Dynamic Signage Considerations
Certainly Dynamic Digital signage is a market that has been percolating for a while. The massive economic downturn stymied many manufacturers and audio-visual professionals: They could not find a receptive market. Today, prices have dropped dramatically and it seems nearly every business can utilize these wayfinding / advertising/ informational screens. But to serve this market, a few technicalities must be mentioned. For example, electronic waste. As you replace old display screens, California has some rules you must observe.
Fight the Underground Economy
Licensed sign companies in California are competing against unlicensed sign manufacturers and installers. The California Sign Association works with the California Contractors State License Board and other regulatory agencies to eliminate the unlicensed companies. If you are aware of illegal and unlicensed installations of signs, you can help solve the problem by notifying the Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) of the CSLB. If you don’t want to directly participate, CSA will accept and transmit the information on your behalf.
The best way to let CSLB know about unlicensed activity on an active job site is by completing the SWIFT Lead Referral form. Use the link below.
Top 10 Contracting Errors
10 Sign Contractor Errors that Could Land You in Jail
This is one of CSA’s most popular resource pages. The California Sign Association lawyer, Jeff Aran, receives many inquiries related to sign contracting and contractor law in California. Here are some of the most common (and surprising) errors made.
Believe it or not, each of the following actions are potentially misdemeanors under California law, which might result in a jail sentence, monetary penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings and license suspension. Continue Reading
NorCal CSA Education Event & Dinner Meeting
Join CSA members and prospective members at CSA’s Northern California dinner meeting and learn more about UL from a UL representative. Then enjoy dinner and BOCCE! UL Retrofits are a hot topic today, so you don’t want to miss this event – not to mention the food and bocce! YES! Learn to play bocce – bocce is a BLAST!
3:30 – 5:30 PM
UL Seminar ~ Meet with our guest speakers from UL and learn the ins and outs of LED retrofit kits. Industry members have expressed a need for education in how to properly retrofit signs with LEDs. Additionally, learn more about how this matters with the new 2014 NEC, and UL48 requirements. UL listing status may not be maintained if a retrofit is not properly administered.
5:30 – 6:30 PM
Dinner and Networking
6:30 – 9:00 PM
Bocce Ball!
At Campo di Bocce you get the big ball closer to the little ball. Simplicity is fundamental to bocce as the object of the game is to get as many of your teams bocce balls as close to the target ball, the pallino, as possible. Teams can be comprised from one to six people. So get ready, and observe these few simple rules:
- No high-heeled shoes. Our courts are vulnerable to tears and punctures when heels are worn. Bocce is best played in low, soft heeled shoes for your safety.
- Dress Code – All guests should wear proper attire (casual, comfortable) with proper shoes. Gentlemen – please no sleeveless shirts or tank tops.
- All members & non-members using the club facility MUST be 18 years or older or have immediate adult supervision. Supervising adult must be present on the courts with minor.
With all these to consider, don’t forget the most important rule is to HAVE FUN and PLAY BOCCE!
REGISTER FOR ONE OR BOTH EVENTS!
WSSC 2014 Sign Show
SAVE THE DATE: October 30-31, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona
The Western States Sign Show will be held for the first time in Phoenix, Arizona and will serve as the ASA annual tabletop. Exhibitors who have participated in the ASA show in the past know that it always delivers satisfaction. The WSSC show will offer booth size spaces as well as tabletops, and the exhibit fee includes one night’s stay at the host hotel, Phoenix Airport Marriott, conveniently located just 2.5 miles from Sky Harbor Airport.
Networking events will include a cocktail reception during the trade show on Thursday and dinner with entertainment for all attendees on Thursday evening. State association board meetings and educational sessions will take place over the two days of the show but outside of exhibit hours.
This year’s theme “New Technology Shaping Signs for Tomorrow” is intended to drive strong attendance. Exhibitors will be encouraged to present products that will help grow the business of sign companies. Educational sessions will also focus on new technology. Please contact WSSC staff if you are interested in presenting an educational session.
Magnetic Ballast Phase Out Imminent
Manufacturing of magnetic-type ballasts for fluorescent signs will be phased out on November 14, 2014.
This is the effective date previously established by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to implement its new metric for efficacy testing applicable to these products. As of November 14, 2014 all High Output Ferromagnetic Sign Ballast will no longer be produced by any ballast manufacturers. DOE had previously investigated the sign ballast product category and found that very few sign ballasts do not have the capability to operate 8-foot HO lamps either in single- or multiple-lamp combinations. Thus, the only ballasts not covered by the DOE rulemaking are those which cannot operate F96T12HO lamps in any combination. This phase-out is applicable to a majority of the commonly-used, fluorescent sign ballasts.
The rulemaking creates a new metric for measuring ballast efficiency and establishes a higher standard of efficiency that will impact many of today’s fluorescent T5, T8 and T12 ballasts.
The DOE rulemaking, however, does not prohibit sales or use of existing inventory of magnetic sign ballasts after the November compliance date and until inventories are depleted.
CSA First Board Meeting
CSA’s first board meeting of the new fiscal year will be hosted at Harveys Hotel in Lake Tahoe. The Executive Committee will meet the night prior. The 2014-2014 final board meeting will take place on Thursday, September 18th, and the new 2014-2015 Board will meet on Friday the 19th. Featured speaker will be Teresa M. Young, who regularly presents on the subject of Dynamic Digital Signage. She has served as CSA’s President and sits on the Board of Directors of the Association. In addition, she serves on the Advisory Board of the Digital Signage Experts Group.
Reservations: To make reservations, call 800-455-4770 and identify yourself as part of the California Sign Association (Group Code S09CSA4), in order to receive the group rate. Reservations must be made between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. (midnight)
Group Name: California Sign Association
Group Rate: $99 (Wednesday, September 17 and Thursday, September 18); $149 (Friday, September 19); $149 (Saturday, September 20)
Group Rate Deadline: August 24. Reservations made after that date will be on a space-available basis and will not be eligible for the group rate.
Exhibitors: Please download your copy of the Exhibitor Guide here.
Schedule of Events
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
4:00 – 7:00 p.m. 2013-14 — CSA Executive Committee Meeting
Thursday, September 18, 2014
8:00 – 10:15 a.m. 2013-14 — CSA Board of Directors Meeting
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. 2014 — CSA Annual Meeting
State of the Association and Board Elections
11:45 – 1:15 p.m. — Annual Lunch
Lake Tahoe Then & Now; McAvoy Layne
1:30 – 3:00 p.m. — Dynamic Digital Signage and the New CSA Website
Teresa Young, Sign Biz® Inc.
3:15 – 4:45 p.m. — Vendor Showcase – Tabletop Exhibits
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. — President’s Reception
7:00 – 10:00 p.m. — California Sign Industry Summit Banquet Awards Installation of Officers
Silent Auction Closeout Live Auction
$10,000 Drawing
Friday, September 19, 2014
8:00 – 11:15 a.m. 2014-15 — CSA Board of Directors Meeting
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. — Special Event Thunderbird Lodge Tour
New Member Profile: Clear Sign & Design, Inc.
It has been quite the journey from small start-up in 1981, when owner Steve Weddell started Clear Communications, as a small design and marketing firm compared to what the company is capable of today. In the years since, Clear Sign & Design has systematically built on Weddell’s original vision of what a custom sign company should be, creating a dynamic, “client-centric” culture based on collaboration and integrity. Continue Reading
American Planning Association Conference
The APA California Orange Section will host the 2014 APA California Annual Conference, California’s Adventures in Planning. In attendance at this important event will be representatives from CSA (Executive Director, Roy Flahive) and ISA (James Carpentier, Manager State & Local Government Affairs). The conference will be held September 13 -16, 2014, at the Disneyland® Hotel.
Progress on Bill for Tax Extenders
U.S. House of Representatives recently passed d H.R. 4457, the “America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2014”. This bill would make permanent Section 179 expensing at the levels that had expired at the end of 2013, i.e., a $500,000 expensing allowance and a $2,000,000 investment cap. Continue Reading