Our Mid-Year Metting: You’re Invited!

To view the schedule click here.

You may print out a PDF version of this application and mail it to: engraved1@earthlink.net

Harris Griggs
Fax number 615/366-4192

2009 Annual Conference Review

We are all aware of the unfavorable economic conditions during 2009. As a result, attendance at the 2009 Annual Conference was less than in past years. However, those in attendance would agree that Conference content and activities met expectations. Following the Wednesday evening welcome reception, our Thursday morning session featured the keynote speakers, Bill Farquharson and Al Lautenslager. Bill’s presentation explored his approach to the sales of graphic arts. Al complimented Bill’s message with many low cost/zero cost marketing ideas. Both presentations perfectly complimented the Conference theme “Survival in a Trouble Economic Climate”.

The Thursday afternoon session featured a series of round table discussions. Both keynote speakers were available for the additional exchange of ideas with Conference attendees. Other discussion sessions were led by:

Brad Cannaday, Neenah Paper, “The Sate of the Paper Industry”
Randy Overly, “Workflow Solutions I”
Eric Nelsen, Xitron, Inc., Tim Murphy and Bill Frederick, Printware LLC, “Workflow Solutions II”
Pam Blake, Central Textas School of Etiquette, “Business Etiquette”

The Friday program featured the annual golf tournament and Associate Members’ Table Top Exhibits. The Associate members also sponsored the dinner Thursday evening.

As usual, the final Conference event was the Awards dinner. Golf tournament and Freddies winners were announced.

Pictures from Conference Review:

WPT Quarterly Member Phone Conference

WPT Membership News Release – 12-9-08 – Nashville

The latest WPT Quarterly Membership Conference Call was perhaps the best.  In response to an email asking what topics would best benefit the membership in our quarterly conversation, President Amy Sterling said almost everyone wanted to talk about the economy and what we were all doing to protect ourselves.

The group that called in was small so it allowed an easy and free exchange of ideas for about an hour.  Here is an idea of what was discussed;

• How we make credit decisions with new and existing customers.
• Collection methods for existing and “good” customers.
• How the collection numbers are tending to get out farther and farther and what actions we need to take to control this.
• Shipping and delivery services.
• What to expect in the shipping industry and how it relates to timely inventory.
• Credit insurance and how to protect your company from being hurt through default of a large receivable.
• Job flow and order entry software and how to better use it with exception reports and other features to better monitor your customers.

It was a very productive hour and as usual everyone expressed the feeling that sharing is the greatest asset our organization offers.  It was noted that this conversation was rather defensive in nature and perhaps next quarter we could be more proactive and talk about finding more sales, the fuel that would solve most of our problems.

We need to remind everyone that our mid-year meeting (in Nashville) is coming up January 17-18 at the WPT Headquarters where we will have more time to share as well as finalize plans for the Convention in Texas this up coming July.

Amy Sterling

President WPT

Thermography Guest Professor Program: Thermography 101

Free educational seminars offered to Art Colleges and Graphic Arts Professional Associations

Professer Testimonial: Deborah Larkin, Moore College of Art & Design

WPT is working with leading art colleges and associations across the country to raise awareness about using the art of thermography as a design tool. Our newly launched “Guest Professor” program offers seminars on thermography for graphic design departments at art colleges and professional associations throughout the country. Each seminar is tailored to the background and level of those attending. We have had positive feedback from prestigious institutions including:

- Moore College of Art and Design/Philadelphia
- The Art Institute of Dallas/Texas
- Montclair State University/New Jersey
- Paier College of Art/Connecticut

According to the nation’s leading design experts, there’s a renewed interest in “tactile” design with texture resurfacing as a critical element. Our goal is to educate graphic design students and designers on the varied uses of thermography, a tactile design tool that is not familiar to many design students.

In a recent seminar only one student raised their hand when posed the question “What is thermography?” We have designers in the thermography industry located throughout the country who are available to speak in graphic design and production courses, summer programs or seminars. The designer can talk about:

- The thermography process
- General do’s and don’ts for thermography
- Practical insider tips of the trade
- Thermography samples and how they were created.

We are flexible and can change our program format to meet the needs of your students or members. Please call Pam Boyd or Cathy Shea at 856-642-6226 if you are interested in exploring this opportunity further.