Dear ARA Member:
The five 2008 Awards and Recognition Industry Educational Foundation (ARIEF) Scholarship winners were announced at the Awards Gala during the 2008 ARA International Awards Market. On behalf of our association, I’d like to congratulate these fantastic students who work in some of our member businesses.

• George J. Waas Memorial Scholarship (General Awards, Inc., and ELK Productions): Mark Harcharik, B&B Awards & Recognition, Bloomington, IL
• Estelle Funk Memorial Scholarship (Plastic Dress-Up): Jared Rogers, Proud Moments Custom Engraving, Versailles, IN
• JDS Industries Scholarship: Kevin Wu, Evergreen Emblem Manufacturer Inc., Naperville, IL
• The Owen R. Siegel/R.S. Owens Memorial Scholarship: Christopher Walker, Crown Trophy #106, Jacksonville, FL
• Calvin E. Miller Memorial Scholarship (Tower Ribbons and Awards): Leah Potcner, Wilmington Trophy and Awards, Wilmington, MA

Founded in 2002, ARIEF is a not-for-profit foundation that exists solely to provide financial assistance to student-employees who wish to pursue an education in their chosen field. This one-time merit award of $1,200 is applied directly toward their tuition expenses. ARIEF has so far awarded $30,000 in scholarships, thanks to the generosity of the five Cornerstone Donors whose names are listed with the above winners. Each committed $25,000 as seed money to build a fund capable of meeting the annual commitment. ARIEF’s operating expenses are also supported by other donations and its annual silent auction at the ARA International Awards Market in Las Vegas. I’m elated and proud to report that ARIEF’s 2008 silent auction might be our biggest fundraiser ever.

With college tuition costs constantly rising, there’s no greater reward than helping the young people who are part of our industry achieve their educational and career goals. One way is by making plans now to donate items to the 2009 ARIEF silent auction. Your tax-deductible contributions to the ARIEF fund are also welcome. For more information, click here.

Sincerely,

Cathy Garcia
President
Awards and Recognition Association

Thanks to 2008 ARIEF Silent Auction Volunteers
The ARIEF Silent Auction Committee would like to thank all who donated items, all who volunteered onsite, and everyone who placed bids to support this worthy cause—particularly ARIEF Chair Stan Rosenberg, CRS; Peggy Arceneaux, CRM; BJ Bailey, CRS; Melanie Everett; Karen Guzman; Mike Johnson; Karen Lee; Richard Schaefer; Karen Scherer, CRM; Sam Varn, CRM; Lori Warren, CRM; and Rich Zydonik.

ARA also congratulates Gary Hanson of GB Hanson Graphics, who won $1,607 in the ARIEF 50/50 raffle that was part of the silent auction. Hanson was also a finalist in for the 2008 Ford Mustang giveaway.

In Memoriam: Sue Miller of Tower Ribbbons and Awards
ARA extends its deep condolences to the family of Sue Miller, Tower Ribbon and Awards, who passed away on April 5, 2008, following a one-year battle with breast cancer. Sue was owner and chief executive officer of Tower Advertising Products, Inc., in Topeka, IN, and the wife of the late American Awards and Manufacturers Association cofounder and past TDMA President Cal Miller, who died in 1999. "Even though Mom might have seemed like a silent partner, she had a lot of influence in the success of our company," said her son, Tower President Craig Miller.

In addition to Craig, Sue Miller is survived by daughter Vicki Maust, sons Bruce and Scott, her sister Charla Fought, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her funeral was held April 10 in Goshen. Memorial contributions may be sent to Goshen Care at Home Hospice, or the First United Methodist Church in Goshen. Online condolences may be posted at http://www.yoderculpfuneralhome.com/.

Update ARA Education and Certification Program Transcripts
Certification enrollees can now view updated transcripts showing all seminars you have taken, including those at the 2008 International Awards Market, via the ARA Web site.
To check your credits to date, click here and follow instructions. Please note: Transcripts are uploaded to the ARA Web site several times a year, typically following the Las Vegas show and in the fall. If you need more current information, contact Education Manager Daniel Weinstock, e-mail dweinstock@connect2amc.com.

Optional Ways To Earn CEU Credit
Certification enrollees can acquire CEU credits in ways other than attending seminars at the Las Vegas show. The following are some options:

• Check for ARA Regional Education Events in your area (see Calendar section below). These 1- and 2-day special meetings are hosted by ARA supplier companies. In addition to receiving credit for ARA approved seminars at these events, you also have a great opportunity to meet employees and find out more about these companies’ products, services.
• Enroll in classes at your local community college or other outside source, such as workshops and courses at another organization’s trade shows. To get credit from an outside source, you will need to send ARA the following:
     1. a brief description of the course and/or a copy of the course outline
     2. information about the actual number of classroom hours required 
     3. proof of your enrollment
     4. documentation that you completed the class.

Please note that ARA accepts credit for outside seminars on the basis of the speaker’s expertise, relevance to the awards industry, and adherence to ARA’s antitrust and product promotion policies. Certification enrollees working toward their CRS may earn a maximum of 1.0 CEU from approved non-ARA education course. If you are working toward a CRM you may earn a maximum of 1.5 CEUs.

• ARA educational DVDs are another way to earn CEU credit, click here to see the newest DVDs. You can obtain these educational products by clicking here or purchase the Educational Products on the ARA Web site. In order to obtain credit from an educational DVD, please complete and submit a Seminar Evaluation and CEU reporting form to the ARA Education Manager.

ARA Announces Savings Program for Members
ARA Savings (http://www.arasavings.com/), through our affiliation with The Buying Group, offers collective buying power through a group of suppliers such as Staples, Jetsus Web Solutions, ADP Payroll, DHL Courier, Assurant Health Plans, PODS Moving & Storage, and other companies, offering operational, marketing, and customer communications services.

One of the most popular savings opportunities is the 75% LTL freight discount program on shipments ranging from 100-10,000 pounds—available to all members through MESCA Freight Services. ARA Savings members can take advantage of a 75% discount off current rates from national carriers Yellow Transportation, Roadway Express, Fed Ex National, UPS Freight, A. Duie Pyle Trucking, and New Penn Motor Express.

To join, please visit www.thebuyinggroup.com/ARAfreight. Print and fill out the authorization form and return it via fax 207/623-4978. This form gives MESCA the authority to put the ARA preferential rates in place for your company. Please note that the form is not a contract and is cancelable by e-mail notification. Active ARA Members can also join by visiting http://www.arasavings.com/ and registering via the join link at the top of the page.

May 8–10 Awards & Custom Gift Show Fort Worth Convention Center Fort Worth, TX www.nbmshows.com/	June 13–14 ARA Education Event Engraving Concepts Arlington, TX [more info]
June 19–21 Awards & Custom Gift Show Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, MD www.nbmshows.com/	June 19–20 ARA Education Event Rowmark LLC Findlay, OH [more info]
July 10–12 ARA Florida Branch Event Clarion Airport Hotel Jacksonville, FL floyd@bjtrophy.com (352/732-2249) or irasco@bellsouth.net (904/725-4440)	July 17–19 Awards & Custom Gift Show Long Beach Convention Center Long Beach, CA www.nbmshows.com/
July 30–August 2 Texas Trophy and Awards Show Moody Gardens Hotel Galveston, TX 682/429-5248 Cribbon1@sbcglobal.net Note: ARA seminars will be on August 1–2	August 23 ARA Education Event Western Trophy & Sign Supply Portland, OR [more info]

October 4 ARA Education Event Continental Awards & Trophies Newark, DE [more info]	October 11 ARA Education Event Identification Plates, Inc. Mesquite, TX [more info]
October 11–13 Euro Trophex MECC Exhibition Centre Maastricht, The Netherlands +44 (0) 1442 230431 E-mail: colingallimore@aol.com	October 24 ARA Education Event LaserBits, Inc. Phoenix, AZ [more info]
November 15 ARA Canadian Conference Sheraton Four Points Mississauga, On. Canada [more info]	February 25–27, 2009 2009 ARA International Awards Market Las Vegas Convention Center 800/344-2148 [more info]

The April 2008 issue features the New Catalog Expo, featuring new catalogs from ARA companies. Click here to view these publications. Also see the magazine’s new “Industry Corner” column (p. 58), featuring industry tips and how-tos for better awards production, business and marketing practices, laser- and rotary-engraving techniques, and sublimation. Article contributions and queries are welcome from all ARA members. Please send them to Editor Joseph Agnew at jagnew@connect2amc.com.

ARA now distributes its official magazine electronically in addition to its standard printed-and-mailed issues. If you didn’t get a copy via e-mail, please let us know by sending a message with your store name and address to info@ara.org.

Ask the Experts Extra
If you’re an ARA member, log in to the “Members Only” section using your member number, and select ARA “Ask an Expert.” Find the topic and expert you’re looking for and submit your question(s). More often than not, an ARA expert will have the solution you need.

? I own an engraving business and love reading Dr. Type’s articles in Recognition Review. He recently mentioned and showed an example of a design from a CD from Dover Publishing on calligraphic ornaments. I looked it up on Amazon and found other books with fonts such as Victorian, Gothic, Script, Art Nouveau, etc. Does Dr. Type recommend any of them? Are they fonts I could use in Corel Draw and be taken from the CD included with the book?

Bob “Dr. Type” Trogman responds: Thank you for reading my articles. Amazon.com is a good source for Dover electronic fonts. Not only do you get about 24 fonts per disc, you also get a book that has a complete showing of the contents of the disc. I know the man who has digitized the font discs and have all of his work that was done for Dover. The price is right and the fonts are good quality. All of the fonts are truetype and will work well with Corel or any other application.