The Annual Dinner - A Trip Down Memory Lane!

Hello again everyone---what you are about to get is a special treat from me, a second monthly letter-hooray!  I bet many of you are thinking "how did I get so lucky," or thought, "I never knew he had a monthly letter in the first place!"  I am confident from the lack of responses to my notes that most of you indeed have never gone to The St. Louis Traffic Clubs website or seen my MONTHLY LETTERS!!!  That's ok; I am tough (crying really) and I will keep trying to gain your interest.

With that in mind here is another opportunity, this time via Brad's email blast and the website.  This note I am writing is ok, but the website http://www.trafficclubofstlouis.com/ managed by Mr. Jim Labit, is fabulous!!!!   If you don't want to read my ramblings at least enjoy his masterpiece.  It really has an unbelievable amount of information.   One of my favorites is "Traffic Conditions St. Louis.  It has "real time information" that gives you a current look at the traffic conditions, even how long it will take you get to from one place to another.  I used it to navigate home through the snow the other day and it was great!

So why am I writing again, so soon? I bet most of you guessed that I am trying to promote some activity that is coming up.   Some probably thought that this was some sort of cruel mental punishment!   If you were thinking event promotion and participation you would be correct. 

But I really have much more I would like to share than just that.  In order for you to get your mind in the proper prospective and to completely enjoy my message I want you to first print this out.  Then take it home, turn on the fire place (if you have one), get out a blanket, sit on your favorite chair, perhaps light a few candles (are you getting in the mood yet?), get this note out, and then for a more soothing background atmosphere, turn on some good, old fashion, Head Banging Rock or RAP Music!!!!   Just kidding, but please sit back and take this trip down memory lane with me.  The journey is on what the Traffic Clubs (TC) Annual Dinner event and the industry in general used to be like.

Here are some surprising facts:

* Did you know that the TC used to have a big parade down the streets of St. Louis with over 100 floats? 

* How about the Clydesdale's leading that parade?

* Did you know that the Annual Dinner would regularly have over 600 in attendance?

* Did you know Ozzie Smith once spoke, as did Joe Buck, Charlie Spoonhour, and Jim Hannifan at these events?

* Did you know that we had a Luncheon called "The Night Riders" that would have several hundred attend.  It became famous as a humorous transportation roast type of event.  Very Funny!

* All day and throughout the afternoon you could visit several vendor/shipper booths that were also on display at that the event site.

* At the beginning of the dinner the Head Table entered the banquet to what was called "the March of the Penguins." Amazingly, up to 200 were at the head tables some years, all were dressed in formal attire, and introduced.  This table was the "who's who" of transportation both shipper and transportation provider.

* Incredibly at that time all of the Board Members were elected and actually had to run for office, and attract votes in order to gain the position.  Now we seem to always have room for another board member and you don't have campaign for it.

How times have changed.  My question is--but should it have? 

When I talk to people in the business about any transportation club, many times both the shipper and transportation side providers basically say the same things.  All I hear is "I am too busy" or "I don't see the value in these types of clubs."  With this in mind I asked Brad Reinhardt, Mike Burke, and added my own thoughts as well on why they joined and first got involved. 

Former TC President Mike Burke, who joined the club in 1969, said  ‘I was impressed at my first Annual Dinner that the International, Rail, Truck, and Shipping community could all be in one organization and work together for the good of the Transportation Industry.' At any table you could have a customer, or competitor sitting with you.  So Mike joined then and is still involved and is a real force in the TC club, 43 years later!  Wow! 

Brad Reinhardt, our current TC President, joined because "I wanted to meet people and find customers!"  That was pretty simple wasn't it?  He now has evolved into the single biggest networking force in the history of transportation related groups in St. Louis ever! His weekly Employment and Networking Bulletin has helped hundreds gain employment, while serving as the biggest promotional letter for ALL transportation related groups.  If you need a job he will send out your resume.  If you need a great employee, see Brad!  If you have a meeting that you want promoted, he will promote it.  Awesome!

So why did I get involved?  I wanted to dedicate myself more to my career.  I knew it would take up some of my personal time, but where I come---you get what you put into something!  I have met many people that have said that they would love to get involved but did not have the time for it.  I made the time for it!  Since I made that pledge to myself I have never regretted it.  The added bonuses I have gained have been the great friends, relationships, knowledge, and even a few customers that I have found.  Plus, I have always considered the TC and all of the other great groups in the area, my personal business employment insurance policy.   I am still amazed how so many people just don't get it.  Networking has been proven globally to be the best way to help you find a new job.  And as Brad Reinhardt said to me "you are not too busy for 1 night per month!"

With all this said-it is time for you to get involved with a transportation club!  You won't regret it!!!! Let's Pack the House, Raise the Roof on March 8^th !!!!

The Annual Dinner is March 8^th hopefully after reading this I will see you there!!!!!

AL Hursey,

Past President - Traffic Club of St. Louis