NW Chapter of OPTA

December 15, 2009

Village Inn, Tualatin

Meeting called to order at 11:13 by President Mary Conger

Attendees:  

Paula Adams, Debbie Wright and Patricia Carner – Beaverton, Kim Crabtree – Sherwood, Elena Mark, Phil Weber and Andy Leibenguth – Portland, Denise Richardson and Rose Demos – Astoria, Mary Conger – N. Clackamas, Lynnette O’Dell – Oregon City.

Minutes of Nov. 17^th meeting read and accepted with following corrections:   State Board:  Meeting is Dec. 17^th at Almost Home Restaurant in Salem starting at 11:00 am.

Financial Report submitted by Dawn Persall (absent) read by Mary Conger

            Checking Balance         $ 6,817.39

            CD Balance                      3,655.52

            Cash Box                               40.00

                          Total                $10,512.91

Financial report approved as submitted

Committee Reports:

Education:  

Elena passed out Training class list provided by Sandy Van Baggen (absent) Please email Sandy with upcoming classes prior to the next meeting.

Membership:  

Kathy Houck (absent) report forwarded to Mary Conger – NW Chapter now has 52 members.   Kim asked that list of members be available either on web page or emailed to her.    Patricia is drafting letter to go out to districts to solicit membership prior to Winter Workshop.

Poster Contest:  

Charisse Wall (absent)  Mary reported that she has been emailing regarding deadlines.   Theme is ‘Be Aware – Know the Danger Zone’.  Posters are sent to Salem then divided between NW and SW Chapters.   All posters are reviewed to make sure they meet the competition criteria.  Voting takes place at the Safety Exercises, then finalist are voted on at the OPTA Conference.

Winter Workshop:  

Jean Frazey (absent) Patricia distributed postcards that Jean created.  She will be mailing about 75 cards.   Speakers are Bill Cohen from DMV to discuss the changes in testing,  Troy Costales from ODOT on Traffic Safety and School Buses, Eilene Wolven from Washington County on improving safety on the routes to school.   The day will be focused on Networking with exercises to improve our communication and learn to find resources within our group.

Workshop is March 15^th at Monarch in Clackamas, $15 per person includes breakfast and lunch.   All the speakers volunteered their time.

Discussion followed regarding costs and reimbursement of expenses.

Summer Workshop:  

Lynnette reported the plans are to have it at Oregon City H.S.  The first meeting will be in January.

Safety Exercise:  

Patricia reported NW Chapter Regionals will be May 22^nd at Beaverton Transportation Center.  There will be a meeting of the NW, SW and State committees Thursday, Dec 17^th to review dates, guidelines and equipment changes.    Carl Sahlstrom is the State Chairman.   There will be a mass mailing to encourage participation.    Requests for buses will be made following Thursday’s meeting.

Sunshine:    

Cards passed around for Janet who recently had a abdomen procedure.   A card was sent to Marlin from Western Bus Sales.

State Report: 

No report as there has been no meeting since last Chapter meeting

NAPT:

Robin Biden (absent) will wait for her report.  Mary asked members to pass the word and begin building excitement with the vendors

Old Business:

Budget was distributed at last meeting – will review when Dawn and Kathy are able to attend.

Dan Woods had presented the Hybrid Bus contest and Essay contest for H.S. students.   Information will be on the Brittain Bus Sales website about 1/1/10.

New Business:

Mary is initiating a drawing at each meeting for a free meal – coupons from Entertainment book.    This month’s drawing was won by Denise Richardson from Astoria.

Roundtable:  

Phil and Andy from PPS reported on the challenges of implementing transportation for the students of Maryville Elementary School after the fire.   All students were in the walk zone and had never ridden a bus. The Transportation Department developed routes, initiated student training, met with staff and worked through load/unload procedures.  

The discussion evolved to a roundtable regarding Evacuation Drill processes at each District.   PBS programs are often tied to the Evac drill training.  

Andy also briefly explained the Attendance Bingo used by PPS and the awarding of Bus bucks to go to purchasing of logo’d clothing which improves moral and professionalism of the Drivers. Phil recommended having Sandy and Keith make a presentation at our next meeting.  

Kim shared Sherwood’s practice of Pre-trip spots to award drivers.

Next meeting roundtable will be on ways to motivate drivers.   Mary asked each District to bring ideas to share. 

Next meeting:   January 19^th,  Village Inn – Tualatin.

Meeting adjourned at 12:17