Southwest News

The Louisiana-Mississippi Drycleaners and Laundry Association helds its annual convention in Baton Rouge, LA, March 8-10. Attendees heard from industry consultant Al Robson (left) on pricing for productivity. In the photo at right, convention sponsors pose with a sign honoring their support of LMDLA. From left are Jim Welsh of Jim Welsh, Inc.; Ronnie Mollere of Ideal Chemical and supply Co., Steve Elledge of Gulf Cleaning and Supply Co.; Marion Giammerse of Auto-Chlor; E. J. Leveque of Ideal Chemical and supply Co. and James Davies of Liberty/Pittsburgh Systems. The convention was held at the Sheraton/Argosy Convention Center.

As the Big Show 2002 rolls into the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX, for the weekend of April 13 and 14, the Southwest Drycleaners Association will present a wide variety of speakers, including IFI CEO Bill Fisher, professional speaker Jan Hargrave and IFI Garment Analyst Chris Allsbrooks.

Hargrave will present the first seminar on Saturday morning from 8 to 9:30 a.m. when she discusses “Understanding Personality Differences in Your Cleaning Business.” In addition to being a guest speaker for The Ricki Lake Show, The Maury Povich Show, Talk Soup and Entertainment Television, Hargrave has served as a consultant for many large corporations on the importance of non-verbal communication and is the author of Let Me See Your Body Talk and Strictly Business Body Language.

SDA’s slate of educational programming will continue at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning when Chris Allsbrooks delivers an hour-long customer service seminar on “Managing Difficult Customers.”

After her presentation, Bill Fisher will be on hand to offer his personal view of the state of the industry. Fisher’s session will begin at 9:15 a.m.

Prior to the weekend, SDA will host an Executive Committee meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning and an IFI Board of Director’s dinner later in the day at 6 p.m. In between events will be a chance for attendees to unwind on the Canyon Springs Golf Club course where a golf tournament is scheduled to start at noon.

On Friday, April 12, SDA will hold several meetings for SDA’s and IFI’s board of directors before IFI President Lang Houston leads a General Membership and Awards meeting from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Afterward, attendees will have the option to participate on a historic tour of San Antonio that will take place from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. and will include a bus trip, a boat ride and also a walking tour of the Alamo. The total cost for the tour is $50 per person.

Later in the evening, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., SDA will host a welcome reception with live entertainment to give exhibitors and cleaners a chance to mingle.

On Saturday evening, attendees will have more time for socializing at a Six Flags Over Texas dinner at 7 p.m., followed by an evening of dancing.

The St. Anthony Hotel will serve as the convention’s headquarters. Reservations can be made by calling (210) 227-4392.

Full registration packages for SDA’s Big Show 2002 are being offered at $115 per person and include admittance to all of the educational seminars, as well as the welcome reception on Friday at 6:30 p.m., the Six Flags Over Texas dinner at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, the General Membership and Awards meeting and unlimited access to the exhibit hall. The exhibit hall will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5: 30 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 14.

Plant owners and employees may also purchase a basic registration package for $10 per person, which includes unlimited access to the exhibit hall, the state of the industry seminar by Bill Fisher and the General Membership and Awards meeting. Allied Trades who are not exhibiting can purchase an identical package for $100 per person.

For more information on Big Show 2002, contact SDA by calling (210) 826-4684.