Go Green!

Everybody’s doing it; cutting back, eliminating paper & plastic waste, finding innovative ways to save time and resources. The best way to cut back on waste is to not have to create it in the first place. Reducing the amount of paper used during a tradeshow is one way to reduce waste. By utilizing already existing Smartphone apps, attendees, exhibitors and management can organize and control data according to their specific needs.

Registration Control Systems (RCS) use of ground-breaking web-based, cloud computing provides a cost-effective and efficient tradeshow registration system. The trademarked ExpoSmart Smartphone system can supplement traditional registration and lead retrieval services for all participants; event management, speakers, exhibitors and attendees. Not only does RCS ExpoSmart Smartphone systems reduce waste, but also reduces cost and use of space as well as eliminates wait times.

This self-service system begins before the show with attendees registering their Smartphone’s. They can then print their own badges at on-site badge printing stations and create their own ExpoCart. This innovative service lets all participants collect information on people, places, pictures and products they wish to remember from their tradeshow experience. This information can be accessed during and after the show.

Reports can be created before, during and after the event and is conveniently accessible 24/7. Surveys, feedback and opinion poll data can be collected and can assist event management in launching effective attendance and exhibitor promotions. RCS can customize surveys and polls and other event data as specified by show management. RCS truly provides a highly functional and flexible registration service via their ExpoSmart system.

By using already existing technology, RCS has found a way to help tradeshow participants do their part in Going Green. Almost all services can now be provided using technology and products tradeshow participants already have at their fingertips. 

"A Heart Has No Color"

This is my Sunday blog post but I was too tired (and a little stressed) to get it out on time. Besides, I wouldn't be "me" if I did... 

"But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 KJV)

The other day when I was listening to the various press conferences over the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case I heard a gem of a comment from Trayvon’s mother, Sybrina Fulton. She said, "A heart has no color."

Rather than go into a diatribe about how I feel about this case I will just say that I do not think this case is, or should be, about race. The slurs that Zimmerman supposedly said were reported falsely. It was a fake-up news report by a network in need of tabloid marketing. That was a horrible thing to do and has divided the lines and blurred the truth of this case. Not that it matters too much what the court of public opinion thinks, at least it shouldn’t.

I loved the thought that the heart has no color. It’s true, right? Our insides look alike. Red, bloody, tissue masses with no regard for the exterior colorings, size or sexual preference. 

I am not a fan of any kind of intolerance. However, in a recent class I discovered that we do all have certain prejudices. We have some preferences that reflect our culture (both societal and personal). Those preferences could be interpreted as a type of prejudice. Does that make us all racists or bigots? Not in my opinion.

As always, it is our actions that determine the level of prejudice, racism or bigotry we hold. Usually I do not even notice color of skin. I might notice bad grammar before I notice skin color. I will probably notice your shoes before I make a decision about your sexual preference (as if it’s my business, even!) and I am more likely to judge you by your shoes than your skin. That’s just me though. More often than not I will feel envy. But that’s a different post (pride!).

One of my nephews made a Facebook status comment about the need or lack thereof for the study of History. I was surprised and disappointed that he did not understand the significance of studying the past. Isn’t it considered insanity to keep repeating past mistakes? By studying The Holocaust and the Civil Rights era we discover why intolerance and racism is such an awful thing. What if our communal society thinks it is okay to “eliminate” an entire group of people based on their “outsides.” That makes it okay? Never!

God judges us by our hearts. That is why we can never judge another because we do not know their hearts. Judging and punishing someone based on what you do not know is wrong. Plain and simply Wrong! It is one thing to try to avoid danger in a cautionary way and quite another to want to see those people or areas targeted for violence or extermination.

Our hearts are all the same. They are all red and fleshy, blood pumping muscles. That is all we really know.  

The Family Business

Some of you know that the Bolton family (of which I spring) is heavily involved in the tradeshow registration business. With over forty years in business, Registration ControlSystems (RCS) prides itself not only on their state-of-the-art technology but also on close client relationships. Those relationships are rooted in trust and respect. Loyalty and excellence; enthusiasm and innovation are keywords for every RCS employee. A family-owned and operated business, one third of RCS employees are related and everyone is considered family.

A family business is defined as a business that is owned and managed by one or more family members. A positive reputation with customers is the most important business goal for 44.6 percent of family-owned businesses nationwide.* Evaluating the quality ofservices or products and analyzing customer satisfaction on a continual basisare the most widely used business planning practices in family-owned companies. A crucial part of managing quality is employee motivation and participation. Family-owned businesses include a unique dynamic of related family member employees and non-related member employees. Motivation to maintain personal freedom, rewards for meeting challenges and goals to increase family security by building the business are all success perspectives unique to family-owned businesses. Family-owned businesses tend to focus on efficiency, improving customer service, improving decision making, decreasing defective products and services, improving teamwork and increasing productivity. Family owned businesses concentrate on creating an outward focus on customers and an inward focus on operations to improve client relations and product offerings.

The RCS family of employees includes fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, in laws, etc. It also includes “family” of close friends and loyal staff-members with no less than five years, and many with more than twenty years of experience in the business. RCS believes direct contact between clients and their assigned team members is the most efficient and effective way to provide excellent service which also allows us to provide quick and flexible responses to our clients. To us, every event is the most important at the time it is occurring. Client satisfaction is our ultimate goal, as a business and as a family. These statistics show why our Clients are so important to us!

Stay tuned for more *fun* trade show news! 

*Danes, Sharon M. “Business Planning Practices of Family-Owned Businesses” University of Minnesota.

Yeah. I write.

I keep telling myself I am a writer. I believe I am a writer. So write, right? Yes, well, easier said than done, unfortunately. I recently read a blog post by one of my favorite writers about how she knows more about craft than she should and I’ve been giving that thought. I agree that some craft knowledge is essential but when does it interfere with creativity? Also, if you don’t try then you never know if you are good or a hack.

I think I can write. I don’t know about my fiction writing but I know I can write a decent paper for school. I journal a lot but I don’t know if what I write in my journal is worth reading. Some of it bores even me, and I wrote it!

So here is my blog. My goal is to have something posted every day. Each day has its own assignment. Today is Thursday and the assignment is to talk about what I’m reading or watching. I am currently reading an old Nora from 1991. It’s a series about four sisters, the kind I like; a romance with a touch of paranormal mystery. No crazy, loony, bad guy, yet, just the sisters and their home and their guys.  It is a simple story, predictable but suitable for a brain break.

Typically I like romances but I have been reading science fiction lately and loving it. I am in need of suggestions. Yes, I’ve read The Hunger Games (and saw the movie, more about that another time).  Yes, I’ve read the Twilight series. I just finished The Host (also by Stephenie Meyer) which I liked (surprisingly). I have some Orson Scott Card sitting around but I’m afraid I won’t like it. I’m kind of picky.
But then again, I did like The Host.

Next week I start my last “English” class for my Bachelor’s degree. I’m sure I’ll be doing some writing (and reading) for that so I might learn something [snicker]. Keep posted.