APSP Develops New Code of Ethics, Complaint Procedure
To better promote and protect its members, APSP has developed a new Member Code of Ethicsand Ethics Complaint Procedure. The new code describes business practices to follow or avoid, emphasizing public safety and contractual agreements. The new complaint procedure codifies actions that members can take to initiate a complaint about another member, and what actions follow. The new code will appear on future Membership Applications, and both documents will appear online at APSP.org. For questions and concerns, contact APSP Director of Marketing and Membership Debra Sher.
Save Small Business – Act Now!
H-2B EMERGENCY FLY-IN
Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Time: 8:00 am
Location: Washington, DC
Join an Emergency Fly-In to Washington on September 10 in support of the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Bill (S.988/H.R.1843). The bill would extend the exemption (now expired), allowing foreign workers who have been employed under the H-2B visa program in any of three previous years, not to be counted against a restrictive half-yearly quota of 33,000 visas. This will be the last opportunity to get the bill passed by the 110th Congress, which will return to work September 8 for just 3 weeks before the year ends. Please make your travel arrangements now. MORE.
APSP Officers Nominated for 2009
The APSP National Nominating Committee is pleased to have nominated the following slate of APSP Officers for 2009:
APSP Chairman Terry Brown, Buddy’s Pool Service, Cockeysville, MD
APSP Chairman-Elect Charlie Schobel, BioLab, Inc., Lawrenceville, GA
APSP Secretary-Treasurer Kathleen Carlson, Aqua Quip, Renton, WA
All three candidates will be elected by voting membership at the APSP annual meeting just prior to the Board of Directors meeting at the 2008 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Terry Brown, incoming APSP Chairman, is Vice President of Buddy’s Pool Service in Cockeysville, MD and has been a principal member of the family business for over 13 years. Terry has been an active APSP member taking on many volunteer roles at the chapter, regional, and national levels. He has served on the Chapter Board, Regional Board and National Board, and is presently a member of the Education Task Force working to develop the Career Institute. He is passionate about the pool and spa industry and believes that our association is incredibly important for the promotion and advocacy of the industry. As incoming Chairman,Terry will bring forth his experience gained by serving at all levels of the association, along with his business technology knowledge to infuse greater energy in the association during this period of rebuilding. His goal will be to ensure that strategic plans are carried out addressing the four pillars of the association – Education, Advocacy, Research and Promotion. He will work to improve communication, increase membership, improve educational resources, develop proactive government relations, and grow revenue so that the APSP can become financially sound to continue to promote the pool and spa industry for years to come.
The incoming APSP Chairman-Elect will be Charlie Schobel, Vice President, Government Affairs for BioLab, Inc., the world’s largest supplier of chemical products for pools and spas. He started working for BioLab as a sales representative 32 years ago and has been a member of their Executive Leadership Team for more than 20 years. As an active APSP member, Charlie has served on the Board of Directors for seven years and was intimately involved with the association’s difficult years. He has been diligently working with the Board on the development and refining of the strategic plan so that the APSP can achieve its full potential. During his role as Chairman-Elect, Charlie will ensure that the Board’s strategic and financial plans will continue to lead the organization toward a stronger and more successful future.
Kathleen Carlson, who will serve as APSP Secretary/Treasurer in 2009, is Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, for Aqua Quip, a pool and spa builder, retailer and service provider for the Seattle/Tacoma, WA area. She has been actively involved with her local chapter and has served on the National Retail Council since 1997. She is presently the Retail Council representative to the Board of Directors, and is working on the development of the Career Institute as a member of the Education Committee. During her tenure as Secretary-Treasurer, Kathleen will ensure that the strategic plan is implemented for both the association’s short term and long term goals following the four pillars. She also looks forward to promoting new safety initiatives, the Career Institute, and building a closer relationship with Hot Tub retailers. Ultimately, she would like to see the APSP be the major source of information and education so that the pool and spa industry can continue to grow.
APSP Takes Steps to Strengthen Chapters
The APSP Board of Directors at its July meeting passed several resolutions to provide members with additional support and direction at the grassroots level. Based on recommendations from its Components Task Force, the Board revised its governance policy on regions and chapters, and approved a new chapter charter agreement. MORE.
New Issue of Recreational Water Quality Newsletter Focuses on Remedial Practices for Crypto
The lead article in the just-released August 2008 issue of Recreational Water Quality is “Remedial Practices for Cryptosporidium,” which is a timely topic given the recent outbreaks of Crypto that have been in the news lately. Other technical articles include “Testing High Chlorine Concentrations” and “Understanding pH.” Recreational Water Quality is a quarterly newsletter written by members of the APSP Recreational Water Quality Committee for public health officials. For more information contact Jeanette Smith.
Click hereto read the entire issue.
APSP to Offer Advanced Educational Events at
2008 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo
As reported last week in Industry Currents, the APSP Career Institute kicks off at the 2008 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo, November 18-20, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada USA. Highlights of three compelling Programs—one each offered by the APSP Builders Institute, APSP Retail Institute and the APSP Technical Service Institute--are highlighted in a recent press releaseby Hanley Wood, Inc.
APSP Hot Tub Eagle and INSPIRE Awards – Deadline August 31!
The Hot Tub Council Chair, Todd Whitney of Aristech Acrylics, LLC, is seeking your nominations for the upcoming Eagle and INSPIRE hot tub industry awards. The deadline for submissions is August 31. These awards, honoring the best in the hot tub industry, will be presented at the Board of Directors luncheon during EXPO week in November 2008. MORE
You can contribute to IC. Click hereto find out how, or send an email to ic@APSP.org. You may also fax 703.549.0493.