Executive Housekeeping Today - January 2009 - (Page 24)

inside ISSA Appointed to Missouri Green Cleaning Committee ISSA Director of Legislative Affairs Bill Balek was appointed to serve on the Missouri Green Cleaning Committee that is tasked with the responsibility of developing guidelines and specifications that will implement the state’s Green cleaning for schools law. On July 10, 2008, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt signed into law an act that requires the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish guidelines and specifications for Green cleaning programs, including “environmentally sensitive” cleaning and maintenance products, janitorial paper supplies, and cleaning equipment. By law, the Department is required to provide “multiple avenues” by which cleaning products may be determined to be environmentally sensitive under the guidelines. The guidelines are scheduled to be completed “no later than 180 days after August 28, 2008.” With the enactment of the Missouri law, there are now a total of 16 state governments that have adopted aGreen cleaning procurement policy and program of one nature or another. the industry Green Seal Partnership Program Takes Facilities Maintenance to a New Level Green Seal has recently developed the Green Facilities Partnership, a program designed to recognize and provide assistance to organizations working to implement environmentally-preferable operations and maintenance practices. Recognition is based on how well an organization implements a plan based on its particular opportunities and challenges; the Partnership is not a standard-based certification program. The Partnership has three tiers of recognition—Green Facilities Partner, Green Facilities Leader, and Green Facilities Champion—that a facility can achieve. Developed to complement established Green building certification programs—in particular the US Green Building Council’s LEED ratings system—the Partnership’s highest recognition is reserved for organizations making all reasonable efforts to achieve LEED certification for its operations and maintenance program. In a nutshell, the Partnership works as follows: applicants provide Green Seal with current, categorized O&M data (HVAC; energy systems; janitorial services; landscaping, etc.) as well as administrative policies and procedures. The applicant then designs a Green Facilities Action Plan, including benchmarks and deadlines, to be approved by Green Seal (the Action Plan will also allow the applicant to achieve higher levels of Partnership recognition beyond the “Green Facilities Partner” level on a time-frame that makes sense for the organization). Once the Action Plan is accepted, the applicant is officially recognized by Green Seal as a Green Facilities Partner and is touted as such in various promotional materials issued by Green Seal, including a joint press release; a formal letter and certificate from Green Seal; promotion on Green Seal’s Web site, in its newsletter and in its booth at trade shows and expositions; and through use of the Green Facilities Partner logo. The Partner will be responsible for submitting quarterly progress reports to Green Seal, which in turn will formally review the Partner’s progress on an annual basis. It’s at this time that the Action Plan will be reviewed and updated or revised if necessary. O&M decisions by facilities managers are crucial to achieving recognition. If progress is satisfactory, the Partner continues in the program. If implementation progress is not deemed satisfactory, Green Seal, at the Partner’s request, can provide in-depth technical assistance, up to and including the development or implementation of the Action Plan. Joe Martin, CHA, Takes Role of 2009 AH&LA Chairman During his inaugural speech in November 2008, at New York’s Mandarin Oriental hotel, incoming American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Chairman Joe Martin, CHA, told an audience of industry leaders that the key to strengthening the association and industry in the upcoming years lies in strategic implementation of the three “C’s”—Connectivity, Communication, and Collaboration. As the latest volunteer who will ascended to the organization’s top position on January 1, 2009, and current owner/operator of Stillwater Hospitality, LLC, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Martin discussed how these essential elements will guide AH&LA’s action toward goals of increased membership, comprehensive education and training, and collaborating with other travel and tourism organizations. Other 2009 AH&LA officers include Vice Chairman David Kong, president and CEO of Best Western International; Secretary/Treasurer John Campbell, general manager of La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, Inc.; and Immediate Past Chairman Thomas J. Corcoran, chairman of FelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated. These hoteliers are led by AH&LA President/CEO Joseph A. McInerney, CHA. 24 Executive Housekeeping Today/January 2009

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - January 2009

Executive Housekeeping Today - January 2009 Contents Executive Corner Start With the Seal: CRI Seal of Approval Offers Proven Effectiveness 2008 IHW Celebrations! Frugal Housekeeper What’s in Your Janitor Closet? Feature Article Let the “Recognition Games” Begin! The Green Scene Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members REH/CEH Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside IEHA What IEHA Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - January 2009

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