EACA Showfloor Buzz

Vol. 12, Issue 18, May 6, 2009

EACA NEWS

Unpaid Accounts Back on EACA Web Site.    The EACA Web site has been updated to now accept Unpaid Accounts again.   When you’re ready to add your unpaid account go to the EACA site and access the “Member Tool Kit” which appears under the “Member Info” tab on the top of the page.  You will see a link to “Add an Unpaid Account”.  Click on that link to start the process.

You will be asked to login at this point since this is a part of the site only available to our members.    After you login you will be directed to a page where you can add all the pertinent info about your listing. In the event you had forgotten your User Id  and/or password contact jimwurm@eaca.com.

Once you’re listing has been entered an email is sent to the EACA which allows us to review the listing and approve it for publication.  We add this step to be sure that all information entered is appropriate for publication.

One new feature of the updated system is that all Unpaid Account listings will  automatically expire after 30 days.  That way, all the information on the site will be current.  

We encourage all members to make use of the improved Unpaid Accounts system.

EACA 2009 Member Directory.     The EACA, in conjunction with Exhibit City News, will be publishing the 2009 membership directory.  This high quality publication will not only feature our full list of members, it will also chronicle significant achievements that have taken place in our history.  Special features will include photographs and descriptions of EACA events, Intrepid Award winners, Hall of Famers as well as other notable achievements of the EAC community.

The member directory will be published in time for distribution at this summer’s HCEA and TS2 events.   Be sure that your company is well represented in this exceptional publication.

All members receive a FREE Membership listing which includes:

Company name
Address
City State & Zip
Phone
Fax
Email

Please note that all EACA members are responsible to fax or email your updated listing to Exhibit City News using the attached Directory Form    Fax to 702-309-8027 or email judyk@exhibitcitynews.com  * Unless you send NEW information your listing will be the same as last year.

Mark Your Calendars – EACA Annual Meeting July 20-21.     The EACA will hold its 11th Annual Conference in Chicago, IL in conjunction with TS2 on July 20-21, 2009 at McCormick Place.

All EACA members are urged to mark this year’s event on their calendar.   More details to follow in future issues of the Showfloor Buzz!

EACA Calls for Intrepid Award / Hall of Fame Nominations     It’s that time of year once again when the EACA is looking to its members for nominations for the annual Intrepid Award, and for nominations for its seventh class to be inducted into the EACA Hall of Fame.  

Anyone interested in submitting a nomination can request a form by emailing jimwurm@eaca.com.  To see a complete list of former Intrepid winners and  EACA Hall of Famers visit the web site at www.eaca.com.

Last year’s Intrepid nominees were:

David Causton, MPEA
Joe Mondelli, EACA Chicago  (2008 Recipient)
Bob Lessin, IUPAT
Mia Rampersad, IHA
Anah Corley, Stetson Convention Services

Last year’s Hall of Fame nominees were:

Steve Barry Jr, TWI
Dick Gorbett, Global & Atlas Van Lines   (2008 Inductee)
Tom Mobley, Global Spectrum
Art Ursin, Poirot

EACA Member Directory Photo Request.    The EACA, in conjunction with Exhibit City News, is starting production of its 11th Annual Member Directory.   We are asking all members to forward photos of interest for inclusion in the directory.   Of particular interest are photos of EACA members, photos from the showfloor, and photos from our EACA Chapters.   Please forward all photos by email to jimwurm@eaca.com.    Please be sure to identify all individuals in your photos.

RSMGC Announces 2009 Dates!     The Board of Directors of the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic has announced the dates of its 15th anniversary event.   This year’s RSMGC will take place on October 12, 2009 (Columbus Day) at the Stone Mountain Golf Club in Stone Mountain, GA.   Be sure to mark it on your calendar! 

CHAPTER NEWS

Atlanta Chapter News

Get Out of the Gutter Announcement

Get Out of the Gutter Scheduled for June 4.    All trade show industry professionals In the Atlanta area are encouraged to support this important RSMGC (Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic) local event .    For more information on “Get Out of the Gutter” contact Sandra Braun at sbraun@nthdegree.com.

Chicago Chapter News

Chicago Randy Announcement

The organizers of the “Chicago Randy” urge everyone to mark their calendars with the date for this year’s event.    The Chicago Randy Golf Outing will take place this year on Monday, August 3.     As usual the event will begin with a 1 pm shot gun start at Maple Meadows Golf Course in Wood Dale, IL.    Additional details about participation and sponsorship will be available in the near future.

NRA Break of Show Labor Dispatch Announcement

Labor dispatch at the break of the NRA Show is restricted to the following areas:

Elevators 7,8,9 – South Empty Crate Storage

GES only carpet, furniture removal crews

Minimum EAC labor preparing equipment for break
Elevators 10,11 Only
EACs

Lower North Hall C

All GES trades for North/South check-in and dispatch
All EAC labor check-in and dispatch

Note:   McCormick Place will provide 30-40 round tables and chairs, and will also provide food & beverage station or the mobile food truck service for approximately 2 hours in Hall C.

All Focus One check-in areas or either in Receiving or shops, and labor will be staged there for dispatch.

NPE2009 – Hanging Signs Now Permitted

In late January, the NPE2009 Committees approved hanging signs as an option for NPE2009. This would offer exhibitors an opportunity to compare costs associated with hanging signs versus use of a floor supported truss system and allow them to select the method that best meets their budget requirements.

The hanging signs rule for NPE2009 is as follows:

Rule 31. HANGING: DISPLAYS, SIGNS, BANNERS

Hanging signs/grid work from the ceiling will be permitted but must comply with facility rules and regulations, as well as applicable show display rules and regulations. Management permits ceiling-hung corporate identification for exhibiting companies occupying 400 square feet or more in an island or peninsula space configuration. Hanging signs will be permitted in South Halls A1/A2, North Hall B1, and West Hall F1/F2 with the exception of the front of the West Hall where the ceiling height is 20 feet. Hanging signs are not permitted in North Hall B2. The bottom of the sign must be a minimum of 12 feet above the floor and the top of the sign must not be higher than 20 feet above the floor in an island booth and not higher than 16 feet above the floor in a peninsula booth. Should the wording on any sign be deemed by show management to be contrary in any way to the Principal Purpose, exhibitor shall make such changes requested by show management and assume responsibility for any expense incurred (also refer to Rule 49, Signs).

It is imperative that all procedures be followed properly:

1.  Management approval is required by April 21, 2009 for all hanging signs (see NPE2009 Booth/Display Approval Form).

2.  McCormick Place/FOCUS One's Hanging Items Approval/Request Form (HM1) is due by May 26, 2009 (please review Hanging Items requirements on page 5 of the McCormick Place Exhibitor and Utility Ordering Guide).

3.  Freeman's Hanging Sign Labor Form is due by May 28, 2009 (also see Freeman's Hanging of Signs in McCormick Place Procedures and Rules).

INDUSTRY NEWS

EventView report: executives rely on ROI of event and Web marketing<Expo Web News>  Corporate sales and marketing executives believe events (31 percent) and the Web (20 percent) are the marketing disciplines that provide the greatest ROI, according to respondents to EventView 2009: Global, an annual survey produced through a collaboration of the Meetings Professionals International Foundation, the Event Marketing Institute and George P. Johnson Experience Marketing. Respondents also indicate that event marketing (40 percent) and Web marketing (31 percent) are the first marketing channels to benefit from an increase in the overall marketing budget

MGM Mirage Strikes Deal on CityCenter Funding  <Tradeshow Week>   MGM Mirage and Dubai World, through its subsidiary Infinity World, agreed on terms of a deal to finance and complete the embattled $8.5 billion CityCenter project.

Viad Earnings Down Nearly 92 Percent   <Tradeshow Week>  First-quarter net income at Viad, GES Exposition Services' parent company, was $1.4 million, compared with $16.6 million in the same period last year, a 91.7-percent drop.

TSEA FOUNDATION TO PRESENT RED DIAMOND AND  EXHIBITORS' CHOICE AWARDS AT GALA FUNDRAISER EVENT     The Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA) Foundation will present the Red Diamond and Exhibitors' Choice Awards at the Inaugural Exhibit Industry Education Foundation Gala on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 in conjunction with TS2 2009, Total Solutions Marketing for the Exhibit & Event Professional, in Chicago, IL.  

The Exhibitors' Choice Awards will allow exhibitors to nominate and vote for their preferred shows and vendors.  TSEA is asking exhibitors to submit nominations in any or all categories. Nomination forms can be found at tsea.org  and should be submitted to reddiamondawards@tsea.org by Friday, May 15, 2009.

Voting for the top five nominated companies and shows will take place on tsea.org  from May 20 – June 15, 2009.    The following is a list of categories:

• Favorite Convention Center
• Favorite Exhibit House
• Favorite General Contractor
• Favorite Installation and Dismantling Company
• Favorite Transportation/Freight Company
• Favorite of the Rest
• Favorite Show Manager
• Favorite Show of 2009
• Favorite Show – 50,000 sq. ft and under
• Favorite Show – 50,00 – 100,000 sq. ft
• Favorite Show – 100,000+ sq. ft 
  
  In addition to the current honors, Distinguished Service, President’s and Chairman’s which are presented at the TS2 opening ceremonies, TSEA will also present the Red Diamond Awards at the Gala.  These awards will recognize outstanding Active and Allied TSEA members and include:

• Exhibit Manager of the Year
• Allied Member of the Year
• Perfect Partner of the Year
• Michael Seymour Chapter Leader of the Year
• Tom Bowman Green Award
• Master’s Award
• Emerging Leader Award 
  
  For the Red Diamond Awards, TSEA is asking members to submit nominations in any or all categories. Nomination forms can be found at tsea.org <http://m7.tm00.com/r/DhkAUjKyclhiFt0z.org>  and should be submitted to reddiamondawards@tsea.org by Friday, June 5, 2009.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

---Norwegian proverb       

Publisher's statement.   The Showfloor Buzz is a publication of the Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA) which is dedicated to "raising the level of service excellence on the showfloor." 

This publication is sent free of charge to all EACA members each Wednesday, and to non-members four weeks later.   Annual subscriptions to current issues of the Buzz are available to non-members for $49.95.   Please send subscription requests to jimwurm@eaca.com.

EACA members are also permitted to submit job postings to the Buzz free of charge for a one time listing.   Member job postings can be extended for additional weeks in the Buzz as well as posted to the EACA web site.    The costs for extending your job posting are one month for $50, 2 months for $85, and 3 months for $125.

If you have news from the tradeshow floor that you feel is important to the success of our members,  or our industry's customer, the exhibitors, please forward it to the EACA  @ 541-317-8768 or email us @ jimwurm@eaca.com