Your Member Monthly News & Updates
Registration Now Open for the Fall Association Annual Meeting & Marketplace

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Dates: October 10-11, 2018
Location: Bally's Hotel and Casino

In addition to the Annual Member Meeting, we will host the Mini-Marketplace (for Allied Members) and the very popular Group Leader Appreciation Day & Marketplace.  Details on speakers and topics forthcoming. These events will occur on Thursday, October 11th.

The day before, October 10th, we will host our long-standing, traditional Golf Outing at the beautiful Atlantic City Country Club.  This is a favorite event for many of our members, and it's a great opportunity to get together with old friends and make new connections.   In the evening, we host a fun Meet & Mingle event at Arturo's, located within Bally's.  



Member Headlines

GNJMA Members Attend Joint Industry Fly In To Promote Regulatory Priorities, Show Unity

Becky Weber (Prime Policy, UMA Lobbyist), Jonathan Robbins, Jhostyn Duval (Legislative Assistant to Congressman Albio Sires, 8th District), Michelle Petelicki, Elizabeth Deffer, Tim Guldin


Frank Smith, Steve Silvestri (Legislative Aide to Rep Rodney Freylinghuysen, 11th District), Andres Newhart, Tim Stout, Michelle Petelicki, Joe Zak


Joe Zak, Michelle Petelicki, Jake Rascoff (Legislative Aid to Rep Josh Gottheimer, 5th District), Elizabeth Deffer, Frank Smith
More than 116 industry leaders traveled to Washington DC on April 10th-11th for the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) / American Bus Association (ABA) Joint Bus and Motorcoach Industry Fly In on Capitol Hill.  Participants sat in on a legislative briefing on the 10th while the 11th was spent meeting with legislations.  Key agenda topics for this year's fly in included:
  • Regulatory reforms
    • Require separate and distinct impact analyses for rule-making when it comes to trucks vs. buses
    • Require public transit operators
      to report verifiable data when certifying to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) that they encouraged private sector participation in publicly funded projects.
    • Enhance transparency in the FTA's intercity bus grant program by requiring state Governors expanded certification, again with greater detail.
  • Preservation of the partial fuel tax exemption for motorcoaches. 
UMA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner and ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso released the following joint statement:   "We would like to thank the 116 members of our organizations that met with more than 150 Congressional offices to discuss the priorities and issues facing the motorcoach industry today. By bringing together the leadership, energy and strength of our organizations, we delivered a powerful
message to our leaders in Congress."

Thank you to our members who were able to  participate and show their support!

Frank Smith, Bill Pascrell
(9th District), Joe Zak

Tim Stout, Matt Thomson (Legislative
Aide to NJ Senator Cory Booker),
Michelle Petelicki
Bailey Coach Receives Tourism Award From
Hershey Harrisburg Visitors Bureau 

Visit Hershey & Harrisburg recognized individuals and local Partner organizations on April 12th for their outstanding achievements in tourism in the past year during their annual Tourism Awards.  

GNJMA Member  Bailey Coach received the Partner in Tourism Above & Beyond Award.  The Partners in Tourism Awards are the evening's main event recognizing individuals, organizations and events for their outstanding accomplishments from 2017.  Each winner was honored with a short video produced by VHH to highlight their achievement.  Watch Bailey Coach's video here.  Congratulations to Bailey Coach for this great achievement!
Welcome New Members!

One new member has joined the GNJMA since our last newsletter in April.  Please join us in welcoming them!

Main Contact: Jessica Jarvis
Participation Pays Off!

Jeff  Goldwasser was the winner of a $50 VISA Gift Card for completing our Post-S pring Meeting Survey!  He was chosen at random from all the surveys we received.  Thank you for all 
who participated!  If you would like to obtain a copy of the survey results, please email Pattie Cowley. Congratulations, Jeff, on your big win!
Do You Have News?

If you have news you'd like to share about your company or one of your employees, please email us a note.  We'd love to share your news with the rest of the Association!
 Industry Information
National Park Service (NPS) Revises Entrance Fee and Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) Proposal

NPS has issued a revised CUA proposal announcing that beginning October 1st, 2019, road-based tour operators will be required to apply for and obtain a CUA for each national park in which they operate.  This process will include a $300 CUA application fee as well as a $5 per person CUA management fee.   This revised proposal alters the original October 2017 proposal in several ways.   More detailed information on the revised proposal can be found on the NPS website .  

The revised proposal not only raises the fees to our industry, but also creates an even less predictable pricing environment.  "These decisions were adopted without real input or understanding of our industry and how it supports the National Park system," said the American Bus Association (ABA) in their April 20th Member Alert. "Further, their process lacked transparency, offering limited opportunity to work with us. We understand the needs faced by NPS, and want to work with the Agency, but our industry should not bear the brunt of their $11.6 billion backlog."

We urge you to get involved with this issue.   Click here for a letter template provided by ABA to send to your Members of Congress to help spread our message.  The ABA asks that you also email abainfo@buses.org  a copy of your letter.   Find your Senator  here .   Find your Representative  here .
May 14-21, 2018 "Infrastructure Week"
Show Your Support of H.R. 2120

"Infrastructure week" is a national week of events, media coverage, and education and issue advocacy to elevate infrastructure as a critical issue impacting America's economy, society, security and future.

To celebrate "Infrastructure Week", we ask that you show your support for H.R. 2120, a signature United Motorcoach Association (UMA) initiative to shrink the overreach and adversarial regulatory environment that continues to hold back the motorcoach industry.   H.R. 2120 regulatory reforms include:
  • Insurance (financial responsibility) reform
  • Elimination of the lease/interchange rule
  • Elimination of obstructive sleep apnea mandatory tests
  • Elimination of speed limiter rule
  • Revised FMCSA mission statement focused on industry success and growth
  • Corrective action plans reforms for passengers
  • Continue assigning "Satisfactory, Conditional" ratings
  • Revised civil penalties process including appeals and payment plan
  • Expedient registration of motor carriers (new/re-entrants)
  • Separate rule-making / analysis from trucks
  • Modernization of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
  • Improved business opportunities for you to contract and provide services to local public transit
Get involved in this initiative by sending a letter to your representative.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Continues Latest Efforts to Ease Congestion

Mayor de Blasio announced initatives in October of 2017 to help easecongestion in busy thoroughfares across the five boroughs.  These efforts were designed to create new moving lanes, expand enforcement, address commercial corridors, and tackle persistent highway back-ups.  The DOT's latest efforts include:
  • Expanding "Block the Box" enforcement to include 50 key intersections city-wide.  Updated marketing and signs will be installed along with the hiring of additional officers for enforcement.
  • A program restricting curbside access in Midtown Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.  Further, in Manhattan's central business district, curbside access will be restricted on one side of the street at 11 key crosstown streets.  These restrictions are being aggressively enforced which includes ticketing, booting and/or towing.
ICYMI: Member Alerts

Member Alerts are sent out to our Members as needed.  Since our April newsletter, we have sent one alert:
 Upcoming Events

Mother's Day Specials at Steel Pier


Celebrate Mother's Day at Steel Pier Sunday, May 13th! Mom's ride FREE with a paid rider and receive a carnation! (while supplies last) Come spend the day on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City with your family for Mother's Day and stop by Steel Pier for a great time and a free gift for Moms!

Museum of Bus Transportation 2018 Spring Fling

The Mus eum of Bus Transportation in Hershey is holding its 2018 Spring Fling on June 2nd.  The event will run from 8:00AM to 4:00PM.   The mu seum is loca ted at the Antique Automobile Museum Campus.  Admission is f ree to museum members; there will be a $7.00 fee for non-members.   Please join the event and support our Platinum Sponsor Prevost's  representative David Schmidt, who is also the museum's Board of Director's Chairman.

For more information, please visit their website.  Please contact Becky Tollens at (585) 737-4046 or by email at events@busmuseum.org with any questions.
Member Event: Perfect Body and Fender Company Open House


GNJMA member The Perfect Body and Fender Company will host an open house for valued customers and company affiliates.  

Date:         September 12th, 2018

Time:         11:00AM - 2:00PM

Location:    7100 West Side Avenue,  North Bergen, NJ

Vendor partners will also be on hand to display their products.  Lunch will be served!  Please show your support for fellow GNJMA members Perfect Body!
Save the Dates!

June 6th
Mid-Year Board of Director's Teleconference

Annual Golf Outing - Atlantic City Country Club
Meet & Mingle - Arturo's

October 11th - Bally's
Board of Director's Meeting
Fall Annual Association Member Meeting
Group Leader Marketplace
Mini-Marketplace

November 7th - Tropicana Casino
2018 Driver's Safety Meeting

March 11-12th, 2019  - Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem
Sponsor Appreciation Dinner
Spring Association Meeting & Motorcoach Professional Awards
Mini-Marketplace 

For more information, please visit the GNJMA Events Page!

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Contact:  Pattie Cowley, Executive Director | Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association
 908-835-0935 x105 | pcowley@gnjma.com | www.gnjma.com