| Report
Could Cost Industry $1 Billion
Last week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released
a report which maintains that greenhouse gases, including
carbon dioxide, contribute to global warming and may endanger
public health. The report could prove costly to the printing
industry if the Obama administration can use it to prompt
Congress to pass carbon cap and trade legislation that would
subject emissions to an expensive permitting process. Analysis
performed on similar legislation last year showed that by
2030, cap and trade could cause electricity prices to rise
more than 129 percent and the printing industry could
suffer losses of more than $1 billion. The paper
industry, on which print is dependent, could stand to lose
$30 billion.The report will be open to public comment before
final findings are released. PGAMA will keep you advised
of developments concerning this legislation.
Swine
Flu:
Facts
& Precautions
for
the
Workplace
Swine
flu
news
is
spreading
fast,
with
media
reports
buzzing
about
probable,
confirmed,
or
possible
cases.
A
few
facts
to
know
about
this
illness:
*There
isn't
a
special
set
of
symptoms
unique
to
swine
flu.
It's
just
fever,
lethargy,
lack
of
appetite
and
coughing,
and
some
nausea/diarrhea
have
been
reported.
In
other
words,
it's
pretty
much
the
flu--
it
just
takes
a
lab
test
to
tell
whether
it's
swine
flu.
*Even
if
you
got
the
flu
shot
you
are
not
protected
from
this
virus.
There
is
currently
no
swine
flu
vaccine. However,
the
bug
is
resistant
to
older
flu
medicines,
and
remains
sensitive
to
Tamiflu
and
Relenza.
*You
cannot
get
swine
flu
by
eating
pork.
You
can
only
catch
swine
flu
from
being
around
an
infected
pig
--
or,
if
it's
the
swine
flu
virus,
from
an
infected
person.
Precautions:
*
Advise
employees
to
stay
home
when
they
are
sick,
even
if
it
is
a
mild
fever.
Post
notices
about
washing
hands
often
(lather
for
20
seconds);
covering
the
nose
and
mouth
during
a cough/sneeze
then
washing
hands
immediately
afterward;
and
avoiding
touching
the
mouth,
nose
and
eyes
with
unwashed
hands.
In
the
Workplace:
*Employers
should
prepare
a
plan
of
action
specific
to
your
workplace.
This
plan
could
permit
you
to
send
employees
home,
but
the
plan
and
the
employment
decisions
must
comply
with
the
laws
prohibiting
discrimination
in
the
workplace
.
It
would
also
be
prudent
to
notify
employees
(and
if
applicable,
their
bargaining
unit
representatives)
about
decisions
made
under
this
plan
or
policy
at
the
earliest
feasible
time.
*
Your
company
policies
on
sick
leave,
and
any
applicable
employment
contracts
or
collective
bargaining
agreements
would
determine
whether
you
should
provide
paid
leave
to
employees
who
are
not
at
work.
*The
circumstances
under
which
employees
have
a
right
to
refuse
to
work
are
very
limited.
Refusing
to
do
a
job
because
of
potentially
unsafe
workplace
conditions
is
not
ordinarily
an
employee
right
under
the
Occupational
Safety
and
Health
Act
(OSH
Act).
(A
union
contract
or
state
law
may,
however,
provide
for
such
rights.)
The
following
links
share
more
about
workplace
guidelines
and
the
swine
flu:
http://www.osha.gov/dsg/topics/pandemicflu/index.html
http://www.gain.net/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?webcode=lower35&wps_key=0A4080C6-8E2C-4D0C-A59C-6B03D1195F23
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/faq/workplace_questions/human_resource_policies/index.html#SENDINGWORKERSHOME
Test Forms
for
Large
Presses
Two
new
large
format
offset
press
test
forms,
which
are
critical
for
package
printers,
have
been
developed
by
Printing
Industries
of
America’s
Center
for
Technology
and
Research.
The
new
35x50-in.
test
form
is
run
on
press
sheets
with
width
sizes
ranging
from
51-in
to
56-in.,
while
the
new
42"x62"
test
form
is
for
press
sheets
with
width
sizes
ranging
from
63-in.
to
65-in.
These
new
press-test
forms
fit
large-format
presses,
eliminating
the
need
for
extra
stepping
on
large-format
presses
commonly
used
in
package
printing.
For
package
printers,
these
new
large-format
test
forms
are
an
ideal
diagnostic
tool.
The
large-format
test
forms
contain
numerous
mechanical
elements,
color
management,
and
quality
control
targets
which
are
designed
for
specific
purposes
including:
diagnosing
a
press’ mechanical
conditions
and
attributes;
establishing
print
characterization;
achieving
color
management
(ISO
12647-2
Print
Standard
and
ISO/TS
10128)
calibration
requirements;
and
maintaining
process
and
quality
control
specifications.
For
more
information
on
the
new
large-format
press-test
forms,
email research@printing.org.
Help
for
Laid-off
Employees
If your company has had to lay off employees, don't forget
that PGAMA has a FREE Job
Bank
service
on
our
website
which
they
can
utilize
to
find
work.
Member
Dave
King
of
Doyle
Printing
recently
found
a "highly
skilled digital press operator" with this service!
On a related note, PGAMA again reminds MD employers about the
WorkShare program, which provides partial unemployment benefits
to workers whose hours have been reduced. Take advantage of
this program to avoid losing your top people while still cutting
back on payroll expenses! Learn more on pgama.com in
the Members Only section under Industry Forms, Facts and Guide
Sheets.
New
Business
for
Former
PGAMA
Chair
Helene Hahn Waranch, past chair of Printing Industries of
Maryland (1996-1997), now PGAMA, recently informed us that
she opened a new business, ACTIVE TRAINING, LLC. She
provides consulting, training, and advice to businesses and
non-profit organizations. Her “in the trenches” industry
experience, as a previous owner of Hahn Graphics, Inc., should
be beneficial to graphic arts companies who could use some
outside-- but experienced-- direction. Helene is an Accredited
Associate of the Institute for Independent Business. She will
provide an initial two-hour pro bono consultation to talk with
business owners about their future plans, concerns, and problems
and see if she can help. To contact Helene,
call 410-602-1210 or email helenewaranch@iib.ws.
Cool
Site
of
the
Week-Convert
Anything!
Need to convert something? Measurements? Currency? Just
type it in to Google. Try: "100 dollars in euros;"
or "98
f to c" to
convert Farenheit to Centigrade. You can even find out what "2476"
looks like in Roman numerals. Check it out at: http://www.truepresence.com/pages/franchisees/jeff-spokes/interesting-articles/101-google-tricks.php
Member
News
GPO
Updates--Congratulations
to
the
following
PGAMA
members,
who
were
listed
among
the
Top
50
GPO
Suppliers
for
the
1st
quarter
of
2009: District
Creative
Printing,
EU
Services,
Graphic
Visions
& Associates,
Quintessential
Color
Group,
Inc.,
and
United
Book
Press.
In
other
GPO
news, member
firm Morris
Industries
was
awarded
a
$34,319
job.
Equipment
Install--Frank
Gumpert
Printing installed
the
Heidelberg
Prinect
workflow
and
a
Suprasetter
75
Gen
II
CTP
system,
along
with
two
Mac
G5
computers
running
the
latest
version
of
the
Tiger
operating
system.
Upcoming Events
May
7, 14 & 21
|
Seminar:
Credit
Crisis RX,
at the University
of Baltimore Thumel
Business Center, M.
Scott Kaufman Auditorium
(11 West Mt. Royal
Avenue, Baltimore
MD). Maryland
companies
today urgently need
practical insight into
the current condition
of local capital markets
and to learn how to
take advantage of available
funding options. The
Credit Crisis Rx Workshop,
a three-session series
provides participants
with valuable information
needed now, plus opportunities
to connect one-on-one
with experts from the
private and public sectors.
Owners,
CEOs, COO’s
and CFOs should attend!
Cost is $95. More
info and registration
online. Presented
by the Maryland Dept.
of Business & Economic
Development. |
| May 12 |
Webinar: Employee Free Choice
Act-Avoiding Unionization,
2:00-3:00pm. Many expect the number of unionized workers
to triple over the next several years due to the economy
and the new political climate. Learn effective management
practices that undermine union overtures and organization
strategies, lawful means for eliminating unions, and
union interferences as well as how to negotiate new
cost-savvy bargaining agreements. This FREE webinar
is brought to you by Offit-Kurman. Register on pgama.com. |
| May 19 |
Workshop:
Post-Recession Planning, 9:30am-4:00pm
at PGAMA. Is your firm
ready to face the post-recession
print market? Find
out what to expect from
the economy, what the
hot trends will be,
and how to get in on
the action. Featured
speaker is Dr. Joe
Webb from WhatTheyThink.com! This
event will be FREE
for members and includes
lunch. Register with
PGAMA, 410-319-0900
or at www.pgama.com.
Sponsored by member
firm Presstek, Inc. |
| May 21 |
Special Event: Cocktails &
Connections Happy Hour,
5:30-7:30pm at Liberatore's in Timonium, MD. Join us
for this strictly social gathering to meet and mingle
with your professional peers. FREE event--but you
must RSVP in order to attend. Sign up www.pgama.com or
call the office, 410-319-0900. Liberatore's is located
at 9515 Deereco Road, Timonium, MD 21093 (PH: 410-561-3300).
Sponsored by member firms Advantage Book Binding
and Group Benefit Review, and non-member firm Atlas
Container. |
| May 28 |
Eastern Shore Print & Graphic
Arts Association Golf Tournament, 12:00 noon
shotgun start at
the Easton Club in Easton, MD. Cost is $69 per person
and benefits the group's scholarship fund. For more
info contact Cliff Collison, 410-228-3565. |
| June
3-5 |
Seminar:
Total
Immersion VDP,
at the Printing
Industries of America
headquarters
in Pittsburgh, PA.
VDP is the driving force
behind marketing campaigns
today, so it is crucial
for your company to
have the right
staff
and knowledge to give
you the highest profits
from this technology.
Attend this workshop
to get hands on training
focusing on converting
data to
images, colors,
and custom messages.
Member cost is $895.
Register at www.printing.org. |
| June 4 |
MAGE
Lunch & Learn
Meeting:
Sales Tips & Leads
from the Baltimore
Business Journal,
Noon-1:00pm at PGAMA.
This lunchtime session
will give you tips
on being a "Smart
Reader" of
the BBJ. Attend and
learn:
-About the Book of
Lists (what it is, how to get in it and how to use
it)
-How to “Skim & Decide”(techniques
for finding what you need from the Baltimore Business
Journal)
-How to recognize sales leads within news stories
and features
-How to use this information to support your networking
efforts
Cost
is $15 for MAGE members
and $25 for non-MAGE members.
Limited seating-register
early. To sign up go to
www.pgama.com or call the office, 410-319-0900. |
| June 8 |
Special
Event: PGAMA
Golf Outing, 8:45am
shotgun start at Crofton
Country Club. Make
contacts
with other members
and business associates
at our annual golf
outing.
A challenging course,
an outstanding lunch,
and prizes for Longest
Drive, Closest to Pin,
Hole in One and Putting.
Cost is $145 per person
for golf, breakfast
and lunch; $45 for
lunch/awards
only. Early
Bird Discount! Register
by May 11 and pay
$135
per person! Look
for flyer from PGAMA
with registration
info, or call the
office, 410-319-0900. |
| June
9 |
Special
Event: Green Media Conference, 8:45am-5:00pm
at the Marriott Wardman
Park Hotel-2660 Woodley
Road NW-in Washington,
D.C. Networking reception
follows, 5:00-6:00pm.
PGAMA is co-sponsoring
this one day conference,
presented by leading
experts and actual end-users
of sustainable media.
Attend to increase your
knowledge on becoming lean
and green! Learn from
top thought leaders and
practitioners on building
profits in a down economy,
plus find out about the
Involvement of governmental
agencies and where the
stimulus money is going.
Keynote speaker is Bob
Tapella. PGAMA members
pay the discounted rate
of $395 per person! More info
and register at http://www.sustaincommworld.com. |
| June
19 |
Special
Event: Art Stowe's Retirement
Party, 7:00-10:00pm
at Martin's West-6821
Dogwood Road in
Woodlawn,
MD. Join current members,
former members, colleagues,
friends, and family
to salute
PGAMA President Art
Stowe who is retiring
after a remarkable
39 years of service
to the Association
and to the industry.
Join us for cocktails
and an appetizer
buffet
as we celebrate Art’s
career with a toast,
a roast, and a chance
to boast! Additional
Roasters Welcome!
If you have a special
memory of Art to
share, please contact
Carol Atwood at
the
PGAMA office, 410-319-0900.
Tickets are $62
per
person. Invitations
will be mailed. |
|
