Hershey Farm Restaurant and Inn Update | |
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Sherry Wertz, Group Sales Coordinator with PBA Member, Hershey Farm Restaurant and Inn, shared the first official rendering of the exterior of the new restaurant and some great news with us.
Sherry advised "Construction began last week. Right now, it’s just a big fenced in area and they’re grading things off. We are expecting to be ready for groups in May of next year and are accepting reservations now for next year. The barn like white building will be slightly larger than the old one. It will have 3 sections. One section will be the central lobby with retail space and bakery. Another section will be for the smorgasbord dining and the last section will be the family style dining room, the new café and where the hotel will connect to the restaurant."
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PBA's annual elections were held at the General Member Meeting during the June conference.
Officers elected for 2-Year Term:
- Douglas Rydbom, Premier #1 Limousine - Treasurer
- Robert Chepalonis, Martz Trailways - Secretary
Board members re-elected for 2-Year Term:
- David Benedict, David Thomas Trailways
- Thomas Brynan, Werner Bus Lines
- Robert Chepalonis, Martz Trailways
- Jeffrey Mayo, Greyhound
- Brian Kurtz, Elite Coach
- Dale McMichael, Executive Coach
- Jay Newswanger, R&J Transportation
- Bill Scully, Freedom Excursions by Scully
Supplier/Associate members elected for 2-Year Term:
- Nicole Boyer, Mount Hope Estate & Winery
- Tony Mongiovi, TEMSA North America
Congratulations and thank you for your commitment to PBA and its members!
To view the full PBA Leadership Team, please visit our website.
Read the press release.
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Members also voted on a change to our Bylaws during the General Member Meeting, see the below change. Visit our website to review the bylaws in their entirety. | |
2023 Annual Conference Recap | |
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The conference was held June 17-20th and hosted by Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau with the primary location at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel. Events were also held at Chautauqua Institution and National Comedy Center.
The multi-day event welcomed motorcoach operators, tour planners, associate members, and travel supplier members to Network, Educate and Showcase to increase business opportunities. And that we did! Attendees were able to explore the area with four fun fams, a dine-around, an opening reception & a closing event, Industry Expo, Sales Retreat, learning opportunities from industry experts and so much more.
Congratulations to our Door Prize Winners from the Industry Expo and Sales Retreat:
Sales Retreat Door Prize Winners for 2024:
- Visit Ithaca Marketplace Directory Full-page color ad
- National Aquarium Marketplace Booth
- Genetti Hospitality One-year Membership
- Chautauqua Institution Annual Conference Registration
Industry Expo Door Prize Winners for 2024:
- Research Underwriters Annual Conference Directory Full-page color ad
- National Interstate One-year Membership
- BUSBooks Annual Conference Registration
Industry Expo Gift Card Winners
- Innovative Coach - $200 gift card
- Unique Limousine - $100 gift card
- Susquehanna Trailways - $50 gift card
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Above: Tammy Wolf-Baker presents Andrew Nixon of Chautauqua CVB and Gary Hahn of the National Comedy Center a special thank you for their generous sponsorships and for hosting us! Thank you!
See a sampling of photos from the Conference below. Check out all of the photos online!
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Scholarship News!
During our June events, PBA held 50/50 raffles to raise funds for our new scholarship program. Thank you to everyone who participated! Kristy Fasano of Bailey Family of Companies won the raffle at the Spring Fling and donated her winnings back to PBA for the scholarship fund! Margo Derouchie of Pennsylvania's Americana Region won the raffle during our Annual Conference and also donated some funds from her winnings back to PBA, too! In total, we deposited over $600 into the Scholarship Fund! Pictured below is Kristy Fasano giving back her winnings to Pattie Cowley.
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PBA Attends Forward Thinking Conference in NYC
On June 27, PBA attended "Buses & the City: The Future of the NYC MotorCoach Industry". Topics included bus electrification and infrastructure, congestion mitigation and pricing, innovative and automated enforcement concerns, the intensifying battle for the curb and proposed solutions.
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Have you Contacted Your Senators and Representatives Yet?
Senators. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Tax Exemption Act in the Senate (S.1944). S.1944 is companion legislation to the House bill (H.R. 3510) re-introduced in May.
Bill H.R. 3510, reintroduction of a bill that would eliminate the tax burden for those who received CERTS Act money during the pandemic, was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means after being sponsored by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.). The bill has since garnered the support of Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Jared Golden (R-Maine), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), and John Rose (R-Tenn.).
We need your help to advocate for our industry! Please contact your Senators and ask them to support S. 1944 and contact your Representatives and ask them to support H.R. 3510. Below are two easy forms that will only take a few minutes of your time to complete.
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10th Annual PBA Motorcoach Safety & Preparedness Workshop | |
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Registration is open for the 10th Annual PBA Motorcoach Safety & Preparedness Workshop scheduled for August 16, 2023.
This year's sessions have been designed to address issues that a variety of our motorcoach members are seeking. Motorcoach owners and their key staff will be able to pick and choose which topics are most relevant to their job responsibilities. Get more information and register today!
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You’re Invited to a Joint Association Meeting in September! | |
PBA is joining New England Bus, Connecticut Bus, Greater New Jersey Motorcoach, New York Bus and Mass Bus on September 6, 2023 at the Spa at the Norwich Inn, Norwich, CT. The content will include presentations that affect the collective association members from CARB 24 to knowing your rights when pulled over by the police. Sponsor opportunities available. Click here for more information and to register. If questions, please give us a call at the PBA office. | |
2024 Events - Save the Dates! | |
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Marketplace - March 25-26, 2024
The 2024 Marketplace will be hosted by Happy Valley Adventure Bureau at the Nittany Valley Sports Centre in State College, PA on Tuesday, March 26.
Annual Conference - June 17-20, 2024
The 2024 Annual Conference will be hosted by Visit Ithaca in Ithaca, NY! While we will be experiencing the area with FAMS, Dine-Around Night and Opening & Closing venues at area partners, the meetings will be held at Hotel Ithaca. The beautiful, renovated Hotel Ithaca is located in the heart of downtown Ithaca and is less than 1 mile from both Cornell University and Ithaca College.
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INDUSTRY AND COMMONWEALTH NEWS | |
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Repaired Portion of I-95 in Philadelphia Reopens Ahead of Schedule
The damaged portion of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, which collapsed mid-June, has been repaired and has reopened ahead of schedule, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced. Read more...
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Casey, Fetterman Announce $19 Million to Replace Bridges
U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) announced $19,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund the replacement of the Fort Jenkins and Water Street Bridges between Pittston and West Pittston, PA. This funding comes from a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) Grant, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Read more...
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PA Catalytic Converter Ring Allegedly Responsible for Over $8M in Thefts
Pennsylvania law enforcement officials arrested 11 people, including one juvenile, who were allegedly involved in a catalytic converter ring responsible for more than $8 million in thefts across the Delaware Valley. Read more...
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $1.7 Billion to Help Put Better, Cleaner Buses on the Roads
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced 130 awards totaling nearly $1.7 billion from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for transit projects in 46 states and territories. Read more...
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FMCSA On-Site Audits Are Surging Back in 2023
Before social distancing, off-site investigations were already becoming a more significant part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s auditing strategy for time and cost-saving advantages compared to traditional on-site auditing. Read more...
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Join FMCSA Webinars about Passenger Transportation Interpretive Rule that Clarifies Federal Regulations
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is hosting two webinars in the coming days about the Agency’s Interpretive Rule that clarifies how the Agency regulates entities that transport passengers. Get more information.
Date/Time: Thursday, July 6 at 1 p.m. EDT. Register here.
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 12 at 2 p.m. EDT. Register here.
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Reminder! Operation Safe Driver Week Is July 9-15
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver Week is July 9-15. Throughout that week, law enforcement officers in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will be on the lookout for commercial motor vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers engaging in unsafe driving behaviors. Those exhibiting unsafe driving behaviors will be pulled over and given a warning and/or issued a ticket/citation by law enforcement. Read more...
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Governor Hochul Announces First-in-Nation Congestion Pricing Will Move Forward
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the Federal Highway Administration has completed the environmental review of the State's nation-leading congestion pricing program - Manhattan Central Business District Tolling - following a 30-day public availability period of the Final Environmental Assessment. The federal agency today issued a Finding of No Significant Impact, confirming the conclusion of the Final Environmental Assessment, which includes mitigation measures to be undertaken by the program, that the program will have no significant environmental impacts. Read more...
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Your Online Marketplace To Buy & Sell Buses, Parts and More
BusesOnline provides online classified ads for used buses, buses for sale, school buses, transit buses, mini buses, motor coaches, motorhomes, bus conversions, limousines, Prevost buses, MCI buses and more! Get more information.
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ICYMI
Alerts, Invitations, Press Releases, and more are sent out to our Members as needed. Here are the emails we sent out since last Go News below.
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PBA maintains active Social Media Platforms. In addition to the emailed communications we send to you, we actively share information to our Facebook and Twitter accounts and our new LinkedIn. We encourage you to LIKE US, FOLLOW US and ENGAGE with us! #pabus | | | | |
