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L to R: Carl Haley of Grand Avenue Worldwide, Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide Transportation, CD Publisher Chris Weiss, and Arthur Messina of Create-A-Card at NELA’s 2017 Three golf outings are coming to the industry in the next two months, all of which will be raising money for an array of charities—and attract industry supporters from across the country.
New England Livery Association’s 19th Annual George Colarullo Memorial Golf Tournament
NELA will once again hold its annual golf charity August 7 at the Marlborough Country Club in Marlborough, Mass. There will be a shotgun start at 10 a.m.
With a mix of novice and experienced golfers participating, NELA’s memorial tournament promises a great time for some incredible causes. This is a best-ball tournament, with a portion of the proceeds supporting both the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and CHIPS House, the latter of which offers those with brain injuries independent living in a community environment and long-term care.
The outing always yields a great turnout as it celebrates the life and contributions of George Colarullo, a founding member of the association, with camaraderie and charity.
Enjoy a great day on the links, lunch at the turn, followed by a delicious dinner. Dinner includes a live auction, trophy presentation, and announcing the winners of both course contests and raffles.
Learn more about the event by calling 866.736.6352, emailing info@nelivery.org, or clicking here, which will also lead you to the event registration page.
Greater Atlanta Limousine Association’s Eighth Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Industry members from all over the country attended GALA’s charity golf outing last year GALA’s annual charity golf outing returns to the Country Club of Roswell in Roswell, Ga. The event will be held August 28, when it will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The annual charity will once again support Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), which supports its young patients and their families—and received $30,000 from the event last year, even after Hurricane Irma forced the association to reschedule its yearly golf outing.
“Children’s Healthcare is one of the largest non-profit children’s cancer and research centers in the world, and they’re located here in Atlanta, so that’s been a great feeling to know that we’ve been helping them out for years,” Greene said. “It’s a great time for operators and vendors to come together and know that our donations go directly to research for cancer and blood disorders. It’s a day that’s not about competition: It’s about everyone doing something good for charity.”
According to Dave Winokur of CHOA, one child a day is diagnosed with cancer, and that in the past 10 years, those children’s survival rates have skyrocketed from roughly 20 percent to 80 percent because of the work hospitals like CHOA are able to provide when bolstered by donations.
Those interested in participating can contact Marissa Smith at marisa.smith@choa.org for more information.
Second Annual Limousine Association of New Jersey Golf Outing
LANJ President Jason Sharenow (second from left) presents a check to representatives of the Police Unity Tour at the association’s inaugural tournament LANJ will host its second annual golf classic September 17 at Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman, N.J., which will begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m.
The newest of the golfing charities is pleased to donate a portion of its proceeds to two charitable organizations, the Police Unity Tour/National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and Covenant House New Jersey. The former’s mission is “to tell the story of American law enforcement and make it safer for those who serve” while the latter “provides food, shelter, immediate crisis care and an array of other important services to homeless, runaway and trafficked youth between the ages of 18-21.”
In addition to welcoming packages, on-course entertainment, a silent auction and raffle, and lunch and cocktails, the event will also include the opportunity to welcome Roger Caldwell for some extra fun on the course. Find Caldwell on Hole No. 8 during the event, where he’ll be facilitating a wager game: All players will have the opportunity to wager against house money that they’ll make birdie with five pins on the green, as well as watch Caldwell hit an unconventional shot with each team.
LANJ has a dedicated event page, which can be found at lanjgolfclassic.com; you can register for the golf outing through a button on the homepage.
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Las Vegas — The Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) is gearing up for its 100th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas from October 27-29, which promises to be “very different from anything we have done before,” according to TLPA President Mike Pinckard.
This year’s convention features highly sought-after expert speakers on technology, customer service, and marketing, a new and condensed schedule, and much more, including:
- Ride in a robot shuttle and then learn about autonomous vehicles from the founder of a major Silicon Valley tech company
- Learn customer service lessons from a former Walt Disney executive and then review how to "create distinction" from a premier marketing expert
- Soak up new ideas at our all-new Learning Labs on everything from innovation to workforce management
- Meet 100 industry-leading vendors and make deals to make your company more efficient
- Make important new contacts at any one of the numerous industry receptions and even play a round of golf on the Las Vegas Strip.
TLPA President Mike Pinckard The newly updated program agenda also includes an action-packed format featuring 12 interactive Learning Labs focused on: Innovations & Technology; Diversification & Market Trends; Workforce & Driver Management; and presentations by premier sponsors, Ford Motor Company and Flywheel. Each Learning Lab will feature an informed presentation followed by a moderated and interactive open forum to discuss the topic, offering a blend of instruction, case study, and peer learning.
The scheduled speakers will include three keynote addresses. Chris Jones, co-founder of technology consulting and market analysis firm Canalys will present the opening keynote address titled The Electric & Autonomous Vehicle Revolution, which will cover issues such as the evolving automotive-industry ecosystem, the four major disruptions affecting the industry, opportunities in managing and supporting a dynamic robotaxi fleet, issues traditional fleet operators need to address now, and much more. Dennis Snow, a renowned customer service expert and 20-year veteran of Disney who launched a division of the Disney Institute responsible for consulting, will present Delivering World-Class Customer Service: Lessons from the Mouse and discuss four specific strategies for wowing customers every time.Internationally prominent marketing and sales authority Scott McKain is known for helping organizations create distinctions, and will explore ways to make yoru company stand out with Create Distinctions: What To Do When "Great" Isn't Good Enough To Grow Your Business.
The centennial event will be hosted at Caesars Palace, which has a limited number of rooms for TLPA’s attendees until October 1, or when the block sells out. A special TLPA group rate is $199 for single or double occupancy. TLPA also has a small block of rooms available at the Flamingo for the special rate of $99 for single or double occupancy. Rooms are exclusive of applicable room taxes. Of special note, room reservations made from this link will not have to pay the $30 per night resort fee that is now mandatory on general inventory rooms at the hotels.
To observe this milestone year, you can go back in time with the Walk Through 100 Years photo wall. If you would like your pictures included, please send hard copies or print-quality scans to the TLPA by August 31. The association is looking for anything representative of the for-hire transportation business: pictures of your parents or grandparents at work, or photos from past conventions, especially of the trade show floor. Send your photos to: TLPA Meetings Manager Deb LaGasse at 3200 Tower Oaks Blvd., Ste. 220, Rockville, MD 20852, or dlagasse@tlpa.org. You must indicate that you would like your photos returned and include a return address.
Visit tlpa.org/100th-Annual-Convention-and-Trade-Show to learn more about this year's lineup, register online, make your hotel reservation, review the current list of exhibitors and sponsors, and check out the optional events that will be held at the TLPA’s centennial convention and trade show.
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Washington, D.C. — The American Bus Association (ABA) has expressed its disappointment in the recently released House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s new “Discussion Draft” for an infrastructure legislative proposal.
Key aspects of the draft propose to eliminate the current 17-cent partial fuel tax exemption relied upon by the industry while also raising the gas tax by 20 cents for an overall increase of 37 cents/gallon.
In response to this, ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso said: “The motorcoach industry, like everyone else, recognizes the necessity to update our aging infrastructure to keep America and our economy moving. However, we are extremely disappointed that this proposal would target the diesel fuel tax exemption and at the same time raise the gas tax on our industry—it’s a double hit, increasing our tax burden by nearly 40 cents. This comes at a time when the motorcoach industry faces challenges and most importantly fails to recognize that motorcoaches reduce congestion and air pollution, by taking as many as 50 people out of their cars and provide travel to populations that often have limited options and at an affordable price.”
ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso Currently, motorcoach operators are eligible to obtain only a partial refund from the 24.4 cent/gallon diesel fuel tax paid at the pump; however, under Chairman Bill Shuster’s (R-Pa.) proposal, this eligibility would be eliminated, while at the same time the current tax rate would increase by 20 cents over three years.
In effect, this means a 37-cent increase for the motorcoach industry, an industry dominated by small businesses who rely on the tax refund to offset high fuel costs.
“I’m not entirely sure why the Chairman chose this course when our industry provides the most economical form of public transportation for so many travelers, commuters and students, alike,” said Pantuso. “The impact of this kind of increase cannot easily be borne by our industry, and rural communities, the elderly and minorities who travel on motorcoaches will be particularly hard hit.”
The motorcoach industry provides charter and scheduled service to the traveling public, including commuter operations, tour and travel opportunities, service to large scale events, student travel, public transit support and other services, in addition to serving as a vital link connecting rural communities to larger transportation hubs.
“We believe this is a misguided approach to solving the infrastructure funding issue,” Pantuso said. “If this proposal is enacted, it will hurt not only the motorcoach industry, it will have a lasting adverse effect on the entire transportation system by reducing capacity and limiting options for some of our most economically challenged communities.”
Visit buses.org for more information.
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