A Conference to Remember
The California Sign Association held its annual convention in Garden Grove, CA. on August 24-26. Great camaraderie and fun were had by all!
Wednesday was the start of the convention with the last meeting of the 2015-16 CSA Board of Directors taking place Wednesday afternoon, then moving quickly into bowling at Bowlmor Lanes.
Opening Party “Bowling Bash!”
Bowling, libations, fiesta and fun!
What is a blast? CSA’s “Bowling Bash” event! Seventy five were in attendance at the bowling bash; watching, networking and some even establishing new bowling techniques, and plenty of food and drinks were the order of the day – several CSA bowlers appear to be regulars on their alleys back home – judging by their scores. In a private “bowling alley within a bowling alley” fantastic victuals from south of the border and plenty of libations from a private bar set the tone for this year’s conference.
Thursday started with a very exciting and very informative seminar conducted by Ms. Teresa Young, President and CEO of Sign Biz ®, Inc. and Ms. Lori Anderson, President of the International Sign Association (ISA); the hiring process as well as the retention of employees were addressed. Young kicked off with an eye-opening look at “white hacker” techniques that improve hire quality. Lori finished up the program with with educational opportunities that ISA is offering to its members and non-members alike. This seminar was of such importance – it was filmed and segments will be available on the CSA website for your enjoyment!
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM 2016 CSA Annual Meeting & State of the Association
The next order of business was our annual membership meeting, where President Mike Avery brought the members up to date information on where CSA is and where it is going. The election of the board of directors for the year 2016-17 was conducted, along with the election of next year’s officers, which includes – Mike Avery, N Glantz & Son (Immediate Past President), Pete Michelini, Sign Designs, (President), Dennis Lytle, Federal heath (1st Vice President), Neal Tibbs, Ad Art (2nd Vice president), and Bob Shimmin, Montroy Supply (Secretary/Treasurer).
When lunch was served, we were provided the history of Orange County by Phil Brigandi; it was interesting to hear about all the twists and turns this area of the state took before settling down and becoming one of the most beautiful and active centers of commerce in Southern California.
Next was the Exhibit Hall!
WSSC Show – Product & Service Expo The Showcase – the afternoon was filled with more great camaraderie, and an exhibit hall filled with 44 exhibitors that were delighted to share their new products, services and spend time with existing as well as potentially new customers. The exhibitors expressed delight with CSA’s future convention plans that include, our returning to this same venue in 2018 and 2020 – those are the years when ISA is conducting the EXPO in Orlando. When the EXPO is in Las Vegas, CSA will conduct Educational Conferences – further details on this new format will be explained in future editions of Signage Matters.
Thursday night featured a great banquet and both live and silent auctions. The magician was worth the price of admission!
Friday, Fun Day!
Friday was the conclusion of this year’s convention, where fifty people made reservations to enjoy lunch and ride the attractions at Knott’s Berry Farm. The number of folks who stated they hadn’t been to the park in years, and how it brought back great memories of years gone by, was staggering. The new rides at the park – like the Accelerator – were nothing less than staggering and so exhilarating!
Thank you to all that participated in this year’s CSA Annual Convention – see you next year!
CSA FISHING TRIP 2016
CSA FISHING TRIP 2016
With the 14th Annual Fishing Trip behind us, I would like to share what you missed for those who did not attend – This year was invigorating! Check out the video below for a taste of the excitement!
On August 6th, CSA completed its 14th Annual Deep Sea Fishing Trip. Forty Six anglers boarded the Clemente at 5 a.m. We decided to take the long trip to Catalina, due to the lack of any decent fishing off the coast. Arriving off the Catalina Shore at 8:45 a.m., we continued to fish until 1:30 p.m. We caught 35 Yellowtail, 64 Bass and 21 Bonita. The “Jackpot Winner” was Mike Perez from Federal Heath!
This year, Randy Crossno put together a “50/50 Raffle” that also included a (wrapped) tackle box. Tim Kowalczya, also from Federal Heath, was the winner!
We arrived back to the dock at 6 p.m. It appeared it was an enjoyable day for all.
Hope to see everyone next year! ~ Gary Quiel
WSSC – CSA Event is your Passport to Success!
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
4:00 – 6:00 PM CSA Board of Directors Meeting
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Honoring CSA’s Legislative Efforts – 30+ Years Proud
Building on legislative success in 1983, which resulted in a requirement that just compensation be paid for compelled removal of on-premise signs, in 1986 – 30 years ago – CSA commenced another extraordinary effort to save signs from removal based on height and size when special topographic circumstances exist.
Under the leadership of Leo March (Integrated Sign) and legal counsel Robert Aran, CSA was able to secure passage of Business & Professions Code section 5499.
Section 5499 provides:
“Regardless of any other provision of this chapter or other law, no city or county shall require the removal of any on-premises advertising display on the basis of its height or size by requiring conformance with any ordinance or regulation introduced or adopted on or after March 12, 1983, if special topographic circumstances would result in a material impairment of visibility of the display or the owner’s or user’s ability to adequately and effectively continue to communicate with the public through the use of the display. Under these circumstances, the owner or user may maintain the advertising display at the business premises and at a location necessary for continued public visibility at the height or size at which the display was previously erected and, in doing so, the owner or user is in conformance.”
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SoCal Seminar and Dinner in Anaheim
Learn at a UL Seminar followed by Dinner Meeting and Presentation!
Underwriters Laboratory shares Cyber Security Measures and how to protect products, software and infrastructures against cybersecurity risks.
CYBERSECURITY (UL CAP)
Cybersecurity Seminar: 3:30pm -5:30pm
No Host Cocktails: 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Dinner & Presentation: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
All events will take place at Hotel Menage in Anaheim.
CSA – Dinner Mtg. (follows seminar)
No Host Cocktails: 5:30pm-6:30pm
Dinner & Presentation: 6:30pm-8:30pm
Sign Restoration!
Presenter: Dydia DeLyser
Dydia DeLyser serves as Secretary of the Museum of Neon Art (MONA) in Glendale, California and is a Member of the Board of Trustees of the American Sign Museum (in Cincinnati, Ohio) – Don’t miss this insight-filled presentation on the neon-sign industry and the Sign Restoration movement which has grown in California and nationwide!
DeLyser is a Cultural-historical geographer, with research interests that include how neon signs engage both art and craft in an active practice that forms representational messages out of gas, glass, and electricity.
2016 WSSC Show and CSA Conference
The Western States Sign Show has proven to be a not-to-miss event, and 2016 is no exception!
This year will be bigger and better than ever as the Western States Sign Council combines efforts with the California Sign Association, for the second Western States Sign Show/CSA Convention. This combined event will take place at the Hyatt Regency Orange County, August 24-26, 2016, Wednesday through Friday! The Hyatt Regency Orange County is a high-end hotel spread over 2 towers and is set 2.2 miles from Disneyland® Resort and a 2.5-mile drive from the Angel Stadium of Anaheim baseball arena.
Read all about the exciting special events, the seminars, and the trade show here: Schedule of Events Download Registration Form Here: Registration (PDF)
Exhibitors
Choose your exhibit space and return completed registration information today!
Early Bird pricing is available, if contract and payment are sent by June 15, 2016 – Don’t delay!
Download Exhibitor Prospectus (PDF)
High Fives for this California Manufacturer!
Five Core Values Drive Starfish Signs
People, Products, Customers, Community and Sustainability.
Mike and Laura Reilly founded Starfish Signs & Graphics in 2012, with the objective of bringing a different type of business model to the sign industry. Although new to signs and graphics, they had spent nearly 30 years in other manufacturing and service industries, honing their skills in quality, innovation and customer service. They founded Starfish Signs to be a values-based business, with the five arms of the Starfish representing the Company’s five core values: People, Products, Customers, Community and Sustainability.
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The Great Fishing Trip August 6, 2016!
Back for the 14th voyage off the coast of Dana Point, Captain Gary Quiel and 44 lucky fishermen, women & children will set sail early, early Saturday, August 6! This event sells out every year, so book early! This is an all-day cruise launching at 5:00 am (please check-in by 4:30 am) out of Dana Point Harbor and returning around 5:00 pm that afternoon.
Reserve your spot early – limited space available! Sells out EVERY YEAR. Cost: $110 per person (license, equipment, food, drink or fish cleaning are NOT included in this fee). Payment is required to hold reservations. Registration form & payment are due by July 6, 2016. After this date, no refunds will be given for cancellations. The boat could hold 60, but Cap’n Gary limits the total number of guests to give everyone plenty of room to stretch out.
For more information about the fishing, call Gary Quiel at (909) 885-4476. For information about registration, call CSA at (916) 932-0021 or email cflahive@calsign.org.
License, equipment, food, drink or fish cleaning is NOT included in your registration fee.
Saturday, August 6, 2016 – Sailing on the Clemente
Check-in at 4:30 am, boat departs at 5:00 am sharp!
Dana Wharf Sportfishing in Dana Point Harbor
34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA
Recent Court Rulings: Commercial Speech and the City of Los Angeles
Several recent court rulings reiterate that commercial speech regulations, including signage restrictions based on content, are subject to “heightened scrutiny” evaluation and that government carries the burden of showing that the challenged regulation advances the Government’s interest in a direct and material way. “That burden is not satisfied by mere speculation or conjecture.” Rather, to survive scrutiny “a restriction on commercial speech must demonstrate that the harms it recites are real and that its restriction will in fact alleviate them to a material degree.”
Under both California and Federal law, an onsite/offsite distinction is lawful, provided it does not regulate the content of the message, i.e., that differentiating between onsite and offsite signs does not constitute a content-based distinction. In addition, the court succinctly explained and reiterated the longstanding guidance of Central Hudson on how to assess sign regulations. In sum, significantly for the sign industry, the effect is that the status quo has been preserved.
CSA and ISA continue to work diligently with the city to bring finality to this matter. Along the way, CSA, working with the billboard industry, had to fend off legislation proposing a statewide moratorium on digital signs (legislation penned by the current LA city attorney), as well as re-educate several times new council members and staffers, including a new Planning Director. CSA and ISA retained the services of local lobbyists to assist with the endeavor.
What is the Lamar case about – and why is it important?
In the one of the lawsuits, Lamar v. City of Los Angeles (initially decided in 2015), a state lower court judge ruled, among other points, that under the California Constitution there was no material difference between an onsite sign and an offsite sign, and the billboard ban was thus unconstitutional (a result contradictory to prior federal court rulings based on the US Constitution). The City appealed, and in an unusual twist, CSA and ISA filed “amicus” friend of the court briefs supporting the city (as did several Planning groups). CSA/ISA’s position was that if the appellate decision were upheld on appeal in favor of Lamar, it would seriously undermine California’s on-premise sign laws (sponsored by CSA 30 years ago), as well as result in an
unrestricted proliferation of billboards, i.e., potentially every sign could be used for offsite advertising, jeopardizing the entire on-premise industry, and subjecting on-premise signs along
the highway to Caltrans regulation.
Read More – Full CSA Legal and Legislative Update (PDF)
New Innovation from ADTI Spells New Options for Sign Industry
These are exciting times in the world of signage. As Digital Out Of Home (DOOH) technology becomes increasingly popular and interactive, the options for sign dealers become wider and wider. While so many choices can make deciding on the right sign somewhat of a difficult internal struggle, one thing is clear – dealers are looking for American-made quality and innovation. Companies like ADTI Media are answering that call. With the release of its revolutionary SKYPANEL™ display system, the Temecula, CA-based company is among those manufacturers helping sign dealers throughout California appeal to clients with weatherized, energy-efficient signage options that are surprisingly affordable.