For those members who did not attend the FPSA Conference 2008 in Bonita Springs, Florida, consider the first part of this Presidents’ Message your “wish you were here” postcard. In short, it was a fabulous four days.

About 260 attendees representing 114 member companies participated. The general session speakers lived up to our promise and expectations, delivering thought provoking and challenging messages. The Council sessions featured presentations by key processors, member driven topics, and roundtable discussions. The MISA Foundation raised over $22,000 for the MISA Foundation at its banquet and auction. And, the Dairy Council foursome wrested the Presidents’ Cup from MISA to hold the bragging rights in golf until they defend it next year in Scottsdale. It was a combination of education, inspiration, networking, and fun over four, sun-filled days. We wish you were there.

At Conference, FPSA staff unveiled an aggressive, multi-pronged promotional plan to bring your customers and prospects to the 2008 PROCESS EXPO in Chicago this November. Your Board of Directors approved a promotional budget and plan that dwarfs all previous efforts. Perhaps the most exciting element of this promotional plan, is a new program offered to our exhibitors that combines our efforts with BNP Media. You will be hearing more about this program in separate mailings. In short, it gives all of our exhibitors access to the BNP Media database as well as its artistic resources to design marketing pieces to e-mail or mail to customers and thousands of prospects at exceptionally reasonable prices. Watch your e-mails for more details on this program.

Your Board of Directors also approved and announced the PROCESS 2009 pricing schedule. Again, the board has decided to reinvest in the membership by lowering prices from the 2007 levels for companies who take 500 square feet or more. We are confident that the membership will react as positively to these rates as they did this year where we are about 98% sold out for the November show. The member round for selecting space will begin April 15. You will be mailed a floor plan and your target date and time shortly.

MY PROCESS EXPO 365 had its debut at Conference. To simply call it our new website in no way captures the truly revolutionary potential of this new membership tool and resource. You will be hearing more about MY PROCESS EXPO 365 throughout the year, but to see why we are so excited about its potential to deliver you customers 365 days a year, go to myprocessexpo365.bdmetrics.com and take a look.

PROCESS EXPO the premier tradeshow that delivers the best in face-to-face marketing coupled with MY PROCESS EXPO 365 which utilizes the latest technologies to continue that experience 24/7, 365 days a year are going to be incomparable tools for suppliers to the beverage, food, and pharmaceutical industries. We are proud they reside in FPSA.