FLYING HIGH: Education knows no barriers and Jim Walker, CEO of the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI), is proving that. Currently, he is in South Africa with John McHale, CFI director of operations, for the second year to take part in the educational programs sponsored by Belgotex Carpet and organized by Alan de Wit, its director of technical services. More than 1,500 installers, sales representatives and interior designers registered for the educational events, which comprise 8-hour training sessions in 10 cities. Michael Hetts of the Crain Cutter Co. is accompanying the team this year and his company is supplying the tools and equipment for the CFI sessions. Walker is a runner when it comes to helping installers anywhere in the world. He will be back in the U.S. on March 16, and deserves a hero’s welcome. Well done.

SOLID SEGUE: The World Floor Covering Association ( WFCA) has lived up to its name and became an international entity when the Floorcovering Institute of Ontario (FIO) became an affiliate. Rosemary Schooley is the executive director/president of the Canadian group, which is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. There is a national organization north of the border: the National Floor Covering Association of Canada (NFCAC), which comprises Provincial affiliates it assists with programs and functions. It would be efficient and effective if the NFCAC and its members affiliated with the WFCA. We’ll even give ‘em the Davis Cup—that is, if Chris will give it up.

CARING: Coverings, the tile and stone expo in Orlando, Fla., just three weeks away, has joined with its 1,200 exhibitors to donate truckloads of un-used material to Tile Partners for Humanity that will be distributed to hundreds of families in need of housing throughout the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast region. The Coverings contingent will also supply adhesives, tools, cleaners, sealants and installation training for volunteers and homeowners. This is the third year Coverings has been involved in the program and as soon as the show—which runs from April 4 to 7—ends the materials will shipped. This year is especially critical for the areas devastated by Katrina and is the first time it will benefit families beyond the Orlando area.

SHARING: In the same spirit, Surfaces partnered with The Storehouse of World Vision this year, encouraging the market’s exhibitors to donate any excess flooring to the non-profit organization which serves as a network of building supply centers for the poor. The Storehouse also takes excess inventory directly from manufacturers and distributors and then provides it to low-income families and other non-profit groups working in economically distressed areas. Their products are used to transform under-resourced communities, without compromising their respective markets. It currently distributes goods out of facilities in four cities: New York, Chicago, West Virginia and Los Angeles.

AND COUNTING: A sign of the times: A lady in the spotlight. The Institute for Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has registered its 100,000th technician—Patti Moorman of ServiceMaster of Story County in Ames, Iowa. She received her certification in Fire and Smoke Restoration after completing an IICRC-registered course in Rochester, Minn. Since 1972, IICRC has been committed to increasing the professionalism of the cleaning and restoration industries and so far it has done an excellent job with 100,000 technicians certified. In the association’s first 17 years it accredited 5,000 technicians and in the ensuing 17 years 95,000. That’s progress!