West News

The Glendale Sunrise Rotary Club and a non-profit agency out of Santa Ana, CA, known as “Friends of the Orphanages” is seeking a donation for a commercial washer and dryer for an orphanage located approximately 60 miles south of San Diego in Mexico.

The orphanage, called Estado 29, is home to about 60 kids ranging in age from two to sixteen. Currently, two used home-style top loading washers are used to wash all the clothes for the entire orphanage, but the machines are old and can barely sustain the daily washing demands for all the children.

Because the government of Mexico does not financially support the orphanage, equipment donations are needed. Ray Rangwala, who owns the Cleaning Store in Glendale, CA, and serves on the board of directors for the Greater Los Angeles Dry Cleaners Association, is heading the project for the Glendale Sunrise Rotary Club, which has raised thousands of dollars for the upkeep of the orphanage.

Rangwala is looking for a donation of a decent washer and dryer, as well as time from a distributor with technical assistance who can help in the installation.

For more information, contact Ray Rangwala directly at (818) 507-8834 or go on-line to www.friendsoftheorphanages.org.

The California Cleaners Association will be presenting seminars on a variety of topics at Fabricare 2002.

The event is scheduled to take place at the Long Beach Convention Center at 300 East Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach, CA, from August 23-25.

This year’s educational programming will be designed specifically to keep drycleaners routed on the road to success.

“Our industry is constantly evolving and these educational seminars are so valuable to anyone involved in drycleaning today,” said Marti Russell, president of CCA. “In this economy and time, having the educational edge is what makes cleaners successful. Lack of education dooms others to fail. It is rewarding to be organizing such a value packed event for the drycleaning industry.”

One of the many topics slated to be discussed is “Outstanding Customer Service: Easy Steps to Take to Stand Out,” which will feature many ways to improve your customer service.

“Fraud Busters! How to Protect Yourself From Both Sides of the Counter” will teach attendees to protect themselves from credit card fraud, bad checks and other scams from customers, as well as employees.

A panel of experts will be on hand to discuss what plant owners should do if they discover their site is contaminated with perc in a session called “Contamination! Do you have it? How do you deal with it?”

“Pricing for Profits” will offer a look on how to price appropriately. How are you setting your price? Do you base it on what your customer is charging? Do you take into account all production costs? This seminar will teach you the properly way to price your services.

Additionally, CCA’s Fabricare 2002 will feature a new technologies panel that will examine the industry’s alternatives to perc, focussing on how well they clean, how much they cost, and whether or not they will last in the long run.

In addition to its educational schedule, the exhibit hall will be open from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday, August 23,11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

This year’s convention hotel is the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, offering a special room rate of $132 per night plus occupancy tax. To make reservations, call (562) 491-1234 or (800) 233-1234.

For more information on Fabricare 2002, contact CCA at (916) 443-0896 or visit them on-line at www.calcleaners.com.

Some of Arizona’s top junior golfers will help the Western States Drycleaners & Launderer Association tee up for its 2002 “Big Shoes, Little Shoes” golf tournament at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 5.

Proceeds for the event, which will take place at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, will go to benefit the Junior Golf Association of Arizona.

“This is the most enjoyable golf tournament you’ll play all year and it’s for a good cause,” said Mike Jordan, WSDLA’s co-chair for the event.

Dave Link, the other co-chair for the tournament, added, “This is an opportunity for area businessmen and women to influence our future community leaders. We can be positive role models and have a great time doing it.”

The tournament’s field is limited to 108 registered competitors who must pay an entry fee of $125 per player, which includes the cost for the tournament, cart, use of range balls, and the post-tournament buffet dinner and awards program.

Three team prizes will be awarded for each contest, including ones for longest drive and closest-to-the-pin.

For more information on the tournament, contact the WSDLA office at (602) 971-2100.

In other recent news, the association announced the launch of its new web site, located on-line at www.wsdla.org.

Consumers can use the site to learn more about clothing care. Monthly tips are offered, as well as an article on “Why Use A Member Drycleaner?” and a zip code searching mechanism that will allow them to find member cleaners in their area.

Industry members will be able to utilize the site to find out current information on WSDLA, including updated news, a calendar of upcoming events and a listing of the association’s allied trade members.

A Milnor washer-extractor service seminar has been scheduled for June 18-21 in Colorado Springs, CO.

The condensed four-day course will train attendees to rapidly and accurately diagnose and treat field problems and gain an overall understanding of equipment operation.

The seminar will encompass all Milnor washer-extractors from 35-lb. to 750-lb. capacities, including split and open pocket designs.

For more details, contact Randy Stiver of Training and Education at the Pellerin Milnor Corporation at (504) 467-9591, ext. 7725. A brochure for all Milnor seminars can be obtained by calling (800) 469-8780 or making a request at www.milnor.com.