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2008 Texas Transit Conference and Expo

2008 Texas Transit Conference and Expo

April 11-15, 2008

Waco Convention Center
100 Washington Avenue
Waco, Texas 76702

Dear Transit Professional:

The Texas Transit Association welcomes you to the 2008 Texas Transit Conference and Expo. This year's conference features Texas style competitions, valuable hands-on training, management professional development, outstanding guest speakers, networking opportunities and the latest and greatest equipment displays and technical expertise. This year our annual Roadeo will feature both operator and maintenance competitions. All Roadeo and conference attendees are welcome to attend maintenance and operator special training sessions. Team up with your friends at the annual golf tournament or relax on a tour of Waco. Professional development training sessions will be available culminating in a dynamic special presentation by the Disney Institute. Scheduled conference guest speakers include famous Texas legendary VIPS. Our closing event will be the annual Transit Awards Luncheon where we recognize the best transit professionals and agencies from across the Lone Star State.

Conference Registration Information

Online registration is no longer available for this conference. On-site registration will be available at the Waco Convention Center immediately prior to the conference.

Please make check or money orders (U.S. currency drawn on a U.S. bank) payable to TTI-TTA. Event Management & Planning (EM&P) also accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. If paying by check or money order, you may register online and then mail your payment to EM&P. EM&P cannot invoice; therefore, payment of the conference registration fee must be received prior to admission to the conference. NO PURCHASE ORDERS ACCEPTED.

For payment processing purposes, the vendor identification number for TTI-EM&P is 37277277275000. The federal identification number is 74-2270624.

Members and State and Federal Employees who register prior to March 24, 2008 will pay $250 for registration.

Non-Members who register prior to March 24, 2008 will pay $350 for registration.

All late registrations will incur a $50 late fee. Payments must be postmarked by March 24 to avoid the late fee.

Transit Board Member Only registration is $100 (includes Monday Expo, Lunch, Transit Board Training Session, and Big Night out). No late fee applicable.

Conference registration will also be available at the Waco Convention Center immediately prior to the conference. The $50 late fee will be in effect during that time. Check, money order and credit card payments will be accepted on-site.

Conference Registration Includes:
  • Saturday Roadeo Awards Dinner
  • Sunday Meetings and Training Events
  • Sunday Opening Reception
  • All Monday Events and Meals
  • All Tuesday Events and Meals
These events require a separate registration fee:
  • Golf Tournament
  • Waco Tour
  • Participation in Roadeo Competition
Roadeo Registration Includes:
  • Roadeo Operator and Maintenance Competition
  • Saturday Breakfast and Lunch on site
  • Saturday Roadeo Awards Dinner / Family Picnic
  • Sunday Maintenance Training
  • Sunday Defensive Driving Class
  • Monday Maintenance Training

Spouse Registration

Spouses of conference attendees are invited to attend the Saturday Roadeo Awards Dinner (no charge), the Sunday Waco Tour ($50), the Monday Big Night Out ($50) and the Tuesday Awards Luncheon ($25).

Registration/Information Desk

The registration/information desk will be open during the following times:

Waco Hilton

Friday, April 11, 2008; 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm – ROADEO Only

Waco Convention Center

Sunday, April 13, 2008; 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm
Monday, April 14, 2008; 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday, April 15, 2008; 7:30 am - 12:00 noon

Cancellation

Only cancellations received in writing by EM&P by 5:00 pm March 24, 2008, will be refunded, less a $50 handling fee. No refunds will be made after March 24.

Conference Activities

Bus and Maintenance ROADEO – Saturday, April 12, 2008

The 2008 Texas Transit Roadeo will feature competitive events for bus operators and mechanics. Bus operators competition will be in the 40' bus, 35' bus and Paratransit/Cutaway categories. All bus operators will have a written exam in addition to the driving competition. The maintenance competition will feature tested events in various vehicle systems mechanical areas. Trophies will be presented to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each category. 1st and 2nd place winners will be provided the opportunity to represent Texas in the APTA and CTAA national Roadeos. Scholarships to the national competition may be provided by TxDOT (TBD). Roadeo registration includes the Roadeo, the Awards Dinner/Family Picnic, and conference maintenance and defensive driver training. Family members are welcome to attend the Roadeo and the awards dinner/family picnic at no additional charge.

Agencies holding local Roadeos after March 24, 2008 can submit a "place-holder" registration, but must identify the participant by April 8, 2008.

Spectator admission is free. Come cheer for your favorite driver or mechanic. Volunteer judges are needed.

2008 Texas Transit Conference Tour – Sunday, April 13, 2008

Texas Transit Conference attendees will have a unique opportunity to see some of Waco's most interesting sites on our optional Sunday afternoon FUN tour. We'll leave the Hilton Hotel at 12:00 noon and stop at the Dr. Pepper Museum where we will be treated to a box lunch and Dr. Pepper float, as well as a trip down memory lane. We'll have plenty of time to explore the museum and shop for memorabilia.

Then we'll hop on our tour trolley for an excursion around town, stopping to visit two of Waco's most beautiful and historic homes. The final phase of our Waco Tour will take us to the renowned Mayborn Museum Complex on the campus of Baylor University where there are always interesting and educational exhibits. We will return to the Hilton hotel by 4:30 p.m.

Expo – Sunday April 13 and Monday 14, 2008

Registrants for the TTA Conference also have the opportunity to attend the Expo on Sunday, April 13, 2008 - Monday, April 14, 2008, at the Waco Convention Center at no additional charge.

2008 Texas Transit Conference Big Night Out – Monday, April 14, 2008

Our Big Night Out in Waco is going to be spectacular! We will have dinner and drinks at the Texas Ranger Museum and share the evening with one of the most celebrated lawmen in Texas history.

Retired Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson will be our special guest speaker, sharing stories about his adventures wearing the unique Silver Star badge. Mr. Jackson has written a couple of books about his life, "One Ranger" and "One Ranger Returns"; autographed copies will be available.

This larger than life Texas icon has been featured in "Texas Monthly" magazine and even graced the silver screen in the movies, The Streets of Laredo, The Rough Riders and The Good Ol' Boys. Now you can see him in person!

This is one Big Night Out you do not want to miss.

Professional Development Training Session – Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Topic: Change Leadership: Who wants to change?

Speaker: Disney Institute

The reasons for leading a change effort are typically very simple: We want to do it, we need to do it, or we have to do it. Creating a positive, lasting change is not always as easy. Averaging 14 years Disney leadership experience, Disney Institute's professional speakers have experienced all three scenarios as the Walt Disney World Resort has evolved from a single theme park and two resort hotels to the top vacation destination in the world. The speaker will share valuable insights on when and why an organization should change and the role of the leader in shaping a positive, sustainable change.

Hotel Reservations

Accommodations have been arranged at the Hilton Waco. For details about the Hotel, please visit their website.

Date of room block: April 11-15, 2008

Room rate per night:
$115 - King, single or double or double/double occupancy
$125 - Executive King, single or double occupancy

To receive special conference rates, individuals should call the hotel directly at (254) 754-8484 and identify the event as "Texas Transit Association." Please confirm your room rate when you make your reservation and confirm this rate upon your arrival at the hotel. Please assist us in keeping conference costs down by meeting our room block requirements at this hotel. The discounted conference room rates will be available until the block fills or until March 24, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.

Check in time: 4:00 pm
Check out time: 12:00 noon

Please note: Any attendee not identifying his/her affiliation with the group and not requesting the conference rate prior to check-in cannot be extended the conference rate at a later date or during the meeting.

Transportation

You will be responsible for your own transportation to the conference.

Airports
  • Waco Regional Airport (ACT) - 8 miles
  • Austin (AUS) - 104 miles
  • Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW) - 108 miles

Parking

Free parking available at the Waco Convention Center and the Hilton Waco.

Sponsorship Opportunities

For more information about being a sponsor of this event, visit the Sponsorship Information page.

Event Program

See the schedule for information about conference activities.

City Information

For more information about the City of Waco, please visit their website, http://www.wacocvb.com/.

For More Information

TTA Website

www.texastransit.org

Program Contents
Ben Herr
Executive Director
Texas Transit Association
323 Congress Ave., Suite 100
Austin, TX 78701
ph. (512) 478-8883 · fax (512) 478-8886
benherr@texastransit.org
Registration
Event Management & Planning
Texas Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
ph. (979) 862-1219 · fax (979) 862-1225 · toll-free (888) 550-5577
events@tamu.edu

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