This year’s conference is a great opportunity for you to learn about the ongoing effort to bring public transportation to a level of priority equal to that of highways as well as our search for an additional and sustainable source of income for senior and people with disability transportation. There is no better time than now to reignite the grassroots public transportation network that has been so successful in the past.
For many, this is the only training opportunity throughout the year. To make sure the conference meets all of our members’ needs, we’ve got a diverse palate of sessions, many of them extended for audiences that don’t always enjoy the training opportunities that managers do. We are taking advantage of the conference beginning on Sunday and offering sessions for employees that may not be able to leave the office during the week because there is no one else to do their job. Hardwick Transit Associates out of Massachusetts is presenting a customer service session, CTAA is providing a 2-day certification training for demand-responsive schedulers and dispatchers and Halsey King will be back offering his unique Vehicle Maintenance, Management and Inspection certification training.
The extended sessions are great for a target audience, but many of you come for a variety of training opportunities; we’ve got just the agenda for you. Back by popular demand is Karen Hoesch to update us on ADA basics and Paratransit Eligibility. This year Chuck Underwood will be presenting a plenary session on the Generational Imperative and how to work with each other across generations. You might also be interested in labor laws and union trends, charter regulations, the 2009 legislative outlook and online trip planning at Google/transit. And of course, the Transportation Options Group of Oregon has lined up sessions to keep you tuned in to the progress of transportation option programs across Oregon.
The training opportunities at this year’s conference are abundant, but don’t forget about the networking. This year, for the first time in many, we will have a golf tournament. So, load up your clubs and come over to the coast on Saturday for some fun on the links. The tournament will be at Gearhart Golf Links. We realize it’s the end of October and we’re chancing it with the weather, but true Oregon golfers know a few rain drops won’t hurt! You must preregister for golf and do it early so we know how many to plan for. This will be a blast and a great opportunity to mingle with your colleagues outside the classroom. Sunday night will, of course, be the Vendor Welcoming reception and we’ve got a fun BBQ lunch planned for Monday with our vendors.
As you can see, the 2008 Oregon Public Transportation Conference is one you just can’t miss. So take a look at the full agenda, make sure you take note of the Murder Mystery Dinner on Monday, and get your registration to us by October 10, 2008. And don’t forget to nominate your local “leaders in transportation,” for the 2008 Oregon Public Transportation Awards Program. This is your chance to honor those that have done so much for our industry.