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Jagiela began the meeting with an introduction of the its sponsor and host Floyd Merryman the owner of Sonny Merryman Bus Sales, who provided some background of the company and the facility.
Next, VLA President Paul Walsh welcomed the members and attendees, and then introduced the vendor members present—Jay Snead with Prevost Bus Sales, Joe Lalla with Georgetown Insurance, and Ryan Hilberth with Book.limo/Rental Limo—before delivering the association’s financial report. Walsh then gave the floor to Dean Farmer from Sonny Merryman, who thanked everyone for attending the meeting and expressed his interest in hosting another event.
Walsh then gave a warm and enthusiastic welcome to the event’s keynote speaker, NLA president Gary Buffo of Pure Luxury Transportation, who encouraged all VLA members to get involved on a national scale. He provided an overview of NLA’s recent accomplishments and legislative victories, and then discussed the value propositions that the association offers. After an update on recent NLA initiatives, including the Day on the Hill, Buffo presented the VLA with a $1,000 check in recognition for the association’s exemplary efforts. That check was then turned over to Sarah Tunner, the director of development of The Doorways Between Healing and Home, a local charity that provides temporary housing and non-medical service
Speakers representing the legislation and regulation side of things were next on the docket. First up was Glenn Davis, a member of the Virginia House of Representatives, who holds a seat on the state’s transportation committee. Davis provided an overview on House Bill 2019, which would repeal the need for TNCs to register as a commercial vehicle and allow state police to recognize inspections from other states. As a believer that market dictates the future, he defended his support of the bill to the VLA, but said he’d be willing to explore reducing regulations for the livery industry. Barbara Arkwright with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles followed Davis and provided information on new enforcement measures, but stressed her department’s willingness to work with VLA.
Glenn Stafford of Love Limousine and Barry Gross of Reston Limousine followed updates to the VLA bylaws. Changes were proposed to the general membership for adoption, and were approved unanimously. Gross then announced that board elections will be held in the near future, and will provide details on the nomination process imminently. As a part of the VLA charity committee, Stafford solicited input from the members as to which charity should benefit from a recent $1000 award he received. He was followed by John Oulton of Richmond Limousine who serves on the VLA communication committee. He shared his plans to elevate social media efforts and create a bimonthly digital newsletter with help from the membership.
The evening’s last speaker was Barry Trabb of Complete Fleet Livery Sales of Union, N.J. An ardent industry supporter, Trabb offered VLA members a sponsorship program that would give them $100 gift card for every vehicle purchased along with a $100 rebate back to the association.
The meeting concluded with a handful of raffles and door prizes, which included gift cards for Reston Limousine and Superior Executive Transportation, two Starbucks cards courtesy of PALM Association Management and Consulting, 1,000 business cards from Create-a-Card, and a full pass to the Chauffeur Driven Show in Orlando this October. The pass was won by Afazal Iqbal of American Executive Sedan.
The next VLA meeting is scheduled for August 7 in the Charlottesville region.
Visit vla-limo.org for more information.
[CD0617]
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The yearly event is a way for the association’s members to show their gratitude to the chauffeurs who often serve as the face of the company and whose dedication helps keep clients coming back.
Under beautiful sunny skies, the NELA board of directors and other volunteers—led by co-chairs Joe Puelo of Dav El/BostonCoach and Tina Benson of L.A. Limousine—cooked and served more than 500 hot dogs, hamburgers, and sausage sandwiches to the hungry chauffeurs whose jobs brought them through the airport that day.
In addition to an array of lunch items, the day also included a wealth of entertainment. Chauffeur Appreciation Day mainstay Sullivan Tire was once again on hand for attendees to win all kinds of prizes from their spinning wheel, Dom DiNardo and his band provided rousing live musical accompaniment, and there were plenty of raffles and games to be enjoyed, too.
The association appreciates the generosity of the day’s many sponsors who helped make the event both possible and another success, especially Gold/Silver Sponsors Dav El/BostonCoach, Allied Technologies, Black Tie Limousine Worldwide, Carey Boston, Commonwealth Worldwide, Chauffeured Transportation, LTI Worldwide Limousine, and Tristar Worldwide.
The next NELA event will be its 18th annual George Colarullo Memorial Golf Tournament at Marlborough Country Club August 8. Its next meeting will be September 12.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
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The Minnesota Chauffeured Transportation Association (MCTA) held its most recent meeting March 21, where members and potential members alike gathered at Elsie’s Restaurant in Minneapolis for dinner, networking, and discussion.
President Len Nelson of Valley Limo began the meeting before introducing the evening’s two guest speakers, Steve Holes of the Metropolitan Airports Commission and Gary Meyer of Prime Security Bank. Holes, manager of landside operations, offered preliminary information about and took questions regarding the 2018 Super Bowl in Minneapolis, and also updated those in attendance about airport construction. Meyer discussed commercial financing, particularly in regard to what makes a business bankable and what makes a bank a good financing source.
The meeting’s member highlight focused on Bernie Fautch of Eclipse Global Transportation. The 32-year industry veteran began his career at another company before his time with Eclipse, where he’s been working for 18 years. He shared a few of the tips he has both learned and lived over more than three decades in chauffeured ground transportation, especially the importance of putting savings aside and hiring good people.
Vice President Charlie Murray of Total Luxury Limousine updated members about upcoming industrywide events. On a more local level, Murray also explained how the Minnesota Restaurant Association is leading the movement to influence the minimum wage proposal to recognize total taxable income—commonly referred to as “tip credit”—in a $15/hour policy, which would affect transportation companies headquartered in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, meanwhile, is spearheading the effort to limit cities’ ability to have their own minimum wages.
After Secretary/Treasurer Gina Brennan of Corporate Car & Coach delivered her reports, the meeting closed out with a round-up of new business to address, such as putting MCTA signage on members’ vehicles to denote them as association supporters and finalizing yearly meeting dates.
Visit mnlimo.org for more information. [CD0517]