Recap 2015: A Great Summit
The 2015 CSA Annual Convention and California Sign Industry Summit came to a very successful conclusion on Friday the 28th. All indications are that everyone had a great time. Some comments heard while attendees were leaving; “Best CSA Event I have ever attended,” “Easily Best CSA Convention I’ve been to,” “I wish my wife had come to this one – she would have loved it!”
“I wish my wife had come to this one – she would have loved it!”
The fun and excitement started on Wednesday evening with bowling at the East Village Tavern & Bowl. 86 people attended this exciting event, sponsored by CNP Signs & Graphics and Signtech Electrical Advertising. Twelve lanes were set aside just for CSA, with The Back Yard Grill the theme for the food served – the general consensus was the Mac & Cheese was something to behold – along with the Tavern Burger Sliders, Grilled Marinated Artichokes, and Caesar Salad to round out the menu.
Thursday was action packed! The California Sign Association (CSA) held its fourth and final Board of Directors Meeting for the 2014-15 year, on Thursday, August 27th at the Wyndham Hotel, in San Diego, California. As well as having 24 of our Board of Directors present, along with three of our active Director’s Emeritus – we had the great pleasure of having Ms. Lori Anderson, President of ISA, David Hickey VP of ISA, and Jamie Hill, Affiliate Relations Manager with ISA, in attendance. All three were able to attend the entire board meeting and shared with our board very interesting data and information regarding projects ISA is currently working on.
Shop Tours
Prior to attending the Board of Directors Meeting on Thursday, Anderson, Hickey, and Hill joined Mike Sullaway (Sullaway Engineering), Jack Lester (YESCO – Las Vegas), and Shouaib Faizi (FederalHeath – Oceanside) and CSA Executive Director, Roy Flahive for a tour of Signtech Electrical Advertising and CNP Signs & Graphics on Wednesday morning; being new to ISA – this was Hill’s first visit to sign companies. After the tour of the two sign companies were finished, Anderson and Hill returned to the hotel, while Hickey and the three engineers and Flahive joined Dr Uang at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) for lunch, a tour of the UCSD Testing Labs and finally a meeting of the ISA Engineering Sub-Committee. The engineering committee met with Dr Uang to discuss the need to conduct additional testing on sample lap splice prototypes; that were originally tested about four years ago. All in attendance appreciated Dr Uang taking time out of his very busy schedule to provide the tour and to meet for several hours with the committee.
The CSA 2015 General Membership Meeting moved quickly to lunch from 11:45am – 1:15pm with the Gaslamp Players performing. 
A well-attended Educational Session presented by Dave Fellman, Author and industry speaker, from 1:30pm – 2:45pm, followed by the Vendor Showcase from 3:00pm – 5:00pm. The day’s activities were concluded by the Annual Banquet; where the 2015-16 CSA Officers and Directors were installed, the silent and live auctions were conducted and the always exciting $10,000 Drawing was held.
Ray Smith Retires
CSA Outgoing President, Mr. Mark Haist, wanted to recognize Mr. Ray Smith on his retirement from the CSA Board of Directors (past President 2008), as well as his retirement from the Western States Sign Council (WSSC), where Ray has represented CSA for the last 10 years – serving as President of the WSSC for seven of those years. Those would seem like long tenures, if it weren’t for the fact that Ray is retiring from Federal Heath after being gainfully employed there for 39 years. Fortunately Ray and his wife Karen were able to join us at this year’s CSA Annual Convention for a little well deserved recognition. Best of luck Ray in your retirement!
Robb Weinstock, a very accomplished magician, served as our Master of Ceremonies. Outgoing president Mark Haist was thanked for his dedicated leadership as he passed the gavel to new president Mike Avery (Interstate Electric) during what was truly a “magical evening.”
The San Diego Zoo
The first BOD Meeting for 2015-16 was Friday the 28th. The newly-elected Board met in the morning, and then it was off to a day at the San Diego Zoo for attendees, including a tour of the zoo sign shop (a CSA member).
With 21 new members last year and 29 new members this year – CSA is moving forward with new energy; the synergy created at this year’s convention will undoubtedly carry forward through next year. Under the leadership of President Mike Avery (IEC – Interstate Electric), many exciting things have been planned for the year’s activities – educational seminars, dinner meetings, Bocce Ball, Horse racing – you will want to attend just to see what is next!
Food for thought —
Friendships are built on shared experiences. Without active engagement and interaction with each other our bonds of camaraderie deteriorate. Associations dissolve as surely as neglected buildings do. After participating in events, celebrations and even small rituals, we remark how good it is to gather, and remember.
Now CSA’s Executive Director, Roy Flahive, has worked within the sign industry for more than 40 years. He is well-known and highly respected, having sat on numerous boards, including those of ISA, San Diego Area Lighting Advisory, and UL’s Industry Advisory Committee. He recently led CSA in engaging the California Energy Commission and the California utility companies in their ongoing work on Title 24 regulations. Most recently, Flahive represented Western States Sign Council (WSSC) while on the CSA board, and in that capacity, helped to coordinate joint WSSC/ CSA initiatives. Notably, Flahive has twice been elected President (Chairman of the Board) of CSA.