National Clothesline

Following the success of its two-day spotting course in January, the North East Fabricare Association plans to hold additional educational offerings throughout 2004.

On January 24 and 25, 15 cleaners gathered in Providence to learn new techniques in stain removal at Security Cleaners. Following the training session, many students immediately signed up for a pressing class that NEFA tentatively plans to host during the third week of March. It will be in Portland, ME.

NEFA is also looking to offer two upcoming New York state certification programs, one in March in the Syracuse/Rochester area, and another in Albany during the fall.

In addition to those events, NEFA has also hired Bill Seitz, former NCA executive director and longtime industry expert, to present a spotting class in the upstate New York area this year.

Also on the horizon is the association’s Fabricare Image ’04 convention and exhibit, set to take place on June 12 and 13 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI.

The event was pushed back from its traditional March/April time slot in order to avoid the possibility of harsh weather conditions affecting attendance.

This year’s headquarters hotel for the show will be the Westin Hotel. Secured room rates of $169 per night will be available to attendees who make early reservations.

In other NEFA news, the association’s board of directors recently voted to add Peter Germani of Nu-Lux Cleaners to its ranks. The director’s seat had been vacant for a year-and-a-half before Germani took over.

He will be present at NEFA’s town meeting scheduled for Saturday, April 24 in Ledyard, CT, where he will discuss Rhode Island’s recently proposed air regulations from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection.

He will be joined by Michael Palliotta, Brad Friel, and executive director Peter Blake.

For more information on the new air regulations, or any of NEFA’s upcoming educational programs, contact the association by calling (781) 942-7630 or visit www.nefabricare.com.

The National Cleaners Association is offering Korean cleaners more educational programs than ever in 2004, including two sessions of its ten-week intensive course on the “Principles and Practices of Drycleaning.”

The class will meet during Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7 to 11 p.m. between the dates of April 13 and June 17, and from October 15 through December 14 at the New York School of Drycleaning, located at 252 W. 29th St. in New York, NY.

Tuition is $870 per student for both members and non-members. Instructional aids are optional and sold separately.

NCA will also present several two-day sessions of its New York State Certification classes in Korean. Dates include: March 21 and 28; May 16 and 23; July 18 and 25; September 19 and 26; and November 21 and 28.

Class will meet from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on both days. The cost is $509 for members who have paid their 2003 membership dues and $975 for non-members.

For more information, call NCA at (212) 967-3002.