TLPA

AFTER TLPA’S SUCCESSFUL SPRING CONFERENCE IN CHARLESTON,
PREPARE FOR THE 2010 MID-YEAR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE



The TLPA Spring Conference & Expo in Charleston, South Carolina, April 19-21, 2010 turned out to be the eighth largest Spring Conference in the history of the association with 240 attendees. Not only that, but the exhibit hall sold out and additional exhibitors had to be accommodated in an alcove off the hall. All told, 35 exhibitors participated in the Charleston Expo.

As always, with TLPA Spring Conferences, the TLPA Taxicab Division and Paratransit & Contracting Division Steering Committees held open meetings to start off the Conference on Monday afternoon, April 19. The committees discussed diverse topics such as:

• the reauthorization of the federal transit legislation, SAFETEA-LU,
  
  
  
• participation in FTA’s coordinated planning,
  
  
  
• New Freedom and JARC programs,
  
  
  
• Climate Change and Employee Free Choice Legislation,
  
  
  
• health care reform,
  
  
  
• accessible vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles.
  

Far right in photo, Joe Giannetto, New York Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade listening to a vendor presentation in the Exhibit Hall.

The committees also discussed the TLPA Mid-Year International Leadership Conference, July 14-18, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (see below) and the association’s 92nd Annual Convention & Trade Show, October 28-31, in Los Angeles.

Also taking place on Monday afternoon was the continuation of interviews with TLPA past Presidents as part of an ongoing project sponsored by the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Foundation to capture an oral and visual history of TLPA and the for-hire ground transportation industry. Monday’s events concluded with the Opening Cocktail Reception in the Exhibit Hall featuring an open bar sponsored by Pulsar Technology Systems, Long Island City, NY.

Tuesday, after a wonderful breakfast on the Trade Show floor, TLPA President Victor Dizengoff opened the meeting’s General Session with a welcome to all attendees and a special recognition of Debra LaGasse who retired from the TLPA in December 2009 after more than 3 decades of service for association members. President Dizengoff and CEO Al LaGasse then provided an overview of the critical legislative issues that TLPA was working on including:

• the status of the RIDE ACT amendment,
  
  
  
• effect of the Health Care legislation on independent contractor drivers,
  
  
  
• reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU, and
  
  
  
• the status of Climate Change legislation.
  

From the left – Rich Lanzetta and Soheil Rashid from TLPA vendor Wireless Edge with past TLPA President Rick Hewatt.

John Boit and Jon Tapper, representing TLPA’s Public Relations firm, Melwood Global, made a presentation on a proposed TLPA Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. Under Melwood’s proposal, TLPA would encourage each member company to visibly designate one vehicle (or possibly more) as a “pink” vehicle and to donate at least $1 from each fare generated by that vehicle in October 2010 which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The TLPA members attending the meeting greeted their presentation with great enthusiasm. Currently, the TLPA Board of Directors has the proposal under consideration. The General Session concluded with a preview of the TLPF/TLPA “Industry History” film introduced by TLPF President Ellis Houston.

After a Buffet Lunch in the Exhibit Hall, there were a series of afternoon breakout sessions sponsored by the TLPA Taxicab Division and Paratransit & Contracting Division Steering Committees. The topics in theThe taxicab session were:

• Counteracting Illegal Operators which featured a presentation by Matthew Daus, former chair of the New York TLC, and
  
  
  
• Educating Drivers to be Good Businessmen.
  

The topics in the Paratransit sessions were:

• New Handbook – Private Operators at the Table, and
  
  
  
• Best Practices in Purchasing Insurance and 1-Stop Insurance Shopping Issues.
  

Vehicle Production Group’s MV-1 accessible vehicle on display.

In addition, the TLPA Limousine and Sedan Division Steering Committee met in open session on Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday evening, meeting attendees reveled in a Barbeque Harbor Cruise featuring entertainment by the Sunset Blues Band.

The meeting concluded Wednesday with an open meeting of the TLPA Board of Directors followed by a tour of the local taxicab company, Yellow Cab of Charleston.

Center – Matt Daus visiting the VeriFone booth.

President Victor Dizengoff recognizing the contributions of Debra LaGasse as Al LaGasse and TLPA meeting planner Kathy Kolander look on.

TLPF President Ellis Houston.

As noted above, the next TLPA event is our 2010 Mid-Year International Leadership Conference which is being held July 14-17, in Vancouver, Canada, home of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Mid-Year International Leadership Conference is a dynamic forum that will bring together industry experts and world leaders to discuss current and emerging issues affecting our industry. In addition to a General Session featuring operators from different countries, Topics to be discussed will include:

• Latest Developments in Local Regulations
  
  
  
• Call Center Technology Developments
  
  
  
• Independent Contractor Drivers
  
  
  
• Contracting Opportunities and Processes
  
  
  
• Programs that Enhance Industry Image
  

This year’s conference will also serve as a platform for TLPA leaders to create initiatives and develop strategies that will better serve its membership. By attending, not only will you learn from a slate of industry experts, but you’ll benefit from a number of unique networking opportunities.

Towering over Vancouver’s Coal Harbor is the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel where the Mid-Year Conference will take place. This new and opulent property offers 377 luxury rooms that overlook the harbor and the majestic North Shore Mountains. Each guestroom features Stearns & Foster luxury beds with Mascioni linens, oversized Italian bath towels and bathrobes and large marble bathrooms with jetted soaker tubs, The latest technology including wired and wireless Internet access, a wall mounted flat screen TV, and alarm clock with iPod connectivity are also present. Two conference highlights worth mentioning will be the operator tour of Vancouver Yellow Cab and then a boat cruise with dinner sponsored by Digital Dispatch Systems. TLPA hopes that many of you will join us in Vancouver, a vibrant city set against majestic mountains and sparkling harbor,

TLPA meeting registration and hotel reservation information may be found on the TLPA Web Site at www.tlpa.org.

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