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cermatech 2000

updated thu 16 dec 99

 

Ron Roy on wed 15 dec 99

This is a detailed description of the workshop.

Debby Johnson is the co-ordinator - you can email her at:
Debby Johnston

They have a web page up at:
www.offinger.com/cermatech

Note deadline for special room rates is Jan 3, 2000.

RR

Two-Day Workshop at the Beach
CerMATECH 2000
February 3-4; Thursday & Friday


BRING A PROBLEM -- FIND A SOLUTION!
Bring your production problems and questions! At CerMATECH Workshop 2000 we
want you to leave with answers you can really use. Learn more about proper
techniques and equipment. Bring a sample problem piece for discussion.

This workshop is geared for production potters and ceramic manufacturing
operations.

BUILD YOUR NETWORK
Talk with knowledgeable speakers, such as Ron Roy, (sponsored by Tucker's
Pottery Supply), Bill Campbell, and Bill Leach (sponsored by
Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Co.), Howard Axner (Axner Pottery Supply), Jerry
Wagner (SBL Kiln Services). Casually chat with some of your suppliers in a
tropical, informal setting. Greet your peers and share experiences and
solutions.

BASK ON THE SUNNY BEACH
The Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort and Conference Center is a BEACH FRONT
location on the Gulf. Palm trees and shining sands. Leafy shade and
inspirational breezes! Come alone, or bring the family. Sun, fun, family
and no snow!! Kids under 12 eat free, and the hotel advertises an activities
room that offers daily scheduled children's activities between 9:30 a.m. and
5:00 p.m. It's an easy commute to major Florida attractions.

INTERACT WITH THE EXPERTS

Bill Campbell --
This successful production potter will share slides and talk on what he's
learned in order to be successful (business tactics, production techniques,
etc.); his autobiography was featured in Ceramics Monthly, April 1994 issue.

Campbell buys 44,000 pounds of clay, storing it in a barn next to his
house. He has an outlet shop for his work, he utilizes production
equipment, and he has a work force to maintain.

Campbell knows all about hiring and keeping good employees, dealing with
"maintenance, production flow, quality, shipping, purchasing, taxes, OSHA,
insurance, record keeping, bank relationships, Worker's Compensation,
safety, environment and more." He brings a wealth of valuable information on
production techniques and business tactics to CerMATECH Workshop 2000!

Howard Axner --
Howard Axner, President of Axner Pottery Supply (now celebrating its 22nd
year), in nearby Oviedo, Florida, will present a Jiggering demonstration and
discussion. The demo will include the mold making process.

Bill Leach --
Bill will present Slip Making and Practical Test Methods including a
hands-on demonstration you'll enjoy. He is employed by the
Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Co.

Mark Mayberry --
Mark is talking on The Best Things in Life Are Free....If You Are Willing to
Pay the Price

Mark is an international speaker, seminar leader and writer with the
Mayberry Group, Atlanta, GA. He coaches companies in developing
entrepreneurial teams and in producing strategic plans. Among his many
credits, he was Vice President of Apparel Distributors from 1976 through
1980, and Vice President of C&K Sportswear from 1981 through 1983, taking
this latter company to $3 million in annual sales in just two years.

Ron Roy --
Of course Ron's subject will be glazes, glazes, glazes! He will speak on 1)
"If You Want Problems Stick to Simple Glazes" or "Glazes - Lots is More",
and 2) "Testing Procedures for Clays and Glazes". Ron, of Scarborough,
Ontario, Canada, is sponsored at CerMATECH by Tucker's Pottery Supply.

He is a consultant to Tucker's Pottery Supplies and AxnerPottery Supplies,
and is conducting experiments with dilatometry for the benefit of potters.

Ron can help you analyze your glazing problems.

Jerry Wagner --
Jerry's kiln & firing topic will be announced shortly. He is currently
employed by SBL Kiln Services (who is sponsoring him to speak at CerMATECH)
as a kiln engineer, but comes from a potter background and is still active
in showing ceramic art. His employment experience includes glaze technician
and kiln foreman for a small pottery; kiln design for a company that
develops and sells kilns for the studio potter, light commercial industry
and the special laboratory kiln market; service engineering for check out
and start up procedures for kilns and furnaces, including turnkey systems
for tunnel kilns, shuttle kilns, bell kilns and roller hearths (natural gas,
propane and oils). He was Director of Ceramic Art for the Manchester
Craftsman's Guild in Pittsburgh, PA, and from 1978 to the present he has
maintained a working pottery studio producing one-of-a-kind ceramics and
architectural details for the architect, designer and art gallery industry.
His ceramic art is available through at least 16 galleries across the
nation.


DEMONSTRATIONS
RAM Products, Inc. will be presenting a continuous loop VHS on ram pressing
during open exhibit hours, and Dick Pelleriti of RAM Products will be
available, along with other exhibitors and speakers, at the Problem-Solving
"Power Hour" to answer questions.


PROBLEM-SOLVING "POWER HOUR"
On Friday, speakers and exhibitors will gather, first in a panel and later
at round-table discussions to give you more one-on-one problem-solving
power. Ask your specific questions and get some specific answers!


EXHIBITING CERAMIC SUPPLIERS
-- Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Co.
-- Old Hickory Clay Co.
-- RAM Products
-- Tucker's Pottery Supplies
-- USG Corporation

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday, February 3, 2000

8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. -- Registration Pickup & Coffee -- Sunset Rm
8:40 a.m. - 8:55 a.m. -- Welcome & Last-Minute Instructions -- Surf A/B
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. -- Session IA (also Exhibit Setup time) -- Surf A/B
10:30 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. -- Beverage Break & Exhibits Open -- Sunset Rm
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. -- Session IB -- Surf A/B
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. -- Lunch Served & Exhibits Open -- Sunset Rm
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. -- Session IIA -- Surf A/B
3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. -- Beverage Break & Exhibits Open -- Sunset Rm
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. -- Session IIB -- Surf A/B
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. -- Exhibits Open, Silent Auction Donations Accepted --
Sunset Rm

Friday, February 4, 2000

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. -- Joint Session Keynote with AGSA -- Surf A/B
9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. -- Exhibits Open & Jiggering Demo -- Sunset Rm
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. -- Round Table Problem-Solving -- Discussions &
Coffee -- Sunset Rm & Surf D
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. -- Lunch Served & Announce Silent Auction Winners --
Sun Deck
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. -- Session IV & Followup on Round Table --
Problem-Solving Discussions -- Coral A/B


BRING A WISH-COME-TRUE
TO SOME CHILD . . . SILENT AUCTION
Donate a sterling sample of what your company produces and some accompanying
retail literature to our Silent Auction. We will open the auction throughout
the two-day workshop to allow all who come to CerMATECH and to the art glass
suppliers group (that will be in the same facility when we meet) to place
bids. Bids will be placed in writing, and at the end of the posted bidding
period, the highest bid is awarded the purchase.

All monies raised through the auction will go to the local Kids Wish Network
(part of the National Wish Foundation). Each company contributing an item
for the auction will be mentioned in the letter sent with the check to the
charity.

REGISTRATION
The two-day meeting registration is $125 for CerMA members and $225 for
nonmembers. (Join CerMA for only $95 for the best value in meeting
registration, plus association benefits. See more about CerMA in the closing
article).

Meal tickets are separate, as follows:
Thursday lunch --
--Member $15/Nonmember $25 (Croissant Club: A large croissant filled with
ham, turkey, swiss cheese, tomato and alfalfa sprouts; served with cole
slaw, pickle spear and fresh fruit garnish.)

Friday lunch --
-- Member $15/Nonmember $25 (Stuffed Tomato Trio: Vine ripened tomatoes
stuffed with chicken salad and served on a bed of fresh greens.)

All registrations must be in advance -- deadline is January 20, 2000.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS
CerMATECH has arranged a special room rate at the Holiday Inn SunSpree of
$109 per night, plus tax for single or double occupancy from February 1-6.
To make room reservations at the CerMATECH rate, please call the hotel at
727-447-9566 and be sure to identify yourself as attending the CerMATECH
Workshop. The deadline for room reservations at this rate is January 3,
2000.

AIRLINE RESERVATIONS
If you're not close enough to drive, it is easy to fly to Tampa and catch
transportation to the hotel (see below). For airlines reservations, call
1-800-878-6767 or 740-455-6767 and a friendly agent will help you. Carlson
Wagonlit Travel/Offinger Travel is CerMATECH's official travel agency.

Transport to the hotel (approximately 25 miles from the Tampa airport):
-- Airport Limo (shuttle service) - is located outside baggage claim and is
$13 per person one way. Reservations are suggested -- 1-800-282-6817. Will
take about an hour to hotel, due to multiple stops.
-- Taxi -- outside baggage claim -- $35-$40 one way
-- Town cars -- outside baggage claim -- $40 one way
-- Car Rental is available at the airport.


CERMATECH IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY....
CerMATECH Workshop 2000's sponsor is CerMA (Ceramic Manufacturers
Association), a non-profit trade organization whose mission is to be "a
training and information resource for plant operators, to ensure the
viability of the ceramic industries." Members include production potters,
and ceramic manufacturers and suppliers of ceramic, glass and cement
materials, services and products. We invite you to become a member. Members
are listed in the annual member directory (and receive a complimentary copy
of the directory), receive the newsletter, are eligible to attend a two-week
ceramic training course at Hocking Technical College at a discount, can ask
for help from the technical referral service, and can check out CerMA member
programs like the bankcard program, group insurance program, and more.

CerMATECH Workshop 2000's organizer is Offinger Management Company, which
provides management services for CerMA.


The following corporate sponsors help make CerMATECH Workshop 2000 possible:
-- Kentucky-Tennessee Clay
-- RAM Products
-- Tucker's Pottery Supplies
-- US Gypsum
-- Old Hickory Clay Co.

Ron Roy
93 Pegasus Trail
Scarborough
Ontario, Canada
M1G 3N8
Evenings 416-439-2621
Fax 416-438-7849