National Clothesline

Many visitors to Ireland who have not kissed the famous Blarney Stone (thus becoming endowed with the gift of gab as the legend goes) still describe the country as enchanting and unforgettable.

Cleaners will have a chance to find out for themselves if they attend this year’s International Drycleaners Congress annual convention.

The convention will be held from Sept. 23 to 26 in Dublin, home to Christ Church Cathedral, the Guinness Storehouse and Dublin Castle.

IDC will kick things off on Thursday with a board meeting from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Then, in the afternoon, there will be Supplier Table Top Displays from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The convention will officially open that afternoon at 2 p.m. with a keynote presentation. The topics to be discussed will include disaster recovery and building and maintaining a multi-service business.

After a break, there will also be a session on some of the latest in technological developments, including the Xeros wash system, simplified finishing equipment, and what’s new in terms of wetcleaning and hangers.

The evening will conclude with a social reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

On Friday morning, IDC will host a four-hour series of plant tour visits around Dublin starting at 8:30 a.m.

After lunch, the educational programs will begin.

Attendees will have a chance to learn how to enhance their professional garment care image. Other topics include “Management Strategies,” “The Fashion Care Concept,” and “E-Dryclean — Online Training.”

Following a break, more sessions are scheduled. Planned are programs on hygienic cleaning and another titled “Regulations — Threat or Opportunity.”

The evening will be free for convention-goers to make their own plans; however there will be an optional dinner at Jameson Distillery that can be arranged through IDC.

The Supplier Table Top Displays will be open again on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until noon.

Also during that time, IDC will offer three more educational presentations that will explore textile care issues as well as market figures, trends and characteristics. Association members will also deliver annual international reports so cleaners can see what’s happening in the cleaning industry throughout the world.

At noon, IDC will host its annual general meeting. Later in the evening, there will be time to network and relax at a cash bar reception and gala dinner, which will feature a flag ceremony and the distribution of the association’s annual awards.

The Sayonara Breakfast will officially conclude the convention at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Registration for the event costs $575 for IDC members. That price includes admission to the welcome reception, refreshment breaks on Thursday and Friday afternoons, entrance to three conference sessions, transport on the plant visits, the convention banquet and the Sayonara Breakfast.

Hotel accommodations are available at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin between the dates of Sept. 22 and 25. Special convention room rates vary depending on the room choice.

Some of the options are: classic single for 115 Euros per night (approximately $149); classic double for 135 Euros per night (approximately $175); executive room for an additional 20 Euros nightly (approximately $26); and suites are an additional 80 Euros nightly (approximately $104).

The rooms are subject to availability and attendees must mention the IDC 2010 convention to receive them.

Hotel reservations and registration will be handled through Yamato Travel Bureau. Call (213) 680-0333, extension IDC.

As usual, IDC will also be offering a pre-convention tour for members who would like to enjoy the regional sights and sounds for a bit longer.

The pre-convention tour will take place from Sept. 14 to 22.

The first few days of the tour will be spent exploring Dublin. It continues with stops at Belfast, Kilkenny, Cobh, Killarney and Limerick before returning to Dublin and the start of the convention.

The tour cost is $3,575 based on two people sharing a room. Additional cost for single occupancy is $905.

For more information, call (403) 685-4755 or visit www.idcnews.org. Registration can be completed on line or the appropriate forms may be downloaded for faxing.