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TLPA’S ANNUAL CONVENTION IN LAS VEGASTLPA held its 2nd International Leadership Conference in Dublin, Ireland, July 15-17. The Dublin Conference followed its very successful 2008 International Leadership Conference in Paris. The meeting opened with a meeting of the TLPA Board of Directors which reviewed and approved an updated agenda for the TLPA Annual Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas, October 3-7, 2009. The Board also adopted TLPA’s first official position on alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles.The TLPA Alternative Fuel paper will soon be made available to all TLPA member companies.After the Board meeting all meeting participants gathered for a welcome reception. The two Irish hosts for the meeting were Tommy Gorman of NTDU (the National Taxi Drivers’ Union representing taxicab drivers across Ireland) and Vinny Kearns of Xpert Digi Taxis of Dublin. Tommy and Vinny regaled the attendees with industry war stories and told members what sites to visit in Dublin. The next morning featured a panel made up of TLPA members from Dublin, Canada and the U.S. which discussed the status of taxicab entry standards.While the majority of communities in Canada and the U.S. benefit from controlled entry, which allows for investment by full service taxicab companies to enhance and expand the level of service the public receives, the situation in Ireland is quite different. Dublin, which has a population of about 1.5 million people, has over 1,500 taxicabs.The taxis literally clog many streets with double parked lines at taxi stands. Drivers complain to everyone that they cannot make a decent living.
Mayor Emer Costello, the first female Lord Mayor of Dublin, with TLPA President Rick Hewatt.
TLPA President Rick Hewatt and TLPA Vice President Robert McBride speaking on a Dublin Radio show
On Thursday evening the host operators from Ireland held a reception for TLPA at the Lord Mayor’s Mansion House. Mayor Emer Costello, the first female Lord Mayor of Dublin, warmly greeted the TLPA meeting participants and spoke about the hardships that the taxicab industry in Dublin is facing. TLPA President Rick Hewatt thanked the Lord Mayor for her gracious hospitality. After the reception with the Lord Mayor Steve Friedberg of Research Underwriters led the conference attendees on a pub crawl to three fine Irish pubs. On Friday morning the attendees toured Xpert Taxis dispatch call center which serves more than 300 independent owner drivers in Dublin. The conference also featured an appearance by TLPA President Rick Hewatt and TLPA Vice President Robert McBride on a local radio talk show (NewsTalk 106fm) in Dublin to answer questions on how to restore the Dublin taxicab industry back to its former stellar reputation. Rick and Robert called upon the government to control entry into the taxicab business so that drivers could make a decent living and customers could feel safe in taxicabs again. They said that full service taxicab companies like Xpert Taxis should be the norm not the exception.
TLPA is pleased to announce that it will be presenting its FTA seminar Planning Ahead: Enhanced Contracting Opportunities by Participating in the Transportation Planning Process, in Las Vegas on Sunday, October 4 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Since September 2008, ten of these Planning Ahead seminars have been presented across the country including at last year’sTLPAAnnual Convention in Tampa and just prior to the 2009 TLPA Spring Conf erence in New York City.This will be your last opportunity to attend this seminar or to send one or two of your key people to this rare learning opportunity that nearly 200 operators have attended.There will be a separate registration fee of $35 to attend the seminar during the TLPA Annual Convention. The seminar format and supporting materials are practical, easy to understand, and most importantly, easy to use back at your business and in your communities.The training will help you:
The topics covered in this seminar include:
TLPA’s 91st Annual Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas The above mentioned Planning Ahead seminar is but one reason to be in Las Vegas from October 3-7, 2009.As detailed in last month’s issue of this magazine, these are the dates for TLPA’s 91st Annual Convention & Trade Show.” Time is short. Get in touch with TLPA to register to attend this meeting.The registration fee includes two breakfasts, two lunches, two cocktail receptions, a tour of a transportation company, a prize drawing, and, of course, the items the exhibitors and sponsors give away. Make your plans now to attend this fabulous event, the TLPA 91st Annual Convention & Trade Show. By registering now you lock in the discounted early registration fee. To register for this important meeting, contact TLPA by going to the association’s web site at www.tlpa.org or call the TLPA office at 301-984-5700. Hal Morgan, TLPA’s Executive Vice President, provided this article.
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