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Industry News
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Service Tip
Plaster dust (mostly calcium carbonate) is not only a sure ingredient for cloudy water, but an imminent danger to elements in the pool heater. Plasterers recommend waiting two- to three weeks after a new plaster job before firing up the heater. This gives the system ample time to filter out any particulate matter, and it allows a service tech to properly balance the water. Before starting the heater, you should clean or backwash the filter to remove any dust that has become trapped. Also be aware that aggressive water will remove calcium from the plaster and cause the same kind of problems.
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Top 50 Buzz
 What new initiative are you working on?
We are undergoing some in-house executive training by finding out our managers’ [personality] makeup. We have a consultant who works with us to make sure that we’re more balanced as a team. We’re doing this for better efficiency and less stress.
How does it work?
We all take a personality assessment test, and it tells us what our DNA is, per se. From that point on, there are all-day classes and then several follow-throughs that you have to do. Over the next 18 months, we will be reinforcing and reinforcing.
I thought it was the right time to do it, because people will be a lot more efficient [when they are placed in the right job position]. In New York, we had a problem with the H2B Visa program, so we had to fill dozens of positions quickly. Based on what we learned, we were able to put a balanced committee together. It went so smoothly that within two weeks we had 38 people hired. So it does work.
— John Tortorella, president, J. Tortorella Custom Gunite Pools (No. 37), Southampton, N.Y.
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Snapshot
  “Last Thursday, we began to celebrate our 50th anniversary. We had a huge dinner for all of our employees and invited our vendors. This year, we’ll be running a lot of promotions to honor our 50th. We’ll have posters in the stores, and our employees will be wearing 50th anniversary pins.
“In mid-April, we’re going to do a tandem promotion with a local furniture company that’s also celebrating its 50th. For 50 days, for each purchase made at either company, money will be donated to support colon cancer research. After 50, it’s vital to be screened for colon cancer. This cause is very important to us because it affected Dick Quint, the founder of Aqua Quip.”
— Kathleen Carlson, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Aqua Quip, Renton, Wash.
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Featured Article
 Creating Harmony
Designers share tips for
combining materials that
flow rather than clash.
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Trade Show News
Important Dates
The 2009 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo may not be until November, but it's never too early to start planning, so save these important dates:
• March 17 - Housing opens
• April 2 - Space Draw begins
• June 23 - Attendee registration opens
• July 7 - Exhibitor registration opens
• Oct. 6 - Early-bird registration deadline
 Exhibits: Nov. 16-18, 2009
Conference: Nov. 13-18, 2009
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada USA
972.536.6350
www.PoolSpaPatio.com | info@PoolSpaPatio.com
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