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Review All Articles > May 20th 2009 - Vol 12, Issue 20

EACA Announces 11th Annual Conference!    The EACA is hosting its 11th Annual Conference in Chicago, IL on July 20-21, 2009, in conjunction with TS2.     EACA members are invited to come together to once again to connect with colleagues, develop new skills, and find answers to the business issues that are most critical to your company’s success.    

The EACA 11th Anniversary Conference Schedule contains overview information on all sessions and events.       In addition, the EACA Conference Registration form and Sponsor form has complete information for participating in this year’s event.     If you have difficulty accessing any of this information please send an email to jimwurm@eaca.com.

2009 Intrepid Award Nominees!     The Intrepid Award is awarded to the individual, organization or consortium that has made great contributions to the cause of customer service in the trade show industry. The EACA Intrepid also recognizes the quality of character combining courage and staying power.   In business, and specifically in the trade show business, grace and fortitude under pressure is the capacity to focus attention on the needs of the customer at all times; particularly when the pressure hits.

The Five Finalists for this year's Intrepid Award are:

David Causton, MPEA.      David is the General Manager for McCormick Place in Chicago.    He is constantly looking for innovative ways to deliver more value to exhibitors at McCormick Place, and is often seen reaching out to all industry stakeholders to find ways to improve the exhibitor’s experience at Chicago’s McCormick Place.    In the past year, Causton has overseen the development of a Labor Management Committee to find ways to improve the offerings made by Chicago’s workforce to exhibitors, as well as authorized a customer service training program for the employees of Focus One, the McCormick Place in-house exhibitor servicing agency.    For his tireless efforts to improve value to exhibitors at McCormick Place, Dave is a most deserving nominee for the Intrepid Award in 2008.

Mia Rampersad / IHA.   Mia is the Vice President of Meetings and Tradeshows for the International Home & Housewares Show.   She has created a culture of service excellence on her show management staff that is without parallel in our industry.     More than 2,000 exhibitors participate in IHHA from more than 30 countries, and each and every one of them are provided white glove service by Mia and the IHA.   In addition, Mia involves and includes her suppliers and contractors in the customer service equation and lets them know the high standards she sets, and expects.     For her consistent and ongoing efforts to improve exhibitor servicing at IHHA, Mia, and the IHA is an outstanding nominee for our 2009 Intrepid Award.  

Steve Johnson, Renaissance Management.      Steve is President of Renaissance Management, an I&D labor company headquartered in Stone Mountain, GA., and a Past President of the EACA.    Since its foundation, and under Steve’s leadership, Renaissance has been one of the elite I&D service companies in our industry.    His creativity, innovation and attention to detail creates significant advantages for Renaissance in the midst of a highly competitive marketplace.     And, yet, the most important detail has always been his commitment, and that of all his people, to the highest standards of customer service.   For his many years of outstanding service to his customers, and our industry, , Steve is a most deserving nominee for the Intrepid Award in 2009.

Bob Lessin, Business Rep., Local 831   One of the most popular places for I&D companies to provide services for their exhibitor clients is in Southern California.  That’s because the  quality of the workers in Decorators Local 831 and their service minded approach to display installation is second to none.   A large part of the credit for the high service quotient for this Local is due to the leadership of their Business Representative, Bob Lessin.   Bob has facilitated the development of a tradeshow installers training program that has been so  successful that he has been recognized nationally by the IUPAT.  With their ongoing programs

in  power tool safety, scaffolding/ladders, fall protection, first aid, forklift, electrical, genie lift use and many more, Local 831 has greatly improved the quality of their Southern California Labor force.  So much so, Bob now has been officially designated the International Representative of the IUPAT  and will bring the same program to Decorator locals in San Francisco, Dallas,  and several other east coast Decorator locals.   For all these reasons and more, Bob is a terrific nominee for our 2009 Intrepid Award.

David Mihalik, EliteXPO Cargo Systems.   Dave is the President of EliteXPO, a freight forwarding company that services exhibitors nationally.   He could easily have been a nominee for this award in any year, but this year’s nomination comes in recognition for his many generous years of volunteer service to several trade show industry associations Including TSEA, HCEA, EACA and EDPA.

In addition, Dave almost single-handedly authored the Carrier Standards of Performance  - an EACA-sponsored document which clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of all parties to the freight forwarding end of our industry.   This document, endorsed by both EACA and ESCA,  has established a common sense approach to resolving the conflicts that can arise from time to time among all freight forwarding companies .  For all his efforts to improve freight forwarding specifically, and our ientire ndustry in general,  Dave is a highly regarded nominee for the 2009 Intrepid.

All employees of EACA member companies are eligible to vote.     You can fax in your vote on an official Intrepid Award ballot or simply email your vote to jimwurm@eaca.com.
 

2009 Hall of Fame Nominees!     The EACA will be announcing its nominees for the 2009 class to the EACA Hall of Fame by email next week.

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.

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

The SE Chapter of EDPA has announced that it will host Get Out of the Gutter, its annual event to support the RSMGC, on 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 Product Removal Announcement

The NRA strictly enforces its Product Removal policy on all service personnel that are working the show.    No product, food, or beverage may be removed from either the NRA or IWSB showfloors.

Exhibitors who desire to give away product to an NRA show attendee may do so given that the giveaway is accompanied by a signed Merchandise Removal pass.  Security personnel will not allow any product to be removed from the show floor without a signed pass.    A signed pass will also be required for exhibitor personnel who want to remove product from the show floor.

Only IWSB exhibitor personnel may remove product from the show floor.  IWSB service personnel and attendees may not remove IWSB products from the show floor at any time.

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).

Las Vegas Chapter News

EDPA Foundation Event Announcement

Please join the EDPA Las Vegas Chapter, working in conjunction with the EDPA Foundation, at The Seventh Annual Tradeshow Industry Education Scholarship Golf Classic on June 12th, 2009. We will have a great day of golf at the beautiful Rhodes Ranch Golf Club in Las Vegas.

INDUSTRY NEWS

FREEMAN CLOSES PHILADELPHIA BRANCH OFFICE    Freeman will close its Philadelphia branch office today, in a move toward more efficient operations.

Bill Smith, formerly general manager of the Philadelphia office, has been named national sales manager. He will remain in Philadelphia to work with existing customers and to pursue additional business in a market where Freeman sees opportunity.

CEIR Index: Trade Shows Contracted, but Attendance Held Strong   <M&C Midweek News>  The Center for Exhibition Industry Research Index reports that the trade show industry declined 11.6 percent overall in the first quarter, compared with the same quarter a year ago. Attendance remained strong, however, dropping only 1.5 percent. Other metrics were down by double digits, including number of exhibiting companies (10.4 percent), net square feet (14.6 percent) and revenue (19.7 percent).

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 <http://m7.tm00.com/r/No3FIxGhEzouqmLf.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

Conventional people are roused to fury by departures from convention, largely because they regard such departures as a criticism of themselves.

---Bertrand Russell                   British philosopher (1872-1970)