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| Volume 18, Issue 2 | Spring 2006 |
From the President Carol Wright, DTA PresidentJames River Transit Jamestown, ND Last fall DTA had an ambitious goal. We wanted to get people from across North and South Dakota certified as PASS (Passenger Service and Safety) trainers. So we took training out to the projects rather than having drivers take extra time away from their jobs and travel long distances to attend training. In September, this was just a goal. One month later, 14 individual trainers were certified. Since that time, quite a number of projects in both Dakotas have all their drivers (new and old) PASS certified. Thank you for your enthusiastic response to this new opportunity. It is a good example of DTA's responsiveness to our membership in coordinating programs to meet their needs. This year we also accomplished a second major goal. For years, we have held one joint North Dakota/South Dakota annual meeting that included training and our business meeting. Because the transit industry is changing rapidly, we wanted to keep everyone as up-to-date as possible. We also wanted to give our membership more than one opportunity to bring additional people from their projects to a transit meeting and training without emptying out the office altogether. In April, we held our first ever mid-year training session and business meeting. It was well attended and gave DTA the opportunity to offer additional training to our membership. Plans are well underway for our Annual Fall Conference and Bus Roadeo in Spearfish, SD. Barb Cline is chairing the event, and she has wowed the DTA Board with her ideas and enthusiasm. We keep raising the bar higher and higher each year! Please mark your calendars for September 24th through the 27th and plan to attend. Make sure to encourage your drivers to participate in the Roadeo, and let us know if there are any new vendors or products you would like to see at the Vendor Show. It won't be long before nominations will be due for the North Dakota and South Dakota Drivers of the Year. It's a big honor for the drivers who are selected. Make sure you give your drivers the opportunity to be recognized for their outstanding service to your agency and your passengers. We are also looking for nominations for the Innovative Agency of the Year. All of us have at one time or another created innovative programs and practices to enhance our transit operations. This is your chance to let others learn from your experiences and to have your efforts acknowledged by your peers. Please take a moment and reflect on the changes that have occurred in your transit program and submit your agency for award consideration. I have accepted a new position and will be leaving James River Transit. As a result, I will no longer be eligible to be a full member of DTA and serve on the Board. I am proud of our dedicated Board of Directors and their willingness to give of their time and talents to advance the goals of our membership. It has been a pleasure serving with each of them. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as President of DTA. Having been a member of DTA for many years, I consider it a real privilege to be part of this vital organization. Rides for SeniorsAs part of our public transportation experience, our senior center takes to the highways to see the wonderful State of North Dakota. Many of our trips are the result of suggestions by the seniors who would like to get away from town and have no other method to visit different areas and see the country. Our trips are varied and are usually one day trips to sights of interest to the folks on the bus. We have visited the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn, ND, the Enchanted Highway with many stops from Regent to Gladstone on I-94, the Medora Musical, the Hostfest in Minot, the Richardton Abbey, Fort Union, Fort Buford and Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers west of Williston. We have visited the Writing Rock State Historical site. The group has visited museums in Williston, Watford City, Alexander, Hanks, Epping, Sidney and Culbertson, MT, to name a few. We have taken groups to both the north and south Theodore Roosevelt National Parks. We go east of Williston along Highway 1804 to see the sights and sounds of spring stopping at Lunds Landing for a seminar on bluebirds, coffee and, if we are lucky, some juneberry pie. We visit museums, churches, shopping centers, state historical centers and eating at senior centers, when possible, for our noon meals. Our singing Red Hat Society has entertained at some of the senior centers where we have eaten. The folks are excited to get out and see the sights, happy to get back home, and always ready to go on the next trip. Our group has a great time enjoying western North Dakota and eastern Montana.
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