West News

Nominations are being sought by the California Cleaners Association for several different board of director positions, as well as the annual Dry Cleaner of the Year Award and the newly-formed Allied Trades Member of the Year award.

Seven different seats will soon be open for new candidates who, if elected, would serve a three-year term. Board of directors are expected to attend four board meetings a year in addition to CCA’s annual convention.

All nominees should be CCA members in good standing and have an interest in setting policy and providing direction for the association.

“It is a great honor to be elected to serve our member cleaners and help shape the direction of our association and industry,” said CCA President Marti Russell. “We are fortunate to have this opportunity to select whom we want to represent our concerns. I strongly encourage all interested parties to contact the CCA staff and have their names placed on the ballot to be mailed in July.”

The current board members whose seats must be filled are: Jan Sadler, Division 1; Marti Russell, Division 4; Bob Blackburn, Division 7; Barry Gershenson, Division 10; Scott Bell, Division 13; and Bob LaFave, Division 16. The Division 15 seat, which is empty for the current term, also needs to be filled.

CCA also wants nominations for its Dry Cleaner of the Year award, annually given to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the advancement of both CCA and the drycleaning industry.

CCA is also adding a new award this year — Allied Trades Member of the Year. This is for showing a strong commitment to assist cleaners in addition to a strong desire to make the association and the industry better.

The deadline for all nominations is July 15.

“CCA’s Dry Cleaner of the Year award and Allied Trades Member of the Year award represent the highest honor bestowed upon CCA cleaners and our Allied Trade members,” Russell noted.

The winners of each award will be announced during the President’s Dinner at CCA’s 81st Annual Convention, scheduled for Aug. 23-25 in Long Beach, CA.

Those interested in obtaining more information or making a nomination for CCA’s annual awards or the association’s open board of directors spots should call (916) 443-0986.

The Oregon Dry Cleaners Association will be keeping its members busy during the “slow” summer season.

The association recently announced its “ODCA Mentor Program” that allows new plant owners to meet with veteran members and receive advice by someone with years of industry experience.

In the program, the mentors will offer tour of their plants and introduce the newer plant owners to other cleaners at ODCA functions. In return, they will get a chance to see what their plants look like from an outsider’s viewpoint.

The program is exclusively for ODCA members and is administered by volunteers on the association’s board of directors.

In addition to its mentor program, ODCA also announced several upcoming events, including a June 8 board meeting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Springfield. Special guest Dick Dezeeuw of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will review recent changes to the state’s Dry Cleaner’s Program. Lunch will be provided for the event.

On Saturday, June 22, ODCA will present a hands-on “Training For Quality Finishing” seminar that will teach attendees how to get rid of low production, double creases and other problems in the finishing process by demonstrating new techniques that save time and money and improve customer satisfaction.

The seminar will be held in Medford; another one is scheduled for Saturday, July 27 in Eugene.

Rounding out the coming activities is a six-hour river cruise on Saturday, Aug. 10. The trip, which will be taken through Columbia Gorge Cruises, will sail along the Columbia River to the Bonneville dam.

Participants will enjoy outside observation decks, a champagne luncheon and a spectacular scenic view of the river.

For more information on any of these events, contact ODCA by calling (503) 244-9707 or visiting www.oregondrycleaners.org.

Instructor Kenney Slatten will offer a California Air Resources Board class on Saturday, June 30 to help drycleaners meet the requirements of the Air Toxic Control Measure passed in 1996.

Wyatt-Bennett Equipment Co., Inc. at 15916 Blythe St. in Van Nuys, CA, will serve as the host site. Those seeking re-certification will meet from 8 to 11:30 a.m., paying $75, while first-time certifiers pay $150 and meet from 8 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m.

Students must bring a picture I.D. A book will be provided. For reservations, call (818) 778-0550.