WEEKLY UPDATE -- November 19, 2007
There’s plenty happening here at GAMA Central, so watch for weekly updates appearing in your mailbox and in GAMA’s other online news outlets.

FIRST-YEAR SUCCESS IN LUCCA
GAMA ran a booth with some selected products at the Lucca Comic and Game Fest in Lucca, Italy. LC&G is the oldest comic convention in the world, and started featuring games about 10 years ago. GAMA created a small presence this year to “test the water”, but the booth sold over $1,200 of product, selling out of many of the things we brought. GAMA also assisted in getting, securing, and finalizing licensing arrangements for several products to be released in Italian. GAMA will attend the show with a larger presence next year. Watch for details on pricing and product recommendations.


STRONG SALES AT THE NAGC SHOW
This year’s Show and Sell booth at the National Association for Gifted Children Show in Minneapolis. Twelve companies displayed products at the show, and two more GAMA-member companies sent literature for display. Teachers and gifted resource people bought more than $1,800 worth of products at the show! Your next opportunity to reach the lucrative gifted education audience for information happens at next year’s Show and Sell booth. Watch for details on pricing and product recommendations.


GTS 2008 HOTEL RESERVATIONS OPEN
Beat the annual rush by making your GTS 2008 hotel reservations now. Lock in the special GTS rate of just $127/night, good from April 17 (Thursday) through April 24 (Tuesday). Make the trip part business, part pleasure!

For more information, visit www.gama.org/shows-and-events/gts/travel.


UPCOMING GTS DEADLINES
- December 6, 2007: Ad copy deadline for GTS Program Book
- January 25, 2008: “Timely Rate” booth deadline
- February 29, 2008: “Late Rate” booth deadline

NEW OFFICE HOURS
The GAMA office will be open Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST. A couple of years ago, the staff started working 10 hours each day, four days each week. Rather than stagger the “odd” day as we did in the past, we moved everyone to the same schedule for better operations.


BUILD YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE GRD “RECOMMENDED READING” LIST
Chart your way to personal and business success through the GAMA Retail Division’s recommended reading list. Covering everything from customer service to organization to effectively leading your staff, these books help you take your business to the next level!

See the list at www.gama.org/communications/suggested.


NEW ONLINE PRESENCE ALMOST (REALLY!) HERE!
Yes, it’s almost, *almost* done, but it got delayed by the recent show schedule. By the end of November, you can get all of the GAMA and Origins news you could ever want through the new GAMA and Origins blogs. Watch for the rollout announcements soon!


NEW 401(k) PROGRAM COMING SOON!
Watch for news about GAMA’s new 401(k) retirement savings program. We’re signing contracts and working on announcement materials right now. You’ll love it!


GAMA’S CREDIT CARD PROGRAM SAVES MONEY FOR MEMBERS!
The savings just keep growing! Over 70 GAMA-member stores and manufacturers already save money every month with GAMA’s special credit card processing program through Cynergy Data. Isn’t it time to bring home more profit from your store?

Keep more of your hard-earned profits by joining GAMA’s credit card processing system. Get the details today at www.gama.org/programs/credit-card-program.


GAMA on the road
* Book Expo, May 29-June 1, 2008
* American Library Association Midwinter Meeting, January 11-16, 2008


WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE STAFF THIS WEEK…
Anthony Gallela (Executive Director)
- returned from Essen and Lucca trips
- on vacation

Jodie Ramsey (Operations Director)
- Processing incoming booth applications for the GTS priority rate deadline
- updating and maintaining QuickBooks file
- processing incoming membership applications

Trey Reilly (Programs Director)
- began work on the GAMA FAQ document
- working on promotion and development partnerships with other non-profit organizations
- continued planning for GTS 2008
- continued Origins 2008 development and organization
- supported the GAMA Retail Division
- monitored and responded to questions on various industry communications lists

Matt Ragsdale (Sales)
- out of the office Wednesday-Friday of Thanksgiving week
- working on manufacturer proposals for Origins and GTS
- putting together partnerships with several industry companies
- finished preliminary GTS 2008 map, sending it to exhibitors this week
- created PDF versions of the GTS exhibitor packet that people can complete on-screen using Acrobat Reader (no more writing by hand!)
- working on PDF versions of the Origins exhibitor packet

Joby Miller (Programs)
- continued readying the GTS and Origins web sites for pre-registration
- added mentorship dataform to the website
- setting up staff teleconferencing system
- monitoring and responding to registration e-mail

John Kaufeld (Communications)
- ran the Show and Sell program booth at the National Association for Gifted Children show
- processing orders from NAGC Show and Sell booth
- implementing new blogs for both GAMA and Origins
- responding to press inquiries