The History of the American Moving & Storage Association:

Many professions have a trade association set up to look after their interests and the moving industry in the USA is no different. The American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) has been carrying out this job for many years now and the history of this organization dates back almost 100 years.

In the Beginning:

The roots of the AMSA can be traced back to a number of organizations that were formed in the early part of the 20th century. These included the oldest known trade association for movers, The National Furniture Warehousemen’s Association (NFWA). This was founded during 1920 on Mackinac Island in Michigan although later moved its headquarters to Chicago, Illinois. The Household Goods Movers’ Group was established in 1935 with the aim of enhancing the business conditions for its original 150 members, while the The Household Goods Carriers’ Bureau was founded in 1936 primarily to help movers understand and comply with regulations covering the new interstates being built.

Growth:

Each of these three organizations evolved separately during the middle part of the 20th century and went through a number of changes. The Household Goods Movers’ Group used a few different names before finally settling on the American Movers Conference (AMC) in 1962. It grew to become the lead trade association for moving companies, with its aim being to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the industry. It was 1982 when The National Furniture Warehousemen’s Association changed its name and became the National Moving & Storage Association (NMSA) and by this time it took on responsibility for sponsoring education, instigating training and certification for moving workers, and providing assistance to smaller moving companies in the industry. The Household Goods Carriers’ Bureau stuck with its original name although its remit changed over the years and this led to it becoming the moving industries leading organization for setting work rates, publishing tariffs, and collecting data.

Consolidation:

The three organizations continued to work independently of each other until the early 1990s, when a series of consolidations took place that led to a single trade association being formed to represent the moving industry. This started in 1991, when the AMC and The Household Goods Carriers’ Bureau Conference agreed to work together as a way of better utilizing office space, reducing running costs, and becoming more efficient. This was a success and led to an official merger between the two in 1994. They moved forward with the American Movers Conference name and combined the work of the two organizations for the benefits of its members. Further consolidation took place in 1998 when the AMC merged with the NMSA and it was at this point that The American Moving & Storage Association came into being.

Present Day:

Today the AMSA acts as the sole trade association representing the workers in the moving industry. It has a membership of more than 4,000 companies and this encompasses all sizes of businesses, from the smallest local movers to the largest countrywide moving corporations. It also represents international movers working in America, supply companies servicing the moving industry, and state moving organizations. Through its work it aims to be the leading certifier of workers in the industry, inform the public of the benefits of using professional moving companies, and effectively lobby the government when it comes to legislation and policies that could affect the industry.

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10 Myths About the Midwest Debunked:

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Stereotypes have developed over the years regarding people from different regions of the country. The Midwest is no exception. Generally, midwesterners have been typified as honest, hardworking and neighborly.The more negative perception though has been one of brawny tan farm boys that are gullible, uneducated and uncultured. We’d like to clear-up some of the misconceptions out there about the people of the midwest.

1. Myth-Primarily Lutheran or Baptist Reality: Roman Catholicism is the predominant denomination in the Midwest states. Even Minnesota, so well-known for its many Lutherans, has a strong Catholic population. Jewish synagogues and Muslim mosques will be also be found in all the Midwest cities.

2. Myth-Rural Reality: Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Columbus. All these cities are in the Midwest, along with several others. Although the states of the Midwest are also known for their farms and forests, they are not without their large urban centers as well. There are plenty of city-dwellers in the Midwest.

3. Myth-Lack of ethnic diversity Reality: The northern states of this region have a large Native American population; manyAfrican-Americans migrated from the south to the industrial cities of the Midwest following the civil war era; over 40% of the Hmong population in the U.S. live in the Midwest states; in 2006 Minnesota ranked 5th in the nation regarding immigrants from Africa, many of them from Somalia.

4. Myth-They talk funny Reality: The movie Fargo has strongly influenced this perception with the strong emphasis on the scandinavian and slavic traits that can be found in Minnesotan speech. Is that true? Ya betcha, don’t ya know? The accent in the rest of the Midwest, however, does not have those traits and has become the standard for the nation when it comes to national broadcasters and others in the media

5. Myth-Not a vacation destination Reality: Many of Hollywood’s big stars vacation in the Midwest. It’s the home of the Great Lakes, unique in themselves. Minnesota’s Mall of America has become a big tourist draw in addition to its 10,000 lakes. South Dakota draws many to their scenic Badlands and the Mount Rushmore National Monument. All over the Midwest you will find cave tours, unique communities and festivals, and always, that wonderful Midwest hospitality.

6. Myth-Politically conservative Reality: A good portion of Midwest states have been dominated by the Democratic Party and a more liberal political bent. Vice President Hubert Humphrey being one of the highly noted Midwestern politicians to date.

7. Myth-Uncultured Reality: Minnesota has long been known for its strong support of the arts community, home of the Walker Arts Center and the Guthrie Theater. Iowa City is known as a center for the literary arts. Motown South came out of Detroit, the electrified blues from Chicago and Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

8. Myth-Uneducated Reality: The Chicago is home to at least two Nobel Prize winners in physics as well as the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. People from all over the world attend the Universities of Iowa and Minnesota because of their reputations in the medical field.

9. Myth: Gullible Reality: Neighborly, friendly, trusting and, of course, ‘Minnesota nice’ all fit the description of many Midwestern folk but they aren’t all goody-two shoes. Al Capone, Baby Face Nelson, John Dillinger, John Wayne Gacy are names of a few men from the Midwest that you wouldn’t want to try and hood-wink.

10. Myth-Unusual holidays Reality: Four inches of ice on the lakes of Minnesota (contrary to what is portrayed in some films) does not constitute a state wide shutdown to celebrate ice fishing. Although it may also seem like it to some, the opening day of deer hunting is not an officially recognized holiday in the Midwest.

Hopefully you’ve learned some new things about the Midwest in this article and corrected any misperceptions you might have had. The main thing you should take away from this article is that there is a lot of variety and diversity scattered across the Heartland of America. Kansas and Wisconsin both are known for farming but one looks nothing like the other. And what you find in Nebraska will be very different from what you’ll find in Michigan. The best way to learn the truth about the Midwest 

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San Jose Movers Beware of Theft during Move Process:

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This the season. Thieves are looking for homes to hit.  There are times when your home is more vulnerable to theft. Watsonville Movers Moving & Storage wants our San Jose movers to be on the lookout and protect their homes throughout their move process.

There have been unfortunate news stories around the country of thieves pulling vans up to homes with sold signs and clearing them out when the owners are not at home. Neighbors will not notice that something is off unless they are informed. To an uninformed neighbor, it might just look like your moving out day but could actually be a thief getting away with the contents of your home. Protect yourself. Once your home sells, please inform your neighbors of your move date. Give them your cell phone number so that if they notice anything suspicious ahead of that date, they can contact you and let you know what is going on.

Another vulnerable time for your home is if you have to move out before it sells or after it sells but before settlement day.  Even if you have taken all of your personal belongings with you, thieves may target your empty house for appliances, fixtures and even copper piping. Again, having at least 1 or 2 neighbors who can keep an eye on your property can make all the difference in protecting your property from theft and vandalism. If you have home security, continuing paying for monitoring until closing.  It is also a good idea to contact your local police department as well so that when they do their regular rounds in your neighborhood, they can keep an extra eye on your property.

If you are having construction done on the home after you move out to prepare it for sale or as a contingency of sale, make sure your neighbors are informed about when contractors will be there and the companies they represent. They can always give you a call if they are not sure about someone who is “working” in your home.

Watsonville Movers Moving & Storage wants our San Jose movers informed and protected from theft during the move process. Chances are you will have nothing to worry about and that is what we hope for you. Be safe and be proactive against theft. Good luck throughout your move and remember we are here for all of your moving and storage needs. 

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Region Moving Companies Know That the Secret of Success Is Relocation:

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Region moving organizations are encountering a surge in clients because of the current financial subsidence. While using the cash on discovering another home or flat may appear unrestrained when such a variety of individuals are unemployed, it may be the initial move towards achievement and monetary security. In case you're stuck without a vocation, low pay, or just eager and finding that your current home is making you glad, it may be time to roll out a huge improvement and gather your packs.

Presumably the best motivation to pack your life up is an absence of choices in your current city. Maybe the business you spend significant time in is encountering a downturn or there are an excess of excessively qualified experts vying for the same set number of occupations. For some individuals, it isn't discovering a vocation that is the issue. It's being stuck in a deadlock position with low wages and few profits. In case you're found going no place in an organization and feel like you have more to offer, you may discover better open doors somewhere else. When you've settled on the choice, do a bit of exploration before you begin moving. Nearby organizations in a neighboring state or town may not be improving much. Take a couple of days to investigate, search for vocation notices, and get a feel for the environment. You would prefer not to abandon everything just to wind up in a more terrible position.

On the off chance that you simply need to spare a bit of money, downsizing houses or flat rentals can roll out a noteworthy improvement in the well-being of your wallet. Region moving organizations are seeing more individuals making little hops. As opposed to going clear crosswise over town they might simply look at the marginally more modest loft over the street or a couple of avenues over. Thumping a couple of hundred dollars off your rent every month in return for some square crawls is an incredible approach to spare without trading off excessively. It's a pattern that is expanding itself past private property too. Entrepreneurs are finding that another, littler space can help the business of their organizations. local moving has never been so engaging.

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Moving in Baltimore, Maryland’s Weather:

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As we all know weather can be very unpredictable and unexpected.  No matter how much you plan ahead and keep track of the weather you never know when a storm may pop up.  Make sure you check with the moving company to see what their policy is on bad weather.  Find out if they are still able to move items in rain/snow and find out if they are able to protect your items while doing so.  If you are uncomfortable about moving in horrible Baltimore weather make, sure you call the company in enough time to get rescheduled for another day.

If it begins to snow on the day of your move call the company, make sure they are still operating their trucks and what policy they have in place in the event of having to pull the trucks off the road.  Most moving companies in Baltimore, Maryland work closely with the Department of Transportation and get updates on weather conditions.

Moving day is stressful enough and if you throw bad weather into the mix it can be a recipe for disaster.  Make sure that you take every precaution to stay safe.

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Move Across the Pond to London or Stay Put in NYC:

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When you have two great cities like London and NYC, it’s hard to ever really pick one over the other. How can you pick between centuries of culture and a place of brilliant innovation, a city where old and new coexist and one where people are always looking for the next big thing? Well, we are going to try and in the process figure out which one is the best place to live. After all, if you are going to decide whether you should move across the pond to London or stay put in New York City, you might as well get the best of the best.

After Work Pint vs Happy HourDear Americans, here’s how drinks work here. We go for a couple of pints after work, then have our tea (tea means dinner, tea as in the drink is consumed throughout the day anyway) and then go out for more drinks. Happy hour? More like happy all night long with cheap drinks and great company. On that note, we can drink outside. In the park, in the street, anywhere we want. And it’s great! London

Football vs BasketballFootball is simply in our blood. And not just in England. The whole world celebrated the World Cup recently, who celebrated the last FIBA Cup? Actually, who even knows what FIBA stands for? However, we have to admit that basketball requires some major skills and it does look pretty impressive. Plus basketball fans seem a bit less aggressive than ours. You win this one. NYC

HipstersNYC, that’s all on you. You started it and it spread all over the world. In any case, they are in both cities and nothing can be done about it. You just have to pick which kind of hipsters you prefer and learn to live with them. You can find them easily around the coffee shops in Shoreditch and Brooklyn, talking about how they found the place before it was popular. This one’s a TIE.

CultureHere in London we love our exhibitions. With 173 museums and 857 galleries over New York’s 131 and 721, we are clearly in the lead. You guys may have the Met, the MoMA, and the Natural History Museum but we have the National Gallery, the Tate and the British Museum, which has exhibits from all over the world. Plus they are all free for the public. Quantity and quality achieved. The point is ours. London

2-1 It seems that London wins this one. As we say on our side of the pond, if you are tired of London you are tired of life.

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Packing & Moving the Dining Room Guide:

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We have prepared so far different guides for packing and moving the different rooms of your home like the kitchen and we will continue with our guide on packing and moving the dining room. All the items in a dining room are important – whether these are fragile things, wooden furniture, expensive art, etc. they should have your attention for the right move. Planning how to pack a dining room is not difficult but still protecting best all of your belongings during your move should be your priority.

How to Pack a Dining Room

Let your movers know what you have for moving. If you want them to be able to plan your dining room relocation well, you should inform them in advance which items will be packed and shipped and what other services you will use (crating, storage, car moving, etc.) Prepare the building as well – if you live in an apartment, you may need to reserve an elevator for the moving crew. Arrange this with the building manager. If you live in a house, make sure that the way to it is clear so that the moving truck can reach it. In case that your house can be reached only via a road that is too narrow for a moving truck to pass, let the movers know in advance so they can take care of another way to take your dining room items to your new home.

Curtains and Draperies


Knowing how to pack your dining room is important in order to safely transport all of the items in it.
Curtains and draperies are easy to pack – fold them lengthwise and place them in boxes. A useful thing to do would be to use empty drawers and cupboards to pack them. Other soft and unbreakable items like napkins and table cloth can also be packed in the same way. For info and advice on how to pack fragile items we have a different article you can look at.

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Packing a Dining Room Table

When moving a dining room table, try to dismantle it, if possible. For all the small parts like screws, bolts and nuts, take a small, plastic bag and collect them there. After that tape the bag to the table so those little items won’t get lost. Don’t use tape directly on wood though as it could damage it. Make sure your table is clean and dry first. If you want to add extra protection for the corners, use corner protectors from moving supply stores or just ordinary cardboard. Wrap the table in moving pads and tape them well to secure them. If the top of the table is glass, use moving pads and then bubble wrap, and remember to secure well every layer of packing so the packing that you make is stable. Wrap the legs of the table, leaves and wooden table tops in furniture pads, towels or linen. The only disadvantage here is that after the move you will have to wash them, if you want to use them again, or you can use old clothes and throw them away after the relocation. This is how to wrap a dining room table for moving. Don’t use newspaper, because it may leave ink on the surface it comes into contact with.

How to Wrap a Dining Room Chair for Moving

If you can, dismantle the chair. Use furniture blankets of bubble wrap for the parts of the chair like legs. For any extensions like bars use bubble wrap. Remember to secure the packing of each item well with packing tape. Any small parts like bolts and screws should go in a plastic box and it should be taped to the chair they belong to. For any pillows that your chairs or couch may have, you can use boxes to stack them in.


Take special care of your wooden furniture for the move.
How to Move Your Dining Room

Remember that if you don’t have time to organize the relocation of your dining room or you don’t want to risk packing and moving the items yourself, you can always contact a professional moving company to do it instead of you. Hiring moving labor to do this job instead of you will save you time and risks for your items and for your health. Surely a moving crew with experience will pack your dining room much quicker and better than you. After you get a quote, ask the movers to come by your house or apartment for a visual estimate which is more precise. When the moving company representative comes, show the items you have for moving and discuss the details like packing, moving vehicle, storage, if you want, time for the whole moving, etc. Set a date and prepare for it. If you have items you won’t be moving, separate them on moving day, lock them in the bathroom or in one of the rooms in your home so movers won’t take it. Usually they are so quick that you may not notice when they have taken the empty boxes from the corridor or the bags with trash by the door to their truck

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