Greeting Card Assn. to meet in Texas

THE GREETING CARD ASSOCIATION'S 70TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
RUNS SEPT. 14-17 IN HORSESHOE BAY, TX
GCA members and nonmembers are welcome!

By The Greeting Card Association

(June 22, 2011) The 70th Annual Convention of the Greeting Card Association (GCA) will be taking place from Wednesday, September 14, through Saturday, September 17, at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. All members of the industry – both GCA members and nonmembers – are welcome to attend.

Located just 45 minutes northwest of Austin, this luxurious – yet affordably priced – resort lies along the panoramic shores of Lake LBJ in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. It features three championship golf courses, four swimming pools, 16 tennis courts, seven dining facilities, a full-service spa, a marina and more.

Horseshoe Bay Resort is the ideal venue for the outstanding roster of dynamic speakers, informative panel sessions, strategic meetings and fun networking activities planned for this year's convention – themed "Staying Relevant." The theme shapes the content of the upcoming convention, which will address the significant consumer and communication shifts affecting the greeting card, invitation and stationery business, according to Convention Co-Chairs Jason Evans of Birchcraft Studios and Christy Kaprosy of American Greetings.

On the roster at this year's GCA Annual Convention is keynote speaker Jim Welch, president and founder of The Growth Leader, Inc. Welch brings more than 25 years of marketing leadership, having previously worked for Hallmark Cards and Procter & Gamble. As the "The Practical Growth Leader," Welch will provide convention attendees with innovative, cutting-edge growth strategies.

Research firm On Your Mark will lead an interactive discussion with a panel of young women to understand how greeting cards and stationery play a part in their lives. Another session will feature top retailers who will share unique sales category insights about the role of social expressions. Additional speakers and panels, including a presentation by GCA Associate members who are suppliers to the industry, will also offer critical industry knowledge to attendees.

Substantial early discounts for the 70th Annual Convention are being offered for those registering by Friday, August 12. To register, please visit www.greetingcard.org.

Single and double rooms at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott are available for just $150 per night (plus resort fee and taxes) until Friday, August 12. To book a room, please go to www.greetingcard.org. For more information about Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott, visit www.hsbresort.com.

About the Greeting Card Association
The Greeting Card Association, headquartered in White Plains, NY, is the U.S. trade association of the greeting card industry. Established in 1941, the GCA represents greeting card and stationery publishers, as well as suppliers to the industry. The GCA is managed by George Little Management, LLC, owner and manager of the annual National Stationery Show. For additional information, please visit www.greetingcard.org.