TLPA

2010 TLPA ANNUAL CONVENTION IN L.A.



TLPA invites all for-hire, ground transportation operators and industry suppliers to Los Angeles, one of the world's most popular travel destinations.

We're off to the exciting City of Angels — Los Angeles — for the 92nd Annual Convention and Trade Show! Convention dates are Thursday, October 28 through Sunday, October 31, 2010 with the pre-convention Annual Gateway Insurance Golf Tournament to benefit TLPF on Wednesday, October 27.

Boasting an average of 325 days of sunshine a year, odds are we'll have beautiful weather to explore L.A.'s most famous sites like the Hollywood Bowl, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and Rodeo Drive. Our hotel is adjacent to L.A. LIVE, the city's mega-entertainment complex that, along with the Nokia Theatre and Staples Center, features upscale restaurants, Lucky Strikes Lanes and Lounge, the Grammy Museum, and ESPN Zone.

The TLPA invites all for-hire, ground transportation operators and industry suppliers to Los Angeles, one of the world's most popular travel destinations, for the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association’s 92nd Annual Convention & Trade Show, October 28 – 31, 2010!

With endless entertainment, iconic landmarks and attractions and a city boasting an average of 325 days of sunshine a year L.A. is the place to be!
This year the new JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE located in L.A.’s mega-entertainment complex along with the Nokia Theatre and Staples Center featuring upscale restaurants and the Grammy Museum will host this grand event. Make sure you sign up to attend one of the world’s largest gatherings of for-hire transportation fleet owners!

The 92nd Annual Convention & Trade Show slated to offer over 3 days of quality programming and networking is sure to bring together industry experts and world leaders for educational and roundtable discussions related to current and emerging issues and initiatives affecting and impacting our industry. In addition, this event will offer a platform for members, industry suppliers and vendors to interact during a number of unique networking opportunities that will allow attendees to grow their contact base!

So, if you’ve never had the experience of attending a TLPA convention and trade show then this is the year to do so! Here’s a snap shot of what to expect…

Opening General Session

Once again we'll be offering three General Sessions:

• On Thursday, the first day of the Convention, a keynote speaker will be the highlight of the Opening General Session followed by the Operator of the Year Award Presentations.
  
  
  
• On Friday, the second General Session will be followed by the State of the Industry Address delivered by TLPA President Dizengoff, the Legislative Update and the Driver of the Year Awards presentation.
  
  
  
• On Saturday, the third General Session will consist of the Annual Business Meetings that will include the Foundation Report by TLPF President Ellis Houston, the election of New TLPA Officers & Directors.
  

This session will begin with a speech by newly appointed TLPA President, Robert McBride who will present his vision for the future of TLPA and the industry.

Educational Sessions

Roundtable Discussions are back! Industry experts and leaders will be present to lead the discussions and cover a number of topics that will be of importance and interest to you. This series of informal Q & A discussions will kick off the opening of the Convention and offer thought provoking discussions related to our industry. Each table roundtable will accommodate 36 people so we encourage you arrive early to secure a seat. A few of the roundtable discussion topics will include:

• Private Insurance Contract opportunities,
  
  
  
• Review of Defensive Driving Programs and
  
  
  
• Veterans Administration Contracting issues to name a few!
  

Please see the agenda on our TLPA Web site: www.tlpa.org for a complete list of roundtable discussion topics and come prepared with your questions and comments.

Annual Business Meetings

The TLPA & TLPF Annual Business Meetings will take place on Saturday morning, October 30, during the third General Session. During these meetings:

• new budgets will be adopted,
  
  
  
• by-law changes will be received and
  
  
  
• board members will be elected and sworn into office.
  

The highlight of these meetings will be the presentation by newly elected President Robert McBride who will deliver his vision for the future of TLPA and the industry.

The Exhibit Hall

The exhibit hall will be located directly in the Grand Ballroom where leading industry vendors will showcase the most advanced solutions, technologies, products and services. For exhibiting and advertising opportunities contact Jenny Abreu, Manager of Meetings at jabreu@tlpa.org.

The Trade Show

• The Grand Opening of the Trade Show will be held on Thursday, October 28 from 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. with the Grand Opening Cocktail Reception.
  
  
  
• On Friday, the exhibit hall will be open from 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. with a lunch being served from 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., and
  
  
  
• Then a Member Appreciation Cocktail hour that will take place later that afternoon.
  
  
  
• On Saturday, the trade show will re-open from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. with lunch served from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. along with prize drawings to be held before the exhibit hall closes.
  

Optional Ticketed Events

Spouses Program:

All spouses registered for the convention may also register for the Spa Day outing at the JW Marriott’s Red Door Spa on Wednesday, October 27 for an afternoon of relaxation and pampering. For more information visit the convention website.

Golf Tournament:

The Annual Gateway Insurance Golf Tournament and Dinner to benefit the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Foundation (TLPF) will be held on Wednesday, October 27, with a departure from the JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE at 11:30 a.m. A shotgun start of 1:00 p.m. will take place at the Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena, CA.

Interested in signing up for the golf tournament? Visit the convention website’s optional events page (http://www.tlpa.org/meetings/annualconv10/opevents.cfm) for a PDF information flyer and registration form.

Women In Transportation Dinner:

The annual Women in Transportation Dinner that will bring together TLPA’s men and women for an evening of relationship building and networking. This dinner will be held Thursday, October 28 at the JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE immediately following the Opening Cocktail Reception with guest speaker Rita L. Robinson, General Manager for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

Ms. Robinson is responsible for the day-to-day operations of over 2,000 employees whose mission is to provide for the safe and optimal mobility of people and goods throughout the City of Los Angeles to support economic activity and desirable quality of life. This is an event you don’t want to miss!

Closing Banquet & Silent Auction:

The culmination of the 92nd Annual Convention & Tradeshow will take place on the evening of Saturday, October 30 at the JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE. The evening will begin with:

• a Silent Auction to benefit the TLPA's legislative arm,
  
  
  
• the TLPA Action Fund together with a hosted open bar,
  
  
  
• dinner and entertainment from THE SURF CITY ALLSTARS.
  

The Surf City Allstars feature original Beach Boys Al Jardine and David Marks, Dean Torrance from Jan & Dean, legendary guitarist Paul Johnson from the Bel-Airs and Surfairs, and other band members who toured with both The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean. Each member has had a long career in surf and beach music. When you hear the band, you get the authentic "SURF" sound and harmonies that were taught to the Allstars by Brian Wilson and Mike Love of the Beach Boys, and Jan Berry of Jan & Dean. This band has toured for years with the biggest names in Surf Music and is man for man the greatest surf and beach party band around! Come and let's celebrate together - a night of Resilience, Recovery & Recreation!

Are you convinced that the place to be is at on October 28th is the TLPA’s Annual Convention & Trade Show? ……then don't delay REGISTER TODAY!

Mark you calendars and start planning to attend the world's largest gathering of for-hire transportation fleet owners and managers! For the tentative agenda visit the convention website:
http://www.tlpa.org/meetings/10annual_convention.cfm.

Included in your registration fee are two breakfasts, two lunches, two cocktail receptions, a tour of a transportation company and exhibitor promotional materials and items distributed in the exhibit hall. In addition, plenty of time will be built into the convention schedule for you to network and socialize with more than 900 industry colleagues.

Hotel Highlights

The brand new JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE, serving as the focal point of L.A. LIVE and located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, will be the host of our 92nd Annual Convention & Trade Show. The TLPA room block is NOW open.

The TLPA room block with special rates expire on September 24 or until our room block sells out whichever happens first. The earlier you make reservations the better!

For telephone reservations call 1-800-228-9290 and reference our group code "TLPA". To register on-line visit: http://www.tlpa.org/meetings/annualconv10/hotel.cfm or http://cwp.marriott.com/laxjw/tlpaannualconvention/ and be sure to reference our group code "TLPA" as well as the hotel name "JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE" when making reservations.

On-line reservations can be made only for our actual meeting nights (Wednesday - Saturday). If you wish to reserve a night between September 24 and October 27 or after October 31 please call the hotel's reservation line at 1-800-228-9290 as they can offer information availability on pre/post dates. For a virtual tour and information about the hotel visit: www.lalivemarriott.com.

We look forward to welcoming you to four days of…Resilience, Recovery & Recreation!

Hal Morgan, TLPA’s Executive Vice President, provided this article. You may contact him at hmorgan@tlpa.org