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Updated June 18, 2004
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| Pool & Spa News welcomes news tips from our readers. Send news items, with company and contact information included, to Joshua Keim at jkeim@hanleywood.com or fax to 323-801-4986. |
Softub Staff Aids Arthritic Boy
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 The staff at Softub Inc. recently donated a spa to 9-year-old Marcus Yenter of Newport, R.I. Diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at age 1, he and his mother, Lisa (shown), used to travel 60 miles round trip every week from their home at Fort Adams to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence for the boy’s therapy sessions.
That was before they met Sue Sherman, Softub sales manager. After talking with the Yenters at her son’s third-grade class party, Sherman took up a collection at work to purchase a Softub spa that Yenter could use at home for hot-water therapy. Staff members from two company offices — in New Bedford, Mass., and Valencia, Calif. — contributed to the fund.
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UPSA Seminar Successful, More Planned
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In May, the United Pool & Spa Association, a trade group representing residential and commercial pool builders, held its “Building an ‘Excellent’ Swimming Pool Company” seminar in Lakeland, Fla. Sponsored by Fort Lauderdale distributor HornerXpress, the event featured lectures and presentations by Dr. Jerry Goolsby of Loyola University, New Orleans. The positive response generated from the seminar has prompted UPSA to begin planning more seminars with Goolsby in either late summer or early fall. UPSA is based in Tampa.
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Pools Rank No. 3 in Consumer Poll
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 In an online survey conducted by ServiceMagic Inc., inground-pool installations were ranked the third most-requested service by consumers. Recently released results of the poll, “Top 10 Online Home Service Requests” for the first quarter of 2004, showed that the three services most often requested by consumers were for real estate agents, house-cleaning services and inground-pool installation, in that order.
ServiceMagic also reported that inground-pool installations ranked third for 2003 overall. ServiceMagic is an online resource dedicated to connecting homeowners with residential contractors. To learn more, visit www.servicemagic.com.
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RJE Partners with Pool Covers
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Two California firms, RJE Technologies Inc. in Irvine and Pool Covers Inc. in Richmond, announced an agreement regarding distribution of the RJE SonarGuard pool security system. Pool Covers has been named the exclusive distributor of the RJE security system in Northern California. One of the largest distributors of automatic and manual pool covers and safety products, Pool Covers formerly refrained from offering barrier fences, pool alarm systems and other safety measures.
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Aquatech Announces Weisbrod Memorial Scholarship
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 The Aquatech Society of Pool Building & Retailing Professionals announces the creation of the A.J. “Bud” Weisbrod Memorial Scholarship Trust. The trust was chartered to honor the late Weisbrod, former president of Aquatech Corp. in Huntington Beach, Calif., and his contributions to the pool and spa industry.
Scholarships will be awarded each year at the Annual Aquatech Society Conference in January. Eligible applicants include pool industry professionals and their children. To donate to the fund, make checks payable to “A.J. ‘Bud’ Weisbrod Memorial Scholarship Trust” and mail to Aquatech Corp., 7901 Professional Circle, Huntington Beach, CA 92648.
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Goldline Controls Moves to New Facility
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 Goldline Controls Inc., a manufacturer of chlorine generators and pool automation systems, has relocated to a facility in North Kingstown, R.I. The 42,000-square-foot manufacturing plant features an expanded electrical and mechanical engineering department, a testing lab with two indoor pools, and one outdoor pool/spa combination for research and development. The company’s new address is 61 Whitecap Dr., North Kingstown, RI 02852.
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Pebble Technology Joins in April Pools Day
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 To help promote water safety and combat child-drowning incidents, Pebble Technology Inc. donated free learn-to-swim lessons at the “Tempe April Pools Day” water-safety event. Sponsored by the Tempe Fire Department, the event occurred at an indoor wave pool in that city’s Kiwanis Recreation Center.
Pebble Technology also has sponsored the city of Mesa’s “Making Waves” scholarship program, designed to give disadvantaged youths the opportunity to learn to swim. Aimee Manis, the recreation programmer and spokesperson for Making Waves, said the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company’s contribution will benefit more than 90 children. Shown: Neely Israel, Pebble Technology’s marketing director, hands out raffle tickets at the Tempe April Pools Day.
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Natare Corp. Patents NataTread
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Natare Corp. has been issued a U.S. patent and trademark for its NataTread slip-resistant surfacing for pools and aquatics facilities. In 2001, the Indianapolis manufacturer first introduced the product, which is designed to create slip-resistant surfacing on stainless steel pool components. Natare makes surfaces and systems for commercial pools and aquatics facilities.
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© 2004, Pool & Spa News
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