The truth is neither out there nor in our stars. But, in ourselves. 2015 Winter Conference February 4-6 Crowne Plaza Hotel OKC Finding transit answers within systems, state boundaries.
About the 2015 conference theme Many will recognize a play on words from Shakespeare s Julius Caesar: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves. This is Cassius exhorting Brutus to find resiliency and do what need be done. During a March 9, 1954, See it Now program, Edward R. Murrow - the patron saint of broadcast news - employed these lines as his weapons to help end the red scare hysteria. In so doing, he etched, embedded the lines in American cultural history. We took poetic license with Shakespeare a la Morrow to delineate the state of OTA and Oklahoma public transit in 2015. The truth is neither out there nor in our stars. But, in ourselves. Truth and stars are employed allegorically. OTA members have only to look within themselves, their transit systems, their own industriousness and the state borders to find future answers the truth. Not out there as X Files warned us or the stars. The 2015 theme also takes a page and play on words from the current science fiction film, Interstellar where those remaining among disappearing resources engage their own enterprise to survive against the odds. Scissor-tailing the quote Murrow style with the sci-fi plot defines Oklahoma public transit: Dealing with a draconian MAP-21 federal transportation law which Entering a third year with almost invisible federal capital dollars via MAP-21. Congress extending MAP-21 Eighth consecutive year without a state funding increase. Transit systems strapped for drivers, vehicles In 2014, OTA members too the first steps: finding a grantwriting partner and submitting with two grant applications The FTA Ladders of Opportunity Initiative funding was fully funded. Following, the all-volunteer CityRide Circuit in Bartlesville made Oklahoma transit history with a successful, crowdfunding initiative. Thus, more doors of opportunity opened for OTA with this new age platform.
FEATURED SPEAKERS & INSTRUCTORS Observations from Two Score Plus Years in Transit Robert Patrick Region VI Administrator Federal Transit Administration Fort Worth, Texas Signature Session T he Oklahoma El ectorate Pat McFerron Founding Partner Grants & Ex cavating Data Dana Shuler Drummond Owner Sharpshooter Communications, Tulsa Blending ADA & Customer Service Leon Irving Safety Training Analyst EMBARK WELLS LAW FIRM ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW Ask an Attorney William Wells Principal, Wells Law Firm Oklahoma City In-Depth Sessions Black Belt Performance When You re the Teacher & Trainer Kyle Eastham Black Belt Performance Stillwater Transit Messaging: Terri Angier Chief, Media &Public Information Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Agenda Tentative: topics may switch places; Watch OTA newswire for announcements. Day One Wednesday, Feb. 5 Morning: visits to capitol & Legislature More info to come Transit News & Notices (*) ODOT Transit Programs - open to all registrants Ask an Attorney: HR to Employment Law & Everything in-between Blending ADA & Customer Service Redux (ADA updates) Break: 2:45 to 3:00 4:10 to 5:00 - The Oklahoma Electorate State Room Speaker: Pat McFerron CMA Associates State Room 5:00 to 7:00 Dinner on your own OTA Legislative Reception Day Two Thursday, Feb. 5 8:00 - Opening Session Concurrent Sessions I 2:00 to 4:00 General Session 4:10 to 5:00 In-Depth Sessions 8:40 to 11:05 Day Two Thursday, Feb. 5 (con t) Grants & Excavating Meaningful Data Ask an Attorney: HR to Employment Law & Everything in-between Transit Messaging Break: 1:30 to 1:40 OTI How-to Session: When you re the teacher & trainer Blending ADA & Customer Service Redux (ADA updates) Grants & Excavating Meaningful Data Break: 3:30 to 3:40 TrAMS - successor to TEAM A primer from Federal Transit Administration 4:30 - OTA Membership Meeting 6:00 Reception 7:00 Banquet Keynote Speaker: TBA Concurrent Sessions II 1:00 to 2:30 Concurrent Sessions III 2:45 to 4:00 General Session 4:00 to 4:30 17th Annual Awards for Excel- Day Three Friday, Feb. 6 Signature Sessions 8:30 to Noon Transit Messaging OTI How-to Session: When you re the teacher & trainer Break: 10:00 to 10:15 11:30 Luncheon Speaker TBA 8:30 to 9:30 - Observations From Two Score Plus Years in Transit Robert Patrick / Region VI Administrator Federal Transit Administration 9:45 to 10:45 Crowdfunding Transit Breakthrough in Bartlesville Nancy Warring, Grants Administrator City of Bartlesville M Liss Jenks, Volunteer Transit Coalition of Washington County 11:00 to noon: Speaker TBA
Registration 2015 OTA WINTER CONFERENCE Name(s) Organization Registration Fees $150.00 (OTA members) Total # @ $ = $ Check Enclosed Please Invoice E-mail registration oktransit@ccprokc.com Facsimile registration: 405.242.3998 Postal registration: Oklahoma Transit Association 3000 United Founders Boulevard, Suite 100 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Questions: Stephen F. Lalli 405.503.5377 / 405.810.5093 LODGING Crown Plaza Hotel 2945 Northwest Expressway Oklahoma City, OK 73102 405.848.4811 / OTA Rate: $92.00 Deadline: January 21, 2015