The Bulletin -- September 16, 2009 (#1008)

LINDA BRIENZA AND STAN RANSOM WAIT WITH OTHER ROTARY CLUB MEMBERS FOR THE TOUR OF NOVA BUS’S FACILITIES. THE FIELDTRIP TO THE NEW PLANT DEMONSTRATED HOW CITY BUSES HEADED FOR LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS ARE MANUFACTURED.

Program: Jim Tooley, Plant Manager - Fieldtrip to Nova Bus

Jim Tooley took a few moments before leading the tour through the facility to describe some of the factory basics. Nova Bus employs roughly 180 full-time employees and more than 30 part-time employees. The company’s main projects include working on hybrid busses for TransLink, which is the transit system covering the Vancouver area, and where the 2010 Winter Olympics Games will be held.

The Nova Bus plant will remain busy with additional projects, including two more orders for BC Transit, which covers the the rest of the Province of British Columbia outside Vancouver. The buses produced for BC Transit will also be utilized at the Olympics.

“Beyond this,” said Tooley, “there is a small order for a company located in Florida and California which employs a prominent mouse. I can’t say more than that.”

About Nova Bus: NOVA BUS IS LOCATED AT 260 BANKER ROAD IN PLATTSBURGH, NY. IT IS PART OF THE VOLVO BUS CORPORATION, THE WORLD’S SECOND LARGEST MOTORCOACH AND TRANSIT BUS MANUFACTURING GROUP. NOVA BUS IS A LEADING NORTH AMERICAN PROVIDER OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSIT SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY BUSES, HIGH-CAPACITY VEHICLES AND INTEGRATED INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. THE COMPANY OPERATES 3 PLANTS: TWO IN CANADA AND ONE IN THE UNITED STATES.—TEXT AND PHOTO TAKEN FROM NOVA BUS’S WEBSITE: WWW.NOVABUS.COM

This Week:

• A fishing tournament committee meeting is scheduled for Wed, Sept. 23, at 11:15 a.m. at the Elk’s Lodge.
• A board meeting is scheduled for Monday Sept. 21 at the CCC Dining Hall (PARC) starting at noon. It is the Strategic Planning session and the meeting will go no longer than 3 p.m. As always, everyone is invited and encouraged to participate.
• The District Conference is scheduled for Oct. 17-18. Bonnie took a poll of how many are planning on attending and encouraged more participation. If you are contemplating attending, please think about carpooling, and speak with Bonnie to get connected with a ride.

Guests: Brian Hammond, Don Moore, Bob Parks, and Steve Frederick brought guests to Nova Bus.

Announcements:

• Rotary Polo Shirts—Jody Carpenter: Jody has the shirts in her car, and those who have purchased them can pick them up from her following the meeting. If you haven’t paid yet, please pay as soon as possible. Jody paid out of pocket for the shirts, so please make checks payable to her.
• Roducky Derby Committee: The track crew staff was thanked for their dedication. It took nearly five hours to assemble and disassemble the track and the volunteers did a great job.
• Rotary Bike Day (Sept. 23) - Sara Rowden: If you haven’t signed up yet, you can show up on the day of the event. There are two rides scheduled. The longer of the two starts at 9 a.m. while the shorter more leisurely ride begins at 10 a.m. Both start and finish at the Station Café in Chazy. Bob Perkins is going to be the leader for the three- hour ride and Sara will lead the 10 a.m. ride.
• Battle of Plattsburgh Parade Marshals—Bob Parks: Bob thanked all of the volunteers who helped out with the Battle of Plattsburgh parade as marshals.
• Battle of Plattsburgh—Kit Booth: Kit also thanked everyone for participating in the weekend’s festivities. They had a great time, and the event and weather were both wonderful. Phil Green and Bill Rowe were thanked for the use of their boats as water taxis to events held on Crab Island.
  
  

Bonnie’s Bucks:

• Rod Giltz contributed a dollar. Although it was inaudible, it was in reference to the hospitality industry.
• Maria Alexander announced that Amy Kretser still hasn’t had her baby who was due last Saturday.
• Bob Smith announced that his daughter, Kristen, is doing her post-doctorate work at Rutgers University.

Another Candle Burning For: Wallace Westfeldt (9/23)

TRIVIA
Did you know…?
After Rotary’s founder, Paul P. Harris, died in 1947, contributions began pouring into Rotary International, and the Paul Harris Memorial Fund was created to build the Foundation.

ABOVE: ROTARIANS MARSHA COOK, TERIANNE PAVONE AND VICKI MARKING SELL DUCKS AT THE BUSTLING BOOTH DURING RODUCKY DERBY. BELOW: LINDA BRIENZA AND HER SON TAKE TIME AWAY FROM PARADE MARSHALING FOR A QUICK PHOTO. A SPECIAL THANK YOU IS OWED TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE RODUCKY DERBY AND THE BATTLE OF PLATTSBURGH WEEKEND.