Letter from the chair
Have you heard the news? In 2016, your BIA membership will be FREE! We are excited to announce this new development for all binders, loose leaf providers and finishing manufacturers. Simply belong to your local PIA affiliate to get this awesome benefit. As a member, call the PIA and let the association know that you want to be an active participant of the BIA by signing up your in-house binderies. If you are a postpress provider, why is your name not on our list of members?
We still are the BIA and will deliver on everything you have come to expect from your postpress resource. Visit www.printing.org/bia for the findabindery resource, ask questions on the BIA listserv and watch in coming months for a new educational series.
In addition, the President’s Conference is coming to warm and sunny Palm Desert, California, March 6-9, 2016. Look for marketing materials in the mail and save the date. Visit the conference website at www.presidentsconference.com to watch this amazing event come together.
In 2016, the BIA will be joining the President’s Conference for all our educational needs. How will you educate your key staff? Why send them to some local commercially canned conference when they can be trained by the best, in grand style, by people that know our industry?
I look forward to seeing you as part of the BIA membership in 2016. Have a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous new year!
All the best,
Valerie Price, Coyne Graphic Finishing
BIA Chair
BIA Makes Changes to Benefit Members
Change is inevitable. How companies react to change in the market defines what kind of future we create for our industry. Over the past couple months, BIA went through some changes of its own. But, that doesn’t mean BIA is any less committed to the members it serves.
BIA transitions from a SIG to a section.
In the past, BIA operated as a special interest group (or SIG) of Printing Industries of America (PIA). This meant that its members paid dues to PIA, while still paying an extra amount to participate in BIA. Now, BIA operates as a section of PIA. As a section, members participate in an organized peer group. This group still can access the popular BIA listserv and benefit from binding and postpress educational opportunities. Only now, BIA members no longer need to pay a separate dues fee to the BIA. If you belong to PIA and you are a postpress professional, you can sign up for the BIA section at no extra cost to you.
How will you benefit?
As the group transitions to a section, BIA members can take advantage of many PIA member benefits. For example, BIA members can update themselves on hot print industry topics by reading Printing Industries of America: The Magazine. Participants of BIA also receive significant discounts through the PIA National Buying Power Program and educational opportunities such as the Integrated Learning Center, publications in the Printing Industries Press Bookstore and conferences organized by PIA. PIA also awards many additional benefits to their sections, such as free technical support through the Tech Hotline, financial benchmarking opportunities through the Ratios reports and much more. Dont forget, BIA members gain access to all of their PIA regional affiliate organization benefits as well. Also, BIA members still will receive PostPress magazine at no cost.
Try out this new benefit!
With this change, BIA encourages its members to attend one of PIA’s newer conferences, the 2016 President’s Conference, taking place on March 6-9 at the JW Marriot Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, California. This is the perfect opportunity to get in front of influential decision makers in the industry. Presidents, CEOs and business owners from all across the print industry are encouraged to attend and take part in exclusive networking opportunities, learn from high-profile industry speakers and participate in three session tracks, including leadership, business development and finance. Because BIA now is a section, you qualify for PIA membership pricing during registration. Visit www.presidentsconference.com for more information.
BIA is excited about what opportunities the new change brings to its members and is certain this new route will mean continued success for the binding and postpress industry. Rest assured, BIA still strives to stand as your number-one postpress resource. For questions regarding this change or for more information about BIA, contact Chrystal Kapanyko at ckapanyko@printing.org.
