In This Edition:

New Member Welcome
TWNA Board Elections
Glossary Update
Membership Directory
MATS 2007 Update
Tech Award Update
Lifetime Achievement Nominations/Banquet Committee
APRC Honors Communicators
Kolman's Korner
2007 Industry Awards Banquet Tickets

New Member Welcome
TWNA membership now is 147 Brij Madan of Specialtyvehicles.net, a market research firm, is the newest member of TWNA. Welcome aboard Brij.

TWNA Board Elections.
The terms of several TWNA board members are expiring and we are in the middle of elections for those positions. If you are an Associate member in the Agency segment, or a Press member in any of the four U.S. segments, you should already have received an e-mail from TWNA Executive Director Tom Kelley containing a link to a web site where you could vote, along with your user ID and password. Please take a minute to cast a vote for the director you want to represent you on the TWNA board.

Due to a glitch with our random password generation software, a few of the passwords sent out may not be compatible with the voting system. If you experience any difficulties in voting, please let us know at admin@twna.org via e-mail.

Glossary Needs Your Input
TWNA is in the process of updating its Glossary of Trucking Terms which was last published in 1995. When complete, the updated version will contain slang terms. In the next several weeks you will be receiving an e-mail from a TWNA board member that contains the list of slang terms which need to be defined. If you know the definition of any of the terms, please help us out by providing us with the definitions. Once we get all the terms defined, we will post the updated glossary on the TWNA web site as well as get copies printed and distributed to TWNA members and to other media outlets.


Membership Directory
The latest TWNA membership directory will soon be on its way to you. The directory contains the names and contact information for all TWNA members. Look for it in your mail box soon.

MATS Update
Because of construction taking place in the East Wing of the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center, TWNA will not be having a booth at the 2007 show. We will however still host the Communications Awards Banquet and hold a membership meeting. Look for dates and times in an upcoming Dispatch.

Technical Achievement Award
Eric Berard has once again volunteered to chair the Technical Achievement Award Committee. If you are interested in helping select the next winner of the TWNA Technical Achievement Award, please contact Eric. Grote, the winner of the first TWNA Technical Achievement Award, has suggested that TWNA videotape the award ceremony at TMC so it can be played at the banquet. To help facilitate that process, TWNA will need to get the name of the award winner to Grote at least one month prior to the TMC meeting in Florida in February.

Lifetime Achievement Award/Banquet
It is time to start making plans for the TWNA Communications Award Banquet. If you are interested in serving on the banquet committee, please contact Tom Kelley. In addition to planning the banquet, the committee will be accepting nominations for the TWNA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Communicators Honored By APRC
The Automotive Public Relations Council (APRC) honored David Ladd and Mike Pennington as "Automotive Communicators of the Year" at the Fall 2006 Conference held October 12th in Dearborn, Michigan

Ladd and Pennington are the first recipients of the APRC Communicator of the Year award.

Ladd is the Corporate Communications Director for the Americas for Siemens VDO. Since joining the company in 1990 as public relations product specialist, he has served in various public relations, marketing and communications roles. His duties have spanned a range of transportation assignments and responsibilities, from the company's infrastructure and traffic management systems and services to vehicle technologies encompassing all areas of design and functionality.

Pennington is the Senior Director of Global Marketing Communications & Industry Relations for ArvinMeritor's Commercial Vehicle Systems. He is responsible for strategic marketing communications initiatives around the world, which includes media relations and publicity, speechwriting, advertising, trade shows and exhibits, sales promotion and collateral materials.

The Automotive Public Relations Council created the Communicator of the Year award to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of these industry professionals.

This prestigious award was open to any public relations/communications executive of a supplier in the original equipment, aftermarket or heavy duty industries. The award also was open to all supplier communicators in the light and heavy vehicle industry. APRC membership was not required to nominate a candidate, and nominees do not have to be a member to win. Winners and nominees were voted on by their peers and members of the automotive media.

The Automotive Public Relations Council (APRC), formed in 1974, is a common-grounds professional organization for public relations practitioners in all segments of the automotive industry whether OE, aftermarket, performance, passenger car or heavy duty truck.

APRC fills the void of providing value-added professional development programs that relate to issues and topics affecting the practice of the public relations discipline within the specific range of the automotive industry.

Kolman's Korner

Things You Will Not Hear While Traveling

Traveling nowadays certainly isn't what it used to be. It's more time-consuming, extra aggravating and less than fun.

From my recent travels, I have come up with some statements you will never hear when traveling:

- "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the pilot speaking. We are arriving ahead of schedule and there is a gate available for us."

- "Anybody can lose a ticket. Forget it, and welcome aboard."

- "I am sorry we lost your luggage. I will find it and personally bring it to your hotel in short order."

- "You can stay as long as you need to past our checkout time and there will be no charge."

- "It is totally our fault."

David A. Kolman, Associate Director

TWNA Industry Awards Banquet Tickets
Those wishing to attend TWNA's Fourth Annual Industry Awards Banquet (3/22/07 @ Mid-America) 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.

The 2006 TWNA Communication Awards entry form is now available online. Download the form and start preparing your entries today!