National Clothesline

Cleaners who attended the Oregon Dry Cleaners Association’s October table top display and convention had no shortage of information readily available.

The event, held at the Hallmark Resort in Newport, OR, included a handful of expert speakers who all addressed important industry issues.

Making the trek from New York was Nora Nealis, executive director of NCA, who delivered a dynamic presentation and also extended a special membership invitation offer from NCA.

The association is seeking to help members on both coasts (and in between). One way to do that is by offering a new “webinar” seminar series that allows cleaners full access to seminars through computer or by phone. Thus, cleaners all over the country can “virtually” attend at any time as proximity is no longer an obstacle.

The registration process itself is very easy. Simply visit NCA’s site, www.nca-i.com, click on the “Telephone Seminars” link and fill out the form. The link also displays a list of all of the upcoming telephone seminar speakers and topics.

Once the process is complete, NCA will e-mail back instructions on how to participate and how to check to make sure your computer is compatible.

When it is time for the seminar, registered attendees simply call a toll free number and enter a code provided by NCA.

The cost for telephone participation is $49; those who wish for telephone and Web-based participation pay $69 a presentation.

Several other presenters attended the convention, as well, including Dick DeZeeuw from DEQ who gave an in-depth update on the Oregon Drycleaning Program and its current status. He also confided how the program will track and audit fees for drycleaners.

Lisa Thornton from Covers Etc., was on hand to offer her thoughts on pads, including the variations found in different ones and their durability. She also pointed out signs that cleaners can look for in order to recognize when their pads need changing.

In addition to those sessions, allied trade members gave the attendees a thumbnail program on the products and services they offer. Many also donated several prizes for convention drawings.

Among the allied trades who attended were: Adco’s Phil and Linda Thorsteinson; Capital City Door’s Don and Missy Brown; Ali Khan of Dajisoft; Leslie Kettenhofen of Imagine Cleaners Online; Peterson’s Equipment Company’s Martin Peterson; Alex Johnson and Collin Davis of Steve Westport Supply; Lisa Thornton of Covers Etc.; and Steve Carrow, the Oregon and Washington R.R. Street Chemical representative.

Though Northwest Solvents could not send a representative, the company did donate a gift certificate for the drawing.

During the weekend, ODCA President Kathey Butters presented the association’s Tom Mosher Award to Karen Shinabery of Astoria Cleaners, recognizing her 17 years of involvement as a district director and board member, as well as her years of selfless community support.

Other highlights of the convention included Saturday evening’s keynote speaker David Rabiner, CSP, of Rabiner Resources in Portland. He offered an entertaining discussion on “How to Succeed, Stay Sane and Have Fun at Work”