Print Solutions Magazine, December 2004 -- Team DMIA

Specialists at Information Central, DMIA's members-only Source Hotline, answered 1,590 inquiries in October. The following products generated the most phone calls:

Commercial Printing 417

Labels 279

Promotional Products 273

Custom and Stock Tags 104

Envelopes 86

50 One-Minute Tips for Trainers examines the purpose and importance of training and development programs. It includes the 50 most important tips to consider before group, one-on-one, internal and external training sessions. The publication (item code 50TIPS) costs $11.95 for members and $13.94 for non-members. For more information, call (800) 336-4641 or (703) 684-8495 (fax). Send email to Tina Davis at tdavis @DMIA.org.

REGION 1

CSM Group Inc.

481 Old Post Rd.

North Attleboro, MA 02760

(508) 643-4010

Michael Patch

mpatch@csmgroupinc.com

National Printing Co. Inc.

523 Commack Rd.

Deer Park, NY 11729

(631) 243-3395

michaelorrach@msn.com

REGION 2

*Apollo Press Inc.

270 Enterprise Dr.

Newport News, VA 23603

(757) 247-9002

Barbara Deaver

bdeaver@apollopress.com

*USA Direct Inc.

2901 Blackbridge Rd.

York, PA 17402

(717) 852-1000

Richard M. Osborne

marketing@usa-direct.com

REGION 3

*Dynacolor Graphics Inc.

P.O. Box 699037

Miami, FL 33269-9037

(305) 625-5388

Harry Duncanson

harryd@dynacolor.com

*Envelope Graphics Inc.

1610 Cobb International Blvd., Ste. 1

Kennesaw, GA 30152

(770) 429-8969

Robert Maczuga

Intelligent Business Solutions Inc.

P.O. Box 565730

Miami, FL 33256

(305) 669-0763

Jerome Smith

jsmithibs@aol.com

Pinpoint Procurement Solutions

4816 Weston Pl.

Jamestown, NC 27282

(336) 294-3228

Steven F. Antkowiak

steveantkowiak@triad.rr.com

REGION 5

*Digital Art Solutions

2090 E. University Dr., #103

Tempe, AZ 85281

(480) 968-7121

Nicole Holloway

nholloway@smartdesigns.com

SRP & Associates

2070 Business Center Dr., Ste. 130

Irvine, CA 92612

(949) 724-1861

Steve Pitchford

steve@srpdirect.com

REGION 7

Corporate Express Document & Print Management

4205 S. 96th St.

Omaha, NE 68127

(402) 898-6200

Maggie C. Witt

maggie.witt@cexp.com

*D-Lux Screen Printing Inc.

302 North Star Rd.

Holmen, WI 54636

(608) 526-3308

Greg Shuda

teedoff@centurytel.net

*Goes Lithographing Company

42 W. 61st St.

Chicago, IL 60621-3999

(773) 684-6700

Cynthia Thompson

cynthia@goeslitho.com

Print Management Solutions Inc.

P.O. Box 8184

South Bend, IN 46660-8184

(574) 234-7269

Thomas Gorski

tg1833@comcast.net

Printit Plus!

P.O. Box 220561

St. Louis, MO 63122

(314) 821-2533

Al Ahner

printit1@swbell.net

+United Stationers

2200 E. Golf Rd.

Des Plaines, IL 60016

(800) 424-4003

Sheila Czajka

sczajka@ussco.com

REGION 8

+Document Security Systems Inc.

28 Main St. E., Ste. 1525

Rochester, NY 14614

(585) 325-3610

Patrick White

dave@documentsecurity.com

INTERNATIONAL

Drukkerij Strobbe BVBA

Kasteelstraat 1

Izegem, B-8870

Belgium

(0032) 51-33-32-70

Luc Strobbe

info@stobbe.be

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Table of Contents

DMIA Conducts First Interactive Online Seminar

Each participant in a WebEx training seminar logs onto www.webex.com to view the presentation while listening on the phone. During and after the presentation, participants can send questions and comments through an instant-message board. Dick Gray, CDC, president of Laguna Hills, Calif.-based Xtension Technologies, recently conducted "Check 21 and You, the Check Provider," DMIA's first web seminar.

DMIA organized its first online seminar last month, featuring a presentation by Dick Gray, CDC, president of Laguna Hills, Calif-based distributorship Xtension Technologies. More than 90 participants accessed www.webex.com to view the presentation, "Check 21 and You, the Check Provider."

WebEx is an online conferencing site that allows presenters to show, annotate and edit documents in real time, including Microsoft� PowerPoint presentations. Participants watch WebEx presentations on their computer, and they listen over their phones. During and after presentations, participants can send questions and comments through an instant-message board that appears as a separate screen on the WebEx page.

Gray began his presentation by noting the popularity of paper checks. He pointed out that paper checks remain the most widely used form of payment in the United States. Banks spend approximately $45 million a year to process checks, one reason they lobbied for the "Check Clearing Act for the 21st Century." Check 21 allows banks to transmit electronic copies of checks and destroy the originals instead of shipping them. The legislation went into effect on Oct. 28, but only 300 banks were capable of fully implementing the law by then, Gray said.

As more banks and customers install software to transfer scanned checks, Gray advised participants to "know what the boundaries are and be prepared to question your customer's bank about what they want or expect from you as a print provider." Some banks require that checks meet specifications that aren't mandated by Check 21, such as printing only with certain colors and prohibiting void pantographs and logos. Though customers can't be forced to comply with those specifications, banks can charge additional fees to process the checks if they don't.

"I was astounded to find out that banks are encouraging everyone to get rid of safety features on checks," said Rick Eisenhart, sales representative at Lancaster, Pa.-based distributorship Multi-Graphic Company Inc. Eisenhart, who is new to the industry, listened to Gray's presentation to educate himself about Check 21. "The way it was conducted over the phone and then with your computer in front of you--it worked real well," he said, adding the only shortcoming was that time ran out before everyone's questions could be answered.

Upcoming WebEx seminars include sessions on radio frequency identification (RFID) and the features of DMIA's web site. "A system like WebEx gives us the capability to provide education and training to the membership without them leaving home," said Lloyd Tucker, DMIA's senior director of Membership and Education.

Jan. 11

Renaissance Suites Hotel

Charlotte, N.C.

Jan. 12

Cobb Galleria Centre

Atlanta

Jan. 19

Harvey Hotel--DFW

Dallas

Jan. 20

Omni San Antonio

San Antonio

Feb. 1

Long Beach Marriott

Long Beach, Calif.

Feb. 2

Las Vegas Hilton

March 2

Marriott Marquis

New York City

March 8

Embassy Suites
San Francisco Airport

San Francisco

March 9

Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Report

Phoenix

April 5

Martin's West

Baltimore

April 6

Holiday Inn Hampton

Hampton, Va.

April 19

Marriott Southwest

Minneapolis

April 20

Overland Park Convention

Kansas City

DMIA's TRADEMart series brings distributors and manufacturers together in regional markets. The series begins in January and visits 23 cities throughout the United States. Each show features educational seminars, tabletop exhibits and a buffet lunch. For more information, visit www.DMIA.org/em/trade_marts.html.