On July 30, Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo addressed attendees of the SMART Transportation Division’s regional meeting in Anaheim, Calif., speaking about future endeavors the FRA has for the rail industry and about safety enhancements moving forward.
“Rail is the transportation mode of opportunity, and we have to ensure continuous safety improvements, building upon the safest year in railroading history, and ensuring that every railroader goes home safely each day, and that communities are kept safe,” Szabo said.
While the focus of the SMART Transportation Division’s regional meetings has always been on education for its members, attendees are provided the opportunity for a little relaxation as well.
Those attending the Anaheim regional meeting scheduled for July 29-31 are in for a entertaining time starting with Sunday night’s welcome reception.
Gifted Latin guitar soloist Marco Tulio has been hired to serenade attendees throughout the evening.
Tuesday night’s dinner party themed “California beach party” is sure to be a blast with the “Catch a Wave” band set to perform from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to dress in their floral-printed shirts and skirts, crazy-print shorts and funny hats to bring out the fun in this party.
Members planning to attend one or both of the UTU’s regional meetings this summer can now complete their registration online through the UTU website.
The secure pages on the UTU website provide for safe and convenient registration. There’s no need for filling out a paper registration form or finding a postage stamp.
UTU regional meeting registration and hotel information, as well as web links to make hotel reservations online, can be accessed by visiting www.utu.org and clicking on the “Meetings” box on the bottom of the UTU homepage. Links to the host hotels, city visitor bureaus, and online car-rental and airline-discount information are also available.
Regional meetings will be held July 1-3 in Boston and July 29-31 in Anaheim, Calif.
Each regional meeting will run for 2-1/2 days, ending early on the afternoon of the third day. The evening of the first day has been left unscheduled so you, your family and friends will be free to explore and enjoy the many offerings of the regional meeting cities.
All those attending the regional meetings must be registered in order to attend any planned social function. Children ages 11 and under who are pre-registered are complimentary.
The pre-registration fee for the 2013 regional meetings is $150 per member, spouse or child over age 11, the same fee charged the last six years. Additional fees apply for the golf outings and family tours. You must make your own room reservations, and certain deadlines apply.
The $150 registration fee covers all workshop materials; a welcoming reception the night before the meeting; three lunches and one evening meal. Those wishing to attend only the workshops do not need to pay the registration fee. No one-day registrations are offered.
You may cancel your meeting registration 10 days prior to the first day of the meeting or the golf outing without penalty. Call the International at (216) 228-9400 or email PR_TD@smart-union.org immediately regarding any changes or cancellations.
If you choose to register by mail, you must submit a completed registration form listing each attendee, regardless of age. Complete payment in U.S. funds must be received at the UTU International, 24950 Country Club Blvd., Suite 340, North Olmsted, OH 44070-5333, by June 21 for the Boston meeting or by July 19 for the Anaheim meeting, or the registrant will be charged an on-site registration fee of $200.
Members planning to attend one or both of the UTU’s regional meetings this summer can now complete their registration online through the UTU website.