Making a donation to USITT@50 just became easier. USITT has created an online form which allows supporters to make a donation whenever they want. Contributors no longer have to wait until they are renewing a membership or registering for the Conference to make a donation online. All contributions are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged with a thank-you letter. Click here to make a contribution today. To learn more about USITT@50 and giving in general, click here.

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ESTA introduces the Rock Our World Awards to recognize groundbreaking achievement by its members in new products, product applications, or projects. These awards were created to acknowledge the genius of both the creator of technology and the designer or integrator who applies the technology in a real world environment.

Have you seen a new product that you knew would change the industry or a product used in a way that was truly remarkable in its application? Now is the chance to acknowledge their impact.

Anyone in the industry may nominate a product, product application, or project for a Rock Our World Award, but an ESTA Member must be involved as the designer, manufacturer, supplier, or collaborator.

A panel of judges, including well-known industry veterans and rising young stars, will determine the finalists and winners. The finalists will be announced in early September and the winners will be announced at ESTA's annual dinner on October 23, the evening before the LDI show opens.

To enter a nomination online, go to www.esta.org/RockOurWorldAwards or call 212-244-1505 or email info@esta.org.

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All USITT members are encouraged to notify the office of any changes to their contact information. This allows USITT to keep members' records up to date. Verifying the information on file is especially important at this time of year because August 1 is the last date to report changes and have them included in the 2009 Membership Directory & Resource Guide. August 1 is also the last date to renew a lapsed membership or establish a new one to receive a listing in the 2009 edition. To communicate changes, go online at http://www.usitt.org/membership/AddressUpdate.html or call the USITT office at 800-938-7488, ext. 104. To renew or join over the phone, dial ext. 102 or 104.

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The ESTA Foundation's 2008 Behind the Scenes Holiday Cards are available now through September 2. ESTA has also launched a new, electronic discussion group.

Six holiday card designs are offered this year including custom cards from Bob Bonniol, Scott Pask, David Rockwell, Bruce Rodgers, and talented young photographer Andrew Hefter. With a minimum order of 250, cards can be personalized with a company logo and a custom message. New this year are the options for a two-color logo and return address printed envelopes. Packages of 10 cards are available with a standard greeting. The third option is an electronic version of any of the cards that can be sent via e-mail in the form of a jpg, gif, or pdf.

Orders will be shipped to arrive the week of October 27. All proceeds will benefit the ESTA Foundation's Behind the Scenes program. To view the card designs and order online, visit www.estafoundation.org/bts/holidaycards.htm. For more information, contact Laura Quartuccio at 212-244-1421 or holidaycard@estafoundation.org. For more information about Behind the Scenes, to donate, or to apply for a grant, visit www.estafoundation.org/bts.htm.

The May 20 launch of GenESTA's new electronic discussion group allows ESTA members to have year-round communication with each other.

The GenESTA Message Board can be accessed at www.esta.org/message and is open to both members and non-members. All users are required to register, and a moderator will activate their account. Based on their membership status and type of membership, each user will be placed into categories. Registration is open to anyone in the industry; however only ESTA Members and ETCP Certified Technicians will be allowed to post in their specific member discussion groups. All are welcomed to read posts in the open forums.

For more information, contact message@esta.org.

GenESTA is a committee within the Entertainment Services and Technology Association designed as a feeder program for ESTA involvement leading to participation from the younger generation of ESTA members. For information about GenESTA or to get involved, contact lquartuccio@esta.org.

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All three ETCP certification examinations will be given at the October 2008 LDI show in Las Vegas, Nevada: the entertainment electrician exam on Friday, October 24; and the arena rigging and theatre rigging exams on Saturday, October 25. Candidates who wish to take multiple exams will receive a discount for the second exam. Applicants must submit an application, along with supporting materials and fee, to the ETCP office no later than September 25. Space is limited.

Candidate information, including eligibility requirements and applications, is available on the ETCP website, or contact Meredith Moseley-Bennett, ETCP certification coordinator, at 212-244-1505 or certification@esta.org.

Rigging examinations are given daily at over 190 computer based testing centers across the United States and Canada. After an application has been received and accepted, the candidate will be sent information on how to schedule the examination at a convenient site, date, and time.

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