In-plant Events

Take a quick tour of the PRINT 09 show floor with IPG Editor Bob Neubauer.

The 2008 National Government Publishing Association conference brought 82 in-plant managers to Belleview, Wash. Here's a look back.

The devastation of New Orleans at the hands of Hurricane Katrina was witnessed on TV screens worldwide. But seeing the aftermath first hand, as attendees of the recent National Government Publishing Association conference did, left a far more poignant impression.

NEW ORLEANS' devastation at the hands of Hurricane Katrina was witnessed on TV screens worldwide. But seeing the aftermath first hand, as attendees of the recent National Government Publishing Association conference did, left a far more poignant impression.

I BELIEVE that all in-plant conferences should be cancelled, except one. How's that for a conversation starter?

LAST MONTH, in-plant managers from Texas colleges and universities met in Austin for the Texas Association of College and University Printers' (TACUP) conference. While billed as a regional conference, TACUP was actually the largest gathering of university in-plant managers this year, with 40 managers in attendance from as far away as Arizona, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Virginia. And judging by their responses, it was also one of the best events of its kind.

For years there has been a glut of annual in-plant conferences. Not counting trade show round tables, there are no less than six separate conferences each year: ACUP, IPMA, NGPA, Big Ten, SUPDMC and TACUP. Each has its history and its loyal fan base. And despite some overlap, each group has more or less competed against the others. This finally came to a head this month when three of these groups set their conference dates within weeks of one another. Each has struggled to pull in attendees, but travel restrictions have thwarted them.

Xerox held another of its Thought Leadership Workshops in Rochester recently, this one dedicated to in-plants serving the public sector. About 30 in-plant managers attended, from organizations like Mississippi Department of Health, Syracuse University, Hobart & Smith College, University of Arkansas, Eagle County School District, Bank of Canada and others.

OK, so it took a while, but here's a quick look at the highlights of last year's IPMA conference in Tunica, Miss.

Who won Best of Show in In-Print 2009? Watch as the judges narrow it down and pick the winner.