Association & Industry
News
Legislative & Regulatory
Updates
|
|
| |
 |
Let
Your Voice
Be Heard
It
has been many years since businesses have seen so
much potentially  harmful
legislation and regulation coming out of the federal
government. TCATA urges all members to communicate
regularly with your Congressman and Senators to express
your views – it can and often does make a difference!
We urge you to review this brief summary,
compiled by the National Association of Wholesalers,
on how to most effectively communicate with Congress.
|
|
 |
|
Members
In The News
 Shawn
Martin Appointed 2011 Conference Chair
 TCATA
President Lawton Jones has appointed Shawn Martin of R.W. Martin & Sons,
Inc., Kent, Ohio as general chairman of the 2011 Annual Management & Educational
Conference, which will be held from August 3-6 at the Stein
Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah.
Mr.
Martin, a regular attendee at the Conference, has been an active
member of the Association. He served on
the conference
business program committee for the 2005 TCATA Conference and
served three terms on the Association’s Board of Directors.
Shawn serves as president of R.W. Martin, where he has worked
for nearly 30 years. “I cannot think of a better choice
to serve as chairman than Shawn,” noted President Jones. “I’m
confident he will provide excellent leadership in putting together
another outstanding meeting.”
TCATA
Welcomes Cheryl Paglia As Newest Staff Member
 If
you’ve called the TCATA office lately and heard a new
voice on the phone, you are not imagining things. TCATA is
very pleased to have recently hired Cheryl Paglia to replace
Stella, who is retiring on July 30 after 46 years with TCATA. While
we all know Stella will be very difficult to replace, Cheryl
will be an outstanding addition to TCATA.
Cheryl
is a seasoned professional and a self-proclaimed “jack
of all trades”. She has worked in a wide variety of businesses,
from banking software to engineering to desktop publishing. Born
and raised in New Jersey, she spent seven years in Florida and
then returned to her home state in 1986. Cheryl and her husband
Mike have been married for more than 20 years. Welcome Cheryl,
and goodbye Stella!
Webinar
Series to Focus on New Economic Realities Modern
Distribution Management, in conjunction with The Indian River
Consulting Group, is offering a three part webinar series beginning
on July 29 on “Building an Effective Sales Organization
for the Recovery.” These 90-minute sessions will walk
distributors through the mechanics of aligning their sales
organization to their current or evolving market strategy.
Each session will cover concepts and practical guidelines and
will include a self-evaluation tool between each session so
that participants can apply the lessons from the webcasts to
their own organization. TCATA members are eligible for a discounted
flat rate of $85 each (discount available for purchasing all
three) - you can have as many people from your company participate
as you wish. Among the presenters is the highly-rated past
TCATA Conference speaker Mike Marks. Click here for details.
Clean
2011 Housing Opens
 Housing for the next Clean Show, to be held
from June 6-9, 2011 will open by the end of this week. TCATA
has obtained a block of rooms at the Las Vegas Hilton at an attractive
rate of $125. This hotel has always been a popular choice with
exhibitors because of the hotel's proximity to the Convention
Center.
To
obtain the show's special rates, reservations must be made
through
the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority Housing
Service. On the Clean Show website - www.cleanshow.com -
click on either Attendees or Exhibitors, then scroll down to
Travel & Hotels
on the left side or call the Housing Bureau directly at 877-244-7386.
Reservations require an arrival and departure date and a one-night
deposit for each room. Those exhibitors
who wish to reserve function space at the Hilton are urged
not to delay in securing that space immediately.
As of now, approximately half of exhibit space for Clean 2011
has been sold. The theme for the show is "The Show That
Works."
Stella
Retires From TCATA
Long-time
TCATA employee Stella Petrasek has announced that she is retiring
effective August 1. Stella, who has served as office administrator
and assistant to the CEO, began working at TCATA in 1964. To
say that she has seen dramatic changes in the industry and
the association during that time would be quite an understatement!
TCATA President Lawton Jones stated that "When an individual has been
with any organization for as long as Stella has been with TCATA, there will
always be a 'void' for some time. No matter how talented her replacement may
be, they will not be able to be 'Stella' for a very long time. TCATA - Stella!
They have just gone hand-in-hand for many a year.”
"Stella
has been great to work with all these years," stated TCATA
CEO David Cotter. "To come to the office and work side
by side with someone who is competent, professional and just
plain nice is something that many people would envy. I will
miss her very much, and I know that many members who know Stella
feel the same way." Stella and her husband Daniel plan
to enjoy their retirement by staying in New Jersey, probably
moving to the Jersey shore. Enjoy, Stella - you will be missed
very much!
Jones
Assumes Presidency of TCATA
 Lawton
Jones of Phenix Supply Company, Decatur, Georgia assumed the
presidency of the Textile
Care Allied Trades
Association (TCATA) during the recent annual conference in Charleston,
South Carolina. He takes over this position from retiring President
Rick Kelly of Pellerin Milnor Corporation and will serve a two-year
term. (photo shows Lawton & Laura-Hardin Jones on left, Rick & Angela
Kelly on right)
Mr.
Jones has been a contributor to TCATA in many areas. He has
been a member of the TCATA Board since 2003, served as Vice
President of the Distributors Group and was Business Program
Chair for the 2002 TCATA Conference. He has been with Phenix
Supply for 23 years, where he serves as Vice President and Operations
Manager. He and his wife Laura have three children.
"As
evidenced from our recent conference in Charleston, it appears
to me that a resurgence is underway with TCATA," Mr.
Jones stated. "Many of the attendees expressed their excitement
at what turned out to be a very good conference on both the business
side as well as the social side. It was wonderful to see the
largest contingency of first timers in quite a number of years!
My predecessor, Mr. Rick Kelly, has laid down a wonderful foundation
and I believe, based on comments by many who attended the conference,
that our future is bright. I look forward to seeing 'everyone
plus one' in Park City, Utah next August!," he went on to
say.
Officers, Board Members Elected for 2010-11
Also
elected at the TCATA Conference to a one-year term were three
Vice Presidents: Steve Mathews,
R. R. Street & Co.
representing the Supply Manufacturers Group; Bryant Dunivan,
Energenics Corporation representing the Machinery Manufacturers
Group and D'Arcy McConvey, Dalex Canada representing the Distributors
Group.
Phil
Hart of Kannegiesser USA, Grand Prairie, Texas assumed
the position of Secretary-Treasurer, having been elected to that
position last year. His term runs for two years.
The results of TCATA's recent Board elections were also announced:
Tony
Regan, American Dryer Corporation and Kim
Shady, Unimac
- Alliance Laundry Systems to represent the Machinery Manufacturers
Group.
Kevin
Gavlak, Faultless Laundry Products, Steve
Mathews, R. R. Street & Co. and David
Tingue, Tingue, Brown & Co.
to represent the Supply Manufacturers Group.
Steve
Baker, Minnesota Chemical Co. to represent the Machinery
Distributors Group.
Gerald
Henke, Intex Distributing Co. and Roger
Komins, Package
Supply Corporation to represent the Supply Distributors Group.
There
were five Board members whose terms ended at this Conference
- Alex Atwater of A-1 Products, Steve
Katz of Kay Industries, Matt
Kool of Iowa Techniques, Lynn MacDonald of N.S.
Farrington & Co. and
Dale Loomis of Loomis Bros. Equipment.
We thank them for their service.
DeStefano
Offers Tips on Increasing the Value of Your Website
Members
who attended the 2010 Conference in Charleston had the opportunity
to hear an excellent
presentation
by Bob DeStefano on how to increase your online marketing presence.
He outlined ways that even the smallest of companies can use
the internet – and their website specifically – to
market their company and obtain new customers.
TCATA
has made arrangements with Bob, founder of SVM E-Business Solutions,
to follow up that presentation
with a few articles
throughout the year that will further assist members to enhance
their online presence. Click
here to access a short article on
"Five Ways to Increase the Effectiveness of Your Website.”
Annual
Conference Receives High Marks
 Attendees
at the recent TCATA Annual Conference held at the Wild Dunes
Resort in Charleston, South Carolina, were nearly unanimous
in rating the meeting very highly on all counts. With attendance
numbers almost back up to pre-recession levels, the conference
offered the usual networking opportunities and outstanding
business program that regular attendees have come to expect.
Keynote
speaker Herb Meyer offered a tremendously insightful look into
worldwide events, discussing in particular the implications
of worldwide terrorism and demographic trends on American businesses.
He pointed out that many people worldwide are moving from poverty
into the middle class. One of the major implications for TCATA
members is that, despite the economic downturn, there are many
more potential customers for our products and services, but
largely in other countries.
Bob
DeStefano offered helpful ideas on how companies can use their
website and their presence online to promote their products
and find new customers. Several members took advantage of Bob's
offer to conduct a complementary analysis of their website.
 Bill
Keene provided a brief overview of key current issues and pending
issues related to DOT, EPA and OSHA. Bill was hired last year
by TCATA to consult with members on these matters.
Two
companies were honored for their consecutive years of membership:
R. R. Street & Co. of Naperville, Illinois celebrated 75
years of membership - photo shows (l to r) Steve Mathews
of R. R. Street, Rick Kelly of Pellerin Milnor and Dave Dawson
of R. R. Street. PAC Industries of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
celebrated 25 years of membership. See
below for a profile of both companies.”
Article
Focuses On Contributions Of Allied Trades
A
recent column by Kenney Slatten focused on the contributions
made by the allied trades to the drycleaning and laundry industry.
His column, which appeared in the May
issue of Western Cleaner and Launderer magazine, (turn
to page 8) outlined some of the efforts by both TCATA and individual
manufacturers and distributors on behalf of cleaners everywhere.
In his column, Kenney noted that these efforts are important
to all but often go unnoticed or unappreciated. TCATA's recent
efforts in successfully changing the IFC code requirements
- which will benefit many cleaners - was cited as an example
of this beneficial work. Members involved in their local association
may want to pass this column on to their Board or membership.
2010
College Scholarship Awarded
 Kara
Ann Forsey of Morristown, Tennessee has been selected the recipient
of TCATA's 2010 Dean Allen Education Scholarship. As such,
she will receive $1,000 in college tuition assistance for the
next four years. While taking honors and advanced placement
courses, Kara demonstrated her intellectual ability by holding
a 4.25 GPA - she will be graduating with First Honors. She
has been involved in Beta Club, Key Club and French Club, and
was named in the Who's Who in her high school. Kara's goal
is to major in elementary education and become a teacher. She
is the daughter of James Forsey of Forenta LP in Morristown,
Tennessee. All of us at TCATA congratulate Kara and wish her
much success in her college career.
R.
R. Street Prevails in Perc Contamination Case
(March
2010) A San Francisco judge has ruled that R.R. Street & Co., one of several companies sued by
the city of Modesto, California and its redevelopment agency
in 1998 for perc contamination, is not a responsible party under
the Polanco Revelopment Act. The judge found that Modesto’s
redevelopment agency failed to prove that Streets published improper
perc disposal instructions or that the company’s representatives
discharged perc at the sites. The city of Modesto claimed in
its lawsuit that several sites were contaminated with perc and
were seeking a ruling to have the defendant companies pay for
the clean-up.
David
Cotter Addresses Cleaners On Surviving Recession
(April
2010) TCATA CEO David Cotter addressed cleaners
at the recent Southwest Drycleaning Association trade show
in Dallas on how they can survive tough economic times.
In his presentation, Mr. Cotter delineated several factors
that make for a successful drycleaning business, with particular
emphasis on customer service. He said that performing simple
things can often differentiate a cleaner from their competitors,
giving them an advantage in challenging times. Mr. Cotter
also discussed ways the relationship between a cleaner
and their supplier can be improved to the benefit of both,
including ways that the cleaner can determine the total
value that their distributor brings to the drycleaning
operation.
Streets
Celebrates 75th Anniversary of TCATA Membership
 Congratulations
to R. R. Street and Co. as it celebrates its 75th anniversary
of membership
in TCATA this year!
In 1876, the United States was celebrating its centennial, Ulysses
S. Grant was serving his second term as President of the United
States and Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. That
same year, Robert R. Street founded R. R. Street & Company
in Chicago, Illinois - 134 years later, the history of Street's
reflects many of the significant process and product milestones
that have occurred in the textile care industry over the past
century:
In the late 1800's, Streets was selling dyes and supplies into
Midwestern textile mills and became one of the first companies
to import drycleaning soap from Europe for the nascent U.S. market.
In the early 1900's, the company developed the first pressure
filter system for drycleaning, changing the way solvent is maintained.
During World War II, Streets led an industry-wide effort to recycle
empty drums for the war effort and launched the first drycleaning
agent with anti-static properties.
In the 1950's, Streets conducted ground breaking research studies
that helped shape the industry and developed a school for distributors.
During the 60's, the company sponsored the National Institute
of Drycleaning (now DLI) scholarships. The next two decades saw
cartridge filtration, backed by Streets research, become standard
industry practice. In the last decade, Streets partnered with
Exxon Mobil Chemical to market and support DF2000 fluid and introduced
specialty products to fit modern hydrocarbon cleaning systems.
Most recently, the company invented the eco-friendly Solvair
Cleaning System.
Throughout many years of industry changes, Streets' overriding
commitment has remained the same - to provide customers with
high quality products and services to produce the best quality
of fabric care, all while conducting its affairs with integrity.
"R. R. Street & Co. has been a proud member of the
Association for 75 years largely because of all that TCATA brings
to our industry, our business and our people" said David
Dawson, company President. “A lot of change happens over
75 years, and TCATA has been such a great vehicle for helping
its members navigate through that constant change. Whether it
has been a need for collaboration on the development of standards,
or safety programs, or regulation, or member and customer education,
TCATA has done so much over the years to facilitate the activities
that our businesses require. We are very pleased to have been
affiliated for all of this time, and look forward to the next
75."
PAC
INDUSTRIES Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Membership in
TCATA
Congratulations
to PAC Industries of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania as it celebrate
its 25th anniversary of membership in TCATA!
A distributor of top-line laundry machinery equipment, the company
was established in 1963 by Philip A. Costabile. At that time,
the company served seven counties in central Pennsylvania but
has since grown to serving customers in five northeastern states.
Sons
Phil, Rocco and Frank bought PAC Industries from their father
in 1972, then incorporated four years later.
The company
sells and services on-premise and industrial laundries, as well
as coin-op laundries. In 2009, the company became an employee
owned company, and now employs 51 people. “The foundation
of PAC Industries has always been service,” noted Rocco
Costabile, President. “We believe that the most successful
relationship with customers is a long-term one based on trust
and integrity.”
We wish PAC Industries many more years of success, and appreciate
their long commitment to TCATA.
Safety
Revision Process Begins
TCATA
recently began the process of revising the standard for safety
in drycleaning and laundry plants (ANSI Z8.1). The Safety Committee,
headed by Jim Moran of Pellerin Milnor Corp., will make recommendations
on changes to the standard. In particular, the revised standard
will reflect technological changes in the industry. The Committee
will then seek the input of TCATA members, end-users and government
agencies on these proposed changes before the standard is presented
for final approval.
TCATA
to Increase Online Education Offerings in 2010
You
spoke, we listened. Many members have provided feedback that
they value the education TCATA has made available online -
particularly via webinars - where all you need is a phone and
a computer. No travel, no hotels and you can have as many people
as you wish attend for one fee. TCATA is offering another comprehensive
set of webinars throughout 2010 that will address areas that
members are interested in - sales, marketing, economic conditions
and social media. In conjunction with some sister associations,
we'll be delivering education right to your office! Be sure
to check the home page of the TCATA website periodically for
details.
Coin
Laundry Association Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Congratulations
to the Coin Laundry Association (CLA),a sister association
and Clean Show partner, as it celebrates a significant anniversary
throughout 2010 – 50 years of service to the laundry
industry. Celebratory events include an anniversary blog with
contributions from early founders and association partners,
photographs and a few surprises along the way. CLA members
are invited to share their memories and photos on the anniversary
blog, contribute to podcasts and register for the 50th Anniversary
Celebration Cruise taking place in October.
 “We’re
excited to observe this momentous event with a year-long celebration,” said
CLA President and CEO Brian Wallace. “Fifty years is
a true testament to the leaders who not only formed the association,
but also all of those who have guided its growth.”
The
association was established by industry manufacturers and distributors
in October 1960 and incorporated in Chicago as the National
Automatic Laundry and Cleaning Council in January of 1961.
The Coin Laundry Association is a not-for-profit trade organization
with more than 2,500 members. The Coin Laundry Association’s
mission is to ensure a profitable and growing retail, self-service
laundry operation by providing superior education, products
and services to laundry owners.
TCATA
Introduces New Benefit - Consulting Services At No Cost
TCATA
is excited to inform you of a brand new benefit that is available
only to members of the Association, a benefit that will almost
assuredly save your company money, perhaps even thousands of
dollars. As a member, you may now consult with two top experts
on issues concerning DOT, EPA, OSHA, human resources and personnel
issues at no cost! You’ve worked hard to build your company
and you also need to work hard to preserve your assets. TCATA
can help you do that. Click
here for details.
TCATA
Acknowledges Contributors to Scholarship Fund
Participants
in the golf tournament, which was held at the recent 2010
TCATA Conference in Charleston, raised $700 for the TCATA
Scholarship Program. A special thanks to Jeff Allen of
E.J. Thomas, Dave Dawson & Steve Mathews of R. R. Street
for donating their golf winnings to the program.
In
Memoriam
It
is with sadness that we report on the passing of the following
member:
Peter
Hamlin, co-owner of Unipress Corporation
based in Tampa, Florida. He succumbed to cancer after battling
through operations and chemotherapy for two years. He was 71
years old.
Mr. Hamlin spent over a half a century working in the drycleaning
and laundry industry. He was a true Brit, always sporting a stately
and civil manner. Born in Beckenham, England in 1938, Mr. Hamlin
first began his career with Weston Laundry Machine. He went on
to become the managing director of BMM Weston, another UK company,
before he eventually engineered the purchase of Unipress by BMM
in 1978. Four years later, he moved to the United States where
he became the full-time president of the Unipress Corporation,
headquartered in Tampa, FL, for the next 28 years.
According to Gary Johnson, Hamlin’s long-time business
partner at Unipress: “He was always a fine gentleman and
a consummate professional.” He is survived by his son,
John, and two grandchildren, Oliver and Sofia.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be sent to Lifepath
Hospice, 12973 N. Telcom Parkway, Tampa FL 33637, or the Humane
Society of Tampa Bay 3607 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL 33607.
Welcome
New Members
TCATA
is pleased to welcome the following companies as members of
the Association:
ABS
Laundry Business Solutions, Tucker, GA - Sell software for
the laundry industry.
Angeline
Group Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan - Manufacture industrial
linens, fabrics and uniforms.
Felins
USA, Milwaukee, WI (reinstatement) - Manufacture specialty
and custom bundling machinery.
PONY
S.p.A., Inzago, Italy - Manufacture presses, ironing tables,
spotting cabinet and tables, finishing cabinets, steam generators,
toppers for trousers, steam former for jackets and shirt finishing.
Wesvic
Systems, Turlock, CA (reinstatement) - Manufacture automated
piece counting and real-time feedback system.
New
OSHA Proposal - Your Immediate Help Needed
(July
2010) Ghe Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and
Health Act of 2010 would enact the most sweeping changes
to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSH Act”)
since it became law 40 years ago. These changes represent
a radical shift in approach to workplace health
and safety regulation and will adversely affect virtually
every manufacturer
and distributor in America by replacing cooperation with
confrontation in what will become a newly adversarial relationship
between OSHA and employers, generate expensive legislation,
deprive employers of basic due process rights, and substantially
drive up employer costs. That the total reportable workplace
illness and injury case rate has been cut by more than
half over the last 15 years and with workplace fatalities
now at their lowest level ever, the OSH Act provisions
in H.R. 5663 appear to be a classic “solution in
search of a problem.” It is anticipated that
the full House will take up H.R. 5663 the week of July
26th.
The threat is real and time is of the essence: please contact
your U.S. Representative to express your opposition to
this bill. To find your Representative, click here: http://www.house.gov/ or visit: http://www.naw.org. Click on the “TELL
CONGRESS” button in the top right corner of your
screen. You will be linked to NAW’s “Take Action” E-Alert
Program. Click on “Contact Congress: OPPOSE H.R.
5663, OSHA Reform.”
TCATA
Continues Discussion With EPA On NESHAP Regs (June
2010) Government
Affairs Committee Chair David Dawson, R. R. Street & Co.,
was among several industry association representatives – including
DLI, NCA, HSIA and industry consultant Mike Tatch – that
met recently with representatives of the Environmental Protection
Agency to continue discussions on revisions to the National Emissions
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (known as NESHAP) that
affects all cleaners. As TCATA members may recall, TCATA and
other industry associations filed suit against EPA several years
ago over that agency’s proposal to phase out the use of
perc used in cleaning facilities located in residential buildings,
in response to pressure from activist groups. As a result of
lawsuits filed in this matter by both industry and activist groups,
the court has remanded the issue back to EPA for further work.
Mr.
Dawson stated that the meeting with EPA representatives was
productive and that the EPA welcomes, and is open to industry
input on revising these proposed regulations. He said that EPA
voiced reservations about the use of wetcleaning as a substitute
for other solvents, and discussed their regulatory thnking on
a wide range of existing technologies. Commenting on the original
lawsuit, Mr. Dawson noted that “TCATA’s involvement
in this lawsuit is not simply a defense of perc; rather, it is
part of the larger issue of ensuring that regulations are based
on good science rather than a political agenda, and defending
a cleaner’s ability and right to use technologies that
work best for them and their customers". As always, we will
keep you updated on progress in this important matter.
Fire
Code Changes Survive Final Action Hearings
(May
2010) The Drycleaning Industry's proposal
to incorporate sprinkler expemptions into the International
Fire Code's requirements for drycleaning occupancies has
survived the International Code Council's public comment
period and Final Action Hearing which took place in Dallas
during the last week of May. The industry's effort, led
by TCATA Government Affairs Committee Chair Dave Dawson
accomplished the change through the ICC's Public Proposal
mechanism and was first approved by the Code Council during
their Code Development Hearing in November of 2009. Following
a public comment period and a vote of the ICC membership,
the industry's Proposal becomes part of the I-Codes with
the April 2011 publication of the 2012 Codes. The code
revisions are designed to more closely conform the IFC
with the NFPA 32 Standard for Drycleaning Plants, which
provides exemptions to the sprinkler requirement in plants
using Class IIIa solvents when the drycleaning equipment
meets defined standards for fire prevention. These changes
will greatly simplify the permitting process for equipment
dealers and drycleaners who wish to install new equipment
using Class IIIa solvents. The IFC requirement for adding
sprinkler systems with these installations made them cost
prohibitive in many locales and prevented the adoption
of newer technologies. TCATA will continue to work with
other industry associations and equipment manufacturers
to further modify both NFPA and IFC code requirements as
fire prevention and safety technologies evolve.
Repeal
Of LIFO Back On Table - Action Needed
(May
2010) President Obama has included LIFO repeal
(the last in, first out method of accounting) again in
his fiscal year 2011 budget, proposing full repeal for
all businesses regardless of industry or size.
You
may recall that we alerted you to this proposal last year,
when a number of TCATA members stated that LIFO
repeal would
have a harmful effect on their business. With the help of many
businesses across the country who wrote and met with their Congressmen
to explain why LIFO is important to their business, the proposal
was shelved last year – but it is back. We need your help
in contacting members of the Ways and Means and Finance Committee –
http://www.naw.org/files/ListFinance.pdf
http://www.naw.org/files/ListWaysMeans.pdf
Please
make contact with them over the Memorial Day weekend – if
possible, a face-to-face meeting is best. If you wish to meet
with someone but would prefer to attend a meeting already set
up, contact TCATA immediately. We’ll see if there is a
meeting already set that we can have you participate in.
For
key talking points, click
here.
Paycheck
Fairness Act Harmful To Business - Your Help Needed
(May
2010) Proponents of the” Paycheck Fairness
Act” are pushing hard to short-circuit the U.S. Senate’s
regular legislative process and bring this bill straight
to the Senate floor for consideration within the next several
weeks. Similar legislation has already passed the House
of Representatives. If they are successful and the “Paycheck
Fairness Act” is enacted, the way you go about making
employee compensation decisions in your own business may
be fundamentally affected.
Your
help is needed now to stop the Senate leadership from jamming
this
bill through the Senate. Please contact your U.S. Senators
today and tell them to oppose the “Paycheck Fairness Act”. You can do this by utilizing the E-ALERT program provided by
the National Association of Wholesaler Distributors:
Go to: http://www.naw.org
Click
the “TELL CONGRESS” button in the top right
corner of your screen. You will be linked to NAW’s “Take
Action” E-Alert Program.
Click
on “Contact
Congress: OPPOSE S.182, Paycheck Fairness Act”
Easy to follow instructions, including updated talking points,
will take you through the rest of the very quick process.
Summary
of New Health Care Bill
(April
2010) Confused about the new health care
reform bill recently passed by Congress and signed into
law by President Obama? Join the club! While this massive
bill is still - to a certain degree - a “work in
progress,” we have attached a summary of
some of the major provisions of the bill as well as a link
to a recent
webinar by the Grant Thornton company on this.
TCATA will continue to provide members with information
on the bill so that you
can be prepared to make the necessary changes within your
company to comply with these new provisions.
New
Law to Expand 1099 Form Reporting – Your Help Needed
(July
2010) In an effort to raise money
to help pay for the new health care reform bill, a new
law has been passed that significantly expands requirements
for 1099 form reporting. Beginning with payments made
in 2010, all businesses will be required to issue a 1099
form to any vendor of services or property to which the
business has paid more than $600 a year for those services
or property. Under the existing law, businesses issue
the form 1099 only to individuals who provide services
to a business. The new law makes two changes: the form
1099 must be issued to corporations of all sizes and
shapes as well as to individuals AND a form 1099 must
also be issued to individuals and corporations that provide
property to a business. There is no doubt that this will
be a huge administrative burden on all businesses, particularly
small ones, something verified by TCATA members in a
survey we conducted last year on its potential impact.
TCATA
is urging Congress to repeal this burdensome new requirement
by supporting passage of the Small Business Paperwork Mandate
Elimination Act both in the House, (H.R. 5141) and in the Senate
(S. 3578). We urge members to contact
their Representatives (www.house.gov)
and Senators (www.senate.gov)
to urge passage of these bills. Background on this
issue can be found at http://www.stopform1099.org/.
Senate,
House of Representatives Proposals Would Aid Small Businesses
(March
2010) An amendment to
a tax extender bill that would create and expand small
business
tax incentives was recently introduced by Senator John
Thune. The amendment would create new incentives for small
businesses to pay off expenditures for equipment and other
capital and would eliminate capital gains taxes. Senator
Thune's amendment would redirect unspent portions of the
2009 stimulus bill to fund these proposals.
(March
2010) The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation
(The Small Business and Infrastructure Tax Act) that provides
nearly $20 billion in tax incentives designed to help small
businesses obtain capital and it also eliminates capital gains
on the sales of some small business stock. The measure now
heads to the Senate.
NAS
Review Panel Supports EPA Categorization of Perc, Questions
Some Methodology
(February
2010) the National
Academy of Sciences (NAS) recently completed its review of
the Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) draft toxicological assessment of tetrachloroethylene
(perc). In that report, the Academy agrees with the EPA’s
classification of perc as a “likely human carcinogen,” something
the EPA had previously proposed as part of its draft toxicological
review of the chemical. It is likely that this will lead to stricter
regulation of the solvent.
In its report, NAS also identified several serious
concerns over some of EPA’s approaches to evaluating
the data on perc and subjects about which inadequate information
or rationales
are used to suggest its risk assessment. Members
can access the full report here.
Industry
Fights for Cleaners in Philadelphia, Washington, DC
(February
2010) The future of more than 100 drycleaners
in Philadelphia remains uncertain as the Philadelphia Air
Pollution Control Board’s Ad Hoc committee continues
to consider a possible phase-out of perc in co-commercial
facilities. On January 20, several industry trade organizations
aired their views on this proposal and challenged some
of the data that is being presented by the committee prior
to making its final recommendation to the Board. Most of
the information being challenged by the drycleaning industry
association representatives concerns interpretation of
existing scientific data regarding exposure to perc. The
Board is due to meet next in March.
Industry
associations, including the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute,
also testified at an initial hearing in Washington, DC on a
proposed bill that would ban the use of perc in drycleaning
plants.
NAM
Releases Study on Revitalizing American Manufacturing
(February
2010) The
National Association of Manufacturers has released a comprehensive
study on why manufacturing must
be revitalized
in order for America to remain prosperous. Entitled "Manufacturing
Resurgence: A Must for US Prosperity," the study presents
the reasons why America must revitalize her manufacturing base
and formulates recommendations for achieving that goal. Members
can access the full report here.
President
Obama Signs Tax Relief Into Law
(November
2009) President Obama signed a law which
includes Net Operating Loss (NOL) tax relief. This temporary
relief will
allow struggling companies to get quick cash refunds from the
IRS by using either their 2008 or 2009 losses to offset taxes
paid in the past five years. This temporary tax relief is available
to all size companies. There is a temporary limit in year 5
of the carryback: any refunds for taxes in the prior fifth
year would be reduced by 50%. There is no limit in the refunds
for taxes paid in the 4th, 3rd, 2nd or 1st year of carryback.
For more details about the New NOL tax law, including its impact
on multinational companies, financial statements, consolidated
returns, etc., see pages 3 and 4 of the Deloitte explanation
of the new law.
TCATA
Comments on New York City Council Proposals
(Update
- March 2010)
The Association has received and is reviewing
a revised proposal, and will continue to work with city
officials
to ensure that any legislation reflects the interests of
the allied trades. As always, we'll keep you updated and
call upon members' assistance if needed.
(October
2009) The Sanitation Committee of New
York City Council has proposed two bills that would have
a significant impact
on drycleaners and several TCATA members. The first would
require that all plastic bags used by drycleaners contain
a minimum amount of recycled content; the second would
require that drycleaners take back hangers for recycling
and reuse.
TCATA
has been working with its partner organization the National
Cleaners Association (NCA) in educating the staff
and members
of the Sanitation Committee concerning the impact this would
have on cleaners and their suppliers. TCATA submitted written
testimony to the Committee and attended the initial hearing on
these proposals. Among key points made by TCATA and NCA were
that both cleaners and the allied trades have made significant
efforts over the years to initiate recycling programs, but that
most consumers choose not to participate; reuse of hangers can
be unsanitary; mandating a minimum amount of recycled content
in bags is an inefficient way to achieve a reduction in the use
of plastic, and this is not achievable if the plastic is to remain
clear; and that any mandated recycled content would likely be
unenforceable. Both TCATA and NCA emphasized that the industry
supports efforts to “go green” but that these efforts
often have detrimental, unintended consequences and must be thought
through carefully.
Court
Cases Of Note
Taxation of Out-of-State Businesses
(June
2009) The U.S. Supreme Court decided not
to review a case involving state taxation and interstate business.
In April, several
business organizations supported an appeal to the U.S. Supreme
Court regarding a Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts’ decision
that would allow extensive taxation by states of out-of-state
businesses that have no physical presence in the taxing state – meaning
no employees and no operations.
This
is the second case in two years that the Supreme Court has
declined to hear regarding state taxation of out-of-state
companies. In response, TCATA and others join with the National
Association of Manufacturers in urging Congress to enact bipartisan
legislation (H.R. 1083), the Business Activity Tax Simplification
Act. The legislation would establish a bright-line test of physical
presence to determine whether a state can impose business activity
taxes, including state income taxes, on an out-of-state business
engaged in interstate commerce. Click
here for details on this issue.
Two Asbestos Cases
(June
2009) The state Supreme Courts of Washington
and Pennsylvania have handed down adverse rulings in two asbestos
cases. In the
state of Washington, Lunsford v. Saberhagen Holdings, Inc., the
National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and other organizations
argued that a state appeals court’s ruling that strict
liability¹ may be retroactively applied should be overturned.
(Lunsford involved a plaintiff’s claim of asbestos-related
mesothelioma from household exposure to asbestos years before
strict liability was recognized in Washington.) The Washington
Supreme Court held that strict liability applies retroactively
to all claims that occurred before the adoption of strict liability
in that state. Strict liability was applied to manufacturers
in 1969 and to non-manufacturer product sellers in 1975. Interestingly,
in October of last year, the Ohio Supreme Court reached the opposite
conclusion on a similar issue.
In Pennsylvania, the issue in the Bugosh v. I.U.
North America case was whether to apply the old Restatement
(Second) of Torts
or the newer Restatement, Third of Torts: Product Liability,
which would allow defendants to introduce state-of-the-art evidence
as to what the defendant knew or should have known about the
dangers of the product in question at the time of the sale/exposure.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an opinion dismissing the
appeal as “improvidently granted.” Contact TCATA
if you wish more detail on either case.
¹ a
doctrine which holds that a party may be held liable for damages
regardless of the degree of culpability
Supreme
Court Limits Liability In Pollution Case
(May
2009) In
a very significant case for manufacturers, the Supreme Court
recently limited the liability of two major railroads for chemical
spills in California. The federal government wanted to apply
joint and several liability (meaning a party can be charged
100 percent of the cleanup cost even it is only responsible
for a small part of the problem) to several companies in this
case, but the Supreme Court chose instead to overrule lower
courts in holding companies responsible for only part of the
clean up. The railroad companies were found to have a limited
responsibility for clean up costs since only ten percent of
the contamination was attributable to them. The justices also
reasoned that while Shell Oil (one of the defendants, found
to have no liability) was aware of minor, accidental spills,
this knowledge was insufficient to conclude the company was
an “arranger” of the disposal and hence responsible
financially. This decision means that onerous joint and several
liability may be avoided if a percentage of liability can be
calculated.
Supreme
Court Rules Asbestos Fears Must Be Serious
(June
2009) The U.S. Supreme Court overturned
a Tennessee Court of Appeals Ruling that could have lead
to a major wave
of new, unwarranted
asbestos lawsuits. In CSX Transportation v Hensley, the Tennessee
court ruled that asbestos plaintiffs no longer need to demonstrate
that their fear about incurring injury or illness from asbestos
exposure is “genuine and serious,” contradicting
previous Supreme Court rulings. In this particular case, the
state court awarded the claimant $5 million in pain and suffering
based on thin evidence of any genuine fear.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the jury should
have been given an instruction to find liability only if the
plaintiff’s
fear of getting cancer was genuine and serious. Juries, especially
in emotional cases, should be given clear guidance on the law
to provide the proper balance between plaintiffs and defendants.
This is an important decision that prevents state courts from
neglecting the rights of business to fair trials.
Illinois
Allows Evidence Of Third Party Liability
(May 2009) The
Illinois Supreme Court has overturned previous court decisions
that prevented a jury from hearing evidence that parties other
than the defendant manufacturer
may have caused the plaintiff’s asbestos injuries. Previous rulings led
the courts to prevent the defendant from submitting evidence that some other
party caused the plaintiff's illness. Until this decision, Illinois law had been
unique in excluding such evidence, and the decision will prevent lawyers from
unfairly singling out one defendant for liability. The outcome is welcome relief
because the previous rule invited claims against remote defendants, forcing unfair
settlements and feeding the asbestos litigation crisis.
Delaware
Rules Employer Not Liable For Secondhand Asbestos Exposure
(May
2009) The
Delaware Supreme Court has issued a favorable ruling for business
in Riedel v. ICI Americas, Inc., affirming the trial
court’s ruling that an employer is not liable for secondhand
asbestos exposure. The opinion follows the arguments made by
several business organizations in an amicus brief filed last
summer. In this case, the plaintiff alleged that she was exposed
to asbestos that was brought home on her husband’s work
clothes, which she laundered. The trial court assumed that
she was injured by the asbestos, but rejected the claim anyway.
The amicus brief argued that the mere foreseeability of harm
to third parties is not enough to extend the employer’s
duty of providing employees with a reasonably safe work environment
to potential harm outside the workplace.
Supreme
Court Rules On EPA Cost-Benefit Analysis
(April
2009) The
U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency may consider using
a cost-benefit analysis in determining the level of required
technology used in power plant cooling towers. While this
ruling does not mandate the EPA use a cost-benefit analysis,
it opens the door on using this in the future in other
mandated environmental actions.
Alliance
Laundry Expands in India
Alliance
Laundry Systems announced earlier this summer that is has entered
into an agreement with the Ramsons Garment Finishing Equipment,
based in Bangalore, to provide products to the expanding laundry
industry in India. Ramson has been a leader in India in manufacturing
and distributing laundry equipment for many years. As part
of the new agreement, Ramson will become the sole distribution
of IPSO laundry equipment in the region.
R.W.
Martin Receives Safety Award
The
R.W. Martin Company of Kent, Ohio was named among several companies
with an outstanding workplace safety performance record for
2009. General Manger Chip Ottman of R.W. Martin accepted an
award, sponsored by the Portage County (Ohio) Safety Council,
in recognition of employees at the company having worked a
total of more that 40,000 hours with no injuries resulting
in a day or more away from work.
Gurtler
Industries Acquires AuroraChem West Gurtler
Industries of South Holland, Illinois recently acquired AuroraChem
West, a regional manufacturer and supplier of specialty laundry
chemicals and services based in Salt Lake City, Utah. “Our
philosophy of putting the customer’s needs on top fits
perfectly with Gurtler’s commitment to quality and service,” says
Dave Hanson, president of AuroraChem West. AuroraChem West
provides products, services and dispensing systems for the
hospitality, healthcare, linen supply and industrial laundry
market segments. These products and services will be integrated
into the full Gurltler line and available across the country.
Kannegiesser
USA Receives Innovated Energy Solution Award
Kannegiesser
USA was recently presented with the Innovated Energy Solution
Award from the Energy Solutions Center (ESC) at its Technology
Forum. ESC hosted this event as part of their ongoing mission
to accelerate the acceptance of and deployment of new energy-efficient,
gas-fueled technologies that enhance the operations and productivity
of commercial and industrial energy users. Kannegiesser was
lauded for their technological advantages and energy saving
operation in their PowerDry line of gas-fired dryers.
Fitzgerald
Inducted Into WFI Hall Of Fame
Jim
Fitzgerald, Jr., president of the Herb Fitzgerald Co., Butler,
Wisconsin, was inducted into the Wisconsin Fabricare Institute
(WFI) Hall of Fame during the association’s convention
in March. He is a longtime member of WFI, and has served on
its board since 1994. He was influential in the creation of
Wisconsin’s Drycleaners Environmental Response Fund (DERF)
and its administration, as well as in the launch of the Fitzgerald
Scholarship Golf Classic. Jim is the third generation of his
family to be inducted, following his grandfather and father.
Wascomat/Electrolux
Markets Under New Name
Bermil
Industries Corporation has consolidated its equipment brands
under the Laundrylux trade name for marketing and communication
purposes. The company distributes the Wascomat and Electrolux
brands of commercial laundry equipment. CEO Neal Milch explains
that the Laundrylux name illustrates the company’s roots
in the laundry business, and the “lux” reflects
the superior quality of its products. The laundry machinery
will continue to carry either the Wascomat or Electrolux brand
name.
Consolidated
Laundry Machinery Acquired by Carlin Capital Partners
(May
2010) Carlin
Capital Partners (CCP) announced that it has acquired the Consolidated
Laundry Machinery Co. (CLM) from its President and Founder,
Leonard Bernstein.
CLM
is a leading manufacturer of industrial-grade dryers and related
finishing equipment, primarily serving the textile services
industry. Founded in 1962, the company has continuously provided
its global customer base with high quality and efficient large-scale
dryers. Bernstein, who founded the company in 1962,
is retiring but will remain with CLM as a consultant.
"We are excited to be able to give CLM the resources it
needs to achieve meaningful growth and better serve its customers," said
Jason Farber, Principal of CCP. "CLM already has an excellent
reputation for the quality and efficiency of its products and
we want to build upon that reputation to provide even better
products and customer service."
Carolyn
Landsperg, Vice President and General Manager and an 18-year
veteran of CLM, succeeds Leonard Bernstein as CLM's most
senior executive.
Tingue,
Brown & Co. Goes Solar
The
Tingue, Brown & Co. recently installed solar panels to
the roof of its headquarters in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. Company
CFO John Hurst says that the move, which is partially funded
by state aid, is expected to cut electricity costs by 50%.
The company anticipates a payback on their investment in five
years.
TCATA's
mission is to increase professionalism through business
operations and sales improvement education, provide forums
where business challenges are discussed and solved, generate
and apply business intelligence, and create a favorable
business climate by seeking fair regulation and legislation.
|
to
TCATA as it celebrates its 90th year of operation in 2010.
It may be trite
Valuable
education right in the comfort of your own office. No travel.
One low fee for as many participants as you wish. What could
be easier? Welcome to "TCATA University"!
