A letter from the UMA Chair
Amid other challenges, 'UMA does not want you to worry about Member dues'
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It’s an understatement to say we are living through challenging times. Our federal officials left town without an economic relief plan in place. So many smaller business owners like us face an uncertain future. We have bills to pay. We are worried about our employees. Very stressful.
UMA does not want you to worry about dues, which are waived for operators for the remainder of 2020. While we rely on dues to fund our industry support programs, our Board has agreed that this is the time to use our rainy-day fund.
I am proud of the way our industry has come together with UMA’s weekly online Town Halls, the amazing level of grassroots support for advocacy efforts (83,500 letters to Congress), our industry-leading AssurCLEAN program, and our daily NewsFLASH: all resources that are not available elsewhere.
As a longtime UMA Member, I have always felt fortunate to be part of such a strong, supportive group of business leaders. Better days ARE ahead. Keep the faith.
Jeff
Jeff Polzien, Chairman of the Board
United Motorcoach Association
Red Carpet Charters
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1 . As White House pushes skinny economic relief bill, Democrats eye September action |
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Reuters | August 19, 2020 | by David Morgan and Susan Cornwell
WASHINGTON - The White House on Wednesday pushed for Congress to take up a narrow coronavirus economic relief bill that Democrats have long rejected, while a leading Senate Democrat said real action may come soon after the Sept. 7 U.S. Labor Day holiday.
With the breakdown of talks between the White House and top congressional Democrats now in its 12th day, Senate Republicans are floating a “skinny” version of the $1 trillion bill proposed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for a possible vote in the Republican-led chamber.
That bill ran into immediate opposition from both Democrats and McConnell’s own Republicans when he unveiled it late last month.
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2 . Keep the pressure on Congress and tell them CERTS must be part of any relief measure considered |
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3 . Thursday Town Hall @ 2 ET: Join colleagues for a legislative update and Members working together |
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We know you count on UMA for current news and information to help you in your business. Join us for a panel discussion of trusted industry partners who are active with UMA Members as they update us on their current efforts and industry insights.
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Mike McDonal, Saucon Technologies
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Mark Szperski, On Your Mark Transportation
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Sylvia Jackson, AMBEST
You must register to attend. If you are asked for a password, it is your Zoom password, not a meeting password.
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4 . UMA Member Gunther Charter Bus Company uses video to show how coaches are carefully cleaned
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5 . A little good news: Canadian bus drivers split million dollar jackpot |
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A group of Canadian bus drivers won’t have to worry about money for a while.
Bus driver Frederick “Nate” Green got to be the bearer of some seriously awesome news after learning that he and a group of his fellow bus drivers won a $1 million Maxmillions prize from the July 31 Lotto Max draw.
Green is team ‘captain’ of a group of 10 players, nine of whom are bus drivers. He purchased the ticket at a lottery kiosk at University Heights Mall on Shelbourne Street in Victoria, British Columbia.
After hearing that a ticket purchased in Victoria had won, Green checked the group’s ticket from his couch at home, using the BCLC Lotto! App.
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6. UMA Consumer Guides can help with marketing your services and educating your customers
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Consumers will always care about price, but it's short-sighted for motorcoach operators to focus only on the dollar amount when selling. Take the opportunity whenever you can to educate consumers about how to choose a motorcoach operator.
At a time when everyone is concerned with safety and sanitation in group settings, there is more opportunity than ever to show the value your company provides, whether it's through cleaning videos or participating in AssurCLEAN. Our Guide for Planning Student Travel and Consumer Guide to Purchasing Professional Motorcoach Services can help you educate your customers about what really matters.
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7 . German study finds chances of contracting coronavirus on planes relatively small
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The odds of catching novel coronavirus on an airplane with infected passengers appear to be relatively small, though still possible, according to a new report.
German researchers told of the health outcomes for more than a hundred passengers on a flight in a report recently published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
The German researchers reported on the health status of 102 passengers who boarded a Boeing 737 flight in Tel Aviv, Israel, on March 9, according to the study. The flight, just over 4.5 hours, was going to Frankfurt, Germany, before strict COVID-19 protocols were in place, such as mandating masks for crew and passengers as well as the restriction of congregating in aisles. (Airlines have since instituted those policies in an effort to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.)
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UMA Membership is FREE through 12/31/2020 |
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Because our industry is stronger together, we invite operators to try UMA Membership FREE through year's end. Join us.
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8 . Reminder: Beware of hotel booking scams related to UMA Motorcoach EXPO
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Please be vigilant about phone calls from companies offering to book your hotel rooms for UMA Motorcoach EXPO. They are not authorized by UMA or affiliated with UMA.
UMA will never phone you to book rooms and we encourage attendees and exhibitors to consult the www.motorcoachexpo.com website for legitimate information so you can book your rooms in the UMA room block.
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UMA Members have access to a variety of resources to help sustain your business and our industry.
Check out our Social Media Tool Kit to enhance your online profile and promote our industry and UMA's AssurCLEAN Program to put your passengers at ease so they can travel confidently.
And remember to read and subscribe to Bus & Motorcoach News, which is powered by UMA, and your source for the weekly Motorcoach Minute video.
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2020
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UMA Town Halls, every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. ET Learn more.
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UMA Safety Management Seminar, December 2-3, 2020, Ashburn, VA Learn more.
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2021
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UMA Motorcoach EXPO, March 3-7, 2021, Orlando, FL Learn more.
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Every Thursday at 2 p.m. ET on the Zoom platform. Join from your computer or phone. |
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Resources, news and important links for advocacy, federal programs, and more |
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