Portable Sanitation Association International

ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION FEBRUARY 17, 2021 Page 4 Continued on page 5 The PSAI's 50th—The History of Conventions and Trade Shows…continued from page 3 The "PSA Nuts and Bolts Conference" changed its name to the "PSAI Nuts and Bolts Educational Conference" in 1991 to coincide with the Association's name change. One of the trademarks of association's events, nearly from the beginning, have been roundtable discussions. Through the years, hundreds of topics have been explored, and discussed, benefiting both attendees as well as the roundtable captain. Being able to present questions and issues to fellow operators is a huge benefit that also builds camaraderie with other operators throughout the country and literally throughout the world. Through the end of 2019, the PSAI has proudly held 50 "Convention and Trade Shows" and 43 "Nuts and Bolts Educational Conferences." In March 2020, the Convention scheduled for Baltimore was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the cancellation was a first for the Association and was less a choice than a mandate under the conditions at the time. Since the pandemic there have been—and will continue to be—virtual events. Eventually the PSAI will once again meet face-to-face for friendship, fellowship, education, and business. But we imagine that a virtual aspect will be part of the "new normal" because it helps us engage participation from owners who can't get away from their companies and layers of staff who cannot travel for various reasons. Pumper & Cleaner Expo History When I started in business in the mid-90s, I learned very quickly of the value and the importance of the annual "Pumper & Cleaner Expo" show. This formal name was rarely used among my fellow PSAI members. It was simply referred to as "Nashville" (as in "Are you going to Nashville?" "Yep, I'll see you in Nashville!") or "The Pumper." Bob Kendall co-founded both Cole Publishing and the successful industry convention and trade show known as The Pumper. He shared the history of this annual event. With humble beginnings, a small newsletter spawned what became one of largest trade shows in the US by 2014. As Bob tells it: "A good friend of mine, Pete Lawonn, was in the septic business in Northern Wisconsin in 1977. He had a septic truck that he wanted to sell. Not wanting to advertise the truck in the local paper where only his competitors would be able to buy it, Pete wanted to sell to another operator outside of the area. The closest septic operator at the time was 200 miles away in Milwaukee. "Operators needed a way to communicate with each other. So we joined forces and began to collect lists of other septic pumpers in the area. "By 1979 we had developed a tiny, trimmed-down newsletter that was created and mailed to around 1,200 of these pumpers throughout the Midwest." Roundtable discussion at the PSA's 1989 Convention. Bob Kendall

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