DISTRICT CONFERENCES AND INTERNATIONAL GALLERY BOTH OFFER NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

As the club year comes to an end, it’s time to celebrate successes and begin plans for the next year. District Conferences are a great opportunity for new and seasoned members to come together for camaraderie and to share their knowledge and challenges. I admire those dedicated Craftsmen who spend hours making plans and attending to details. And there are some really good things happening out there.

There are two main components to each district conference: business and pleasure, with education making appearances in varying degrees. The business portion allows us to discuss our challenges, elect and train new officers, and strategize about our future, at the member, club, district, and international levels. This crucial factor of the conferences is usually listed merely as “Business Meeting,” but anyone who has ever attended a conference can tell you that there is so much more substance to that event than the name infers.

The main topic of discussion at all 2004 district conferences will be the future structure of the association.

The Strategic Core Team has been working diligently through bi-weekly phone calls to hash out the nitty-gritty details of who we are and where we’re going. Each District Governor has a copy of the white paper recap-to-date of the team’s progress. It is crucial that all members understand the proposed ideas. The Executive Officers feel this is so important that at least one of us will be at each conference. This master plan will be presented at the convention on the cruise. That will be your chance to cast your vote to determine the future direction our association. Don’t miss this opportunity. This is your association and you need to be a part of the decision-making process.

The second component of a conference, the “Pleasure Principle,” takes many shapes and venues. In reviewing the District PDFs on CraftNet at www.iaphc.org/ican/DistrictConferences/ (in the Member’s Only Section), the array includes a dinner theater show, Hawaiian theme dinner, Western BBQ, Bingo, a comedy show, baseball game, casino trip, zoo outing, ferry trip, tours of an envelope company, newspaper, submarine museum, and even a roast of one of the Governors.

So what does this have to do with Craftsmanship, you ask? Everything! We are in the business of connecting people with questions or concerns to people with answers and solutions. It is human nature for people to want to do business with people they know, respect, and whose company they enjoy. These conferences are fantastic opportunities to get to know each other in your regional district. (Of course, the International Convention serves the same purpose on a grander scale. Have you registered for the cruise yet? Did I mention that’s your chance to vote on our future?)

Another way we connect people is through the CraftNet searchable database. In my recent travels, it became apparent that many Craftsmen still do not understand the huge potential of this tool or don’t know how to update their profile. If you need assistance, please contact CraftNet Chair Dan Lane at Dan@tabstogo.com or Lesley Addy at Director@iaphc.org. I would like to suggest that each club dedicate its 

September or October meeting to a hands-on live demonstration of the CraftNet capabilities. I know that seeing this tool in action will reinforce the many benefits of membership.

Besides the profiles within the database, we are able to connect people because of the International Gallery of Superb Printing. Kevin Keane, Lesley Addy, Mike Scott and the myriad judges see top-notch examples of printing from around the world. Many are unique technologies or applications. These companies and their capabilities are logged into both the Gallery database and Kevin’s 20 gig brain. Many business connections have been made because the company submitted Gallery entries.

The Gallery deadline is approaching quickly and we still need EVERYONE to commit to finding and submitting two entries. These can be from your company, from your clients, or from your vendors. This year we also have a special category for student entries. Be creative in where you look for entries. Call for Entry forms can be downloaded CraftNet at: www.iaphc.org/gallery/cfe/.

There are many opportunities for connecting with others in our industry through the IAPHC. And I guarantee that many of the people you meet will change your life and become life-long friends.

Yours in Craftsmanship,
Bill Orr
International Chairman