I squeezed in two events last night — Scott Kirsner’s “What’s New in Tech” panel and the Mass Tech Leadership Council’s event around the announcement of the first group of finalists for the council’s annual Technology Leadership Awards. You’d think that will all the troubles we’re facing — in tech and in business in general — it would be a somber evening. Just the opposite. After a lively networking hour with a bunch of entrepreneurs, VCs, students and media, Scott opened the panel with a question — who’s pessimistic about the prospects for tech in our region — not a single hand was raised. Check out Scott’s site for more on what these experts see ahead for the tech space. The MassTLC event was even more uplifting, with an overflow crowd of tech companies and tech industry followers (including a number of Topaz folks)gathering for an event that’s part of the council’s celebration of leadership and excellence in business and technology here in Massachusetts. The group of nominated companies was diverse and interesting, the dialogue was positive and the overall mood was uplifting. There’ll be more opportunities to participate in the Council’s award program, including a follow-on to last night’s event on July 16. If you’re looking to feel better about the state of the technology industry, think about attending.