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ACT Welcomes New Executive Director
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Spring, it appears, is a time of transition.
"Mad Men" aired its final
episode; late-night host David Letterman said farewell; and I am departing from the ACT executive director role--all in the waning days of May. In fact, today is my last day.
Of course I obviously don't have Don Draper's coolness or Letterman's goofy genius, but I have nonetheless been honored to serve you this past year to the best of my abilities.
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Incoming ACT Executive Director William Anderson
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My successor, William Anderson, starts June 1. He is a highly experienced association executive who will surely help ACT reach new heights. You will learn more about his background in future issues of Connections.
I wish you the very best and encourage you to extend Bill a warm welcome at [email protected].
-Mark Wright
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Conference Rate Extended
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You can save $50 off the on-site rate for the 2015 ACT International Conference if you register by July 11 (note the new date).
The ACT 2015 International Conference, to be held in Baltimore, July 26-29, is the one place you will find dozens of targeted educational sessions, hundreds of subject matter experts, and first-rate industry partners who are committed to assisting you in meeting your organization's goals.
Check out the full educational program here. And register today!
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ACT Awards Nominations Deadline Extended
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ACT awards nominations have been extended one week; the deadline is now June 8. Awards will be handed out during the International Conference in Baltimore, July 26-29. To nominate either yourself or another member, please begin the nomination process here.
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ACT Board Election Call for Nominations Coming Soon
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ACT will be entering the next election cycle for chapter-specific seats on the national board of directors, beginning with a call for nominations in mid-June. Watch for a dedicated email in a couple of weeks with a link to the online nomination form. The balloting will begin in mid-August.
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ACT Mentoring Program Needs You!
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by Craig Cotton
Have you been an ACT member for a long time? Have you held a leadership role in ACT or the TDM industry? Are you new to ACT? ACT's new mentoring program is for you!
Mentoring is a commitment that pays off for you, the mentee, the industry, and ACT. Being willing to coach, inspire, encourage, and motivate will result in deeper connections for both of you.
If you are interested in sharing your experiences, contributing to the success of others, and fostering a deeper sense of belonging in the ACT community, consider signing up to be an ACT mentor.
Being mentored is an ideal way to develop your career and a leadership role within ACT. Being paired with an experienced TDM professional will help you with your long-range career development and goals while you grow your networks.
Watch for more details and information soon about how you can sign up before the ACT International Conference in Baltimore (July 26-29).
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ACT Employer Council Gears Up
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If you lead an employer-based mobility program, take note: ACT's Employer Council is back! This council can help you and your company's management navigate new demands and technologies, amplify your voice, and raise your organization's profile as a leader in workplace TDM.
The council provides an employer-only setting for networking; sharing new ideas, practical applications, and lessons learned; benchmarking; advocacy; and showcasing TDM workplace successes. We're working on plans for an electronic forum, quarterly roundtable calls, webinars, and more.
Visit the Employer Council page at actweb.org, or email council chair Wendy Scholtz to learn more.
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| Red River (Source: Wikipedia) |
Lone Star Chapter Changes Name to Red River
The chapter formerly known as "Lone Star" gained ACT board approval this month to change its name to Red River. Chapter leaders felt the Lone Star name did not accurately describe the geographic area the chapter represents, which includes Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
So, they conducted a contest to select a new name. The winner: Red River. The name was inspired by a river that follows part of the border between Texas and Oklahoma.
An important side note: To all in the chapter who have been affected by this week's flooding and storms, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
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ACT Leader Profile Red River Chapter President Craig Cotton
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Connections: You entered the transportation demand management field through the parking industry. How did that come about?
Craig: I began my career at Texas Tech as a student in 1993. I came back to Tech as an employee in 2001 and started on the parking enforcement side of things. In 2008, I took a position as transportation demand management supervisor in the same department.
Connections: When did you join ACT and how did you start to get so involved?
Craig: I joined five years ago. In 2013, I attended ACT's Leadership Academy program and learned quite a bit about how ACT functions. In the process, my desire to do more for the organization and my chapter became much more apparent. I became president of the Lone Star Chapter (we recently changed our name to the Red River Chapter) in January 2015 with hopes of helping our chapter grow its membership and contribute more to the overall goals of the organization. I also agreed to co-chair the new ACT Mentoring Committee because I believe this initiative is essential to developing the potential of our members and future leaders.
Connections: It's a great idea. Can you tell us more?
Craig: Membership development is key to the success and sustainability of our association. I can tell you firsthand how much Leadership Academy not only shows the inner workings of ACT but also spurs leadership ambition that might not surface without it. In this vein, the Mentor Committee is developing a program to serve not only as an extension of the Leadership Academy experience but also as a program that will be open to ACT members nationwide.
Connections: What do you see as the program's main goal?
Craig: To not only allow the seasoned vets of ACT to provide tutelage, but also to allow the up-and-comers a chance to benefit from all those years of experience.
Connections: How will the program work?
Craig: We plan on matching mentors with mentees using a short set of interview questions answered by those joining the program.
Connections: It sounds like your time as an ACT member and new leader has given you great optimism for the organization's future.
Craig: This is a good day for our association, and I see nothing but good things coming down the road.
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Cascade Chapter Plans Election
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The ACT Cascade Chapter will hold elections in June for president, vice president/treasurer, and secretary, with new leaders taking office July 1.
"We are excited to hear and see fresh perspectives and ideas from them and are very grateful for the work that has been done on the chapter's behalf by the current leadership," said current president Carol Merrill.
"We are also looking forward to the increasing involvement we are seeing from the members who have attended ACT Leadership Academy classes over the last few years. They represent the variety of organizations and locations that participate in our chapter. They include: Jamie Acton (The Municipality of Anchorage), Crissy Ditmore (vRide), Kiki Dohman (Cherriots Rideshare), Celeste Gilman (University of Washington), Jennifer Hass (Community Transit), Sunny Knott (King County Metro), Sharon Stockwell (Pierce Transit), and Jennifer Tew (Valley Move)."
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Infrastructure Week 2015 Draws Broad Participation
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The third annual Infrastructure Week concluded May 15 with impressive results; ACT was a partner organization in the initiative. The week included high-profile events, media coverage, focused advocacy, and other efforts around the country to build momentum for revitalization of America's economic competitiveness through rebuilding American infrastructure.
Led by groups representing business, labor, and policy-making leadership, Infrastructure Week convened an unprecedented, broad, non-partisan, coalition united around the message that investing in infrastructure is Investing in America's Economy.
Here are a few highlights from the week:
- 2015 drew 92 affiliate organizations -- including ACT -- compared to 30 last year
- More than 300 meetings were held with House/Senate members/offices
- Engagement on twitter established 41 million impressions using #RebuildRenew and #InfrastructureWeek
- The May 13 online Rally to Rebuild America reached more than 800,000 impressions on Facebook
More details: infrastructureweek.org.
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Bike to Work Shows Power of the Pedal
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Thanks to all who tweeted and posted photos and info about their Bike to Work Day events. Check out the fun on ACT's @ACTNational Twitter feed and other social media. Here's one from UCLA:
| Source: UCLA Transportation Services via Twitter |
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EPA Announces Resources for Local Climate and Energy Professionals
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Local Climate and Energy Program has launched new resources for local climate and energy program staff:
"These latest resources are written by communities, for communities," according to the agency. "Each resource was driven by community needs, inspired by actual implementation experiences, and informed by staff who have developed successful climate and energy programs. Each resource provides concrete steps for communities to follow when building or growing a climate and energy program: the focus is on practical, how-to implementation information."
Learn more here.
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Franklin Transit Discounts Fares for Tweens and Teens
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Debbie Henry, executive director of Franklin, Tenn.-based The TMA Group, reports that Franklin Transit Authority recently announced the return of its summer promotion that offers youth ages 12 to 18 discounted fares.
The special offer took effect May 21. Transit riders can maximize local intermodal transportation, as all fixed route transit vehicles are equipped with bicycle racks. The racks, designed for easy loading and unloading, are available at no extra charge.
"With our Tweens and Teens Summertime Special parents can save money, gas, and time by their children riding Franklin's public transit service throughout the city," said Henry.
Details: franklintransit.org.
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Welcome, New Members
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- David Emory, Conveyal (Chesapeake)
- Kevin Webb, Conveyal (Chesapeake)
- Andrea Hamre, Virginia Tech (Chesapeake)
- Willie Grover, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Northern California)
- Kelly Lynn, SANBAG (Southern California)
- Nicole Soto, SANBAG (Southern California)
- Meredith Williams, Oregon State University (Cascade)
- Kyle Brown, Seattle Children's Hospital (Cascade)
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Got News?
You won an award? Your organization received a grant? You solved a problem that has long vexed the TDM world? Why keep it a secret? Please add ACT to your press list and email us your news. A short paragraph is plenty; we'll follow up with you if we need more details. Just email us at [email protected] with "Member News" in the subject line.
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