Continuing Education - a Workshop Review

[ProWallGuy]

One of the benefits of being a member of the National Guild of Professional Paperhangers is the offering of attending workshops to further our education in the wallpaper industry. For a mere $15, a full day of tips, tricks, hints, and techniques are freely shared by members. Lunch was also included in the entrance fee. Best part is: YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A NGPP MEMBER TO ATTEND A WORKSHOP. Keep an eye on this forum for more info regarding upcoming workshops and Tech Tours. You can also find this information on the front page of our main website, ngpp.org (http://www.ngpp.org/).

Below you will find my personal review of the recent workshop, plus pictures.

Recently the Berkshire Chapter held their 5th annual spring workshop, affectionately known as March Madness. Held at a hotel in West Springfield, MA, this workshop started off as a small chapter get-together and has grown into a regional event with some members traveling several hundred miles one way to make it. Held at the half-way point between conventions, it was a perfect time to get together to talk shop, see old friends, make some new ones, and generally recharge your batteries for working as a professional paperhanger.

A resounding round of applause should go to this man, Roger "Silent Slim" Coupal, the ringleader of the workshop, and President of the Berkshire Chapter.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics040.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

While the workshop formally starts on Saturday morning, it is inevitable that the festivities would start Friday night with a few early bird arrivals. Roger Coupal opened up his house to several members that evening.

Buffy Groves, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, and Shelly Wilkins of Baltimore sit and chat:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMVPP020.jpg


NGPP President Dave DiBacco relaxes after his 5 hour drive from Rochester, NY:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMVPP032.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

On the menu that night was an excellent (and spicy!) black bean soup with cornbread.

From L to R: Phil Reinhard, South Jersey Chapter; Brenda Mehring, Pittsburgh; Cliff Hayes, South Jersey Chapter; Roger Coupal, President Berkshire Chapter:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMVPP027.jpg


From L to R: Unknown guy who brought A/V equipment; Roger Coupal; Bill "I Can't Hang" Archibald, Boston Chapter; Dave Dibacco, NGGP President
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMVPP017.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

After dinner, a couple guys decided to stand around with their hands in their pockets, and discuss the art of Beer Snobbery.

Phil Reinhard, Cliff "I am NOT a beer snob" Hayes, & Tim Bodine of St. Louis, MO:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics207.jpg

And of course the shop talk started with Cliff showing off his monster paste whisk. Brenda couldn't believe her eyes, and had to touch it to see if it was real:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics010.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

Saturday morning, the workshop started off smoothly. While the line to register seemed to go on forever, everybody was seated on time for the show. This year the workshop sported a record attendance of 50+ hangers, and one dog:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics036.jpg


Roger sets the tone by laying out the days schedule. Sound like a lot of stuff to do, hopefully we can fit it in to the time alloted:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV024.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

First up, Tom Ayers of Connecticut shares some tips and tricks involving repairing cracks by using quick-set joint compound, and a sponge mop!

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV045.jpg

Next up was Bob Kelly from Lee, MA to introduce his talk on Seaming on Blankstock:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV057.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

Following up next was Heidi Johnson and Michael Germain introducing a new paper manufactory, Nama Rococo:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV072.jpg

Some examples of the Nama Rococo panels:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics055.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

Next up is Sarah Smyth of the Boston Chapter with a short talk on different types of contracts:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV082.jpg

After Sarah, the NGPP President Dave Dibacco stood up, and talked about the new PDCA magazine DECō that has a several page spread featuring the NGPP:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV094.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

After an excellent lunch of pizza and soft drinks, Phil "I'll Have The Captain's Cut" Reinhard gave a PowerPoint presentation on advanced uses of contracts, and contract law:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV108.jpg

Shelly Wilkins charmed the crowd with her talk on the basics of color, including color matching and mixing:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV135.jpg

Luckily she was able to find a sucker in the crowd to help with visual aids:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV131.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

Rich Mead of Connecticut brought in a whole cow hide, and explained how to install real leather as a wallcovering:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics103.jpg

I was surprised the material wasn't expensive as you think, nor difficult to hang:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics106.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

Next on the list was Mitchell Lustig of the Boston Chapter discussing the installation of water-sensitive materials:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics118.jpg

Alan Rada of NY took the stage to promote the NGPP's Certification program, and to introduce a new manual being created on how to hang everything:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV180.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

Bob Kelly finished up his presentation in showing how pasting methods and perfect timing effect seaming certain types of papers on blankstock:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics144.jpg

Phil Reinhard wraps up the educational part of the day with a quick demo of the new PLS180 laser (Man that was neat! Note to self: I want a PLS180!):

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics156.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

As in true workshop fashion, next up were the door prizes, and 50/50 raffle. As is always the style of the March Madness workshop, vendors were not invited, yet still supplied plenty of great products for attendees to go home with. 3 CHEERS for our associate members who donated these supplies!

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV190.jpg

Everybody went home with something. Here Jack "Union Jack" Tempesta, Boston Chapter, scored a bag of Ecofix P7 paste:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics160.jpg

If anyone sees Elsie Kapteina, just ask her who won the 50/50 raffle:

L to R: Tracy Karatza, Boston Chapter; Mac Mowbray, Berkshire Chapter, Elsie Kapteina, 1st NGPP Vice President:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics109.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

After the show, several members decided to hit a nearby restaurant for some chow:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV214.jpg

L to R: Phil Reinhard, Cliff Hayes, Brenda Mehring, Bill Archibald, Roger Coupal, Buffy Groves, Tim Bodine, Gerry Poirer, Michell Lustig, Shelly Wilkins, Heidi Johnson:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMV213.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

To cap off the evening, some of us couldn't stop talking shop:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMVPP065.jpg

Others retired to the living room for some music:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/BillsMMVPics182.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

On Sunday morning before everyone said their goodbyes, we convened once more for a meal.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMVPP070.jpg

Phil Reinhard whomped up some Tex-Mex stuff that tasted much better than it looked.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/ngpp/MMVPP072.jpg

[ProWallGuy]

I should have mentioned the price for this spectacular event.

$15.00


Yeah, thats right, no typo. Only $15. How someone could pass this up is beyond me.

[Lillian]

Tim and everyone involved in the March Madness.
Excellent... Excellent.... Excellent. The Pictures are great. What a great job guys and gals.
Happy Easter and God Bless everyone!
My best
Lillian

[gadams]

What a deal , pobably worth ten times that.Maybe one day I can to make it to one

[ProWallGuy]

Don't feel bad Guy. Rumor has it that Atlanta's workshop was a very well presented and attended event also. :2thumbs: