Congratulations to
Emily Schehlein and Ethan Miller!
They have been selected as the winners of the 2010 VDTA/Epstein Scholarship.
We will post more information about Emily and Ethan here soon.

The VDTA/Bernie Epstein College Scholarship Fund was founded in 1993. It was named after well-known businessman Bernie Epstein of State Vacuum in Tampa, FL. Bernie was quite a philanthropist. He was well known for his community service, his humanitarian ways and his ongoing love of sports. Bernie was also very well known in our industry as caring and loving toward others less fortunate. Over the years, he touched many lives in Tampa and throughout the country.
 
 The purpose of the fund is to assist the youth of our dealer members to attend college. The basic criteria for a recipient are: they must be a dependent of a VDTA/SDTA dealer member or the dealer member’s employee, they must have a 2.5 GPA, attend college on a full time basis (12 credit hours or more), have a community service and humanitarian background and be active in sports. (Complete criteria is provided below). The scholarship is worth up to $10,000 over four years.

Congratulations to the 2009 Scholarship winners:

David Epstein presents
checks to the 2009 BESF winners,
Carolina Rodriguez and Cory Carr.

VDTA/Bernie Epstein Scholarship Golf Tournament Suspended for One Year

The board of the Bernie Epstein Scholarship Fund recently held a meeting by teleconference, in which it voted unanimously to suspend the Scholarship Golf Tournament for 2010. Factoring heavily into the decision was the slowed economy and cost saving measures implemented by many suppliers. "Everyone is trying to minimize their costs as much as possible," says a long-time industry supplier. "This means cutting back on travel and one of the casualties of this is the pre-show golf tournaments. While still wanting to support charities, companies are reluctant to send their reps in a day early to golf." A number of organizations have suspended their tournaments, most recently, the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Assn. (CEDIA) According to VDTA/SDTA Executive Director Scott Wells, "Participation in the golf tournament was down drastically in 2009. Without full participation, it just makes financial sense to forego the golf tournament this year, and the expenses that go with it, and concentrate on soliciting direct donations for the Epstein Scholarship Fund. We hope to renew the golf tournament in 2011."

According to Wells, the Association awards two scholarships each year, that can be renewed for up to four years. Currently VDTA/SDTA is awarding $20,000 per year in scholarships. To make a donation to the Bernie Epstein Scholarship Fund, please contact the association at 1-800-367-5651.

The following companies sponsored the VDTA/BESF Tournament in 2009

A1 Authorized Vacuum Centers
   of the Palm Beaches
A E Carter
Blue Air
Bona US/Proline Distributing
Buckeye Vacuum Cleaner Supply
Cape Cod Vacuum Mart
Cen-Tec Systems
Desco
Dyson
Electrolux Home Care Products
Envirocare Technologies
ESSCO
Hillsborough Vacuum
Home Care Industries
Husqvarna Viking
Lindhaus USA

MD Manufacturing
Miele
Miele of Florida
Panasonic
Pfaff
Proteam
Sebo
Simplicity Vacuum
Star Equipment & Supplies
State Vacuum of Tampa
Steel City Vacuum
Tacony / Baby Lock
Tacony Vac Pros
Trovac Industries Lte. / Cyclo Vac
TTI Floor Care
Koblenz

Silverstone Golf Course
Silverstone Golf Corse will be enforcing the "no denim" rule so remember to bring your slacks -- no blue jeans.