May 2007

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE….DATES TO REMEMBER

We are all prisoners of our calendars. In this busy world, early planning and scheduling are a must. That's why we want to share a few important dates with you and give you a brief explanation of why they should be highlighted on your calendar.

May 21, 2007. The FPSA Annual Compensation Survey. This will be mailed to you in both electronic format as well as paper. If you want to see where salaries stack up in your industry or your region, be sure to take the time to fill it and out turn it in. Results will only be available to those who participate. You will find this an invaluable tool when it is time for employee reviews.

Late May, 2007. Look for the 2008 PROCESS EXPO Prospectus in your mail. New exhibit hall and new, volume pricing schedule are sure to make the 2008 show a record-breaker.

Mid-June, 2007. The MEMBERS ONLY round of booth selection for the 2008 PROCESS EXPO begins. Members whose dues are paid in full as of June, 2007, will be contacted with their time and date for space selection. So, if you have your invoice for dues sitting on your desk, it's time to pay your dues and qualify for selection in the first round and the best available location for your company.

September 7, 2007. The MISA Operations Conference. Chicago (airport hotel). This one-day conference, sponsored by the Meat Industry Suppliers Alliance, is open to all members of FPSA. The topic for this year's meeting is "Nanotechnology". Participants will learn why nanotechnology will shortly be a trillion dollar business; they will understand the application of nanotechnologies in their customers' products; they will also learn of applications with direct impact on the products they produce or manufacture; and, finally, they will have an opportunity to discuss why suppliers need to know and care about this emerging technology.

October 15-17, 2007. PROCESS EXPO 2007, LAS VEGAS.  If you already have a booth reserved for the show, you hardly need to be reminded of "show time". This year's edition is already almost 30% larger than the '05 show (and we are five months out!) If you don't have your booth yet, don't despair, contact David Folwell and he will take care of you (dfolwell@fpsa.org or 703.663.1228). You've already seen some ads which are initiating an unprecedented marketing campaign designed to match the record exhibit space with record visitor attendance.