Improving the value of the NLA

I've seen it mentioned here that people would 'come back to' or 'wait and see until' the value the NLA offerd was improved. Additionally, our current President mentioned in his letter in the last issue of LCT that he would work to improve the value of the NLA to the members.

So members, what would you do to improve the value of the NLA to the membership or to make it more attractive to join?

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limouisne, Clinton NJ

revive this thread and offer everyone another opportunity to speak out on what they want out of the NLA.

We've all got a lot to say about what they're doing now, about how we like it or what we don't like about it.

This forum is a fantastic tool for gathering input. What would make the NLA more benificial for your company?

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limouisne, Clinton NJ

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by AAA/GOT:
revive this thread and offer everyone another opportunity to speak out on what they want out of the NLA.

We've all got a lot to say about what they're doing now, about how we like it or what we don't like about it.

This forum is a fantastic tool for gathering input. What would make the NLA more benificial for your company?

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limouisne, Clinton NJ
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

How about these things:

1. Repeal the gas guzzler tax.
2. A real insurance program for the members.
3. Workout a discounted deal with Smith Systems for safety training.
4. A national deal for members for tires and gas.

This would be a great start.

Wade Randolph

this was intended as a real inquiry for members like us, Wade. Anybody can scroll back and back and back and see the dozens of such suggestions we have made to no effect. This is merely eyewash to say, if there are no or few responses, that everyone obviously is satisfied with NLA, or else a mere opportunity for the less-initiated to verbally ejeaculate and thereby feel better.


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by AAA/GOT:
revive this thread and offer everyone another opportunity to speak out on what they want out of the NLA.

We've all got a lot to say about what they're doing now, about how we like it or what we don't like about it.

This forum is a fantastic tool for gathering input. What would make the NLA more benificial for your company?

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limouisne, Clinton NJ
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com

that would be . . .?


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by AAA/GOT:
We've all got a lot to say about what they're doing now , about how we like it or what we don't like about it.

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limouisne, Clinton NJ
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com

Provide a liason between our industry and large airports, specifically Airport Police who seem to be against us instead of for us. Face it, a super-stretch can eliminate two additional cars causing traffic in the terminal area.

Compile and distribute a list of tried marketing ideas and promotions and how to implement them, track them and make money with them.

Negotiate a national credit card processing rate for all members based on collective volume.

Negotiate a pricing structure with a few national uniform companies as well as establish guidelines of what chauffeurs should wear. While this may seem like a strange request, I personally don't think a dark suit with a yellow tie is professional. I like dark suits, preferrably black, solid white shirts and black ties.

Agressively work to change Workers Comp Insurance classifications to place chauffeurs in a category of their own as opposed to being lumped with other industries such as bus drivers who handle much more baggage and are more prone to back injuries.

Meet with local associations at least twice per year to obtain a perspective of individual markets and trends across the states.

Compile a list of companies who have the ability to tow super-stretches in all areas of the country and repair facilities that have the experience to service limos. Not just Limo Care facilities.

Thanks Wade for your input. You'll be glad to know that Tom Mazza has informed me that the NLA lobbyist and Don Kensey met with 3 Michigan congressmen (plus Ford and Cadillac) to plan a vehicle to promote Gas Guzzler. They are hoping to get it on the floor in 2003.

Wade, I'm not sure if you were thinking of health or auto insurance, Tom has been meeting with national healthcare providers. In fact, he says, a company in Florida that is a national benefits provider who has a program in place at Ford dealerships across the country. He hopes to have a program in place to roll out at the LCT show.

Jim Luff, thanks also. Tom tells me that he has met with (excluding the Vegas meeting) face to face via local associations, a third of the NLA membership (500) since Feb 1. He has reams of information on local issues. At every meeting he offers his services, hand in hand, to meet with airport or govt. officials as needed. He's going to be representing the industry at DC Airport, LAX and continue to work with the Matt Daus and the NY TLC.

Training and education, The NLA has an event planned on 7/9 in Long Island called "A Day of Education and Training". If it is well received they hope to do it in 3 more cities by February.

Response to Jim J - No, I didn't start this thread just to say everyone is satisfied or to verbally ejaculate. It is a sincere attempt to gather information so new threads may be started in order to discuss each idea in further detail.

By starting new threads based on ideas presented, we will continue to provide new ideas, remind people of old ideas (Generously, not many people will take the time to scroll back and back.) and hopefully draw in venders from discussed indusries that may give us further insight as to what is feasible and what is not. Some ideas can be worked out on a national level, others may be better addressed on a local level.

At some point, when I have the time I haven't had lately, I will go through this thread, pull out issues that the NLA hasn't yet started working on (that I know of) and try to start discussions pertaining to those issues.

Tom also mentioned that he hopes to have the financials up by 6/30.

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limouisne, Clinton NJ

[This message was edited by AAA/GOT on June 21, 2002 at 08:18 PM.]

of minutes of a board of directors' meeting. I stumbled across it on the net while looking for something else and it occurred to me that many NLA members, including limos.com members, may never have seen REAL minutes. These are obviously not prepared by a lawyer, yet they do the job. They tell you when, who was there, who did what, what was actually decided and what wasn't. This is what all corporations are required by law to do, and what NLA members are entitled to.


http://www.busride.org/min121201.htm

James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JHJ:
of minutes of a board of directors' meeting. I stumbled across it on the net while looking for something else and it occurred to me that many NLA members, including limos.com members, may never have seen REAL minutes. These are obviously not prepared by a lawyer, yet they do the job. They tell you when, who was there, who did what, what was actually decided and what wasn't. This is what all corporations are required by law to do, and what NLA members are entitled to.


http://www.busride.org/min121201.htm

James H. Joseph
_Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars_
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>




Do you still have a copy of the minutes from Las Vegas? It would be nice to have them posted also for comparison. I remember them being discussed a while back, but I don't think they were actually posted here.

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limouisne, Clinton NJ

we never got minutes from Las Vegas (presumably because there are none). What you had NLA fax to me was nothing more than somebody's "to do" list from some gathering of the board after Las Vegas (I say gathering because NLA does not convene legal meetings of its directors). You will never get financials, and you will NEVER get minutes - too much to hide, they would have to be falsified each gathering.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by AAA/GOT:

Do you still have a copy of the minutes from Las Vegas? It would be nice to have them posted also for comparison. I remember them being discussed a while back, but I don't think they were actually posted here.

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limouisne, Clinton NJ
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com

for minutes or financials, you did Jim. Additionally, I beleive it was Jim Luff who asked Tom for the minutes and then forwarded what it was that he received to you.

Thanks for your response. http://limos.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limouisne, Clinton NJ

It was I who asked for the minutes, submitted them to you James so that you could belittle them, assualt them, criticize it etc... etc... as you do so well.

you are correct, it was Luff, not you. I should have scrolled back but was in a hurry. As I recall, Luff offered to use his relationship with Mazza to get what no one else has ever been able to get - he didn't get any further than anyone else.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by AAA/GOT:
for minutes or financials, you did Jim. Additionally, I beleive it was Jim Luff who asked Tom for the minutes and then forwarded what it was that he received to you.

Thanks for your response. http://limos.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limouisne, Clinton NJ
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com

Luff, there was a never a "them." We never got the minutes, we never got financials. There was nothing to assault or belittle except the hapless people at NLA who don't know what minutes are, and who have to keep dancing to avoid giving up the financials under strict instructions never to do so. C'mon, Luff - give us a few cheers. If I detect some bitterness in your post, I must say that if I stuck my neck out for NLA the way you have and got it chopped off the way you have, I suppose I'd be a bit bitter also.


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Limo Scene:
It was I who asked for the minutes, submitted them to you James so that you could belittle them, assualt them, criticize it etc... etc... as you do so well.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com

Here is what NLA claims are the benefits of membership.

http://www.limo.org/memberBenefits.jsp

This is as good as it gets. Anyone care to comment on whether you can REALLY get any of these, or what they're worth. Wade has otherwise commented on Apex. The bi-monthly newsletter is not bi-monthly (thankfully, it is inflicted on us less often).
Hmmmmmmm. It's July - no financial information since December, 2000. What do you think that means? I know what it means!

James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com

By the way, the 2000 financial information is REALLY as of December 31, 1999. NLA members haven't been given financial information for over 2-1/2 years now. Must be devastatingly awful information. Surprise, surprise.

James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com

posted by AAA/GOT:

Luff, I think I have a good story for this...

I was driving an older couple home from the airport a few years back. The wife was verbally assaulting the husband from the time I met them until we reached their house when he stayed outside to pay me and she went in. I guess the look on my face, of pure pity, was question enough for the man to give me insight as to how he handled her incessant nattering. Without a verbal question from me he said," It's like this son. She's been like that for 38 years. About 37 years ago, I stopped hearing her. I go on about my business every day as if she's not even there, she is irrelevant."

I guess when someone just goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on.........and on, The rest of the world just becomes oblivious to what they say. They become irrelevant. http://limos.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif



<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Limo Scene:
I have read each of Matt's polls and per a previous thread, these are all ideas in my "wish list" for the NLA. Why is every poll followed by your negative thoughts. How about following with a paragraph of one of your own ideas that possibly would work since you seem to have all the answers for why and why not but offer nothing at the table to accomplish anything but to sit and bag on others for their desire to improve the industry and improve individual operations. As for the comment on another thread about my neck stuck out and head cut off, I am going to admit, I had more faith in Tommy a few months ago. He promised to have the financials posted by a certain date. I stuck my head out, gave the date and he failed to deliver and has yet to deliver. So far, that is the only check mark on the "bad" side of my scoreboard for the NLA. It just seems that every idea, every suggestion, every order of business, every comment is followed by your short sided, pessimist thinking instead of being optimistic that a vision can actually be achieved if there are enough people chasing and guiding the vision instead of constantly trying to knock the visionaries down and stifle the prosperity before an attempt is even made. It's getting old and I don't think there are many here on the forum that appreciate your cynical way of thinking or your comments which don't lend well to the improvement of our industry as a whole in the future but merely focus on past failures. Why must you be this way?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limouisne, Clinton NJ
[/QUOTE]

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limouisne, Clinton NJ

here's a question to which he will never get an answer. There are between 10,000 and 20,000 limousine operators in the United States, depending upon whether you accept LCt's count or Dean Schuler's count. My premise is that a trade association is no different than any other business and its success or failure is a function of whether it offers anything to members that they're willing to pay for. In short, they vote with their dollars.

Let's count votes. How many NLA members were there on the last day of December of the years 1999, 2000, 2001 and as of today?

Although NLA members are entitled to know how many there are and who they are, NLA will never make that information available. They may give you smoke and mirrors, like Mazza trying to tell me that NLA has added 110 new members, and telling Matt that 131 new members have been added, neatly avoiding the question of net gain/loss or total members.

Memberships are votes as to the value of membership. Let's see what the "members" of NLA really think.

Try and get these numbers, Matt - and I don't mean Sara-type numbers, I mean "hard" numbers.

James H. Joseph
Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com

I think you've gone beyond trivial and strait on to idiotic. If I could get that information (from Host) I wouldn't post it for your twisted purpose.



<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JHJ:
here's a question to which he will never get an answer. There are between 10,000 and 20,000 limousine operators in the United States, depending upon whether you accept LCt's count or Dean Schuler's count. My premise is that a trade association is no different than any other business and its success or failure is a function of whether it offers anything to members that they're willing to pay for. In short, they vote with their dollars.

Let's count votes. How many NLA members were there on the last day of December of the years 1999, 2000, 2001 and as of today?

Although NLA members are entitled to know how many there are and who they are, NLA will never make that information available. They may give you smoke and mirrors, like Mazza trying to tell me that NLA has added 110 new members, and telling Matt that 131 new members have been added, neatly avoiding the question of net gain/loss or total members.

Memberships are votes as to the value of membership. Let's see what the "members" of NLA really think.

Try and get these numbers, Matt - and I don't mean Sara-type numbers, I mean "hard" numbers.

James H. Joseph
_Pegasus Chauffeured Motor Cars_
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
jhj@pegasus-pittsburgh.com)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Matt Harrison
AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limousine, Clinton NJ