Message from the GEF President

GPS Initiative Needs Your Support Jay Yakich GEF President Vice President of Marketing & New Product Development, Seville Flexpack Corporation

GEF Strategic Direction

I am very pleased to have you visit our web site. This means that you have shown some interest in the most fascinating world of Gravure printing. At the GEF we take Gravure to the next level by providing, solidifying, and improving the future of our Gravure students and affiliate universities with a strong strategic plan.

The GEF is working hard to ensure the foundation meets its strategic plan. Most of the changes reflect a strategic adjustment of new board members, new leadership, new economic environment, and new ways to secure funding.

The following are a few of the efforts that support our new direction:

1. The establishment of the Howard Flint II memorial scholarship. This scholarship is directly related to our mission of aiding more students; it also by embraces the name of one of our most memorable board members, Howard Flint.
    
2. The Gravure text book continues to gain support from the international market. The Cerutti Corporation in collaboration with GEF and Robert Chung from RIT are working hard to finalize the Chinese version of the book.
    
3. Board members are appointed to serve as a liaison with each Gravure Resource Center. Duties of the board members will be to:
   1. Attend the Gravure Day of his/her Center.
   2. Maintain frequent communication with the Center.
   3. Assist the Director of Development to determine methods to track scholarship winners from the Center.
   4. Look for opportunities for cooperative programs with the Center.
       
4. The GEF is working on the final details of its first donation of a Gravure Press Simulator (GPS). This has been possible through the generosity of the Alcoa and Quad Graphics foundations. Details will follow.
    
5. The financial goals are being restructured. With recent changes in the economic market, the foundation has adjusted its direction of investments and allocations. The foundation encourages everyone to provide us with new ideas for investments.

As you may know, none of these goals is attainable without proper funding. The GEF is a nonprofit organization (501c), but it needs to be managed as a business. It is the duty of the GAA staff and the board members to ensure revenues surpasses expenses, and most importantly, that we continue to increase our fund balance.
Without proper funding, the future of our Gravure students is at risk, and they are the future of our business. For that reason, GEF needs the collaboration of individuals and the industry to continue to support our mission. There are many ways to help and here are just a few:

1. Contact the GEF office and offer your support.
    
2. Contact any of the board members and express your interest in participating in any of the activities.
    
3. It is not only about donating money, but also about donating old equipment, resources, books, time, and expertise (all of which can be marketable for possible GEF revenue).
    
4. Remember that all donations are tax deductible for you and your company. How many of you have considered each year to donate money for a tax benefit? Please consider GEF for your next donation.
    
5. It is all about networking. If you know someone or have a contact in the industry, in your local government, or another foundation that may be willing to donate funds, please let GEF know. Do not assume that we know everyone; on the contrary, your input is critical in contacting key individuals who may have influential power for fund raising.

Rest assured that the GEF is doing its best to accomplish its mission: to secure the future of our Gravure business. Your future, the GEF’s future, and my future depend on grooming our future leaders, our current Gravure students. Please take the time to participate and contribute in building our business.