New
Bill Requires Employers to Pay for Health Care
The
much-anticipated, massive health care reform bill was released this week
in the U.S. House of Representatives, and, as expected, it includes a
strict "pay or play" employer mandate. Known as "shared
responsibility," the provision would mandate employers to provide
health benefits or pay a penalty equal to eight percent of payroll.
The small business exclusions do not do much to offset the mandate; only
companies with payrolls under $250,000 - approximately a four-person
print shop - would be totally exempt. A sliding scale of "pay or
play" requirements up to the full eight percent is set for firms
with payrolls between $250,000-$400,000. Eligibility for small business
tax credits to offset the cost of providing insurance is similarly restrictive.
Printing Industries of America, in concert with other industry groups,
released its comments to the House upon introduction and continues to
mine the 1,000+ page bill for potential amendments to improve the package
as it moves through the legislative process.
The Latest on the 'Card Check' Bill
News reports from Congress are that a contingent of moderate Democrats in the
U.S. Senate has rejected provisions of Card Check legislation that would
make it easier for organized labor to form collect bargaining units. The
group opposed the key provision of the bill — that employers would
be required to recognize a union as soon as a majority of workers signed
cards saying they wanted a union. Published news reports say that once the
legislation is tweaked, the Senate will approve it sometime after it returns
to session after Labor Day. While PIA and business has staunchly opposed
organized labor’s
top legislative priority before Congress, the move to alter the bill is a
partial victory for business. PGAMA will continue to follow the progress
of this legislation and keep you updated as new developments occur.
PGAMA
Education Trust Awards Scholarships
The PGAMA Education
Trust awarded scholarships to printing students from
across the region. Nine applications were received, and
four students were selected to receive $1,000 each, to
be used toward their first semester of a college graphic
communications program. The students can receive an additional
$1000 for their second semester if they maintain a GPA
of 3.5 or better. The scholarship winners are: Melanie
Dyson and Tiffany Rose (both from St. Mary’s
county); Megan Thomas (Frederick County); and Jessica Wood
(Baltimore County).
Other Education News
The annual three-day graphic communications/printing teacher’s meeting
was held June 17 through the 19th at Thomas Edison High School of Technology
in Montgomery County. 26 teachers from around the state gathered to discuss issues
related to curriculum development and PrintED accreditation. Highlights of the
three days included a 90-minute live video conference with Frank Romano about
the state of the industry, and a tour of EU services hosted by Art Simpson. PGAMA
and the Maryland State Department of Education have been sponsoring
this conference
for the last 5 years. Each year the group of teachers travel
to a different high school for the three days of professional development. As
part of the conference, PGAMA arranges a recognized industry speaker to give
the teachers their opinon on the current state of the industry.
CPSIA
Labeling Update
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement
Act (CPSIA) labeling requirements are set to take effect
August 14, 2009. Previously, the National Association of Manufacturers
(NAM) called for an emergency one-year stay of enforcement
from these new tracking label mandates. With the confirmation
of Chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum last month, the CPSC now has
three members-a permanent quorum-and can make a final judgment
on this request, so the petition was resubmitted by
industry on July 1. The CPSC is expected to consider the
petition requesting a stay and/or issue guidance in advance
of the August 14 implementation deadline. Visit www.printing.org/cpsia for
updates and more information on the CPSIA.
Who
Will Survive the Recession?
The Blue Chip Economic Indicators consensus expects GDP
to decline 2.7% this year, the steepest since 1946, before
growing 1.9% next year. But who will be around to take part
in the recovery? Not companies of a particular size, equipment
configuration, or ownership structure, but companies that
learned that the biggest threat to success is not recession,
China, or competitors. It’s complacency, the status
quo, and assuming that what worked yesterday will work tomorrow.
In an industry being redefined, the survivors will be the
ones who have:
• Maximized productivity and minimized turn
times
• Integrated services to distinguish themselves
from the competition
• Made the correct capital investments
• Embraced sustainability and maximized ROI
*This article excerpted from the July, 2009 issue of NAPL's
Printing Business Conditions: A State of the Industry Update.
'Converge'
in Florida for Great Learning Opportunity
The national Converge
Conference, hosted by Printing Industries
of America, will be held Nov. 7-10 in
Orlando. The conference is designed for service providers
that are integrating the components of conventional print
and digital print, web technology, automated workflow, personalized
and cross-media campaigns, mailing, fulfillment services
and more. Visit the conference web pages to see a variety
of innovative features indicative of the cross-media skills
graphic communications firms can offer clients. Visitors
and conference registrants have the ability to interact with the site, receive
personalized treatment, connect to social media pages, and watch videos. The
videos record the thoughts of five print executives on their companies' transitions
to becoming marketing support partners to their customers. The Direct Marketing
Association will also be offering a one-day version of its well-known Direct
Marketing Institute at the conference for print professionals who need a broad-based
understanding of direct marketing. The course will cover key principles, list/database
and targeting, and research/testing, with an emphasis on
mail and the Internet.
Website
Promotes 'Green' Practices
"Maryland Green" is a voluntary, self-certification
program offering tips and resources to help Maryland businesses
and organizations set and meet their own goals on the path
to sustainability. It
is no cost program that provides checklists and
suggestions to help companies
minimize their impact on the environment. Each operation selects
the activities most appropriate for them, then shares their
efforts with Maryland Green.
Maryland Green members are listed on the website and
invited to use the Maryland Green logo to promote their participation
in the program. Registration is open to organizations
and facilities of all types and sizes in both owned and leased
space. To date, two PGAMA members are listed
on the website: EU Services, and Independent
Can Company.
Ready
to promote your 'green' practices too? Check out the website
at http://www.green.maryland.gov/registry/.
Member
News
Congratulations to Charlie
Benjamin who has been chosen as the
Printing Industries of America 2009 Industry Education
Award Recipient. This national award is presented annually
to an academic representative in recognition of outstanding
contributions to education and training in graphic arts.
Printing Industries of America will present Charlie with
a plaque at the 2009 Teachers Conference at MyPrint in
Chicago this September.
Russ
Hewitt, Jr., President of GraphTec, is the new
Chair of PGAMA's Workforce Development Committee. The committee
works with the school system to provide industry training
for the future workforce.
Bindagraphics announces
that veteran salesman Paul Koestler has joined the company.
Paul will help expand the firm's presence in Philadelphia
and surrounding markets.
Upcoming Events
| July 29 |
FREE Webinar:
Selling During A Recession-The Daring Adventure
9:30-10:30am. Join host (and PGAMA member!) Joe
Becker of MargolisBecker and Mark Potter,
Publisher of CANVAS magazine for this
informative discussion that will touch on the opportunities
that can be found despite the economy; how to define
yourself by who you serve, not what you make; and
more. Pre-registration is required. Sign up with
Bonnie
Pfaff at MargolisBecker, 888-577-1717. |
| July 29 |
Webinar: Quality that
Counts: The State of Digital Printing,
2:00-3:00pm. Digital print quality has improved
by leaps and bounds over the last decade. Today,
we’re
seeing an abundance of print volume that is short-run
in nature or needs to be turned around quickly, but still requires a high degree
of color control and quality. During this webinar, participants will discuss
end customer perspectives on quality, improvements in digital presses as well
as some of the tools utilized to achieve high fidelity quality and various applications
where quality is a critical factor in print production. This is a FREE presentation.
Register on WhatTheyThink.com. |
| August 13-16 |
Special Event: Summer
Management Conference, at Great Wolf
Lodge in Williamsburg, VA. Come for the family
time. Come for the classes. Come for the networking.
Whatever your reason, be sure to attend this year's
event. Featured speakers include Lisbeth Lyons
of Printing Industries of America who will weigh
in on the EFCA; sales consultant Linda Bishop who
will give three talks on sales techniques; and
Ray Prince who will share ideas on implementing
LEAN manufacturing at your plant, plus a Recession
Checklist. Room rate is
just $219 if booked by July 13~call the hotel at 800-551-9653. Call PGAMA
to register for the seminars, 410-319-0900. |
| September 20-22 |
Conference-Label
Printing Industries of America Fall Management Conference at
the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg,
VA. "Get Back to the Basics of Business" is
the theme of this conference, and educational programs
will show you why and how to become an
expert in your customers’ businesses
and guide the strategic
direction of their enterprise. More info and registration
online, http://www.printing.org/page/5307. |
| September 24 |
MAGE
Crab Feast, 6:00-10:00pm at Ten Oaks
Ballroom in Clarksville, MD. Come to the biggest
MAGE event of the year and enjoy LARGE crabs all
night, plus a dinner buffet. By popular demand there
will once again be Blackjack 21 gaming tables--play
for prizes! New this year: your ticket stub enters
you into a drawing for a Garmin
GPS system. Tickets are the same cost as last year: just
$60 per person for ALL YOU CAN EAT LARGE CRABS!
($575 for a table of 10.) Reserve your seats by 9/18.
Call PGAMA, 410-319-0900.***Sponsorship Opportunities
Available. Contact Paul at PGAMA for more info. |
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