West News

The California Cleaners Association recently released initial plans for Fabricare 2002, the association’s annual convention planned for Aug. 23-25.

The event, which is CCA’s 81st annual show, will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center, located at 300 East Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach, CA.

Show hours will run from 1 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23 with a welcome reception scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. that evening in the exhibit hall. The convention hours will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25.

This year’s convention hotel will be the Hyatt Regency Long Beach. Special room rates of $132 plus occupancy tax are reserved for attendants who identify themselves with Fabricare 2002 before July 31. Reservations can be made by calling (562) 491-1234 or (800) 233-1234.

A 10% travel discount is available on some flights for attendees who travel on Southwest Airlines to and from the convention. Flight tickets must be purchased five or more days prior to the first day of travel by calling Southwest Airlines at (800) 433-5368 and using identifier #R7863.

For more information on CCA’s Fabricare 2002, call the office at (916) 443-0986 or visit the association’s web site at www.calcleaners.com and click on the “Upcoming Events” option. The link will take web users to a page with downloadable PDFs, including a brochure on Fabricare 2002 and an exhibit floor map.

Cleaners in northern California will have easy access for a two-part spotting class planned to be held at Snow Cleaners, located at 38 W. Sonora St. in Stockton, CA.

Part one, designated for “Beginning Spotting,” will be held on Saturday, April 13. Part two of the series will focus on “Advanced Spotting” and take place on Saturday, May 11.

Both classes will be taught by instructor Bob Blackburn. Cost for CCA members is $75 per class; non-members pay $125.

Those who want to attend one of the courses can make reservations by calling the California Cleaners Association office at (800) 390-8409.

California cleaners that need to take the California Air Resources Board required course on the Air Toxic Control Measure will have many opportunities in the upcoming months.

Classes are held on the last Saturday of every month in Long Beach, CA.

The sessions will be presented by Dallons Environmental Services. Cost is $150 for initial certification and $75 for three-year recertification.

Class size is limited to 30 people, so reservations are recommended. For more information, call Dallons Environmental Services at (800) 347-6551.

Methods For Management, Inc. hosted its 6th biennial Success Conference in Phoenix, AZ, Feb. 7-10 with record breaking attendance and participation. Participants from Australia, Canada, and 29 U.S. states met, worked, and played for three days in sunny Arizona.

A full work schedule included sessions on buying and selling businesses, personal wealth creation, branding strategies, establishing best business practices, route development and internet utilization. Speakers from inside and outside the industry contributed to the learning process and came from throughout the United States and Canada to share their expertise.

“It has been a whirlwind journey for the last three days,” said Deborah Rechnitz, managing director of Methods For Management, Inc. “This is not the end of a program, but rather the beginning of many projects that we hope will benefit our clients.”

There was some time for play as well. The MFM Harley Riders had their chance, the golfers got in at least one and sometimes two or three rounds of golf, and the Saturday night entertainment, a fashion show, was enjoyed by all.

A traditional portion of the program provided the opportunity to thank a few outstanding business owners who have gone above and beyond expectation in helping their fellow drycleaners. Nominated by their peers, two individuals stood out as those that are not only willing to try nearly anything, but they unselfishly share their results, the good and the bad, with their peers and without qualms.

For “Oustanding Innovators,” Dick Pakko of Four Seasons Cleaners, Washington, and John-Claude Hallak, Hallak’s Cleaners, New Jersey, were honored.

Honored, with a Special Recognition award was Hunter Triebel of Ideal-Troy Cleaners, Illinois, for helping out another operator in a moment of need.

The final award went to an entire company for its untiring support in opening its doors to fellow bureau members — Craigs Cleaners, Texas.

The next conference will be held in 2004. For more information about the group, contact, Methods For Management, Inc., (253) 851-6327.