Dear ARA Member:

One of my goals as ARA president is to expand our members’ business opportunities through the use of the Internet. Well, the same can be said for our members’ educational opportunities. Did you miss a seminar at a past ARA International Awards Market? Many are available as free downloads to ARA members. To access them, click here, enter your member login information, and you can begin searching by seminar title, presenter, or show.

I’ve said before that the Internet is likely the most interesting and far reaching invention of our lifetime. It’s ARA’s responsibility to promote the ways we can more effectively use our Web presence for the benefit of our members.

Sincerely,

Cathy Garcia
President
Awards and Recognition Association

Upcoming ARA Regional Education Events
Take advantage of the opportunity to attend an ARA Regional Education Event during 2008. The 1- and 2-day events, held around the country, can help you improve your awards knowledge, give you the opportunity to network with fellow ARA members, and receive a facilities tour of the sponsoring company.

If you are enrolled in the ARA Certification Program you will earn CEU credits. All seminars will conform to ARA’s standards for quality and adhere to its policy of non-product promotion and compliance with anti-trust regulations.

Here are schedules for two upcoming Education Events:

Host: Engraving Concepts, June 13–14

Friday, June 13
(Location: Engraving Concepts, 311 W Abram St, Arlington, TX)

• “Corel Solutions Clinic”moderated by Roy Brewer, CRM, Engraving Concepts
• “Color Matters” by Randy Allen, Engraving Concepts

Saturday, June 14
(Location: La Quinta Inn, 825 N. Watson Road, Arlington, TX)

• “Success Tactics for the Laser Engraving Entrepreneur,” by Tom "Buzz" Bernard, LaserBuzz
• “Calculating Overhead and Breakeven Analysis” by Guy Barone, Xenetech USA
• “Solutions/Ideas Clinic” moderated by Roy Brewer, CRM, Engraving Concepts
• “CorelDRAW X4 New Features for the Awards Shop Owner” by Robert Hensley, Engravers Network

Click here for Engraving Concepts Education Event details and to register.

Host: Rowmark LLC, June 19–20
(Location: Rowmark Kremer Learning Center, 2040 Industrial Drive, Findlay, OH)

Thursday, June 19
   “Working with CorelDRAW Efficiently” byPradhan Balter, Retlab Graphics 

Friday, June 20
   “Sign-Making and ADA Compliance” by Reuven Rahamin, Accent Signage Systems

Click here for details about the Rowmark Education Event and to register.

Two ARA Seminars at the Texas Trophy and Awards Show
ARA Past President Fran Carville, CRM, of Carco Awards will present “Marketing on a Shoestring” at the Texas Trophy and Awards Show. The show takes place July 30–August 2 at the Moody Gardens Hotel in Galveston, TX. Carville’s seminar takes place Friday, August 1, from 8 to 9:30 am. ARA Speaker of the Year Robert Hensley, Engravers Network, will also present “Applying CorelDRAW Techniques to Create Identification Products” on Saturday, August 2, from 8 to 9:30 am. Click here for details about these seminars and to register.

Please note that a separate registration is required to attend the Texas Trophy and Awards Show. To register, click here.

Back by Popular Demand!  ARA Membership Savings Coupons
ARA is pleased to bring back the ARA Membership Savings Coupons!  ARA Members, benefit from over $1200 in savings by using the new on-line coupons sponsored by ARA Member Suppliers.  Click here and log in to see the current coupon offerings or visit the ARA Web site - http://www.ara.org/.  New coupons are added regularly!

Collective Buying Power for ARA Members
ARA Savings, 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, FedEx National, UPS Freight, A. Duie Pyle Trucking, and New Penn Motor Express

Click here to join. 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 ARA Savings and registering via the join link at the top of the page.

Key: * - Not an ARA show

June 13–14 ARA Education Event Engraving Concepts Arlington, TX [more info]	June 19–20 ARA Education Event Rowmark LLC Findlay, OH [more info]
June 19–21 * Awards & Custom Gift Show Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, MD www.nbmshows.com/	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 23–27, 2009 2009 ARA International Awards Market Las Vegas Convention Center 800/344-2148 [more info]

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The May 2008 issue features images from the 2008 ARA International Awards Market, and the New Product Expo, featuring new products, components, and equipment from ARA companies. ARA 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.

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 am engraving stainless steel travel mugs and would like for the engraving to be black. I have tried to color-fill with rub and buff (black) and it does not work. Any suggestions?

Fred Schwartz of Quality One Engravers responds: In order to do engraving on stainless steel and get a visible black or color letter, you must very cleanly engrave with a rotary cutting tool (typically a conical half-round) at least .005-in. deep. Be careful—this is the minimum, and a bit of an art to paint fill. At .010- .015-in. depth, paint fill is much easier. For a travel mug, make sure the thickness is enough to accomplish the depth of cut—a sample part is probably necessary. You will also likely need to utilize a nose: The mug will be a bit out of round, and trying to perfectly center on non-precision areas will be difficult or impossible. The nose may leave a small amount of ghosting (shadowing). If so, it can be easily sanded with fine "wet" or dry sandpaper (900 grit or higher), or fine emery cloth. Finish up with a Scotch-brite pad to match the typical grain already there. Sanding will also square up the cut edge of the engraving to make the paint hold better. When engraving I recommend going in very small depths over 4 passes with the first pass being as little as .001-in. To color-fill, I recommend using oil-base enamel from a hobby or full-service paint store. Brush it on, the wipe away with flat surface such as a lint-free rag held tight on finger. Other tools we often use are business cards of old employees, squeegees, and straight-edge razor blades. Remember, engraving and paint filling stainless steel is an art and commands a price. Good luck!