APPMA News Briefs

Have you Renewed your APPMA Membership Yet?
APPMA members are asked to send in their dues for 2008 by July 31, 2007. For those interested in exhibiting in the 2008 Global Pet Expo, it is important to note that after July 31st only member companies who have paid their 2008 dues will be assigned a booth. If members have questions about their dues, they may contact the Member Relations and Business Development department at memberservices@appma.org or (203) 532-0000 x521.

APPMA Welcomes New Members
APPMA is pleased to welcome 27 new member companies that joined this past April and June. For a list of the new members, click here to view the press release.

What's coming up in the Webcast Series?
Launched at the beginning of this year, APPMA’s new webcast series has featured a variety of seminars all conducted over the Internet, making it easily accessible and convenient for all members to participate. Recent seminars have covered topics such as importing and exporting and regulations on pet food. Coming this fall, there will be a series of seminars on public relations and trade show marketing. For updated information on the webcast series, click here.

Archived Educational Seminars
Did you miss an APPMA webcast or seminar? Not a problem! We archive all of our educational opportunities so that members may review them at their convenience. To hear the most recent webcast, Exporting to the UK, Germany and Italy (held on June 21, 2007) and other seminars click here.

A Guide to Everything APPMA
In June, APPMA distributed its 2007-2008 Member Resource Guide to all contacts in the Association's member companies. This handy resource provides members with an easily accessible guide to everything APPMA-related. In addition to the overview information about each department, the Resource Guide also includes members' usernames and passwords, as well as their member ID numbers, which provide access to a number of features on the APPMA and Global Pet Expo websites that are exclusive for members.

Deadline: Priority Booth Assignment
If you haven't already saved the date for the 2008 Global Pet Expo, then it's time to mark your calendars for next year's trade show, February 14-16 in San Diego, California! Member companies who have not registered for a booth should send in their applications with a 50% deposit by July 31, 2007 in order to be assigned booth space based on their membership priority points. For your convenience, exhibitors can now submit booth applications online at www.globalpetexpo.org/exhibitapplication.

The Buzz about The Boutique
The Boutique at Global Pet Expo will feature the trendiest, most fashionable boutique products to pamper pets such as custom designed jewelry, stylish carriers, couture clothing, luxury pet beds and spa products. The Boutique at Global Pet Expo will showcase aisles of style amid the hundreds of other exhibiting companies on the show floor. Exhibitors should contact Jennifer Murray at (203) 532-3610 or jmurray@appma.org with any questions.

Scholarship Winners Announced!
APPMA would like to congratulate the winners of The APPMA Jules Schwimmer Scholarship Award for the 2007-2008 academic year. The recipients are awarded $1,000 each and are chosen based on the students' impressive combination of academic and non-academic credentials.

The APPMA Scholarship Program was established to aid deserving students who are eligible for the awards based on their parent's employment with an APPMA member firm. In addition, the program allows member firms to establish their own scholarship programs by "piggybacking" on the APPMA Jules Schwimmer awards. This year, a student was also awarded a piggybacking scholarship by one of APPMA's member companies: the Earl F. Smith Memorial Scholarship.

Please join us in congratulating the following students:

APPMA Jules Schwimmer Scholarship Award:

Jessica Carter, Hamilton Products, Inc.
Kathleen Hall, American Wood Fibers, Inc.
Kyla Kohagen, PlanetWise Products, Inc.
Jessie Kehr, American Colloid Company
Kendra Lineback, Dowell Manufacturing
Jennifer Nahay, Dad’s Pet Care
Jeffrey Faust, Kaytee Products, Inc.
Christina O’Dell, Woodstreem Corp.

Piggybacking Award:

Jessi Smithson of the Earl F. Smith Memorial Scholarship, Mid-West Metal Products Co., Inc.