ACRA AGM looks to new future

ACRA Executive Promise New Future At Annual Conference                                        

41 people attended the Annual General Meeting of the Australasian Conference Association held on the 9^th June at the Gold Coast International Hotel, Queensland, Australia.

The full day conference included presentations from the Chairman, David Campbell, the Executive Officer David Lewis, and Erwin Pijpers, Static Control’s Vice President of International Sales & Marketing. Six sponsors provided a small display of products and services for both inkjet and laser, with components and finished products from Asia, Europe and the USA. 

Campbell provided an oversight of the association and how it has evolved over the past 12 months.  He described the introduction of the Cartridge Collection boxes as a positive awareness strategy to promote the reuse of cartridges in the community, and to assist the members to find empties. The theme of this campaign is “Rethink, React and Reuse”.

It was reported that the association has grown to 219 members in the past 12 months, still short of the 237 membership enjoyed back in 2005. It was noted that there has been an increase in Cartridge World members but a decrease in independent members. “Whilst this membership issue concerns us,” Campbell said, “we are working hard to rectify this.” 

The Association’s Executive Officer, David Lewis, called on the industry to get structured and become more professional.  He said that the poor return of industry surveys and the decline in memberships amongst the independent businesses reflected an apathy that could damage the industry in the long term.

Those attending commented upon the Cartridge World Conference that was being held on the same day in another part of Australia. “This action was beyond the control of ACRA and it is unfortunate that the industry has been divided this way,” one delegate commented. 

Highlights of ACRA’s presentations included the establishment of a centralised ACRA office that has been able to pull together the various activities and resources that have been stored in various regional locations. Other major initiatives include the production of a television Community Service Announcement, the new web site and the Cartridge Collection bins.  Lewis said, “The key to the success of these colourful collection bins is service.  They need to be distributed in the first instance, but