Oregon Dry Cleaners Assoication
Subject: News from Oregon Dry Cleaners Association
Oregon Dry Cleaners Association Newsletter
Season's Greetings! December 2004
in this issue Convention Report - Tammy Thompson, President Whatsss up in 2005 ??? - President-Elect Kathey Butters Lee Stark 1939-2004 by Claire Anchick Greetings!
Due to the busy Holiday season, the November- December newletter has been combined into one. We're also skipping the member profile this month, but that will return in the January issue.
Have a Great Holiday Season, and we'll see you next year!
Leslie Kettenhofen - District 3 Director, Webmaster & Newsletter Editor
Convention Report - Tammy Thompson, President
For those of you unable to attend the annual convention in October, you missed a great opportunity to hear some entertaining & educational speakers. The morning session opened with Helen Russon from the Bureau of Labor & Industries. Although some feared that this topic would be a bit dry & technical, everyone thoroughly enjoyed her humorous & informative presentation. The owners/operators in attendance had many of their employee-related questions answered. I think we all came away from the session with a better understanding of the laws that affect our businesses every day! Our afternoon sessions included, “How to make your own 30-second personal commercial,” and a workshop designed to help recognize things that can “kill your business.” As reported in the last newsletter we had very nice tabletop displays, and I want to also thank Westport Supply, Northwest Solvents & Cleaners Supply for their generous donations, prizes were awarded all weekend, and just about everyone got to take home some type of Prize.
At the banquet Saturday night we enjoyed good food and fine fellowship. Claire Anchick, from Towne & Country Cleaners, was selected as this year’s Tom Mosher Drycleaner of the year. Congratulations again to Claire! President-elect, Kathey Butters, also talked a bit about 2005. She announced that she would like our first meeting of the year to be a brainstorming session on the direction that the ODCA should be heading.
The membership met on Sunday morning and elected Directors for Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. District 1 will be represented by Scott McClure (Tip Top Cleaners-Portland), Charles Petry and Sukho Gomes (Plaza Cleaners- Portland). District 2 will be represented by Karen Shinabery (Astoria Cleaners), District 3 by Leslie Kettenhofen (Bob’s Dry Cleaners-Florence), District 4 by Daniel Bittick (Martinizing Cleaners-Medford) and District 5 by Joe Chandler (Vogue Cleaners-Grants Pass). The Allied Trades Representative will be Jeff Tazelaar from Taylor Boiler and Equipment. Following the membership meeting, the Board of Directors met and elected the officers to lead the ODCA in 2005. Joining Kathey Butters as President will be President-Elect Claire Anchick from White City, Secretary Michael O’Connor from Beaverton, and Treasurer Gary Campbell from Corvallis and Sgt. At Arms Brian Olson from Portland. As you can see, we have a diverse group of Directors & Officers from all over Oregon.
Remember if you joi n the ODCA or renew your membership for 2005, by December 15, 2004, you will receive a certificate to display in your business, a $25 gift certificate for Cleaners’ Supply and a$25 Costco Cash Card! Renew today!!
Thank you, for the opportunity to serve as ODCA President this past year, I truly enjoy the fellowship and education that I receive in return!
Whatsss up in 2005 ??? - President-Elect Kathey Butters 
This depends on you! We will be having a meeting Sat. Jan. 15th in Salem at the J James Restaurant - 325 High St. SE (503-362-0888)
Everyone (Members and Non-Members) are invited for this brain storming meeting. No idea or thought will be to "wild" as we are looking at all aspects of ODCA and what it offers or can offer. The meeting will start at 11am - lunch will be provided - please RSVP to kbutte rs@oregondrycleaners.org if you would like to attend.
Associations with your business peers are vital in this day and age. The best way to do this is through ODCA. But the only way ODCA can be all it should is with your input. Please make time out to invest in your business and attend the brain storming session.
Lee Stark 1939-2004 by Claire Anchick Lee Stark passed away November 10, 2004. He had been battling a brain tumor that was just diagnosed this past June.
I doubt there is an industrial laundry, hotel, motel, school, nursing home, restaurant, hospital, laundromat, tuxedo rental warehouse or drycleaners between Lakeview and the coast and from northern California to above Roseburg who didn't know Lee.
He could fix anything! From boilers to walk-in refrigerators. He did plant design, equipment sales, repair and installation.
He loved his customers and they loved him. You could call him early in the morning or late at night. It didn't matter how panicked you were he would just let you know he would be there.
You always knew when he arrived, not because he announced it but it was just something in the air, a calming effect. You would look up from whatever you were doing and you would see him and you would just know all would be right again. There he stood cowboy boots, jeans, western shirt, a bunch of keys hanging from his belt loops, vest and that old hat. Coffee cup in hand and ready to fix whatever it was that you had called about. Jo, his wife and of course his dogs usually accompanied him and waited patiently in the truck.
He usually had the part with him, but if not he knew where to find it. If he had to order it he would figure out something to make it work in the mean time. Sometimes he would just stand back and look at the problem and say "Well what if we move that over there or add this or change that" His mind had a way of seeing a solution to any problem. We were always amazed at all the talents he had with so many different tools to make pieces of equipment work. Slow and steady he never hurried and he liked to work alone. Sometimes he would ask for help but usually he would figure out a way of doing it himself. He never appeared harried.
Lee was born February 21, 1939 in Boise Idaho one of two children. Starting at age 3 he would help his father fix farm and ranch equipment in Eastern Oregon. Later the family moved to the Rogue Valley and his father worked on the laundry equipment around the Valley and Lee would go along with him to help and learn. After his marriage to Jo he became a millwright and a diesel mechanic in Washington and the John Day area. He returned with his family in 1976 and just took over where his father had left off.
Lee and Jo were married June 27, 1959 in Central Point and had three children. Michael who preceded his father in death, Murry and Le Ann. There are 3 grandchildren Trisha, Hanna and Travis.
Lee you will be missed by so many people. I hope you knew how well loved you were. Thanks for all you did and I am so sorry you couldn't have stuck around a lot longer. Good bye Lee
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