National Clothesline

Topics for morning programs during the Clean Show in Orlando, FL, have been announced by the International Fabricare Institute.

The show opens on Thursday, June 23 and runs through Sunday, June 26 at the Orange County Convention Center. The cosponsoring trade associations offer seminars during the morning hours in conjunction with the show.

IFI has two programs planned for Thursday morning. “New Directions: Sometimes You Should Fix It Even If It Ain’t Broke” will begin the first session beginning at 8 a.m. At this session, IFI will tell what’s new and what’s planned for the future for its members.

The main feature on Thursday will be “Extreme Plant Makeover: What You Can Do With A Mop, Bucket and a Little Elbow Grease.” In this 90-minute program, IFI will take a struggling smaller plant and give it a makeover on a limited budget.

Friday morning will kick off with “Fashion-Forward thinking: Rising to the Challenges of Clothing Trends.” The program will cover how to handle today’s fashions.

Following that will be “Marketing Designed to Fit Your Plant’s Size.” In two separate simultaneous sessions, five major concepts will be adapted and applied to different-sized businesses. One session will focus on marketing challenges for smaller business and the other will examine issues for larger businesses.

On Saturday, IFI will offer a chance to take any one of its three certification examinations — Certified Professional Dry Cleaner, Certified Environmental Cleaner and Certified Professional Wet Cleaner. The exams will be given at the Renaissance Orlando Resort at Sea World, IFI’s headquarters hotel of Clean ’05.

Those who want to take the exams need to register by April 29. Study materials will be sent after registration. For more information, call Susan Bale, IFI’s registrar, (800) 638-2627.

Also during the Clean Show, IFI will present its Meritorious Service Awards. Awards are given in seven categories:

The Legislative-Regulatory Award recognizes an individual who actively works on critical legislative or regulatory issues that affect cleaners.

The Technology Trailblazer Award recognizes individuals of firms that have conducted innovative research on industry equipment or solvents that have resulted in a viable and commercially proven technology.

The Allied Trades Award honors suppliers or individuals who have provided long-term service of a substantial nature and have provided a solid system of support for its member cleaners.

The Green Fields Award acknowledges people or organizations who have made a lasting contribution to the industry concerning an environmental-related issue or initiative.

The Commitment to Professionalism Award recognizes individuals who help raise the bar of professionalism for the industry.

The Positive Recognition for the Industry Award— International was created in 2003 as the international counterpart for the Positive Recognition for the Industry Award.

From among the nominees, the IFI awards selection committee may select an honoree for its top honor, the Diamond Achievement Award.

Nominations must be submitted by April 8. A nomination form is included in the January issue of IFI’s Fabricare magazine.