Halloween and Party Expo (HPE) attendees and vendors are invited to attend this knowledge networking meeting each year. The January 28th meeting focused on IBA activities and member benefits and then concluded with general discussion about how IBA can better serve the industry. 

Abby Heugel of Party & Paper Retailer offered that she would like to see more reporting from the industry on educational activities they've offered and/or feedback on successful event planning ideas. Abby went on to explain that entire columns need not be submitted but there was always space for small stories that would be welcomed to keep balloons front and center in readers minds.

Distributors present in the meeting offered that they would like to help more with The Balloon Council's Responsible Balloon Retailer Program.  It was suggested that distributors could sponsor a drive to obtain 2,000 RBR signees and that the IBA could post the names of retailers/decorators on the website who have signed the RBR Pledge to follow Smart Balloon Practices.