| New
Breaks for Business in Obama Plan
President-elect Barack Obama is eager to pass his
economic stimulus package, which according to early
reports, may cost as much as $1.3 trillion and contain
at least $300 billion in tax cuts with approximately $100
billion dedicated toward business assistance. The business
provisions discussed include allowing companies with losses
in 2008 and 2009 to claim refunds on taxes paid up to five
years back, expanded from the two years currently in the
tax law. Also expected to be included are provisions to
write off half the cost of purchasing equipment and extension
of higher expensing limits for small businesses. Additionally,
funding for improved Health information technology (or
"Health IT") is expected to be in the package.
Improved Health IT is estimated to provide considerable
cost savings in the delivery of health care, and has bipartisan
support on Capitol Hill.
Congressional
leadership has indicated it would probably have to wait
until at least early February to construct such a complicated
piece of legislation. Stay tuned for developments
on the passage of this plan in the coming weeks. And be sure
to come to the FREE viewing of the Printing Industries of
America Webinar, What an Obama Administration
Means for Printers on January 27 at the PGAMA
office from 2:00-3:30. Limited seating--call to save a seat,
410-319-0900.
Print
Access (Buyers Guide) Draws Visitors
92 of the new visitors to PGAMA's website in December came
through Print Access, the Electronic Buyer's Guide. Have
you updated your FREE listing to drive these visitors to
your website? In today's economy every avenue for new business
must be explored, and this is a shortcut that works! Input
all the details about your firm's specialties and equipment
today. To get started, go to pgama.com and log on in the
Members Only section. Call the PGAMA office for assistance,
410-319-0900.
Best
Paper for Digital Printing
A recent survey of digital press manufacturers revealed
that there is no "best" set of paper characteristics
for production on digital presses. With the exception of
dimensional stability and product uniformity, there are many "right" digital
papers, based on the application being run. That means there
is also no single "best value" to present to customers.
Instead, there are multiple values depending on the goal
of the printer and the customer. The survey was conducted
by RIT's School of Print Media. To view the complete report,
go to http://print.rit.edu/pubs/picrm200803.pdf.
OSHA
Fines Up for Printers
OSHA issued more citations to printers
in 2008 than in any previous year, with penalties totaling
$639,898 during their fiscal year that ended in September.
The most frequently cited standard was Control of Hazardous
Energy (Lockout/Tagout), and the second most frequent was
Hazardous Communication. Are YOU ready if an OSHA inspector
comes calling? Make sure your plant is up to OSHA standards
in these areas with the OSHA Lockout/Tagout Regulations and
Hazard Communications videos available from the Printing
Industries of America. Member cost for the Communications
Video is $29 and for the Lockout/Tagout Video is $95. Both
items can be ordered online at www.gain.net in the Books
& Products section.
What
Do We Do?
If a prospect asks, "What do you do?" a savvy
salesperson knows that printing is NOT the answer. No one
buys printing as an end in itself, but instead, to accomplish
some objective that's important to them. So the right answer
is, "We help you build sales and increase profits." Likewise,
if PGAMA were to define it's role as a trade association,
it would be beside the point. What we do is act
as a source for services, advocacy, and information to help
our members operate more efficiently and deal with governmental
challenges. If you have a business question or concern, call
us! We always answer the phone, and are eager to help you
succeed.
Member
News
Welcome
new
member Aertight
Systems
in
Severna
Park,
MD.
The
company
is
a
Network
Support
and
Technology
Service
Provider
for
the
Baltimore-Washington
area.
A
Microsoft
Certified
Partner
and
a
CompTIA
Authorized
Service
Center,
Aertight
technicians
specialize
in
Microsoft
Network
Support,
PC/Server
Hardware
Service,
System
Migrations/Upgrades,
Database
Development,
and
more. Contact
President
Gordon
Triplett
for
more
info,
410-544-4060
or
visit
www.aertight.com.
Member
firm GraphTec announces
that
Chip Sheridan is the new Vice
President of Sales. Chip was
formerly Vice President at
member
firm Mount
Vernon Printing Company.
Upcoming Events
January 21
Note Date Change! |
Webinar: The New FMLA Regulations, Noon-1:00pm.
Learn more about the new FMLA regulations and how they
affect you during Offit Kurman’s FREE Webinar!
Register by contacting Offit Kurman directly, 443-738-1582. |
| January 22 |
Webinar: Postal Changes Printers Need
to Know, Noon-1:00pm. This webinar
will share helpful facts like the date of the next
rate increase, details of the new list updating
requirements, proposed rules that will impact mail
piece design and production costs, and what Intelligent
Mail means for the USPS and direct mail advertisers.
Cost is $59 for members, $118 for non-members.
Register online at www.pgama.com or
call the office, 410-319-0900. |
| January 27 |
Webinar: What an Obama Administration
Means for Printers, 2:00-3:30pm.
Riding a promise of change, President Obama and
an expanded Democratic Congress were elected in
an historic event that offers both challenges and
opportunities to America’s printing industry.
Get an inside look at Obama’s legislative
agenda and how it will impact printers during this
Printing Industries of America webinar. Cost is
$99 for members (register at www.gain.net)
OR come to PGAMA and watch it for FREE, then discuss
the issues presented with other members! Limited seating
for the group viewing, call PGAMA by 1/26 to save
a spot. |
| January 27 |
Special Event: Cocktails & Connections
Happy Hour, 5:30-7:30pm at Oro Pomodoro
in Rockville, MD. Come enjoy FREE drinks and appetizers
while you meet and mingle with other members and
guests. Attendees
MUST RSVP by January 23! Register
at www.pgama.com or
call the office, 410-319-0900. |
February
5
|
Maryland Legislators' Reception,
11:30am-1:30pm at the Governor Calvert House in Annapolis,
MD. This annual luncheon is the best way for our Association
to impress the Representatives with the size and strength
of the printing industry, so your presence is vital.
We can only influence business policy by showing we
are a united voice! No charge for first two
executives from a PGAMA member company. Non-member
cost is $75. Call the office to register or sign up
at www.pgama.com. |
| February 10 |
Webinar: Pulling It All Together,
Noon-1:00pm. Xerox continues it's FREE Webinar
Series with this presentation that will help print
providers assess their company's operations, and use
the information to make informed purchasing decisions
to better meet customer needs and increase their capacity
to take on more jobs. Led by Gina Testa, VP of Business
Development for Xerox. Look for email from PGAMA with
registration link! |
| February 12 |
MAGE Dinner Meeting, 5:30-8:30pm
at Copeland's of Columbia (10200 Wincopin Circle, Columbia,
MD.) Find out the secret for successful selling in
a troubled economy from speaker Joe Mechlinski of EntreQuest
during his presentation, "It's Your EQ
Not Your IQ."
Networking is 5:30-6:30, and dinner 6:30-7:30. Presentation
begins at 7:30 to be followed by discussion and more
networking. Cost is $42 for MAGE/PGAMA members, $50
for non-members. Register at www.pgama.com or
call the office, 410-310-0900. |
June 19
Save the Date! |
Save the date to help roast Association
President Art Stowe at his retirement party. After
39 years there should be LOTS of stories and photos
to share! The event will be held at Martin's East in
Baltimore. More details to follow in the coming months. |
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