I want to share with you an overview of the events of the recent National Paperhanger’s Convention & Tradeshow held in Portland, Maine, September 14-17.

This year’s convention was well attended with over 160 paperhangers and numerous vendors providing for a full Tradeshow. We had 26 first timers attend the convention making for some interesting networking and lots of information exchange. The hotel, the Portland Marriott, was a bit smaller than the previous two-years, providing us with a feeling of “togetherness and unity.” The rooms and food were terrific. The optional lobster bake was a resounding and delicious success and was an opportunity for the paperhangers and vendors to “crack claws.” The awards dinner was fabulous with “melt in your mouth” filet mignon and butterfly shrimp encrusted with crab dressing. Some of our other meals were on our own which allowed us to discover the many delightful restaurants and sights in the South Portland area.

Allow me a moment to run through the convention’s program to give you a brief synopsis of the events. The pre-convention education classes were well-received. Wallcovering 202 was quickly filled with several installers placed on a waiting list. The second class, Business Management for the Installer, also filled to near capacity. Both full-day programs satisfied the needs of their participants and many asked for them to be repeated throughout the year at various locations.

Concurrent with the educational classes, the national board of directors participated in a four-hour leadership training workshop. This was the first of a four part series to teach the board communication and leadership skills as well as work on the development of a strategic plan for our organization. This workshop was followed by a four-hour board of directors meeting with many guests and lively input. At this meeting, it was announced that the March 25, 2006 National Workshop in New Orleans has been postponed. Plans are underway to organize charity work in the devastated regions. Please check your e-mail’s inbox and the Guild bulletin board for updates. The new chair of the Communications Committee is Chris Murphy. Chris’s wife, along with the editorial board of the newsletter, will divide and share the duties of Newsletter Editor. Our National Office staff will now be assuming the maintenance duties of the Guild’s website.

Wednesday evening provided some “on your own time” and there were several groups heading to area attractions. Thursday began with an optional three-hour pre-convention session with consultant, Ginny Hronek, covering “Building Customer Loyalty.” Ginny showed us how to look at our business to determine if our behaviors are encouraging or discouraging customer loyalty. Tim Quinn of Chesapeake Wallcovering was the convention’s keynote speaker and officially kicked off the event about 1:00 p.m. He was very energetic and upbeat. He stated that thinking “out of the box” will be the key to being successful in this industry. He announced that his company will be transferring all of their products to a nonwoven substrate within the next two years and he highlighted some of the new ideas and actions of the Wallcovering Association.

The first full group seminar was on “Commercial installation” and presented by Eunice and Frank Bokstrom, Design Wallcovering Professional Installation of Canada. This hour long program covered various commercial hanging techniques on actual demo walls complete with ceiling grid and inside and outside corners. They showed several different ways of wrapping, smoothing, and double cutting different weights of commercial wallcoverings, as well as showing the efficient use of lasers in a commercial setting. Next, Chris Murphy, Chris R. Murphy, Paperhanger, Ltd., Atlanta, GA and Bill Archibald, Norfolk, MA provided a demonstration of double cutting techniques to provide a custom inlaid installation. Their demonstration created a baseball diamond and a major league baseball cap on two separate walls using a variety of wallcoverings and inlaying/overlaying techniques to provide the client with a custom look.

The evening’s activities included an optional Schooner Cruise organized by the Guild’s Connecticut Chapter, an Opening Reception, and an annual pub crawl (in memory of Bob Isenberger who passed in late 2004). The Schooner Cruise ended up being cancelled dockside due to poor weather conditions offshore but despite the cancellation, most of the attendees stayed in downtown Portland finding a nice New England style restaurant for dinner or participating in this year’s optional pub crawl.

Friday’s events began with a networking breakfast session, sponsored by Thibaut Wallcoveirngs. Participants sat at round tables discussing and brainstorming ideas revolving around the topic displayed at each table.

Next came everyone’s favorite - the HandsON! Demonstrations. Following the tabletops was the Winning Walls with Wallcoverings Luncheon, sponsored by The Zinsser Company. All of the winners were surprised and the event was capped with Cyndi Green, C.P., Deep South Regional Director showing a photo of Belinda Comboy, C.P. saving her WWWW trophies after the devastating Hurricane Katrina. This showed just how important and meaningful these awards are to recipients.

The afternoon sessions provided participants with information on photographing your work, a panel discussion with several new vendor members on new techniques in residential and commercial applications, a funny (and educational) presentation from Lou Ligeri of New York on wallcovering removal, and the opening of the Tradeshow. After the fabulous lobster bake (184 participated!) more than seventy-five people enjoyed themselves participating in the 2 nd annual scavenger hunt organized by Vinny LaRusso. Special thanks to the Boston Chapter of NGPP for contributing to the lobster bake and keeping fees low for participants and to Hollingsworth & Vose Company and Olfa North America for being beverage sponsors for the evening’s social events.

A new product showcase started Saturday’s activities. The Tradeshow continued until lunchtime allowing Guild members ample time to meet vendors and learn more about their products and services. Lunch was served and years of service membership pins and C.P. pins were presented to attendees. Members who were not able to attend the convention will be mailed their C.P. and membership pins. In the afternoon, a second segment of tabletop demos was featured, as well as a presentation on the efficient set up for fabric installation by Barry Blanchard and Sarah Smyth of the Boston Chapter. Prior to the President’s Reception, a very positive wrap-up session was held offering comments on this year’s terrific convention and ideas and suggestions for next year’s convention, being held in St.Louis, Missouri.

The convention concluded with the highly anticipated annual dinner and awards program featuring the Guild’s National Awards and the installation of new officers. The Chicago Chapter received the Golden Plumbline Award for an unprecedented fourth year in a row. The Harold Laffler Award for the individual most instrumental in the establishment of a new chapter was given to Jack Heinrich, C.P. The Sam Kovnat Award for tireless dedication to the Guild was bestowed upon Patti Niehaus, C.P. and The Bob Isenberger Paperhanger of the Year Award was presented by Julie Isenberger to a most deserving Glen Olsen, C.P. In addition, Julie presented Glen with Bob’s twenty-year Guild membership pin. Over all a very rewarding evening with lots of emotion, fellowship and inspiration.

Hopefully, this gives you an overview of the convention’s activities. Once again those attending left having absorbed information on new products and techniques, a reaffirmation of their dedication to their business and the wallcovering industry, and a wonderful feeling of camaraderie. As one vendor said, “We are in this together.” We must support our fellow Guild members and associates. Wallpaper is gradually making a comeback. Be positive with your designers and clients and provide them with solutions to industry issues such as mold & mildew problems and difficult wallpaper removal. Explain the development of new paste and primer products and the nonwoven substrates. They will respect your knowledge and be eager once again to include wallcovering installations in their decorating needs.

Photos © 2005 Zann and Pinkerton/ZAP Photography. All Rights Reserved.

Following is a photo gallery for those unable to attend or for those wanting to remember the great times. In addition,Zann & Pinkerton/ZAP Photography, this year’s official convention photographers, have made available on their website the syllabus for their seminar and contact sheets of the photos they took while in Portland. Prints are available for purchase at a drastically reduced rate until October 31, 2005.

4” x 6” - $1.00 each
5” x 7” - $2.00 each
8” x 10” - $5.00 each

To view the syllabus or order prints visit http://www.zapphoto.com/NGPP/NGPP2005.htm and review the instructions.

Let’s hang in there together!