Below are several links to articles recently published relating to the proposed federal legislation, H.R. 800, also known as the "Employee Free Choice Act" that all ESCA member companies should be familiar with. The ESCA Board of Directors encourages you to review the attached articles, further study this proposed bill and the effects it may have on your companies and then contact your Senators and Representatives in an effort to make your voice heard on this important proposed legislation. The legislation's name may be somewhat confusing, so please take the time to investigate and understand the full intent.

Article 1 (SESCO)

Article 2 (BusinessWeek)

Article 3 (MyBusinessMag)

After extensive lobbying by Canada's tourism industry, the Canadian government announced plans to reverse its decision to end the Visitor Rebate Program for goods and services taxes (GST). The program enabled trade shows, conventions and tourists to recoup the GST taxes levied on various programs.

The threat of a strike by the Sign, Display and Allied Crafts Union Local 510 in the Bay area was averted when the current contract was extended until May 1.

Five Bay Area Labor Councils had granted strike sanction to permit picketing which could have impacted the Moscone Center, Oakland Convention Center, San Jose McEnery Convention Center, Santa Clara Convention Center, San Mateo County Event Center and others. The law firm of Littler Mendelson is representing contractors including Freeman, GES Exposition Services, Champion Nationwide Contractor, Nth Degree and others.

The exhibition industry grew for the fourth consecutive year in 2006 as measured by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) Index of nearly 300 events. The index growth rate of 4.8 percent outpaced U.S. economic growth by nearly 30 percent, according to the fourth annual CEIR Index report, which was released at the end of March.

We are fast approaching the Early Bird Registration deadline of May 11 for deeply discounted registration and golf tournament fees. If you have not already done so, we strongly encourage you to register now and make your hotel reservations as soon as possible. Rooms are limited in the main hotel and flights into Burlington, Vermont are booking up quickly. Follow the link below to register now!

It's not too late to take advantage of the remaining sponsorship opportunities for the Summer Conference. Sponsorships of $2000 or more now allow your company to place promotional information in registration bags and make a one minute presentation to the entire attendance. Details on what is recommended will be forwarded to all of our sponsors next month. Remember, our success in delivering great meetings is directly attributable to your support!

ESCA is offering an opportunity for suppliers to display new products and services during the Annual Summer Conference. Virtually every major segment of the industry will be there. A limited number of exhibit spaces are available:

• $1500.00 which includes one Conference Registration
• $2000.00 which includes two Conference Registrations

Look who is already exhibiting:

ACT, Inc./EXPOCAD
AGAM
Exclusively Expo, Inc.
ExpoNet Software, Inc.
Hi-Tech Rental and Staging Inc.
The Richey Company
Maywood Furniture Corp.
Quest Drape
SMT Solutions Inc.
Supercolor Digital

The Summer Conference Silent Auction Committee needs your help once again! All members and/or non- members who would like to help with donating a prize can do so by completing the Donation Form at the link below. In the near future a member of our Silent Auction Committee will begin contacting each company or individual who helped us last year with a prize donation. If you are interested in serving on the Silent Auction Committee, please contact Chuck Grouzard at cgrouzard@ges.com.

Greenwald Doherty LLP is dedicated to resolving labor and employment law issues for employers in ways that strengthen the relationship between a company and its employees and contribute to a healthy workplace environment. Our clients get the benefit of our expertise, which comes from our years of experience litigating and negotiating labor and employment issues on behalf of management.

In This Issue:

• Be Wary When Dealing with Perceived Disabilities.
• No Age Discrimination When Replacement Not Substantially Younger.
• Employer's failure to Act on a Complaint Leads to Title VII Liability.
• Is Closeness in Time Enough to Establish Retaliation?

One of the many benefits available to all ESCA member companies and their employees is the accessibility to professionally presented training session. Follow the link below to the 2007 schedule for SESCO Audio Seminars in the months ahead.

Please note that dues payments were due by January 31. If you have not yet submitted payment, please do so at your earliest convenience! If you are unsure if your dues are outstanding, please contact Mitt Arnaudet at mitt@esca.org.

This monthly publication provides insight on developing trends in the area of human resource management and will assist management in staying ahead of the curve when it comes to developing solutions as well as in preventing misunderstandings, miscommunications, alleged wrong doing, and subsequently costly litigation.

In This Issue:

• Organizational Culture and Change.
• Why are Your Employees Not Coming to Work?
• Fatigue in the Workplace Common & Costly.'
• SESCO Client Inquiry - Staff Response

Newly appointed San Diego Convention Center General Manager Brad Gessner and the ESCA Advocacy Committee recently resolved the potential issue with designating the "ultimate consignee" on all foreign origin shipments for events in the venue. This is just another example of ESCA members working together for the common good of the industry.

Thank You Brad!