Dear ARA Member:
I’m proud to announce that Washington State University quarterback Alex Brink is the 2007 recipient of the ARA Sportsmanship Award. I had the great pleasure of watching Alex accept his award during a half-time ceremony at the Washington State-Citadel basketball game on December 20 in Seattle.

There was no shortage of stellar candidates this year across Division I college football. Our panel was encouraged by the volume and caliber of them all, but Alex was our stand out. He lives and breathes good sportsmanship and we are honored to name him the recipient of our award.

The ARA Sportsmanship Award is presented every year to the NCAA Division 1 collegiate football player who most exemplifies sportsmanship on and off the field. Brink, 22, a native of Eugene, OR, was selected from 10 finalists representing schools across the country. Previous winners are Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (2005), and St. Louis Rams running back Brian Leonard (2006).

Number 10, a 6-ft. 3-in., 215-pound sports management major with a 3.55 GPA, Alex Brink holds Washington State University’s all-time record for career pass completions and attempts. He is also one of the top Cougar record holders in virtually every other major passing category. He also was part of the All-Academic Pac 10, CoSida/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII First Team and was named to the WSU Athletics All-Academic team four times.  Alex was a member of WSU Honors College and was on the honor roll in each of his previous six semesters

Off campus, Alex consistently sets aside time for community service. He participates in on-going community efforts for children and is a four-year member of the WSU “Reading Buddies” program for local school-age children.

In addition to the nine other finalists, I also thank members of the ARA Sportsmanship Award Selection Committee. Led by LaVell Edwards, former Brigham Young University head football coach, they include retired coaches Don Nehlen (West Virginia), Dick MacPherson (Syracuse) Vince Dooley (Georgia), Gene Stallings (Alabama), Tubby Raymond (Delaware), Spike Dykes (Texas Tech), Don James (Washington) and Ted Tollner (San Diego State and USC) along with sports and media professionals (Lee Corso and Christine Brennan), and representatives from ARA and other college sports organizations.

Sincerely,
 
Ed Hunt
President
Awards and Recognition Association

It's not too early to register for the "Bigger, Better, Bolder" 2008 ARA International Awards Market, so sign up now! And remember, member companies attend for free! Click here to register on-line or send in the registration form you received in the mail.

Remember that if you attend the show, you might win a 2008 Ford Mustang! Believe us when we say this is one show you won't want to miss.

Items, Volunteers Needed for 2008 ARIEF Silent Auction
The Awards and Recognition Industry Education Foundation (ARIEF) will again host a silent auction at the 2008 ARA International Awards Market featuring products and equipment donated by ARA member companies. All proceeds of the auction go to ARIEF. If your company is interested in donating items, or if you’re interested in helping run the auction, please contact ARA Headquarters at info@ara.org or 800/344-2148.

How Do You Win a New Mustang at the ARA Las Vegas Show?
Step One: Register and pick up your badge by 4 pm on Wednesday, February 27.
Step Two: Attend the President’s reception, right on the show floor, Wednesday at 5pm.
Step Three: Be lucky, and have your name randomly drawn as one of 15 finalists.
Step Four: Attend the ARA Awards Gala, be lucky, and wind up as the winner of the 2008 Ford Mustang Giveaway! For complete details, click here.

ARA Board Ballots: Watch Your Mailbox!
The Ballots for the ARA Board of Directors election have been mailed. This year, ARA members will elect two retailers and two suppliers. Remember, retailers vote only for retailer candidates, and suppliers vote only for supplier candidates. Ballots are due to ARA by February 11th, election results will be announced in mid February.

ARA International Awards Market offers Seminars in Spanish
For our Spanish-speaking colleagues around the globe, ARA is offering seminars in your language—one each on rotary and laser engraving—at the 2008 ARA International Awards Market in Las Vegas:

Aspectos Técnicos y Mercadologicos de un Equipo Laser
Ing. Eduardo González Ramírez, Award Machine S.A. de C.V. / Lic. Jorge Arturo Crespo Diaz, Award Mac
February 27, 8 am–9:30 am
Aspectos y características técnicas que debe cubrir un equipo laser para su uso o aplica-ción, instalación y mantenimiento. Técnicas básicas e intermedias de grabado en equipos laser. Mercadotecnica de los equipos laser, como cotizar un trabajo, costos de grabado y el mercado en Latinoamérica.
(Seminar Code: 303) .15 CEUs (Technical)
Members free; Nonmembers $49 (USD)

Recursos Técnicos y Segmentación del Mercado para Equipos Rotativos
Ing. Eduardo González Ramírez, Award Machine S.A. de C.V. / Lic. Jorge Arturo Crespo Diaz, Award Mac
February 28, 8 am–9:30 am
Técnicas básicas e intermedias de grabado, técnicas básicas e intermedias de diseño. Recursos técnicos de grabado en pantógrafo rotativo, y diseño, software de diseño. Mercados de trabajo para los equipos rotativos en Latinoamérica.
(Seminar Code: 405) .15 CEUs (Technical)
Members free; Nonmembers $49 (USD)

Registering for these seminars is easy—you can do it online, by phone (800/344-2148), by fax or by mail. Click here to see details for the Spanish-language and other educational seminars.  For more information, please contact ARA Education Manager Daniel Weinstock.

ARA Education Advocates Needed at the Las Vegas Show
Get involved in your association and support the ARA education program. Education Advocates introduce seminar speakers at ARA events using a provided script. Volunteering is simple; for more information, please contact ARA Education Manager Daniel Weinstock at dweinstock@connect2amc.com.

ARA Certification Program
Are you planning to receive your Certified Recognition Specialist (CRS) or Certified Recognition Master (CRM) designation at the 2008 International Awards Market in Las Vegas? If so, it is a good idea to check your current total of continuing education credits (CEUs). Updated transcripts were mailed in December 2007 and also posted on the ARA Web site.

You may review your transcript online by visiting http://www.ara.org/. Go to "Education" on the menu list at the left side of the ARA home page. Select "Check Your CEU Transcripts" from the sub-menu. Enter your last name and then your personal enrollment number without any leading zeros. (Remember that you need to use your personal enrollment/membership number, not your company’s membership number.) Click "Begin Search" to get your transcript.

If you are close to receiving your CRS or CRM, you will be mailed a strip of foil stars in early February. While you are attending the 2008 International Awards Market you will need to carry these stars with you to the seminars and place one or two of these stars at the top of every Seminar Evaluation and CEU Reporting Form that you fill out. These eye-catching stars will enable us to pull your CEU forms and apply them to your certification total. If you earn enough CEUs in Las Vegas, you will be recognized as a new CRS or CRM at the ARA Annual Meeting and Member Breakfast on Friday morning, February 29 in Las Vegas.

Members close to completing their CRM designation must submit a 1,200-word thesis by no later than January 25, 2008. For more information, please contact ARA Education Manager Daniel Weinstock at dweinstock@connect2amc.com.

ARA 2008 Regional Education Events
ARA supplier companies can earn substantial benefits by hosting a one-day education event at their company headquarters. For more information, please contact ARA Education Manager Daniel Weinstock at dweinstock@connect2amc.com. The program for new Regional Education Events in 2008 will be posted at the upcoming the 2008 International Awards Market in Las Vegas.

ARA 2008 Calendar
ARA included a helpful gift with your December 2007 issue of Recognition Review—the ARA 2008 Calendar. Featuring new and exciting products and contact information from ARA supplier companies, this colorful poster calendar can be displayed in an area of your shop to help you, your employees, and customers easily reference dates. Thanks to the following calendar sponsors: Topmost World, JDS, Epilog, Plastic-Plus, Plastic Dress-Up (PDU), Identification Plates, Visions/Awardcraft, American Acrylic Awards, Continental (CAT) Trophies, AT Designs, and Marco Awards Group.

February 25–29, 2008
2008 ARA International Awards Market
Las Vegas Convention Center
800/344-2148
http://www.ara.org/

July 30–August 2, 2008
Texas Trophy and Awards Show
Moody Gardens Hotel
Galveston, TX
817/868-6515

The January 2008 issue features the magazine’s new “Industry Corner” column, featuring industry tips and how-to’s for better awards production, business and marketing practices, laser- and rotary-engraving techniques, and sublimation. Article contributions and queries are welcome from all ARA members. Please send them to Editor Joseph Agnew at jagnew@connect2amc.com.

ARA now distributes its official magazine electronically in addition to its standard printed-and-mailed issues. If you didn’t get a copy via e-mail, please let us know by sending a message with your store name and email address to info@ara.org.

Ask the Experts Extra
If you’re an ARA member, log in to the “Members Only” section using your member number, and select ARA “Ask an Expert.” Find the topic and expert you’re looking for and submit your question(s). More often than not, an ARA expert will have the solution you need.

? This year’s ARA International Awards Market will be my first. I’m very excited about going, but I’d appreciate advice on how to best navigate what looks like will be a huge show floor!

Fran Carville, CRM, of Carco Awards responds: Before leaving for the show, make a list of "must visit" suppliers, as well as a list of "look for" items. These will provide you with a starting point on the show floor.

Once you arrive, if time allows, review the show program book provided with your registration and plan to walk the entire show floor before you make any purchases. Try not to walk past unfamiliar suppliers without stopping in their booths, as you never know where that next "treasure" might be hiding. Make notes in your program book as to which suppliers you have an interest in.

After your initial walk-through, leave the floor to review your notes. This is a good time to check out the new product showcases in the registration area, and note which of these products interest you, and at what booth they’re being offered. If you are looking for a specific type of product, reference your show program for suppliers that might carry this merchandise. You are now armed with your completed game plan for a successful show experience. Good luck!