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VLA is a member of the National Limousine Association (NLA).
November 30, 2009
VLA Activities
President
1st Vice-President
2nd Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Sargeant-at-Arms |
VLA Mission
The Virginia Limousine Association's objective is to create and promote a stronger relationship and understanding between legal owner/operators, DMV, other government agencies and the public and to work toward the betterment of the limousine industry.
The Virginia Limousine Association is governed under the VLA Bylaws and ascribes to the VLA Code of Ethics in order to promote confidence and growth in the limousine industry across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VLA is governed by a Board of Directors. VLA Board members serve one-year terms commencing with the announcement of election results in April of each calendar year.
President Paul Walsh Speaks to the media at the 2009 Prom Pledge Pledge. The VLA Prom Pledge promises to not allow the illegal use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco in any vehicle during prom and graduation season. Limousines from companies throughout the state began the parade at Semmes & 7th Street led by an escort of Richmond city police, crossed the Manchester Bridge, made a right turn at Cary Street, and stopped directly in front of One James Center. Each limousine company turned in their VLA Prom Promise to not allow the illegal use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco in any of their vehicles during Prom and Graduation season. Member companies also require parents and teens to sign a Prom Pledge before chartering a limousine.
Speakers highlighted their agencies efforts and programs to promote teen safety and prevent alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse among teens. Paul Walsh, President of the Virginia Limousine Association, used the Prom Pledge Parade to stress to the public the VLA's commitment to and advocacy of zero tolerance for alcohol, tobacco and drug use while using the transportation services of VLA members. We are LIMOUSINE OPERATORS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING! Remember, "Spring brings the onset of prom season, and teens across Virginia will be calling limousine services to transport them on one of the most exciting nights of their lives. Not all limos services are equal. A limousine service must be properly licensed, insured and should meet certain safety criteria." Contact any member of the VLA Board for more information on the 2009 Prom Pledge Parade. Click here for a copy of the 2009 Prom Pledge. Mom and dad click here for a list of chauffeur responsibilities.
Be sure to sign the prom pledge!
The Virginia Limousine Association held the first meeting of the year last night in Richmond and between the location, turn out and our invited presenters, we had quite a meeting.
Randy Allen hosted the meeting and invited two very interesting guests. Pamela McElrath, president of Excite Marketing Team (www.exciteteam.com) gave the first presentation on marketing, advertising and branding in a down market. She presented some very strong arguments for not reducing your marketing budget in tough times. Her knowledge of print and electronic media gave insight on different avenues we can all look at to improve our exposure. Next, Health First representatives Debra Willis and JB Brooks introduced us to the world of sleep disorders. Allow me to tell you that the issues they brought up are very important to our industry and need to be looked at by all of us. They provided us with a simple questionnaire that can be used to see if one is suffering from a sleep disorder, and then help get one evaluated and treated. Have you ever caught yourself nodding at your desk or worse yet behind the wheel? This is a real wake up call! We are looking forward to having our Prom Pledge Parade in the near future. Our membership is eager to provide law enforcement, the school board and the parents and young adults the reassurance and confidence that they are looking for to help enjoy their big night at the Prom. Are you ready to sign and promote the 2009 VLA Prom Pledge? Please watch the VLA Web site for updates and announcements. Thanks to all of you that attended the meeting and traveling the distances that you did. Membership and participation make the association a healthy group of peers working together to keep our industry strong. Our next meeting is scheduled for Mon Apr. 6, 2009 and we are happy to announce that Reston Limousine will host the meeting. Please keep an eye on the web site for more details. Please take a moment and consider joining or renewing your membership in the VLA.
Just a quick note to let you know what is going on with the VLA.
On Monday October 6, the membership held a meeting in Fredericksburg, VA. Thank you to each and everyone that made the trip up. We were rewarded with a great meal provided by our meeting sponsor, John Fadel of Colonial Equipment. Please check out his web site www.TheBusPlace.com Mr Fadel gave us a brief and informative introduction to his company. Thank you Colonial Equipment and Mr Fadel. We also asked Glenn Stafford of Love Limousine in Richmond and long time member of the VLA to present us with information on running a limo company for a profit. These days of belt tightening and number crunching present each of us with many challenges, the least of which is trying to continue making a living for our families. Thank you Glenn, and if you missed it, please know that this is one of the many advantages of membership. We also asked Jack Rolfe of Georgetown Insurance to give us a quick reminder that if you are cutting expenses, insurance should not be on that list. Shopping for a good provider with different options won't hurt but don't cut your coverage to “save a few bucks”. Please keep in mind that the strength of the association depends your membership and participation. We look forward to seeing everybody at the Holiday Party in December. Check back for details.
Paul Walsh 
NLA Day on the Hill - June 18, 2008 Washington, DC NLA Day on the Hill kickoff meeting at the Melrose Hotel at 7 am featured a full house of NLA members from across the country. Twelve separate teams of 6 or more per team had a busy schedule of meetings with their House & Senate representatives. The focus of the day was the amendment to the RIDE Act that needs attention. Team C (or the Virginia Team), included:
Stacey Glazier
Ronald Guy
Jonathan Marlow
Olin Greene
Glenn Stafford
Jack Rolfe NLA President Richard Kane energized the group with his remarks and Barry Lefkowitz introduced our new partners with Cornerstone Government Affairs who has been hired by the NLA to assist us with lobbying. Cornerstone graciously allowed us use of their offices and secured a suite in the Cannon building for use between meetings during the day as well as accompanying teams on their meetings. Our transportation for the day was a top of the line coach donated by LSA Corporate Car and professionally chauffeured by Tony Addison. Our sincere appreciation goes to the LSA team for their contribution to our mission. Our team in Virginia had GREAT SUCCESS with our meetings with Virginia Congressmen and their aides. We educated them to the RIDE Act issue and they understood and pledged to support our cause. One 15-20 minute meeting with 7 small business operators in the middle of a busy Wednesday on Capitol Hill can make a difference. Multiply that by the 12 teams on the Hill, and then multiply by at least 5 meetings per team. It’s an impressive number of meetings, BUT … it is still only on the screen for that one day. Maybe they remember us today, Friday, or next Monday, maybe not. The effort was impressive and can be magnified exponentially going forward by NLA members who did not attend the actual meetings. CALL – FAX – EMAIL the representatives listed below. The 100 people that went to the Hill made some headway. The thousands that did not can build the effort into a steamroller by taking just a few minutes to follow up with a sample letter to their delegates. The after effects of our meetings are the key with this very important follow up by YOU – to have the reminders coming in for them to support our issue NOW!! The list of delegates that we visited and a sample letter is below along with contact information. THANK YOU for taking a few minutes of your day to BE INVOLVED in furthering the interests of YOUR business and that of the NLA.
Sample Letter
Honorable Congressman ________ I am writing today to thank you for offering to support the amendment to the RIDE Act as discussed with our fellow National Limousine Association members from Virginia in your meeting with them on June 18 on Capitol Hill. The abusive, inconsistent and excessive fees that some airport authorities have chosen to continue to levy on our small businesses in violation of Federal Law (RIDE Act of 2002) must not be continued and we appreciate your support of the bipartisan amendment to this law being offered by Congresswoman Corrine Brown, Congressman Henry Brown and Senators Lautenberg and Vitter. The amendment will enable DOT to clarify to the airports what reasonable and consistent fees they may levy if they so choose. I urge you to please add your name as a co-sponsor of this bipartisan legislation. It originally passed in 2002 as stand alone legislation with unanimous consent and its intent protects the interests of our limousine industry and in particular, the small business operators who are particularly hard hit by these excessive fees. Thank you taking time to meet with our group and thank you for your support of the RIDE Act amendment.
Sincerely, Meetings on Capitol Hill June 18
Congressman Eric Cantor with Senior Legislative Assistant Matt Hodge The Congressman was in a markup session of the tax committee and met with us in the library off of the main Committee room while it was in session. He was very attentive to our issue and agreed that the RIDE Act is a good law. The full attention he gave us and his quick grasp of the issue is encouraging.
Congresswoman Thelma Drake with Senior Legislative Assistant Jordan Davis The Congresswoman who had previously served in the state legislature on the Transportation Committee with distinction, was extremely interested in our small business issues. She currently is on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in Congress. She has agreed to support the RIDE Act amendment and she also asked about how the rising fuel costs were affecting us. She also specifically URGED us to tell our members to email & write to our representatives to “DEMAND THAT THE GOVERNMENT OPEN UP THE DOMESTIC SUPPLY OF FUEL RESOURCES”
Congressman Frank Wolf – met with Leg. Asst. Cindy Klapmust Aide Cindy was not familiar with RIDE, but agreed to speak to Congressman Wolf. We need to follow up and ask for his full support and/or co-sponsorship of this bill.
Congressman James Moran – met w/ Legislative Director Timothy Aiken Our meeting with Tim was at the end of a long day for all, and although he heard our request and understood the issue, a reminder from the NLA masses to get behind and have Cong. Moran’s support or co-sponsorship of the RIDE amendment will help us over the top. It was a lot of fun, but also an honor to represent the Industry with other like minded professionals at the annual Day on the Hill. Again, it is imperative that we not be forgotten the next day, and follow up by everyone else in the Industry takes only a few minutes, but keeps the issue in front of them into the future as well as adding numbers and names to our ranks. Please do it NOW !!
Operation Prom/Graduation - Celebrate Life Parade Downtown Richmond, VA
A huge thank you to Pam Tripp and Randy Allen for getting everything in place for the parade and the speeches. And to those of you that participated with your time, your vehicles and your chauffeurs, congratulations on being a part of something positive for our industry. Please keep the VLA in mind as you enter this busy season. Join the VLA, meet dedicated operators, network with quality companies and be a part of an association working for you and our industry.
Paul Walsh
To all attendees of the April 7th VLA meetingA quick note of thanks to all of you for your attendance and participation in the VLA at the April 7th meeting Richard Kane has some powerful enthusiasm and it was great of him to speak at our meeting and give us a preview of his leadership of the NLA. Thank you, Richard, for being our speaker. A special thanks to Dale Carpenter and Bill Cosgrove of Safetyvan. I think we all got a look at a quality product and look forward to doing business in the future. We also want to thank you for your contribution to the VLA meeting by supplying the drinks for the meeting. But a special thanks go to you, the members that participate in the VLA by showing up to meetings, sharing ideas, networking and making the VLA what It is, an association of members, not just names on a roster. We look forward to a great year and I wish each of you many successes.
Respectfully,
The VLA Board congratulates Kristina Bouweiri and Reston Limousine for its recognition by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Reston Limousine Receives Accolades for its Rapid Growth DULLES, Va. — Reston Limousine was among 60 Northern Virginia businesses honored at the 2008 Celebration of Northern Virginia Business Success recently hosted by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority in Tysons Corner. Kristina Bouweiri, Reston Limousine's owner, received the recognition on behalf of her company from Fairfax County Board of Supervisors' Chairman Gerald Connolly. Reston Limousine was one of three Loudoun businesses recognized. Northern Virginia's three congressional members, Representatives Frank Wolf, James Moran and Tom Davis, all spoke in honor of the businesses, which had earlier been named to the Washington Business Journal's Fastest Growing Companies List, or other major business ranking publications. Click here to read the full press release from Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. Congraulations to Reston Limousine! |
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Speakers scheduled to appear on the steps of One James Center in downtown Richmond will include VLA President Paul Walsh, and representatives of:
Usma Khan