Training for the Tent Installer Program 2010 - 2011
Confirmed dates and locations:
Janaury 24 at Tradewinds Resort in St Pete Beach, Fl.
Visit www.tentexperts.org/training for video of the training workshop.
Over five hundred tent installers completed training sessions.
Installers state they are more aware of using hearing protection, ladder safety and taking care of the vinyl tent tops
Owners are stating their insurance companies are taking note of having trained installers
Customers are being made aware of the fact that companies who attend training workshops are aware of safety for the public in tented events and proper installations.
Industrial Fabrics Foundation
Announces Recipient of the Tent Rental Division Membership Scholarship
(Roseville, Minn. – August 25, 2010) – The Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) recently announced the recipient of the 2010 Tent Rental Division (TRD) Membership Scholarship.
The recipient of the TRD Membership Scholarship is Nicholas Wodetzki sponsored by American Pavilion. The scholarship is funded by the TRD a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International.
Wodetzki is a student at The University of Arizona pursuing a degree in Biochemistry. He served as President of the National Honor Society as well as Captain of the Varsity Swim Team. His degree in Biochemistry will allow him to achieve his goal of creating a better living environment for everyone. Sweeney’s dedication to his goal of pursuing higher education and obtaining a degree is inspiring.
This scholarship award provides tuition expenses at an accredited college, university or technical school. Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement, community service, financial need and interest in a future career in the specialty fabrics industry. To qualify for the TRD Member Scholarship award, applicants must be employed by or related to an employee of a TRD member company.
Applications for the next TRD scholarship award will be available in January 2011. Deadline for all applications is May 1, 2011. Recipients will be notified by the end of May with money going to the school for the fall semester.
The IFF is a separately incorporated non profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to education and research in specialty fabrics. For information on the IFF or our scholarship programs, please contact the IFF at 651 225 6545 or blhungiville@ifai.com.
Andy Nolan
2009 Bruce W. Wodetzki Award Recepient
Andy Nolan, known for the quote, “My guys don’t do fru-fru,” was honored with the Bruce W. Wodetzki 2009 Memorial Award. Nolan is the President and CEO of Chattanooga Tents in Chattanooga, Tenn. Nolan was credited with introducing a new, innovative style of tent after 45 years of the old traditional. Nolan was also recognized for encouraging and promoting new people in the industry by supporting a manual on the proper, safe installation techniques for tentage. He provided a location for the first foreman training session to be held by the Tent Rental Division.
Chattanooga Tents dates back to 1934 when Nolan’s father, Joe, started the company; doing tents, tarps, awnings and venetian blinds. The firm was conscripted to build tents for the military during World War II. In 1960, when Chattanooga Tents was forced to rebuild due to a fire, they re-opened with only tents, forgoing awnings and related business. Nolan joined the company after attending the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga where he studied business. Nolan and his brother, Dan, took over Chattanooga Tents for their father in 1976 and have since expand its market and influence throughout the country,
Nolan has spent enough time in Kentucky with Derby related projects that he has earned the title of Kentucky Colonel. Nolan has provided tents at the White house for numerous official state events. The plaque presented to Nolan reads, “For his friendship, his deduction and the leading role he has played in promoting, educating and expanding our industry, our organization and our member companies. Congratulations to Andy Nolan. The Bruce Wodetzki Award is presented by the Tent Rental Divison of IFAI to an individual who has made contributions to the tent indsuitry in general and/or to the tent rental industry. The award is only given after a vote has been taken on the nominations received by the Steering Committee and upon approval from a repreentative of the Woedtzki family.
TRD Summer Newsletter
New Member Benefit
The Tent Rental Division (TRD) Steering Committee constantly works to develop solutions to our members’ needs. Two issues that have been top of mind lately are insurance and training.
Rental companies need insurance to cover their products and liability in case of injury—an important concern whenever working with the public. To meet this need, the TRD has partnered with National Insurance Specialists and The Hartford to provide high quality, customized insurance solutions for U.S. member companies. The program is designed especially for equipment and party rental businesses, and offers to cover: Tents and equipment, property, general liability, commercial auto and umbrella insurance.
Through the partnership, National Insurance Specialists will waive a company’s deductibles on all equipment items exceeding their policy deductible when registered with the National Equipment Register through The Hartford. The Harford participation with NER will result in a 20% discount for registering the company’s product.
The insurance partnership offers industry expertise with agents located across the United States, provides all lines of insurance to member companies, bridges understanding of the tent rental industry to the insurance industry, and customizes programs for tent rental businesses.
If you “Stake your Future” on your company staff, consider participating in Training for the Tent Installer workshops to enhance employees’ knowledge and skills in practicing safety for themselves and the public. Participants learn the tent installation profession and their vital role in the success of a tent rental company. Two Training for the Tent Installer workshops have been received successfully by member companies. Upcoming workshops are scheduled for April 29 in Minneapolis, Minn.; November 4 in Providence, R.I.; and Jan. 19, 2009 in West Palm Beach, Fla. during IFAI Tent Expo 2009.
To participate in these opportunities
Insurance
National Insurance Specialists
888 489 7165 Toll-free
www.rental-insurance.com
Additional information on National Equipment Register: www.stopequipmenttheft.com
Winner of Tent Rental Division Scholarship is announced at IFAI Expo 2007 in Las Vegas, NV
First recipient of the TRD Scholarship is Melissa Wright – a sibling of a John Boyle employee entering the field of accounting. She has a fabric background and actually worked at John Boyle & Compnay Inc. She is a student at the University of North Carolina/Charlotte.
This scholarship award provides $2,500 for tuition expenses at an accredited college, uniseristy or technical school for employees and family members of employees of TRD member companies. Financial need, academic achievement, community service and studies related to the specialty fabrics/tent rental industry will be considered int he selectin process. Watch for 2008 Scholarship details. Click to download TRD 2007 Scholarship Application
Call for Nominations: TRD Steering Committee Members
Experience a sense of fulfillment by serving on the TRD Steering Committee and contributing to the growth and knowledge of the division while advancing the tent rental industry. Qualifications for IFAI Tent Rental Division Steering Committee Member include:
- Candidate must be from a company that is member of IFAI and the Tent Rental Division in good standing.
- Company must have as its primary business the tent rental industry.
- Candidate must be an active, authorized representative in their firm and have the authority to travel to all division meetings. Failure to attend empowers the chairman to remove the committee member from the roll of the steering committee.
- Candidate should have attended IFAI Tent Conference and IFAI Tent Expo within the last three years.
- Candidate must be willing to volunteer time and resources to division related projects benefiting the tenting industry.
- Candidate must be willing to work for the benefit of the industry and not the individual.
- Term of office is for three years beginning January 2008.
Nomination Forms are available at www.tentexperts.org or email: jmschieffer@ifai.com
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Contact: Jessica L. Sellers
+1 651 225 6982
jlsellers@ifai.com
Kevin McBride honored with Bruce W. Wodetzki award
(Roseville, Minn.–March 2, 2007)– Kevin McBride, president of P.J. McBride, received the Bruce W. Wodetzki Award at the IFAI Tent Expo 2007, presented by Tom Wodetzki, son of Bruce Wodetzki and a colleague mentored by McBride. This award is the tent rental industry’s highest honor, presented only to individuals who have contributed time, talent and energy to improving the industry for all participants.
McBride’s company has been a member of the Tent Rental Division of IFAI (TRD) for 30 years. During the introduction speech, Wodetzki said of McBride, “I believe that a man is judged by two measures, his work and his word. This year’s winner works as hard at his business as any tent man I know, and regarding his word, he is as trustworthy as they come.”
McBride has served as chairman of the TRD Steering Committee and during his membership has freely shared his expertise and resources with his competitors in the tent rental industry. Wodetzki said, “He is the first person to offer help, in the way of crews, trucks or tents even to his competitors. In fact, many of his competitors can share stories of the times he went out of his way to help them, even when doing so would only benefit his competitor.” McBride has also served on the Education Committee of the TRD, contributed to the Procedural Handbook for the Safe Installation and Maintenance of Tentage handbook.
IFAI Tent Expo 2007 provided over 700 participants of IFAI Tent Expo 2007 the full range of tents/fabric structures and tent rental products and services suppliers on Jan. 29-Feb. 2, 2007, in Kissimmee, Fla. Spread across eight acres of available display space at Old Town, the exposition held educational seminars and hands-on workshops on emerging technologies under the theme “Tenting the Way to the Future.” Tent installations demonstrations emphasized safety awareness for the tent installer. Keynote speaker Bruce S. Wilkinson, CSP, addressed personal responsibility for workplace safety. His mission is to help tent rental companies translate their corporate culture into a workplace climate that inspires excellence. Wilkinson is a retired post certified reserve police officer with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The premiere of the film, “InTENTCity,” by Saroj Bains, independent film producer, documented tent rental companies assisting disaster relief teams. The film brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience.
Expert industry representatives discussed the importance of site surveys; personal protection equipment and awareness; tent permits and codes; and the day-to-day operations and challenges, including training installers and the importance of owners delegating responsibilities. Dr. Hoh, University of Virginia, returned with “History of the Circus Tent” while Keven Yaeger, Regional OSHA Educational Coordinator discussed OSHA Trains.
|
