Designed to attract new baker members, the partnership program announced by Mike Elenz, chairman of the American Society of Baking (ASB), offers scholarships to help pay the expenses of attending the group’s annual BakingTech conference.

A primary goal for the group during the next year is to increase the number of bakers who are members and add them to attendance at the conference, according to Mr. Elenz, vice-president of manufacturing for Schwebel Baking Co., Youngstown, OH, and a longtime ASB member.

The program, announced in September, partners with commercial baking companies and asks the society’s general membership to pledge support to the scholarship offerings. BakingTech 2013 takes place March 3-6 at Chicago.

In addition, ASB continues to offer free membership for the first year to commercial bakery employees. Details are noted at the group’s website, www.asbe.org.