Still Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving was nearly two weeks ago, but the holiday season usually leaves me in a gratified mood. I’ve just returned from a trip to the East Coast, both to conduct the judging for the 2013 International Sign Contest and to attend the annual Sign World Intl. tradeshow presented by the United States Sign Council (USSC) November 29 to December 1 at the Atlantic City (NJ) Convention Center.

For the contest judging, I enlisted my good friends at Cima Network, a Chalfont, PA-based company that provides sign design, project-management, installation and service. Bill Lockett, Cima’s president, has authored several ST columns, and he graciously volunteered his staff to serve as adjudicators for this year’s competition. His co-owner/VP and lead designer, Keith Denny; Ken Olschewske, Cima’s director of environmental branding; and project manager Butch Zawislak, all served as project judges. Jim Klauder, production manager for K & S Concepts (Lansdale, PA), a Cima fabrication partner, also served on the panel.

Conventional wisdom says you don’t want to watch the process of making laws or sausage. Competition judging may fall into that category for some, but not me. It may seem tedious to others, but I always enjoy the methodology each panel takes to earn solutions. No two panels are alike. Also, this judging quartet probably provided one of the most spirited exchanges of opinions, which also improves the final product.

Who were the winners? Sorry, you’ll have to wait until their publication in our April issue (and on www.signweb.com). However, our readers and online viewers will have an opportunity to select “Readers’ Choice” winners selected from a pool selected by the judges. The readers will be selected from among “heats” of five entries, with each of the four heat winners pitted against each other for the Readers’ Choice top prize. The results will be published alongside the judges’ selections in the April issue, as well as online.

However, my gratitude doesn’t end there. Participants in the “Bullpen” at Sign World – where artisans gather to demonstrate their handlettering, pinstriping or fabrication skills – donated their time and talent to create pinstriped panels for auction. Proceeds benefitted Faces4Autism.org, an organization that provides services and activities for autistic children and their loved ones through Southern New Jersey. More details will soon be posted on Signweb and our Facebook page. I’m sure their generosity won’t be forgotten by the families whose lives this money will positively impact. And, a special word of thanks for Bruce Gough, owner of BG Graphics (Meriden, CT) and the longtime manager of the Bullpen.

The Bertucci Beer Bash, held at the conclusion of Sign World’s first day, recognized winners from the 2012 USSC Sign Design competition at an event with a public awards presentation against a scrolling backdrop of images from the prize-winning projects. The event provided a tribute to Andy Bertucci, the USSC’s founder and a prominent industry figure who passed away last year, and to the winners and their efforts. It was a great chance to reconnect with many people whom I only see occasionally, such as GableSigns designer Curtis Arbaugh, who maintained his annual tradition of earning competition recognition, and Shawn Green, president of fellow victor Green Sign Co. (Greensburg, IN), whose shop accomplishes great things in a relatively compact facility.

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During this time of year, it seems appropriate to reflect on those who better our lives. Thanks to the aforementioned people and organizations for their respective contributions, and thanks to our loyal readers, website visitors and social-media fans. You’re the reason we have the opportunity to discover, and convey, compelling signage and environmental-graphics projects.