Midwest News

A weekend of good clean fun is planned for April 19-21 at the 2002 laundry and drycleaning conference sponsored by the Michigan Institute of Laundering and Drycleaning.

The event will be held at Eastern Michigan University at the Convocation Center located at 799 Hewitt Road in Yipsilanti, MI.

On Friday evening, the festivities will begin with a three-hour open reception and cocktail party from 5 to 8 p.m.

Afterward, Everett Childers will serve as the keynote speaker for a discussion on the “State of the Industry” from 8 to 9 p.m. Childers, who once taught Small Business Management as head of the Drycleaning and Laundry Department at Oklahoma State University, is the author of The Master Drycleaner’s Notebook.

On Saturday, April 20, MILD Expo 2002’s schedule kicks off early at 8 a.m. when Norm Oehlke presents an hour-long program on “The Best of Customer Relations.” Oehlke, a former IFI analyst, instructor and consumer-relations expert, has over 40 years of experience in the drycleaning industry.

At 9 a.m., management coach John Agno will share his proven techniques on how to keep good employees from leaving with a seminar entitled “Don’t Let the Good Ones Get Away.”

Following Agno’s seminar, MILD will open its exhibit hall to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attendees will have an opportunity between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to eat lunch on the showroom floor.

On Saturday evening, a President’s Gala of dining and entertainment will start promptly at 7 p.m.

A two-hour “Alternative Solvent Panel” is scheduled to begin on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. Guests will include: Jeff Battison of Rynex; Tim Maxwell of GreenEarth; Norm Oehlke for wetcleaning; and Kenney Slatten will represent hydrocarbon technology.

Following the panel discussion, the exhibit hall will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

MILD is offering a comprehensive registration package for the convention at a rate of $99 per person prior to April 10.

The Marriott Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti, MI, will serve as this year’s headquarters hotel. For more information on room rates or to make reservations, call (734) 487-2000 and mention the MILD Expo 2002.

For more information, contact MILD by calling the association’s office at (517) 337-2909.

Recently, Lansing Cleaners of Lansing, IL, was granted the distinction of being only the second drycleaning plant to be accepted into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Performance Track program.

The program, which previously had accepted Norco Cleaners, Inc. of Dolton, IL, is part of an effort by EPA to encourage businesses nationwide to practice environmental excellence and be active in communities to protect the environment. In all, the program has 280 participants that consist of various manufacturing or service-oriented businesses.

Over the past year, Lansing Cleaners has received other honors for its environmental efforts, as well. In addition to being a charter member in the Illinois’ Green Fleets Program for its five compressed natural gas-fueled stepvans, the business was also chosen to be one of the four main speakers at the Illinois Governor’s 2001 Pollution Prevention Award ceremony.

OCA gives $10K to FCREF for research

Spread out over the next four years, a $10,000 donation will be granted by the Ohio Cleaners Association to go to the Fabric Care Research & Education Foundation.

At a recent board meeting in February, the OCA directors voted unanimously to give the money to FCREF, believing that support of the Foundation will lead to the betterment of the entire industry.

FCREF will use the money for education and research for the drycleaning industry. Established in 1994, the Foundation was intended as a means to operate outside the constraints of IFI’s annual operating budget.

Anyone interested in making a financial contribution to FCREF, should contact Eric Kloter of Swiss Cleaners in Rockville, CT, at (860) 872-0166.