CLA Celebrates 50 Years of Industry Service

By Planet Laundry staff | Jan 20, 2010

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March 3, 2010

The images below are courtesy of Neil Polifka, Parts Distributors. If you have a historical laundry image to share, please send a jpeg of it to michelle@coinlaundry.org.

February 17, 2010

Thoughts on CLA’s Anniversary

You might say I was in on the birth of the association that became the Coin Laundry Association, the NALCC.

I was on the staff of the American Institute of Laundering, headquartered in Joliet, Ill.

This was an old, established association started in 1884 with the bulk of its members doing what was called “family laundry.” Households would routinely send out the laundry to be done for a modest sum, before the days of the automatic washer and dryer.

Coin laundries in the 1950s were mainly owned by investors, often doctors or lawyers, and these owners saw the advantage of professional advice. They tried to join the AIL and were refused admission by the board of directors.

I worked in the membership services department, which was headed by Ward Gill. The attitude of the board was very frustrating to Ward, who tried to persuade it that creating a special class of membership for this growing segment of the industry would not only bring in new revenue but also strengthen the association.

Unfortunately, his ideas were rejected.

As a former Army officer, Ward was used to taking action when he saw a good cause. He resigned from AIL and, with a group of suppliers and coin laundry owners, formed the NALCC. He was a strong leader who had all the experience necessary to set up the new association and manage its early trade shows. His NALCC was the future, and AIL was mired in the past. It has now been folded into the DLI and disappeared, except for some photos on the wall.

Congratulations on your 50th anniversary. I have followed the progress of the CLA over the years and believe it has remained on the cutting edge of technology and value-for-money as an association from 1960 to 2010.

January 29, 2010

Taking a quick look back at the association’s beginnings, this post includes the incorporation papers as well as a photo of the officers and staff at the time. Does anyone look familiar?

January 20, 2010

The Coin Laundry Association is celebrating a significant anniversary throughout 2010 – 50 years of service to the laundry industry. This anniversary blog will contain contributions from early founders and association partners, photographs and a few surprises along the way. You are invited to post your memories of CLA and personal stories below.

To get things started on the right foot, we’re introducing our special logo for this year. You’ll see it on the CLA’s Web site and on printed materials from the association throughout the year. This design eked out a win by two votes in our online poll!