand awareness. Nobody knew, except a very few people what SPDI is. FYI it is Sustainable Product Design & Innovation.

There were also two students chosen to meet with Maggie at the same time. Whoever did the choosing did right. Couple of smart, bright kids. We waited in my shop until the appointed time engaging in small talk. We were given no agenda.

At the appointed time Maggie came in with her entourage. The mayor of Keene, the school Dean, someone from the Keene paper, more people from the school administration, a couple of photographers. I forgot to count how many people there were.

When Maggie came by to speak to the three of us, I asked if she would like a jacket like the one I was wearing. She said she would love one. So I ran off to get her a jacket while leaving her to talk with the students. When I returned I explained the symbolism and meaning of SPDI. I also stressed that the embroidered logo was student designed. Additionally I mentioned that SME had originally paid for the jacket, it was not school funded, in case that ment anything. I knew she is a lawyer, sometimes such things matter. Finally I said, I just wanted a picture of her in the jacket. She quickly put it on and smiled. Then she moved on.

There was a lot of talking, and I quietly snapped a photo of her talking to the mayor and the Dean. I was happy. We all ended up standing around looking at the two diamond turning machines. They they were, the two machines that had been subject of so much conversation. Unsurprisingly it got a little quiet. I happened to be standing next to Maggie and I asked her, did anyone tell you about the rubies? No she replied. I then explained that we use rubies like they use in fine watches. We use them because they are geometricaly stable in a very precise size. For example, during our previous class we were teaching centrality, and had the students index their parts to center using a ruby tipped probe. I mentioned that rubies are used in many types of measuring devices like CMM’s. Finally I mentioned that I used to do laser optical alignment. When you get the centrality just right laser power goes up exponentially! Maggie thanked me and mentioned to everyone that we had all learned about rubies and centrality.

On her way out I gave the Congresswoman an eye loupe designed and made by the students. It had KSC and SPDI lettering on it. Like I said earlier most people do not know what SPDI is. Anything to promote the brand. I thanked her and said that she had made my week. Her reply was “You made mine”. Then I mentioned that I had gotten a photo of her in the jacket. Then she said, “Oh we forgot to take photos”. That is when they took the above photo. She is holding the eye loupe we gave her. She then invited the students to be in the photograph. That photo is one of the pictures she put on her website that day. Smart lady.

Only 3279 days earlier and exactly 227 meters away I had encountered another hi profile political figure, we also took photos, one of which is in one of my previous blogs. The man, who I am sure you know, is from the other side of the political isle. During the the photo he put his arm around me and hugged me. During our conversations I relised that the man who would be president knew, and would know, of my existence and what I had done. So this being a political photo op, and thinking of the past, I asked Maggie if I could put my arm around her. She agreed so I put my arm around her. For me it was symbolic of equality.

Then she was off. They went to see the new room being prepared for the diamond lathes. I chatted with the kids, we thought the visit went well. Then I went back to work. Typically I make myself a couple of coffee and carry it around till I find something too do. That is exactly what I did. After a bit someone came in and said Maggie was leaving the building.

Our new Provost, Kristi Sandy wrote a book in what I would call the observational style. Like this blog. One thing I noticed was Kristi paid attention to what people drive. I do the same thing in real life. So when I heard Maggie was leaving, I carried my coffee out into the hall and wandered towards the exit. I wondered what she would be riding in. I saw a Prius parked outside. Then I saw Maggie head for the exit with her entourage. She waved and smiled. I don’t think she went in the Prius. I think she and her entourage walked to a different building. Who knows what she drives. Busy lady.