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Record Turnout for NSPI-Florida's Aquatic Event
 The 24th Annual NSPI-Florida Swimming & Diving Meet, held Oct. 12-13 at the YMCA Aquatic Center in Orlando, Fla., drew a record 65 high schools and 1,784 participants, according to Wendy Parker, communications manager at the National Spa & Pool Institute-Florida. The overall team winner was Bolles School from Jacksonville. St. Thomas Aquinas School of Fort Lauderdale earned second place honors, and third place went to Sarasota High School.
NSGA Rates States' Sports Participation
California is the “sportiest” state, but swimming is most popular in smaller states, according to “Sports Participation in 2000 — State by State,” a report by the National Sporting Goods Association in mid-October. The report noted that Californians participate most in aerobic exercising, backpacking/wilderness camping, calisthenics and exercise walking. Swimming was not the top-rated activity for any of the 13 states in NSGA’s report, but it did make the top five in four states: In Rhode Island, swimming ranked third, behind fishing and tennis; fourth in Georgia, behind tackle football, roller skating and skateboarding; fourth in North Carolina, behind saltwater fishing, tackle football and horseback riding; and fifth in Florida, behind saltwater fishing, motor/power boating, skateboarding and bike riding.
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 Saratoga Spas Expands Warehouse Facilities
Saratoga Spas has added six new stock warehouses for its new line of spas. The new warehouses are located in Gaithersburg, Md.; Chicago; Reno, Nev.; Orlando, Fla.; Columbia, S.C.; and Buffalo, NY. “By adding so many stocking facilities, any dealer can now get Saratoga Spas quickly with much lower shipping charges,” said Rick Gilpatrick, sales manager of Saratoga Spas.
3M, Emerson Electric Plan Layoffs
In response to the economic downturn, Chicago-based 3M and Emerson Electric Co. in St. Louis announced in October that they plan job cuts. 3M, which produces tile cleaners and glue for pool liners, has trimmed 4,200 jobs from its 75,000-person work force worldwide since April and plans to drop 800 more by April 2002, said spokesman John Cornwell. Meanwhile, Emerson Electric, the parent of pool and spa motor manufacturer Emerson Motors, said it would eliminate 1,200 jobs from its 40,000-person work force and close 20 of its 350 plants. These layoffs are in addition to another 2,400 jobs cut the first half of the year, according to company spokesman Mark Polzin. Neither company could indicate how many jobs, if any, involve divisions that produce goods for the pool and spa industry.
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Roman Fountains Opens New Headquarters
 Roman Fountains Corp. announced the opening of its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, N.M. The fabrication area includes an “indoor-outdoor” test facility to promote product research, development and testing. Roman Fountains designs and manufactures fountains and water-display systems for high-end residential and pool applications and commercial developments.
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AquaChek Dealer Training Course Update
An article in the June 20 issue of Pool & Spa News on AquaChek’s online Dealer Training Course did not list the program’s Web site, AquaChek.com/training. The Internet program allows qualified dealers, service companies and distributors to become pool chemistry experts. The training course was developed by Environmental Test Systems, maker of AquaChek Pool and Spa Test Strips in Elkhart, Ind. Intermediate and advanced sections are offered, and participants who pass exams on each of the three sections will receive a commemorative plaque.
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© 2001 Pool & Spa News
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