National Clothesline

The Southwest Drycleaners Association is preparing a weekend of education, networking and fun for attendees of its Cleaners Showcase 2010 convention and trade show at the Arlington, TX, Convention Center April 23-25.

SDA has rounded up several industry experts to headline its programs, including DLI President Dave Silliman who will oversee the association’s General Membership and Awards meeting at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 23.

Also on Friday afternoon, Kenney Slatten will discuss “Production Motivation Criteria for Today’s Owners/Managers” at 2:45 p.m. He will examine how to obtain the best production numbers .

On the following morning at 8 a.m., DLI Director of Membership Jon Meijer and Textile Care Allied Trades Association’s CEO David Cotter will join forces for an seminar on “Tough Economic Times — A Blueprint for Success.”

Attendees will be able to gain perspectives from both DLI and TCATA on what success indicators can help them survive the current recession.

On Sunday morning, Anne Cobb and Myong Kang will present “Let’s Talk About Success” at 8 a.m. Both women have been handling fabric care insurance for years through NIE Insurance and have dealt with every problem a drycleaner is likely to face. They will offer tips on risk avoidance, risk retention and risk transfer.

Afterward at 8:45 a.m., Allan Cripe, CED, CPD, will offer a brief explanation of drycleaning production systems and how they work. His seminar on “Plant Preventative Maintenance — Tips & Tricks” will help cleaners reduce down time and increase efficiency in their plants.

Also during the weekend, SDA will host several social events, including a “Showcase Sneak Preview” Friday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and its President’s Reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Saturday evening.

The exhibit hall will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Also of interest is an optional tour of the new state-of-the-art $1.5 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium. It begins at 4 p.m. on Friday. The largest domed stadium in the world, it features seating for 80,000 (and up to 100,000 for special events). It also contains the largest HDTV in the world, stretching from 20-yard line to 20-yard line and costing $40 million.

The cost for the tour is $17.50 for adults, $14 for seniors over 65, and $14 for kids 5-12.

That cost is not included with registration for SDA’s convention. Complete registration packages start at $74 per person if paid by April 2. After that date, the cost goes up to $85 per person.

The package includes all educational programs and seminars, admssion to the exhibit hall, the attendee/spouse hospitality breakfast on Friday, the General Membership & Awards meeting, the Showcase Sneak Preview and the President’s Reception.

A bare-bones registration that includes the membership meeting and admission ot the exhibit hall is $5 for members and $7 for non-members before April 3 and $10 for everybody thereafter. Non-exhibiting allied trades attendees must pay $100 for exhibit hall admission.

Individual event tickets are also available. Admission to the seminars is free.

This year’s headquarters hotel is the Sheraton Arlington Hotel, which recently underwent $15 million in contemporary transformations. SDA has secured a discounted nightly rate of $135 plus tax for single/double occupancy.

To receive that discount, call (800) 442-7275 and mention SDA’s show prior to March 31.

For more information, contact SDA at (210) 826-4684 or visit the association online at www.sda-dryclean.com.