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| APSP participates in first POOLCORP industry golf tournament
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APSP
Thank you to the POOLCORP branches of Ontario and Anaheim, California, for including APSP in their first industry golf tournament. The event was held Nov. 14 at Sierra Lakes Golf Club in Fontana and featured nearly a full field of golfers. Industry vendors were at each hole handing out raffle tickets and sharing their latest products and services. APSP staffer, Susan Stein Kregar represented APSP at the event and handed out APSP swag and encouraged POOLCORP's customers to use their Splash Cash to pay for their membership. Following play, players and vendors enjoyed a buffet feast and were awarded raffle and tournament placement prizes. To learn more about using your POOLCORP Splash Cash for APSP membership, email Seth Ewing or call 703.647.2542.
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| Are you ready? Overtime regulations will take effect Dec. 1
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APSP
In 2014, President Obama directed the Department of Labor (DOL) to update the overtime regulations. The final revised rule came out in May and it will go into effect Dec. 1 this year. The final rule may directly impact your business. Make sure you are prepared for the changes by reviewing the rule and relevant documents being provided by the Department of Labor at https://www.dol.gov/featured/overtime or these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). In short, the rule:
- Raises the salary threshold indicating eligibility from $455/week to $913 ($47,476 per year).
- Automatically updates the salary threshold every three years, based on wage growth over time.
- Bonuses and commissions will be allowed to satisfy 10 percent of the minimum salary threshold.
- The bonuses and commissions can be paid quarterly and catch-up payments can be made within one week of the end of the quarter.
The final rule does not make any changes to the duties test for executive, administrative and professional employees.
Although many have questioned whether this rule will in fact go into effect due to the administration change we will see in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20 and legal action that has been underway, at this point and time nothing has changed to delay or stop the changes from going into effect. Therefore, APSP strongly urges their members to have a plan in place on how to comply come Dec. 1, 2016. If something does change, we will let you know, but until such time — make sure you are ready!
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The new ®ease Floating Sanitizing System from FROG puts consumers at ease with Fresh Mineral Water® benefits and SmartChlor® Technology that reduces chlorine use by 75% with shocking only once a month. The best part is the ®ease repeat business model with strong profits for retailers.
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| EU Harmonized Standard continues with BISHTA support
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APSP
The IHTA of APSP's Engineering Committee continues their excellent work on the EU Harmonized Standard. This work is being done in conjunction with members of BISHTA (the British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association). The IHTA is extremely thankful for the opportunity that BISHTA has provided to them and for the input that they are allowed to provide in the rewriting of this standard. Specific thanks need to be given to Mike McCague of Watkins Wellness, Nathan Coelho of Master Spas, and JT Sidhu of Coast Spas for their tireless efforts with this project. They have traveled to numerous meetings in Europe and will in fact be spending Thanksgiving in Berlin this year, as the next meeting takes place the week of Nov. 21 in Berlin. Thank you to Mike, Nathan and JT, as well as their respective organizations for the support and resources they have provided to this effort. For more information on the IHTA of APSP Engineering Committee email Kristin Woiteshek.
| Long-time industry professional passes
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APSP
Paulette Pitrak, 64, passed peacefully on Friday, Nov. 18, after fighting a courageous battle with leukemia. She was a staff member of NESPA and had worked for years at NSPI. Funeral arrangements are pending. Watch future newsletters for a tribute to Paulette and her contribution to the industry. Our condolences to her family and the NESPA family.
| 20 percent off APSP products on Telephone Tuesday
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APSP
As you get ready for Black Friday, don't forget about Telephone Tuesday! Happening on Tuesday, November 29, APSP has Telephone Tuesday sales to help you save. Explore sales on everything from our online self-paced education to the latest Standards and Codes and safety consumer awareness brochures. Take 20 percent off all APSP Products and the online self-paced course Improving Your Bottom Line Using Project Management.
Stock up now on these best sellers and upcoming APSP Education Programs.
Order Today!
To order products, email APSP Member Services or call 703.838.0083 ext. 301. Email Maria O'Hara or call 571.527.4460 to order the Improving Your Bottom Line Using Project Management online self-paced course.
| Small Business Saturday happens this week!
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APSP
Do you have your strategy ready for Small Business Saturday? If not, there's still time. Celebrated this Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, Small Business Saturday encourages consumers to supports small businesses and all that they do for their communities. Maximize this holiday by downloading marketing tools from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
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Aqua Magazine
For the past several years, we've often heard that there are great potential rewards waiting for pool designers and builders who work beyond the water's edge. It's become almost a cliché call to arms for builders looking expand their horizons. Some builders have embraced that concept while others have stayed with their water-only focus. Some see it as a way to elevate their bottom lines and reputations, while others believe it's better to spend their time doing what they already know best.
READ MORE
Pool and Spa News
A near-record crowd took in the message of health, safety and love of water at this year's World Aquatic Health Conference. This year's WAHC saw more attendance than ever of government officials — a group that organizers have been trying to bring into the fold. NSPF has done this in part by holding an environmental health meeting the day before the conference officially opens.
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The Genesis Blu Fusion is a powerful saltwater bromine generator that uses Dead Sea salt to create silky smooth, safe, clean water without any chlorine. The unit installs in just 20 minutes on any spa and reduces water changes to just once per year, saving thousands of gallons of water.
Find out more information
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King Technology, Inc.
The makers of POOL FROG and SPA FROG now offer a complete mineral pool care system for the fastest growing pool market! This “portable pool” is made for fun, and Flippin’ FROG helps consumers keep it that way with patented minerals and a low dose of chlorine.
Read more
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The Wall Street Journal
For U.S. retailers, lighter inventory is in vogue. In a sector with shrinking sales, however, it is only one piece of the profitability puzzle. As third-quarter results roll in from department stores as well as many specialty retailers, lighter inventory has been a constant theme. For many, this has meant less discounting and better gross margins.
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PYMNTS.com
Merchant associations that represent tens of thousands of U.S. merchants are calling on Visa to provide steps to remedy what they say is violation of rules regarding EMV. In a press release, the group said it sent a letter to Visa CEO Charles Scharf and CEO-Designate Al Kelly after the Federal Reserve declared the technical specifications and rules provided to merchants as part of the move to EMV violated federal law.
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| SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT |
By Jessica Taylor
 To say that customer service is the core value of a company is an understatement — especially in the B2B world. The success of any B2B relationship centers mainly on client relationships. Since most business communication today is through email, it's essential to build lasting relationships in order to stand out above the rest. That said, should you get personal? I sat down with some leading professionals I work with on a weekly basis to discuss their thoughts.
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By D. Albert Brannen
 Donald Trump will soon be our nation's 45th president. While many are still reveling in the historic significance of this election, this article contains some quick predictions on what a Trump administration could mean for workplace law and the nation's employers. Trump campaigned on an agenda of change, and he should be able to use his executive powers and a cooperative Republican Congress to get many of his initiatives passed.
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Forbes
This space has been dedicated to exploring the ways in which robots are acting as change agents — of the category and of manufacturing. There's a lot to be said for the ways in which those transformations are taking place now, and it’s all good. There's a case though, that what lies ahead for robotics in the Industry 4.0 or the Industrial Internet of Things is where real excitement takes place. In the IIoT, robots that combine mind and machine change the ways in which goods are produced, and the entire business of manufacturing.
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Fortune
America's manufacturers are urging President-elect Donald Trump to back off from his most threatening trade rhetoric and pursue a more nuanced approach to trade with China and Mexico, avoiding unilateral tariff actions and focusing on negotiations. Corporate lobbying groups, some chief executives and pro-trade lawmakers also say they eventually even hope to persuade Trump that free-trade agreements can help grow the U.S. economy and create jobs.
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