Thursday evening we loaded onto
buses and headed to a catered dinner at the St. Louis Zoo.
Before dinner,
we toured the “Penguins and Puffins” exhibit in an area
that looked and felt as close to the arctic as I ever want to be.
Friday we had three Educational
Sessions in the morning featuring programs on improving quality in
our operations by Dennis Guillette
of Oce’, a presentation on the results of a survey of what shops
think about their Electronic Planrooms presented by John Marquardt,
and a very interesting perspective on Global Economics and the Reprographics
industry by Sathy “Mohan” Chandramohan of American Reprographics
Company. |
 |
 |
The Trade Show
in the afternoon featured 41 exhibitors, filling 50 booth spaces.
The industry as a whole was well represented by suppliers
of digital hardware, software, media and supplies.
Friday night ended
with a dinner with the exhibitors and the annual Charity Auction.
The Auction raised over $4,500 for the Multiple Sclerosis Association.
The Association asked us to express their sincere gratitude for the
generosity of the CRA membership.
|
|
Saturday started with the
CRA General Business meeting which proceeded three more Educational
Sessions including “ A Reprographer’s
Roadmap for the Next Decade” presented by John Cronin of PLP, “The
Keys to Success in Copying” presented by Larry Hunt, and a Panel
Discussion titled “What’s Next for Reprographics?” moderated
by Cathie Cushing Duff & Tracy Albinson.
Events on Saturday concluded
with the President’s Dinner aptly titled “Casablanca Revisited”,
where those in attendance were assigned roles (along with some real
actors) and participated in solving a murder mystery that had its setting
in Casablanca. |
 |
 |
It’s a good thing I am in the Repro business,
because I found my skills both as an actor and a detective fall somewhere
between slim and none.
What made me really feel bad was that my 13
year old daughter correctly deduced the identity of the murderer---obviously
with no help from me.
After
reflecting on the convention since arriving back home, I think having
the first official
meeting of the two combined associations
in “The Gateway” city was appropriate.
As with the Lewis
and Clark expedition, my hope is that St. Louis will be remembered
by CRA members as the “jumping-off” point for a successful
expedition into previously uncharted territory. I am looking forward
to what our two combined associations can accomplish. Our thanks to
Ralph Wasik, the CRA board, and Shirley Zawoyski for a great convention. |
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR IN DALLAS
BRING YOUR HAT AND YOUR BOOTS!!
Phil Hudson
2004 CRA President
|
|
|
