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Dear ARA Member:
Like you, I’m looking forward with excitement to our Bigger! Better! Bolder! 2008 Show in
Your ARA Board and volunteer leaders have worked hard to make this show even better than in the past. I plan to greet many of you at our first-ever President’s Reception, which takes place on the show floor at 5 pm Wednesday, February 27. Come and enjoy tasty refreshments and a cash bar, and to learn if you’re one of the finalists for the 2008 Ford Mustang giveaway.
On Thursday, February 28, ARA has planned a special Awards Gala evening that begins with dinner at 7 pm, followed by fellowship, music, dancing—and recognition of our fellow professionals for their creativity, craftsmanship, and service on behalf of the association. Come prepared to loosen up, show your dance moves, and celebrate our industry!
I also hope you’ll visit (or volunteer at) the ARIEF Silent Auction in the show registration area. Attendees can bid on one or more of the many exciting items that will be on display. All auction proceeds go to ARIEF, created to provide financial assistance to students interested in pursuing continuing education in the field of their choice. Five $1,200 scholarships will be awarded to eligible recipients during the show.
Also plan on attending the ARA Member Breakfast and Annual Meeting on Friday, February 29, 8–9:30 am, where featured speaker Steve Gilliland will share his practical insights on achieving success.
My year as ARA President has given me the opportunity to meet and work with some very wonderful folks, including my fellow ARA Board Members, new and longtime member volunteers, and members of the ARA staff. I have been awestruck by their enthusiasm, inspired ideas, and quest for professional excellence and achievement.
I’ve been in the awards and recognition industry for 40 years—and it has been very good to me and my family, as it has for many of us. It gives me great pleasure when I think of the lives we touch, and the important role the awards industry serves in preserving and enhancing moments, goals, successes, and memories. Thank you all for letting me promote and share them with you. See you in a couple of weeks!
Sincerely,
Ed Hunt
 Special Notice to February 25 Education Day Attendees
Because the ARA Registration Desk in the Las Vegas Convention Center will not be open until 5 pm on Monday (in Exhibit Hall C5), you will not be able to pick up your badges and show information prior to the start of the seminars that are listed below. Please proceed directly to the seminar meeting rooms on Monday. Seminar Schedule for Monday, February 25: 8 am–4:30 pm—#001CorelDRAW for Lasers Advanced (Robert Hensley) Room 231, second floor 8:30–10:30 am—#002 Asking for the Business (Julie Paradise) Room 233, second floor 11 am–1 pm—#003 Speak for Yourself (Julie Paradise) Room 233, second floor 1:30–3:30 pm—#004 Asking for the Business (Julie Paradise) Room 233, second floor 1–2:30 pm—#100 How to Protect You and Your Business from Identity Theft (Steve Leigh) Room 101, first floor 1–2:30 pm—#101 Gaining Competitive Advantage: Selling Inside Your Store vs. Selling Outside (Gordon Grabill), Room 235, second floor 3–4:30 pm—#102 Your Most Valuable Award: Rewarding Your Family with the Family Business (Leon and Terrance Resnick), Room 101, first floor.
Preview the Show Floor!
ARA Announces Savings Program for Members During the 2008 ARA International Awards Market, Mark Schiavone of ARA Savings will be at the ARA association booth to answer questions about a new program that can save members money on day-to-day business expenses. ARA Savings (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, click here. Print and fill out the authorization form and return it via fax to 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 notifcation.
Attend These For-A-Fee Workshops in ARA is pleased to bring back Julie Paradise to offer these popular seminars on Monday, February 25. Even if you have taken these valuable seminars previously, you may want to sign up again for important refresher information that is highly useful and updated. Cost is $45 for Certification enrollees, $50 for ARA members, and $85 for nonmembers. “Speak for Yourself”: Session #003 at 11 am–1 pm For the first time, this year session participants will be invited to deliver a short presentation and receive immediate feedback from Julie Paradise, veteran speech coach and a familiar face at ARA shows. She'll also provide written suggestions for improvement. No matter what the speaking situation, delivery trumps content. Therefore, the focus of “Speak for Yourself” will be on developing a strong delivery style and making the most of non-verbal communication such as eye contact, posture and body language. Even if you've attended this session in the past, come back, brush up on your speaking skills and take advantage of the offer to get some additional speaking experience. “Asking for the Business”: Session #002 at 8:30–10:30 am; repeats (Session #004) at 1:30–3:30 pm New to the session is an exercise on developing feature and benefit statements to help create momentum in a new business pitch. Often we spend too much time describing our products and services (our "features") while neglecting to link these features with definable advantages (the "benefits") to the prospective client. Once this shift is made, the sales process goes more smoothly and the likelihood of making a sale improves. Come learn how you can incorporate this technique and increase your business.
Direction Information for ARA Educational Seminars in the From the
From the main entrance of the Convention Center: Enter from
There will also be ARA signs placed at strategic locations to guide you to your classroom.
ARA Certification Program Are you planning to receive your Certified Recognition Specialist (CRS) or Certified Recognition Master (CRM) designation at the 2008 International Awards Market in Las Vegas? If so, it is a good idea to check your current total of continuing education credits (CEUs). Updated transcripts were mailed in December 2007 and also posted on the ARA Web site. Click here to review your transcript online. Enter your last name and then your personal enrollment number without any leading zeros. (Remember that you need to use your personal enrollment/membership number, not your company's membership number.) Click "Begin Search" to get your transcript.
If you are close to receiving your CRS or CRM, you were mailed a strip of foil stars in early February. While you are attending the 2008 International Awards Market you will need to carry these stars with you to the seminars and place one or two of these stars at the top of every Seminar Evaluation and CEU Reporting Form that you fill out. These eye-catching stars will enable us to pull your CEU forms and apply them to your certification total. If you earn enough CEUs in
April 10–12 Awards & Custom Gift Show April 14–15 Advanced Laser Course Marriott 866/226-8505
May 8–10 Awards & Custom Gift Show Fprt Worth, TX June 19–21
July 17–19 Awards & Custom Gift Show July 30–August 2 Moody Gardens Hotel 682/429-5248 February 25–27, 2009 2009 ARA International Awards Market 800/344-2148
The February 2008 issue features a preview of the 2008 ARA International Awards Market and information on some of the companies that will be exhibiting in
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. ? This year’s ARA International Awards Market will be my first. I’m very excited about going, but I’d appreciate advice on how to best navigate what looks like will be a huge show floor! Fran Carville, CRM, of Carco Awards responds: Before leaving for the show, make a list of "must visit" suppliers, as well as a list of "look for" items. These will provide you with a starting point on the show floor.
Once you arrive, if time allows, review the show program book provided with your registration and plan to walk the entire show floor before you make any purchases. Try not to walk past unfamiliar suppliers without stopping in their booths, as you never know where that next "treasure" might be hiding. Make notes in your program book as to which suppliers you have an interest in.
After your initial walk-through, leave the floor to review your notes. This is a good time to check out the new product showcases in the registration area, and note which of these products interest you, and at what booth they’re being offered. If you are looking for a specific type of product, reference your show program for suppliers that might carry this merchandise. You are now armed with your completed game plan for a successful show experience. Good luck!
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