National Clothesline

International Fabricare Institute CEO Bill Fisher and Garment Analyst Chris Allsbrooks will be two of this year’s featured speakers at the Southwest Drycleaners Association’s annual convention in Gulfport, MS, on March 20-23.

Fisher is scheduled to speak during an SDA board of directors breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 22 and Allsbrooks will discuss the art of “Talking Effectively With Customers” from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. later in the afternoon. She will focus her seminar on what customer expect, detailing which words to use and avoid when dealing with them.

Following the board of directors breakfast will be an association board meeting that will run from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

Later in the same day, IFI President Jim Cripe will host a general membership meeting from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Another guest speaker planned for the convention is Dr. David Lee, who will tap into his years of leadership consulting expertise when he presents his seminar on “Cows Don’t Give Milk, You Have to Take It” at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 21.

Prior to the educational sessions, convention attendees will have an opportunity to relax on Thursday during SDA’s Golf Outing, which begins promptly at 1 p.m. at the Windance Country Club. Cost is $80 per person, which includes cart and green fees. Registration starts at noon.

Following the Golf Outing, an Executive Committee Meeting is schedule to run from 1 to 5 p.m. that afternoon.

Several other leisure opportunities will be available to attendees on Friday, including a trip on a deep sea fishing charter boat for $85 per person and a Southern Charm Tour through historical Biloxi, MS, for $50 per person.

From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday morning, those looking for a relaxing break from convention action can participate on a Tour of Beauvoir, which is home to the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library, the Confederate museum and a veterans cemetery. Cost is $21 per person.

Full registration packages are available to members at a rate of $150 each; non-members pay $180 each.

The full registration package covers entrance to all educational seminars, Friday’s welcome reception and several Saturday events, including: a spouse hospitality/attendee breakfast, the general membership meeting and the SDA dinner and evening at the Beau Rivage Theater.

Hotel room rates have been secured at a discounted rate of $89 per night for single or double occupancy at the Gulfport Grand Oasis Resort & Spa, the convention’s host hotel located on the north side of Hwy. 90. The cost goes up $20 per night for each addition person in the room who is over the age of 18.

For more information on SDA’s convention, which will be the association’s first since merging with the Mid-America Fabricare Association and the Louisiana-Mississippi Drycleaners and Launderers Association, call SDA’s office at (888) 723-2567.

Navisa Inc. a manufacturer of hangers and poly bags, will host an open house on Sunday, March 30.

Manufacturers’ representatives will be on hand to answer questions and special prices will be available along with an introductory package for new clients.

Food and beverages, drawings for prizes and a play area for children will be provided to those who attend.

The company is located at 5710 Ransom St. in Houston, TX. For more information, call (713) 644-1443.