CHHMA - EYE ON OUR INDUSTRY
Volume 11, Issue 17, May 04, 2011

Association News

CHHMA Scholarship Program

The CHHMA is once again pleased to be able to offer the opportunity for children of employees of our member companies to apply for a scholarship to help offset the cost of post-secondary education. The Association recognizes the importance of education and therefore encourages children of our member companies to attend University or College. Five to seven scholarships are awarded each year. Successful candidates receive $1,000 CDN per year for the first two years of study leading to a diploma or degree from an accredited community college or university.

The scholarship program is available to the dependents of any current full-time employees of the CHHMA or member companies. The program is only offered to Canadian companies or divisions of companies based in Canada which are members of the CHHMA. The member company must remain a member in good standing in order for the student to qualify for the second year of the scholarship. The student's parent or guardian must be an active full-time employee with at least one year seniority with the CHHMA or member company as of July 15th in the year of application. Applicants must be high school seniors preparing to enter an accredited community college or university in the fall term, and attain a minimum average of 75% in the last year of high school. The decision of the Selection Committee and the CHHMA is final and not open to appeals. The CHHMA reserves the right to withdraw a scholarship should the student's parent(s) or guardian(s) voluntarily leave the employment of the CHHMA or member company, or if employment is terminated for just cause prior to the start of the school year, or if the company terminates its membership in the Association.

Complete details and application forms can be found at http://www.chhma.ca/Public/Scholarship-Program.

The CHHMA must receive applications from potential candidates no later than July 15th.

Since 2001, the CHHMA has awarded $108,000 towards scholarships and some 54 young people have benefited from the scholarship program.

"Staples Advantage" Office Products Program Offers Great New Pricing for CHHMA
Members

The CHHMA is pleased to be offering a brand new pricing program with Staples Advantage for our members. Along with excellent pricing, the program offers:

Easy on-line ordering; next day free delivery; monthly specials and flyers; customized billing options; a dedicated Account Manager; one-stop shopping experience (office products, print, facility/janitorial supplies, furniture, IT, promotional marketing).

If you would like to learn more about this program, please contact: Elaine Arnott, Account Manager, Staples Advantage Inc., elaine.arnott@staples.com, (905) 696-4231 or Leanne Lynch, Account Manager, Staples Advantage Inc., leanne.lynch@staples.com, (905) 696-4228.

You can also visit their website at www.staplesadvantage.com.

Last Call for Maple Leaf Night in Las Vegas

Maple Leaf Night is taking place next Tuesday, May 10, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m., at the Mirage Hotel & Casino, Bermuda Room.

This popular social event is open to CHHMA members ($160 CDN, $200 CDN at the door) and Canadian retailers (complimentary) in town for the National Hardware Show. Maple Leaf Night offers a great opportunity to mix and mingle with colleagues and customers while enjoying cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.

If you have previously registered and have not received your ticket confirmation, please contact Pam Winter at (416) 282-0022 ext.21 or pwinter@chhma.ca. If you would like to register, click here.

Register Now for RONA's Jean-Luc Meunier Breakfast Seminar on May 31, 2011

The CHHMA is pleased to be presenting Mr. Jean-Luc Meunier, Sr. Vice-President, Affiliate Dealer-Owner Network Development, RONA inc. at an upcoming breakfast seminar in Boucherville, Quebec on Tuesday, May 31.

The breakfast seminar will take place at the Hotel Mortagne, 1228 Rue Nobel, Boucherville, QC J4B 5H1 with registration starting at 7:30 a.m. followed by breakfast and the presentation from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

The cost to attend is $65 for CHHMA members, $85 for non-members.

Register now.

Night at the Races Set for June 15th

The 15th Annual CHHMA Night at the Races will take place on Wednesday, June 15th at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. This year's event will be held in the Favourites Dining Room, which offers a great view of the track and an excellent buffet dinner. The evening is always a lot of fun and is an ideal way to get to know others in the industry. The traditional in-house betting challenge presents the opportunity to win some prizes too.

Feel free to invite customers or spouses also and we hope to see you there!

Registration will commence later this week.

Register Now for CHHMA Golf Tournaments

The 36th Annual CHHMA Quebec Golf Classic is fast approaching at Le Club de golf Le Fontainebleau in Blainville, Quebec on Tuesday, May 17 (11:30 a.m. shotgun start). The cost to attend is $300 for CHHMA members, $350 for non-members and includes brunch, golf, cart, dinner and wine plus there will be $10,000 worth of prizes and gifts. Tickets can also be purchased for dinner only at a cost of $110.

The 42nd Annual CHHMA Ontario Golf Tournament is being held at the Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ontario on Wednesday, May 25. The cost to attend is $245+HST for CHHMA members and includes breakfast, golf, followed by an executive lunch, awards and prizes. Each golfer will also receive a pair of golf shoes. The shotgun starting time is 7:45 a.m. and registration and breakfast will start at 6:30 a.m. Proceeds from the day will help support the Ontario Special Olympics.

The 15th Annual CHHMA Western Golf Tournament is taking place on Tuesday, June 7 at the Morgan Creek Golf Club in Surrey, B.C. Tee-off times will be allocated between 11:14 a.m. and 1:17 p.m., followed by dinner and award/prize presentations which will start at 6:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $230+HST for CHHMA members, $255+HST for non-members and $80+HST for dinner only. Money raised from the tournament will go towards the CHHMA Scholarship Program which awards scholarships each year to children of CHHMA member employees.

For further details or to register for any of these golf events, go to: http://www.chhma.ca/Public/CHHMA-Upcoming-Events.

Economic News

Canada's GDP Unexpectedly Falls in February

Canada's economy shrank in February for the first time in five months as the manufacturing sector suffered its biggest contraction since the worst stretch of the recession and wholesale trade declined.

Statistics Canada reported last Friday that real GDP decreased 0.2% in February following a 0.5% increase in January. Analysts had expected a flat reading for the month.

Manufacturing output dropped 1.6% in February, the largest decline since early 2009 and erased much of January's 2.5% gain, as the automotive sector was particularly weak. Other weak industries included agriculture, industrial production and utilities.

The decrease in manufacturing resulted in a 0.6% decline in the goods-producing industries. Service producing industries were essentially unchanged as increases in retail trade (+0.6%), professional and financial services (+0.2%) as well as the public sector were offset by decreases in wholesale trade (-1.0%) and transportation services (-0.7%).

Construction edged up 0.1%. Following six months of increases, the output of real estate agents and brokers decreased, reflecting a reduction in sales of existing homes in all provinces except British Columbia.

Even with the February setback, the Canadian economy is headed for growth of roughly 4% in the first quarter, twice as fast as the U.S. Also, the economy in February was still 2.9% bigger than a year earlier, largely on the strength of a 4.9% year-over-year gain for food producers.

Economists remarked that this recent February data increases the likelihood that the Bank of Canada will hold interest rates until at least July, and then embark on a gradual tightening campaign. The weaker February trade numbers can be directly tied to the slowdown in U.S. real GDP growth in the first quarter as well as the strength of the Canadian dollar.

U.S. Economy Slows in First Quarter

The U.S. economy slowed sharply in the first quarter of 2011 as high gas prices cut into consumer spending, bad weather delayed construction projects and the federal government slashed defence spending by the most in six years.

The Commerce Department reported last Friday that the U.S. economy grew at a 1.8% annual rate in the January-March quarter. This was down from the 3.1% growth rate for the fourth quarter of 2010, and the worst showing since last spring when the European debt crisis slowed growth to 1.7%.

An inflation gauge in the report showed consumer prices rose in the first quarter at the fastest pace in nearly three years, with most of the increase coming from higher fuel costs. Consumer spending rose 2.7% but was down from 4% the previous quarter and was the weakest since last summer. Winter storms also forced builders to delay construction projects. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke suggested that the crippled housing market will continue to weigh on the economic recovery. He pointed out last week, that home building and commercial construction were both "very weak" in the first quarter. Normally, construction spending is a big part of economic recoveries. Bernanke and other economists said however, that the slowdown is a temporary setback. They generally agree that gas prices will stabilize and the U.S. economy will grow at a 3% pace in each of the next three quarters.

CHHMA Events For 2011

Maple Leaf Night
Tuesday, May 10
The Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Quebec Golf Tournament
Tuesday, May 17
Le Fontainebleau Golf Club, Blainville, Quebec

Ontario Golf Tournament
Wednesday, May 25
Angus Glen Golf Club, Markham, Ontario

Jean-Luc Meunier, RONA, Breakfast Seminar
Tuesday, May 31
Hotel Mortagne, Boucherville, Quebec

Western Golf Tournament
Tuesday, June 7
Morgan Creek Golf Club, Surrey, B.C.

Night at the Races
Wednesday, June 15
Woodbine Racetrack, Toronto, Ontario

Industry Memorial Golf Classic
Tuesday, September 27
Blue Springs Golf Club, Acton, Ontario

Industry Cocktail
Tuesday, November 29
Location TBA, Montreal, Quebec

To register for all events visit our website at www.chhma.ca or call Pam Winter at (416) 282-0022 ext.21.

CHHMA Links

Freight Logistics Savings
No Obligation Consultation

Discount Cellular
Phone Rates

Long Distance &
Telecommunications Savings

Discount Gas & Diesel Rates

Logo Apparel &
Promotional Products

Office Product Discounts

"Eye On Our Industry" is published by the CHHMA as an information resource for our members. Member input regarding content and format is welcomed. Please contact Michael Jorgenson by email: mjorgenson@chhma.ca, or call at (416) 282-0022, ext. 34. CHHMA is located at 1335 Morningside Ave., Suite 101, Scarborough, ON, M1B 5M4 www.chhma.ca