By Elizabeth “Buffy” Groves, The Paperhanger, Heathsville, Virginia, Bill Archibald, Norfolk, Massachusetts, and Elsie Kapteina, C.P., Wallpaper Hangups by Elsie, Bethel, Connecticut

A crazy title, yes, but fitting. Every year the East Coast eagerly awaits the quiet word from the Berkshire Chapter and its President, Roger Coupal, that we will once again meet in West Springfield, Massachusetts, to discuss and explore the multi-dimensional facets of wallcovering. The chapters of the Northeast quadrant pull together and contribute to this annual open meeting.

On March 3, 2007, forty-three paperhangers representing Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia gathered at the Quality Inn for what has been dubbed "March Madness”. This was the fourth annual meeting which is always very much like Roger: low key, unrushed, and to the point. While last year's meeting covered many new products that were being introduced into the market, this year it was all about business acumen.

Richmond Mead, of the Connecticut Chapter, opened the meeting by initiating an opportune discussion on several installation procedures: to line or not to line; type of pastes in certain situations; staining of seams; and more. The audience participated by offering insights, opinions, and techniques relative to the many topics discussed.

Elizabeth "Buffy" Groves, at-large member from Heathsville VA, and Mid-Atlantic RD, gave the inside scoop on how to handle pets in the work place. It was quite informative and from a woman who knows what she was relating: Buffy has her own "pack" of eleven dogs all living under her roof. She brought her 3-year-old German Shepard, Luke, with her to demonstrate how to greet a customer's dog. Luke never left her side and was the charmer of the day.

Next on the schedule was Barry Blanchard of the Boston Chapter who opened many eyes as to the value and the perception of our profession. Barry's talk, "Getting What You Are Worth” took the audience through a simple math course, backed by a survey that many had filled out via the Internet. The thrust of the presentation was to educate everyone as to how much they charged per hour vs. how much they were actually receiving for all those hours not at the wall. Many went home ready to start tracking their actual hours, computing it back to their hourly rate.

Phil Reinhard from the South Jersey Chapter displayed an array of tools that makes his day more productive. Phil also related how he makes time on each job as productive as possible. He pointed out a few simple procedures, such as: walk in and apply prep-coat, then unload and set up the rest of the equipment while the prep coat dries; don't go to the truck without bringing out tools and equipment that will not be used again; take more than one knife, more than one sponge/rag, more than one trim guide up that thirteen foot ladder. After all, time is money. Cliff Hayes, South Jersey President, showed how he uses artist quache (pronounced: gwash) to color seams, blemishes, and roll ends. He also demonstrated his newest paste machine, a Tapo-Fix S 2032.

Connecticut Chapter member, Mike Koritko, spoke about making a good first impression. He also related how he uses his portfolio full of certificates, licenses, and customer accolades to land a job in the more competitive markets. He believes one should sell one's self and one's education, and most importantly, one's membership in the NGPP.

Bob Kelly from Lee, Massachusetts, and the Berkshire Chapter, distributed classy gold packets containing paste and acid-free liner samples from his paper-hangings.com endeavor. More free stuff was raffled: dozens of containers of Zinsser’s pastes and two half cases of Cavalier Wall Liner. There was also a 50/50 raffle, with Roger being Roger, dividing up the booty so that more than one person went home with the "green".

This venture certainly shows that even a small chapter of seven can make a huge difference by providing a premier event from which so many benefit. The messages we all received rang clear as a bell: the importance of improving one's business and technical skills, the importance of the fellowship between paperhangers, but mostly, how important it is to belong to the NGPP. At the end of the day, those that could stay, enjoyed an evening of great food at a local restaurant and then onto Casa de Coupal for a mini music fest.

What started as a three-chapter meeting to relieve cabin fever has now morphed into a yearly regional workshop celebrating the release of winter's icy grip. Why not mark your calendar for next year and join your peers for a truly educational day of paperhanging.

The Wallcoverings Association (WA) recently began publishing On a Roll! which highlights publicity coverage of Wallcoverings Association member firms.  Through On a Roll!, industry participants will be kept posted on all the press that is being secured for our industry. The program will help keep members of the industry aware of the many efforts the WA and its members are involved in to help promote wallcoverings.  As you see new issues, please forward them to your staff, customers, retailers, designers and others that may have an interest so they too can share the excitement that's being created for wallcoverings!

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