TRSA News
Clean ’09 attendees shrugged off the recession and embraced the many innovations on the show floor that can help them build profitability.

Chairman’s Message
Leveraging the combined strengths of TRSA and UTSA can help us deal effectively with a changing business environment. Jeffrey L. Wright

Commentary
TRSA is now positioned to make great progress in multiple areas—from government affairs, to expanding into new markets and more. It’s time to get moving. Roger F. Cocivera

From the Editor
TRSA’s outreach to its counterparts in Europe and beyond can pay real dividends through enhanced intelligence sharing on environmental issues, government advocacy and more. Jack Morgan

On the Environment
The debate over how we should respond to the threat of global warming underscores a clash on environmental issues between science and politics.
Bob Schaffer

News from Washington
Here we consider the political maneuvering of Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and his impact on the debate in Congress over the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Tony Wagner

HR Adviser
TRSA is urging more companies to participate in the 2009 Safety Survey. Last year’s survey provided benchmarking data and showed improvements in illness/injury rates. Charles Tomlinson

Corporate Briefs
Textile service and supplier news

Advanced R/A—The 'Ultimate Distillation of Delivery Information!'
Advances in “Business Intelligence” software can enhance the value of your route-accounting system for the benefit of both customers and RSRs.—Edward J. Keegan III

Fueling Up for Change
Operators offer tips on how they’re dealing with today’s topsy-turvy market for gasoline and diesel fuel. Bottom line? Managing fuel costs continues to pose a critical challenge to profitability.—Ruth Davis

Freightliner—ROI, Delivered
Technology offers great promise for route vehicles—from hybrids to super-efficient diesel engines and custom-built walk-in chassis.—Scott Larson

'Virtual' New Plant—3-D Visual Planning Service Aids Design Process
Enhanced 3-D technology enables you to see a virtual reproduction of a new or retrofitted plant before construction begins, thus saving on change orders and more.
—Meeraj Mehta

The Fugitive—Tunnel Teardown at he Hilton Chicago!
An operator describes a race against time to rescue tunnel parts from an OPL where the climactic scene of a movie starring Harrison Ford was filmed.—Paul Jewison

Growing Together— Maintenance and Production
Ensuring cooperation between maintenance and production staff is an important issue in any textile service plant. Operators offer ideas for meeting this challenge.
—Ruth Davis

EMI: Ideas for Continuous Improvement
Graduates of TRSA’s Executive Management Institute describe the benefits they gained from the five-year program, including enhanced leadership skills, communications capabilities and more.—Ruth Davis

Lessons from Larkin— 'People Are My Business'
Friends and colleagues reflect on a former Textilease executive who combined business acumen with a remarkable gift for dealing with people at all levels.
—Ruth Davis

Textiles— Accreditation Advantage
A hospital administrator explains why accreditation of healthcare laundries helps ensure quality and infection control in healthcare institutions.—Dr. James Lehman

Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Preventing Employee Lawsuits
An HR specialist for a textile service company tells how companies can avoid litigation by training employees in areas such as discrimination, dealing with employee absences and more.—Kelly Saliba