Help For The Holidays
TWNA Member News
Communications Award Update
Non-Profit Status Update
Call For Glossary Terms
Tech Award Update
Thanks To Don Alles
Welcome To New Board Members
Banquet Ticket Sales
Help For The Holidays
By Doug Siefkes
Many of you know Gary King. Gary started the Trucker Buddy Program
13 years ago when he brought his idea to the trucking industry.
Today, more than 5,000 truckers are corresponding with classrooms
of kids in a pen-pal relationship. I personally can attest to
the power of the program from both a teacher and industry perspective.
When my wife was teaching she was involved in the program and
I saw first-hand how kids were interested to learn about truckers
and our industry. It helped them appreciate and understand the
importance of trucking.
From our industry
perspective, the program has made truckers feel “connected”
- made them feel like they’re contributing to the minds
and consciousness of our youth. I’ve talked to hundreds
of truckers who say nothing but great things about the program
and how the program has impacted their lives.
Some of you know
that Gary has undergone surgery to combat stomach cancer. It
wasn’t an easy procedure and they had to remove his stomach.
The good news is he survived and he has a positive outlook on
his recovery. He’s lost a great deal of weight and strength
which has severely limited his mobility. Gary and his wife,
Carol, live day to day and their income is very limited.
To
help him get around, Gary needed a scooter and I thought of
nothing better than an early Christmas present to the Kings.
The cost is around $1,000.00 for an entry-level model.
The TWNA Board has
made a $300.00 donation on behalf of the group. Other TWNA members
have contributed a total of $200.00
The scooter was presented
to Gary on December 20 by Ellen Voie, executive director of
Trucker Buddy International. “Today I had the privilege
of playing Santa Claus and attending the delivery of the scooter
to Gary King. I can't tell you what an honor this was to represent
each of you. Thank you for your generosity to Gary,” Ellen
said.
If any other TWNA
members would like to make individual contributions to this
fund, please Doug Siefkes or Tom Kelley.
The check can be
made out to TWNA, designated for the Gary King donation. Please
try to submit your donation as soon as possible. To date $800.00
has been collected. If additional money is collected, we can
present an added check to Gary and Carol. Thanks for your support.
Doug Siefkes,
The Siefkes Group, Siefkes@siefkesgroup.com,
425-392-2611
Tom Kelley, TWNA, admin@twna.org,
704-599-0570
TWNA Member News
Tom Berg and his wife, Jackie, recently moved from California
and its boring weather to Ohio and its ever-changing ambients.
He claims they are enjoying it.
Tom asks TWNA members
to please note his new mailing address: 4910 Tussic Road, Westerville,
OH 43082. His cell phone has become his main voice contact;
that number is 760-505-4067.
Peggy McCambridge,
assistant editor of Kona Communications (Truck Parts & Service
and Successful Dealer magazines) recently got engaged to Jordan
Wehrle of Old World Industries.
Communications Award Update
There have been approximately 130 entries submitted for the
2005 TWNA Communications Awards. This is nearly double the number
of entries submitted in prior years. Although the number of
individual entrants has not increased as much as we would like,
the program is certainly moving in the right direction.
Pending an increase
in banquet fund raising, the board approved an increase in the
trophy budget for the Communication Awards. This will be used
to cover a likely increase in the number of category awards,
and a custom trophy for the Best of 2005 Communications Award
winner.
Update On Not-For-Profit Status
In mid-January, TWNA will begin the process of obtaining 501c(6)
status. The goal is to have the process complete so that TWNA
has its status by June 1, 2006, the start of our next fiscal
year. The 501c(6) designation is the not-for-profit status most
appropriate for TWNA and allows us to advocate on behalf of
the industry. This business league status is different from
the charitable organization status and while TWNA will be tax
exempt it will not be considered a charitable group.
Call for Updated Glossary Terms
A committee has been formed to update the TWNA Glossary, including
David Kolman, Bette Garber and Roxane Rose. We are seeking input
from all of our members, and especially supplier members, regarding
product-specific terms, new technology terms, and other industry-specific
language that is not included in the current Glossary. Members
and suppliers can review the current glossary and provide words
and terms that they think are missing, or they can provide us
with their own glossaries for the committee to review. The deadline
for providing input on the glossary is Wednesday, Jan. 18; the
next committee meeting is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 20.
The current TWNA
glossary can be accessed at www.twna.org/glossary.htm,
or go to www.twna.org, select the "Press & PR Resources"
button, and then "Trucking Terms Glossary."
In addition, members
who would like to join the TWNA Glossary Committee are encouraged
to do so.
Technical Achievement Award Committee Update
According to Tech Achievement Award Committee Chairman Eric
Berard, the committee has completed its task of coming up with
a short list of nominations for the Technical Achievement Award.
A jury of 12 TWNA members plus Eric was selected to make the
final decision. To date Eric has received ballots back from
8 of the 12 jury members. The balloting will be wrapped up early
in January.
Thanks to the following
TWNA members who served as the jury for the Technical Achievement
Award: John Baxter, Tom Berg, Eric Berard, Carol Birkland, Tom
Gelinas, Bill Hudgins, Sean Kelley, Wendy Leavitt, Peggy McCambridge,
James Menzies, Paul Richards, John G. Smith and Chuck Wilson.
Thanks To Don Alles
A special thanks to Don Alles for serving on the TWNA board
for the past two years. Don has served on several TWNA committees
and made a valuable contribution to the growth and development
of TWNA. Don will be missed.
Welcome To Two New Board Members
Avery Vise has joined the TWNA board replacing Dan Barnhill
as southeast press director and Sherry White joins the board
as the supplier director taking the seat vacated by Don Alles.
We look forward to working with Avery and Sherry on upcoming
TWNA projects.
TWNA
Industry Awards Banquet Tickets
Those wishing to attend TWNA's 2006 Industry Awards Banquet
can begin reserving tickets now. The price for tickets is $60.00,
or $450.00 per table (8 seats). Press attendees who purchase
tickets will receive a complimentary renewal/new-membership
at the individual press member level. To reserve your seats,
contact TWNA at admin@twna.org
via e-mail.
