In This Edition:

TWNA Banquet Survey
Write On TWNA
Watchdog Takes A Bite
Scholarship Committee Update
By-Laws Committee Update
Banquet Committee Update
Directory Mailing
Communication Awards
TWNA @ GATS
Budget Review
Industry Event Presence
Upcoming Elections
Member News - James Menzies & Ingrid Phaneuf
Thanks From The Kelley Family
Call For Dispatch Items
The Lighter Side

 

TWNA Awards Banquet Survey
Due to a technical glitch in the world of cyberspace, it is possible that many TWNA members might not have received their e-mail invitation to participate in the recent banquet survey.

If you have not already completed the survey, please click on the following link to access the survey:

www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB224L95NXBMT

If you have already completed the survey through the link sent by e-mail, you will not be able to access the survey again. Stay tuned to a future issue of the Dispatch for the survey results.

Write On, TWNA
By Roxane Rose, Roxane Inc. - TWNA Agency PR Director
Since its inception, TWNA has been beneficial to journalists, suppliers, PR folks and the industry in general. Never more so than today, though.

Thanks to our executive director and a fine and varied group comprising the board of directors, we have made huge strides this year! Already on a roll with the TWNA awards, our own system of recognizing the outstanding journalism in our industry that began two years ago, we are on the verge of launching the scholarship program to support future transportation journalists, and the other activities of board members are generating interest in members wanting to serve on committees too.

It will be even better with your input, too. This is welcomed at any time, but we are working on making it easier for you. As you will read elsewhere in this newsletter, a survey will be coming to you soon inquiring how we can make the annual banquet and awards ceremony even better.

A committee to work with MATS on the press room has been formed, and we will be communicating with you soon for feedback. In addition, the director representing your segment should be contacting you at least a few times each year; please take a moment to respond with any ideas, comments or other feedback you may have. We also are always appreciative of submissions for Dispatch.

It is an exciting time for TWNA, and the future looks even better…be a part of it!

TWNA Watchdog Takes Bite At Montreal Newspaper
Diesel Fuel Wrongfully Compared To Heating Oil
By Eric Berard, L'Echo du Transport - TWNA Canada/Europe Director
While the main task of TWNA is to keep improving communication between professionals of trucking communications, it also acts as a watchdog of the mainstream media to correct the facts in case they make a mistake in a story related to trucking.

That’s exactly what TWNA Canada/Europe representative, Eric Berard, did a couple of days ago, after the most important Montreal newspaper, La Presse, published an article related to the fuel crisis.

The journalist was portraying different forms of fuel available to motor vehicles, from fuel cells to hybrids, gasoline and diesel fuel. What struck the TWNA officer, though, was when the reporter stated that “The diesel fuel used to run trucks and the oil used to heat our homes is the exact same product.”

In his letter to the Editor, Eric stressed that it might have been the case years ago, when some smart guys used heating oil as a replacement to avoid paying taxes. He added that nowadays, especially in regards to sulfur content, the two products are light-years apart, with truck diesel being at around 500 ppm (15 ppm in 2006) while heating oil is more or less flirting with figures of 3,000 ppm.

Eric added that a modern trucking company or trucker would commit some sort of a “corporate suicide” by putting heating oil in a ACERT or EGR 2004 engine, where every particle of chemicals and every whisper of air is analyzed and processed by a number of computers and pumps and valves of all kinds.

The letter to the Editor was sent with three goals in mind: First, allow the journalist to know the facts for future stories. Second, allow readers to get the real picture about today’s diesel fuel and diesel engines and third, take this opportunity to tell Montreal people that TWNA exists and that the trucks they see on the roads are cleaner than ever, often times more than the car they drive.

The Scholarship Committee Update
The TWNA board of directors authorized the scholarship committee to proceed with establishing the TWNA Scholarship Program. Look for a letter from the committee asking about your interest in having an intern. A letter soliciting donations to the program will be sent out once TWNA applies for its non-profit status.

Establishing a TWNA scholarship has been a long-term goal of the organization. Thanks to Dan Barnhill, Andy Haraldson, Mike O'Neill, Mike Pennington and Denise Rondini for their work on this project.
Although some details still need to be worked out, the committee is hopeful that at least one intern will be placed during the summer of 2006.

By-laws Committee Update
The board reviewed a draft of the revised TWNA by-laws at its September conference call meeting. Final changes are being made and the final version of the revised by-laws should be available for all TWNA members to vote on sometime in September. All members will be notified of where to go to review the by-laws and to vote to ratify them.

Thanks to Roxane Rose and Paul Abelson for their work on this project.

Banquet Committee Update
Look for a notice on participating in a survey seeking your input on TWNA's annual awards banquet. Don Alles, Derek Smith, Eric Berard, Tom Kelley and Tom Berg worked hard to develop a questionnaire that will allow the board to make the annual banquet even better. Please make sure to take a moment to respond to the survey when you are notified of it.

Membership Directory Mailing
Watch your mail for the 2005 edition of the TWNA Membership Directory. The directory, which contains contact information on all TWNA members, should hit the mail in the middle of September. Next year we hope to add pictures to the listings so get ready to smile!

Kudos to Mike Pennington of ArvinMeritor for once again sponsoring the printing and binding of the directory.

Included with the directory will be a letter from the Scholarship Committee as well as the entry form for the 2005 Communications Awards.

Communication Award Update
This year's application form for the TWNA Communications Award will contain a few additional questions. The awards application form will be modified slightly this year to include a request for a synopsis of the entry as well as a graphical representation of it. We are requesting this information now in anticipation of using it during the Communcations Awards presentations.

Report On TWNA Meeting At GATS
TWNA Director David Kolman chaired the TWNA meeting at the recent Great America Trucking Show. Approximately 17 TWNA members attended.

Thanks to Derek Smith and Peterbilt Motors for providing refreshments.

Topics covered include: Elections and upcoming board vacancies, Industry Awards Banquet, Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week, update on some current projects including the scholarship committee, by-laws revision and the Technical Achievement Awards.

Members also were asked if they had any suggestions for projects TWNA should be involved with. In addition concerns about the MATS press room were raised.

If you have any suggestions for improving the press room at MATS contact Roxane Rose or Tom Kelley. They are gathering information and suggestions to give to the the MATS press room staff.

Budget Review
During the August board meeting, Tom Kelley presented a report on TWNA's FY 2005 revenue and expenditures as well as a proposed budget covering September 2005 through May 2006. The board approved the FY 2005 revenue and expenditures report which will be filed with the IRS. The 2006 budget will be reviewed in an upcoming meeting. TWNA operating costs for Fiscal Year 2005 were $13,009.09 and revenue (net of program costs) was $15,558.83.

TWNA's Presence At Industry Events
TWNA has been approached by the management of Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week about having a presence at that show which will be January 21-27 at the Mirage in Las Vegas. Please contact Denise Rondini (denise@konacommunications.com) if you will be attending the show and if you have an interest in helping to staff a booth for TWNA at the show.

Board Vacancy Nominations & Online Voting
There are four board positions -- Canadian/European Press Director, Supplier PR Director, OEM PR Director and Organization/Other PR Director -- that are up for election this year.

The current slate of candidates is:

Canada/Europe - Eric Berard & James Menzies
Supplier PR - Mile Pennington & Sherry White
OEM PR - Derek Smith (unopposed)
Org/Other - David Kolman & Ingrid Phaneuf

If you are interested in running for one of these positions or would like to nominate someone, please contact Tom Kelley.

Balloting will be done via the Internet. Members who are eligible to vote will be sent information on how to do so sometime early in October.

Member News
James Menzies has been promoted to executive editor of Truck News and Truck West at Transportation Media.

An award-winning journalist with a Class 1 license, James has headed up Transportation Media's western news bureau the last five years as part of his training for the executive editor's role. James succeeds Ingrid Phaneuf, who will be moving on to a key position examining government legislation with the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

"Right from his first assignment almost five years ago, which involved crawling into the back of a livestock trailer as it was being loaded full of hogs in order to capture a photo, James has done an incredible job for us in a market we consider to be of great importance. The willingness and enthusiasm he displayed as editor of Truck West to get involved in and understand all facets of the trucking industry have earned him respect across the country. We are very excited about the skills and industry knowledge he brings with him as he takes over the executive editor role for our two publications," said Transportation Media editorial director Lou Smyrlis.

Throughout his career with Truck News/Truck West, James has been on the top 10 list for the trade press industry's prestigious Kenneth R. Wilson awards on several occasions. In 2002, his two-part feature on the railways' controversial Hours-of-Service regulations earned him a Top 10 in the Best News Coverage category.

In 2004, James had two articles in the Top 10, both in the category of Best Resource Article. 'Run for the Hills' was a three-part feature on mountain driving while the other article explored the benefits and pitfalls of concrete highways.

This year, James received a Top 5 award in the Best Resource/Infrastructure category for his article 'Free Fuel,' which explored the use of waste vegetable oil as a viable fuel for heavy-duty trucks. He also received a Top 10 in the same category for an article 'Can a Simple Formula Prevent Rollovers?' which examined the causes of and solutions to truck rollovers.

Meanwhile Transportation Media looks forward to continuing to work with Ingrid Phaneuf in her new role as vice-president of communications with the Canadian Trucking Alliance. Her leadership over the past two-and-a-half years helped raise the profile of Truck News and Truck West as she was repeatedly the first Canadian journalist to report on key industry legislation.

In March Ingrid had won a Truck Writers of North America (TWNA) writing award for a news story on the new hours of service legislation and was nominated for more at this year's Canadian Business Press Awards. She joins one-time Motortruck technical columnist Rolf Vanderzwaag at the Canadian Trucking Alliance, the respected association representing the interests of Canada's trucking industry.

Thanks To All From The Kelley Family
Lorene Kelley and Tom Kelley would like to pass along thanks and appreciation to all who sent condolences, cards, flowers and donations to the National MS Society after Ken Kelley's passing this summer.

Although Ken was unable to travel to events in his last few years of writing, he remained keenly interested in the whereabouts and activities of his colleagues. Many of the "Old Timers" regularly kept in touch via phone and e-mail, chatting about "the bygone days of byzantine oppulence" in the automotive and trucking media, recalling their travels far and wide. Apart from his family, Ken's writing career was his main pursuit in life, so he truly enjoyed meeting and knowing his many friends in the industry. Thanks to all.

Tell Us What's New With You
We would love to let other TWNA members know of your achievements. If you have been promoted, won an award or received some special recognition, please let us know so we can share the news with your fellow TWNA members in an issue of the Dispatch. Contact Denise Rondini with your news.

The Lighter Side . . . The Generation Gap

A college student at a recent USC football game challenged a senior citizen sitting next to him, saying it was impossible for their generation to understand his.

"You grew up in a different world," the student said, loud enough for the whole crowd to hear. "Today we have television, jet planes, space travel, man has walked on the Moon, our spaceships have visited Mars, we even have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with light-speed processing....and.uh."

Taking advantage of a pause in the student's litany, the geezer said, "You're right. We didn't have those things when we were young; so we invented them you little twit! What are you doing for the next generation??"