Full Version: ARA Membership
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#10]
16 Oct 2006
To: graniteman (MGARCIA) [#1] 16 Oct 2006
Mark,
I would recommend joining ARA.....you WILL develop a network by participation and attendance.....there ARE educational activities, although as a supplier your biggest benefit would be to start a "chapter" of the ARA in your area.......
Either way, I have met many great people, ( a lot of whom are members of this forum) by my participation with ARA.
Just my two cents. Want change?
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#11]
16 Oct 2006
To: ALL
Following up on Chuck's suggestion of attending a regional ARA event, here's one that's coming up soon, in a location not too far from you.
http://www.engravingetc.org/forum/index.php?webtag=EE&msg=4260.2
From: Tom Franklin (FLEA) [#12]
16 Oct 2006
To: graniteman (MGARCIA) [#1] 16 Oct 2006
Hi Mark,
The ARA is the center of our industry. You have read what most feel about our organization (I am a member of the membership committee). If I weren't a major supporter of the ARA, I would not give my time, efforts and endorsement to them. I have been around this industry so long I know how much one gains from RECOGINITION REVIEW, their shows, especially Las Vegas, the educational opportunities and the associations and fellowship. Joining the ARA will be one of the best things you will do in this industry. Should you have questions of seek more information, check their web site, http://ara.org/
or contact me and I'll be happy to assist you in any way I can.
Come join in!
Best,
Tom
From: graniteman (MGARCIA) [#13]
16 Oct 2006
To: Tom Franklin (FLEA) [#12] 17 Oct 2006
TO EVERYONE, that has replied to my question about the ARA. thanks for all the input and advice. i guess i'll have to join because it would be great to meet some of our currenet customers and our future ones. though i do feel it is a bit "pricy" for the membership. but i know we will recoop the monies quickly through recognition of being a member. plus we plan on advertising in the magazine as well.....Tom thanks.
thanks again,
mark garcia
granite wholesaler
www.artistic-laser.com
From: Tom Franklin (FLEA) [#14]
17 Oct 2006
To: graniteman (MGARCIA) [#13] 17 Oct 2006
Welcome to the ARA, I'll be delighted to meet you and learn more about you and your fine company!
Sincerely,
Tom
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#15]
17 Oct 2006
To: Tom Franklin (FLEA) [#14] 17 Oct 2006
Tom,
Maybe you could even be their east coast rep. ;-)
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#16]
17 Oct 2006
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#15] 17 Oct 2006
Yeah, I guess a seventh line in Tom's signature can't hurt. :-)
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#17]
17 Oct 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#16] 17 Oct 2006
From: Gary (GNELSON) [#18]
18 Oct 2006
To: graniteman (MGARCIA) [#1] 18 Oct 2006
G-Man It comes down to the bottom line. I have been an exhibitor
in the past. And at that time 2000- 2002 it saved a few Franklins to be a member. Good luck standing there, Lost Wages has the HARDEST concrete anywere in the world!
If ARA dose not work out for you look in to putting together a catalog of finished marble, Ect. ASI and PPAI have far and away worked out better for myself.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#19]
19 Oct 2006
To: Gary (GNELSON) [#18] 19 Oct 2006
Gary,
While not meaning to take this thread off track ( I'm an ARA member) did you ever compare SAGE to ASI? Currently I use sage, but of late have been thinking of switching.......thoughts?
Chuck
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#20]
19 Oct 2006
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#19] 19 Oct 2006
We'll give Gary an opportunity to respond, but this should remain primarily an ARA Membership topic.
There are several lengthy discussions with opinions of SAGE and ASI etc., in the Advertising Specialties/Promotional folder.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#21]
19 Oct 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#20] 19 Oct 2006
I know. That is why I phrased it the way I did. Which brings up another question. How do you suggest that it be handled when a statement in one thread leads to a question that should or could go into a different thread/folder?
Say Hey Gary, I have a question I posted in another folder? ......sometimes after a question gets answered, as is the case here for Tom, a thread by nature will go off....on a tangent... much like a face to face conversation.
How do you suggest we handle that?
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#22]
19 Oct 2006
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#21] 19 Oct 2006
The beauty of Beehive software, is that you can post to a specific person.
In your example, a new thread thread could be initiated, in the Ad Specialties folder, in which you could post directly to Gary, by going to the posting field, and under "To:" you would click the radio button that says, "Others" and type in GNELSON, Gary's member name, that shows up in parenthesis.
By doing that, you're posting directly to Gary.
You could say something like:
===================================================
Gary,
In the ARA Membership thread, you mentioned your experience with ASI etc., etc.
===================================================
I'm aware of how a thread can take a tangent, and I've been a prime offender, in taking some off course.
It's true that the original posters question has been addressed, but in the event of someone else coming along, seeking information on the topic, it will better to have the majority of the thread dealing with the stated topic.
This message, in itself, is another tangent. :-)
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#23]
19 Oct 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#22] 19 Oct 2006
There is a joke here somewhere but then we would REALLLY be in trouble with the Harvmeister....huh? ( insert laugh here)....
Actually, no sooner than I hit post, that it occured to me that I could do what you suggested. I knew that in the back of my mind.....
From: Gary (GNELSON) [#24]
19 Oct 2006
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#19] 19 Oct 2006
WOW, Did not mean to open a can of worms. The two ARA shows we did were very good to us, In fact I have in house re order # 10 for 2200 two color ovals. A total of about 35K badges to date for a new customer we met at ARA. My only beef with ARA EVER was NasCar weekend. I even went to the show last year, and might go again this. Who knows. ( to look that is, I'm not standing there for three days ever again!)
Now keep in mind I'm a manufacture, and with the invent of dye sub (Yuck! for badges anyway) Our wholesale business dropped off to a point we needed to refind our niche.
Early on Sage was great to us picked up our info at ARA and posted it at there site. We still hold a Sage #.
Next we did the PPAI show for two years when they moved the show to Vegas, Again a lot of work and a lot of Franklins. And a few great jobs and many new customers.
BUT FAR AND AWAY. with out doing ANY ASI shows having our product listed on ESP is were it's at. (esp is asi)
Im not sure if any of this rambling helps you questions or not, I'm being distracted by the Mets/Stl at the moment.
EDITED: 19 Oct 2006 by GNELSON
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#25]
19 Oct 2006
To: Gary (GNELSON) [#24] 20 Oct 2006
No can of worms. Just a nightcrawler. :-)
Yeah, the fact that the ARA show often coincided with the NASCAR event made getting rooms in Vegas harder to find and bargains were harder to come by.
From: Gary (GNELSON) [#26]
20 Oct 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#25] 20 Oct 2006
"bargains were harder to come by."
Thursday- Sunday 1200.00 at the Palms!!!! 800.00 at the Orleans!! What a deal,
I think ARA lost a LOT of last minute mom and pop attendees that looked in to coming last minute and fell over at the cost.
Maybe ARA should have the show on valentine's day...LOL
EDITED: 20 Oct 2006 by GNELSON
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#27]
20 Oct 2006
To: Gary (GNELSON) [#26] 20 Oct 2006
Going to the ARA show can be a pricey proposition, depending on where a person's coming from, with airfare etc.
I'm fortunate enough to be within a "reasonable" driving distance.
From: PenMan [#28]
21 Oct 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#27] 21 Oct 2006
"I'm fortunate enough to be within a "reasonable" driving distance."
Agree completely. And with my wife coming along next time I will be able to let her drive while I nap. Oops, forgot, I can't even close my eyes when she is driving. We might end up in Mexico!
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