Volunteer Opportunity : FFEA Tradeshow & Conference

August 4, 2010

As a first timer, I thought it may be wise to attend a local tradeshow as a volunteer. After some online google-ing I found that the Florida Fair and Event Association’s 16th Annual Tradeshow & Conference was going to be at the Hyatt in Bonita Springs, Florida. I had to go!

I had been to this Hyatt before; to celebrate my 1 year anniversary. Riding bikes, lounging poolside and sipping some tasty beverages were what I had remembered most. And not in that order. So this time would be different.

I started in the “21 Ways to Optimize Your Facebook Page and Stop Wasting Your Time” session with Mande White taking pictures. As I listened, my excitement grew and I found myself jotting down notes. By the end of the 3 hour session I had the opportunity to volunteer our company, Worldwide Ticketcraft, into the “hot seat”. Then it began; the what I “could do’s” from Mande and outbursts from the participants in the room. Was I shocked? Yes. Yet afterwards, I was very pleased with what I had heard and the things I learned would make a successful facebook fan-page. It was a very stimulating, entertaining yet unexpected opportunity. I certainly have my work cut out for me back at the office.

Back to camera mode, I continued on snapping pictures. Next was the “12 Insiders Tips” where I had the chance to meet all the board members for the FFEA and learned about which exhibitors were there for the first time. Greta Schulz started her session “Networking Aerobics” which got the crowd roaring with laughter. Great interactive shots from the participants.

As I walked on, with my new companion, Brian Craig, Recreation Coordinator for Events & Festivals representing the Parks and Recreation Department of Clearwater, we scoped out the “Opening Reception”. We stopped by the Treasure Cove booth for our colorful Mardi-Gras beads when I found Trudy Nadreau, Director of Corporate Affairs from Double Eagle Distributing, Inc. worked just down the street from our old warehouse in Deerfield Beach. Her Anheuser-Busch Booth was entertaining the crowd with karaoke and dancing. Good times!

Met Joey Evans, a talented comedian and experienced magician for over 9 years. We carried on conversation as his hands are turning 2 balloons into a pink flower with a purple center that would later fit right around my wrist! And interestingly enough, Shelley’s seven-year old boy was entertaining himself by hitting a baseball that was hanging from his hat – all made from balloons. (The one picture I took that was blurry, argh!) Which lead me to bump into the photographer for Attic Chat Productions, his aunt. So to make a long story short, I tagged alongside Tami snapping the 24 exhibitors and their booths. Then we heard a ‘pop’ and saw confetti fireworks fly into the air from the Pyrotecnico booth. That’s when we decided to hit up the dessert bar for chocolate mousse and cheesecake!

Bummed I couldn’t stay longer I bid my goodbyes and turned in my memory card. Looking forward to the next opportunity. 

To view the photos please visit: Worldwide Ticketcraft on Facebook

-Kelly Mellert, Creative Information Manager, Worldwide Ticketcraft

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Chemical BPA found on cash register receipts

The Environmental Working Group reports today that laboratory tests found high levels of the estrogen-like chemical bisphenol A on 40% of cash register receipts from major U.S. businesses.

First, baby bottles. Then food-can linings. Now, a toxic substance watchdog group is sounding the alarm about the chemical bisphenol A in another everyday item: cash register receipts.

A new study by the Environmental Working Group found that U.S. consumers are regularly exposed to bisphenol A by handling heat-activated paper receipts from major retailers, convenience stores, bank machines and even the post office.

The ubiquitous chemical, also known as BPA, has come under increasing scrutiny for its links to early puberty, obesity, cancer and neurological damage. Early this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reversed its de-cadeslong position on the chemical, saying that children’s exposure to bisphenol A was of “some concern.”

Most of the attention thus far has focused on plastic food packaging and can linings, where bisphenol A can leach into foods like soups, soda, baby formula and beer. But the Environmental Working Group study underscored that consumers may well be coming into contact with high levels of bisphenol A from unexpected quarters.

“There’s an understanding that BPA is in just about everyone’s body,” said Sonya Lunder, senior analyst at Environmental Working Group and co-author of the study. “But to find these uncharted routes of exposure is really amazing.”

The group is calling on companies that use the chemical in paper to switch to non-BPA products and for federal regulators to craft a policy phasing out use of the substance.

But industry trade group American Chemistry Council said the concerns about bisphenol A exposure are overblown.

“Biomonitoring data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control shows that exposure to BPA from all sources, which would include typical exposure from receipts, is extremely low,” according to a statement from the council.

When heat is applied to coated thermal paper, bisphenol A reacts with dye to form black-and-white or colored print-outs. Other types of printing technology, like inkjet machines, use less, if any bisphenol A.

For the study, Lunder and her colleagues collected 36 receipts from a variety of registers at grocery stores, pharmacies and ATMs. More than a dozen of the receipts showed levels of bisphenol A at between 0.8 percent and 3 percent by weight, the researchers found.

Although little is known about whether bisphenol A from thermal paper enters the bloodstream, a Swiss study published last month demonstrated that, through regular contact, BPA can no longer be washed off and can lodge in deep levels of the skin.

The report detected bisphenol A in receipts from CVS, KFC, Whole Foods, Walmart, Safeway and the U.S. Postal Service.

Some paper manufacturers – including industry giant Appleton Papers Inc. – have phased out BPA in their products. And receipts from registers at Target, Starbucks and Bank of America ATMs, were BPA-free or contained only trace amounts, the study said.

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E-mail Kelly Zito at kzito@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page C – 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

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NSAA 2010 @ Orlando

Orlando, FL : May 2-5

“NSAA 2010 Show was attended by personnel representing approx 150 ski resorts Nationwide. Offering plenty of opportunity for Worldwide Ticketcraft to produce ski lift tickets, thermal ticket printers, wristbands & gift cards. Our TicketHawk got a good amount of attention from those that came by our booth and was a strong introduction into this market. The attendees and members of NSAA were excellent hosts with the many events held such as intimate meeting opportunity with receptions, opening key note speaker Mitt Romney on his new book “No Apology” and all attended are just a very nice group of people. With not much competition and our ability to produce all products, I expect that we will grow tremendously in the Ski market for 2010-2011.”

- Michelle Caio

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We’ve Moved : Boynton Beach, FL

Worldwide Ticketcraft

3606 Quantum Boulevard

Boynton Beach, Florida 33426

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The Rotary Club of Boca Raton Sunrise : 23rd Annual Golf Tournament & Luncheon

Saturday, May 8th saw Worldwide Ticketcraft’s participation in The Rotary

Club of Boca Raton Sunrise’s 23rd Annual Golf Tournament and Luncheon. The

tournament took place at the Boca Lago Golf and Country Club in Boca Raton,

Florida. Worldwide came into the club house with a respectable 4 under par.

Though this was not enough to win the tournament, the real winners are the

recipients of scholarships, literacy programs and many other worthy causes

in South Florida and around the world. Worldwide’s President, Erik Covitz

has been a member of Rotary for 9 years. Erik and his team, including Robert

Caicedo and Bob Wanberg all had an amazing experience and look forward to

going after the Championship trophy next year.

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Earth Day Movie

Earth Day 2010 was a special day for Worldwide Ticketcraft employees, as we attended the new Disney movie called “Oceans” which brought us all closer together for an event that is both meaningful and necessary. On this day along with 175 other countries across the planet, we all were all a bit more conscious of environmental issues that will indeed shape our future and help maintain our “green” way of approaching daily life. Some of us even made silent pledges to be more attuned to our own “save the planet” ideals. We are proud of our company as it takes such a strong position with our many “save the planet” ideas we enforce and put into motion each day!

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2010 Palm Beach Walk Now for Autism Speaks

“I was proud to organize our company team for the Autism awareness walk and even more proud for the employee outpour, donations and support they offered. Those that shared this special day with us learned more about autism than they previously knew. Many of us researched websites and read articles only to learn the dreaded growing number of this terrible disorder and how many notable families have children afflicted as well. Our 2 mile walk drew us closer together for that day and hopefully for days to come in recognizing how lucky we are.” Robert Zingarelli - Worldwide Ticketcraft’s Team Captain

“It was nice to see a community get together to support a great cause and it was a wonderful first time experience.” Stephanie Laruy 

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A letter of congrats and thanks:

Hello Worldwide Ticketcraft Team,

Thank you and congratulations!!!! What a great day March 7, 2010 was for Autism Speaks and those that we serve! It was a beautiful day in downtown West Palm Beach in so many ways!

It is always heartwarming for us to see the sea of teams and individual wakers; many with beautiful t-shirts and inspirational signs walking together. We enjoyed talking to the families and walkers, catching up with long time supporters and meeting those new to the Walk. We can only hope you had as much fun as we did! 

We are very pleased to report that so far we have raised over $301,000, with more money coming in every day. THAT EXCEEDS OUR GOAL BUT let’s see how high we can go! Even though the Walk was in March, just like our families live with autism every day, raising funds and awareness is a year round goal!

From the very bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your support! We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Sincerely,

Kathy McKibbin and Denise Negron

2010 Palm Beach Walk Co-Chairs

www.autismspeaks.org

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Family Services

We are pleased to announce the creation of a new monthly e-mail newsletter. Community Connections, published monthly by the Autism Speaks Family Services team, aims to increase opportunities and awareness for people with autism and their families in their local communities.  Sign up here! 

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IAAPA Space Allocation Committee Plans 2010 Trade Show Floor

The International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA) Space Allocation Committee met this Monday and Tuesday to begin the task of assigning booth spaces for the 2010 IAAPA Attractions Expo trade show floor. Led by Committee Chairman Jack Mendes, Bob’s Space Racers, the committee assigned almost 600 companies approximately 300,000 square feet. Several NEAAPA Members are on the Space Allocation Committee. They are: Tim Timco, Worldwide Ticketcraft; Jim Seay, Premier Rides; Alan Ramsay, CLM Entertainment and Ray Zammit, NANCO / Nancy Sales Co. NEAAPA was assigned booth 3528; which is across the aisle from IAAPA Central.  

 To view the latest floor plan for the show, click here

Tim Timco, Worldwide Ticketcraft (standing) looks over some notes while the booth assignments are being made during the meeting while Michael Turner, Gateway Ticketing assists.

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