The Newsletter of the Wyoming Public Transit Association

The WYTRANS Board will meet Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Riverton Senior Center. All WYTRANS members are welcome to attend. Conference participants will have Thursday evening free.
     On Friday, speaker David Goldsmith will present a Customer Service Workshop for Transit Professionals session. David will present a customized, interactive learning session that will be both humorous and engaging. He has over 20 years speaking


David Goldsmith
experience to many different types of audiences. He has worked with both the Sacramento Transit Authority and the transit system in Jacksonville, Florida. He is really looking forward to coming to Wyoming. Check out his Web site at http://www.davidgoldsmith.com to read hundreds of quotes from those who have heard David speak.
    Also on Friday, professionals from Community Entry, DFS, and the Riverton Senior Center will facilitate a discussion on the signs of elder abuse, child abuse and abuse of those who are disabled. Friday evening after dinner there is Bingo Night at the Riverton Senior Center. All who play will have a chance for some great prizes.
     All drivers and managers are encouraged to attend the Bus Evacuation Training on Saturday morning before the bus roadeo. A WRTA bus will be at Central Wyoming College at 8 a.m. to take people to the fire evacuation training. After everyone has participated in the simulated evacuation procedures, a very old WRTA bus will be set on fire. This session will be videotaped.
     Roadeo drivers need to be at Central Wyoming College by 11:15 a.m. for the wheelchair securement workshop before the bus roadeo. The bus roadeo begins at 12 p.m. Contestants will draw numbers for the driving order just before the contest begins, and judges and contestants will walk through the driving course. There will be carnival activities at the bus roadeo, including tethered balloon rides.
     Awards will be presented to the top five bus roadeo contestants. All top five roadeo finishers will receive WYTRANS jackets, and cash prizes have doubled his year. The first-place bus roadeo winner will receive $1,000 cash and a trip to CTAA’s 2007 National Bus
Roadeo and EXPO. Second place will receive $500; third $200; fourth $150; and fifth $100. If the first-place winner cannot attend the National Bus Roadeo, the trip will be offered to the second-place winner, etc. Megan Hendrickson , who placed fourth in the 2005 Bus Roadeo, will attend the 2006 CTAA National Bus Roadeo in Orlando, Florida June 3-4.
    WYTRANS will also hold a Driver/Escort Competition at the roadeo on Saturday. The event requires the escort and driver to load and unload a passenger using the lift and to secure the passenger in the vehicle while being timed. All transit drivers and escorts are eligible to compete in the contest. First prize will be $50 for each team member.
    The roadeo should conclude around 5 p.m. Drivers and judges will then meet at the Riverton Senior Center, 303 East Lincoln Street, for the awards banquet. The bus roadeo results will be announced at the banquet, along with WYTRANS annual award winners. All those in attendance at Saturday’s Awards Banquet will be eligible for a $100 cash drawing donated by CATC.
    Bus vendors will be on hand Thursday and Friday with their newest equipment and the latest technology. The conference is a great place to network with other managers and drivers, and you don’t want to miss it.
     The phone number for reservations at the Riverton Holiday Inn is 307-856-8100. Conference participants need to make reservations by June 7 . Be sure to tell the hotel you are with WYTRANS to receive the special WYTRANS Conference rate of $60.
     Please register as soon as possible for the classes. Call Steve or Debbie at 307-266-2524 or e-mail Debbie
<debe@wlcwyo.com> if you have any questions.
     Please see page 3 for the Conference Registration Form and pages 4-5 for a complete Conference Schedule.
     You may photocopy the registration form as many times as needed.
The Wyoming Transit Express is published by the Wyoming Public Transit Association, 200 Pronghorn, Casper, Wyoming, 82601, 307-266-2524. This publication is made possible through a grant from the Section 5311 Rural Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) from the Federal Transit Administration through the Wyoming Department of Transportation, 5300 Bishop Boulevard, Cheyenne, WY, 82009.
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   Wyoming Transit Express 2 May 2006