Dakota Transit Association conference

"Focus on Transit" was the theme for the 2003 Dakota Transit Association (DTA) annual conference held at the Ramada Inn, Grand Forks, North Dakota. DTA is made up of transit operators and managers from North and South Dakota. A total of 88 attended, including four from the Small Urban & Rural Transit Center, three each from North Dakota and South Dakota DOTs and two representatives from the regional FTA office in Denver.

The two-and-a-half day conference was filled with educational and learning experiences. Tuesday was a day for a round table discussion lead by Jill Hough. The discussion centered on two subjects; fund raising for local match and operating, and government regulations.

On Wednesday Ream Lazaro from Lazaro and Noel, LLC, a transit consulting firm, presented information on leadership from "Focus on Excellence" and "Crisis Management for Transit Drivers" and talked about homeland security and safety.

Thursday morning Kristine Paranica, director of the University of North Dakota's Conflict Resolution Center lead a group discussion on the leadership qualities that are admired in others and how all of us have or can acquire those attributes. The group identified how conflict keeps us from living those values or qualities at work and in our communities, and began to develop an awareness of how individuals can better manage conflict and develop leadership skills.

"Driver of the year" awards were presented to recipients from both states for outstanding performance. The winner from North Dakota was Gene Melby who works for the Wells, Sheridan County Aging Council in Harvey. The South Dakota winner was Aneta Gross who works for West River Transit Authority, Inc. in Spearfish.

Round Table Discussion

Jill Hough, director of SURTC, led a roundtable discussion which explored avenues of local funding for transit agencies operating in North Dakota and South Dakota. The group identified a large number of fundraising activities being utilized in the two states including the following:

• United Way: Ask for funds from your local United Way fund by telling the story of services provided by your agency and the needs of the people you serve.
• Area Foundation: Build relationships with the managers of area foundations like Bremer Bank by taking part in community activities and telling your story to the public and foundation supporters.
• Forming Partnerships: Form partnerships with local retail outlets (like K-Mart, Wal-Mart, or shopping malls) and service organizations (Knights of Columbus, Eagles, Jaycees) who can help with local match.
• Bus Advertising: Display signs made by a local sign company on buses. Transit provides and pays for the sign, and charge local advertisers a monthly fee to advertise. Locating advertising on the back of the bus has the highest visibility.
• Individuals: Evaluate your users' friends and relatives. There may be some individuals who, if approached, have the desire and ability to give significant financial support.
• Variety of fund raisers: Examples are raffles and rummage sales, business donated items as a form of advertising, raffling off booklets of tickets for bus rides, etc.
• Talk to community government bodies: This includes telling your story to the city councils and county commissioners. When these bodies understand the needs and your business they may be willing to give some assistance.
• Relationships/community participation: Always be visible in your community by attending functions, assisting local entities and building relationships wherever possible.
• Head Start partnership: Obtain signed contracts to deliver Head Start students. Develop a relationship with the Head Start program first.
• Hire good employees: Company employees represent the company; the business becomes what they display, their courtesy, friendliness and competence.
• Catering local events: If senior meals and transit are co-located, start a catering service with staff cooks and cater special events in your community.
• Build on your strengths: Evaluate the strengths of your organization and transform them into fund raising projects.
• Golf tournaments "on ice:" Brainstorm for different and unusual entertainment activities that can be done in local communities.
• Estate beneficiary: Work with customers sharing your story about services and needs and hoping to be thought of in the wills of some of your customers. Starting endowment funds is also a good idea.
• Gifts of rides - gift certificates: Generate certificates that can be purchased by adult children and given to their parents, or other individuals who use the service.
• Reach out to adult child: Senior citizens who receive rides from the transit service may feel the rides should be free; their children may have an entirely different feeling and be grateful to pay so the adult child doesn't have to provide the service.
• Rent out centers: If you have a large center, consider renting it out for social and family functions in your community.
• Sororities: Service organizations of adult woman who do good deeds in the community and raise money for local causes.
• Wildlife tours: Organize and conduct wildlife tours or bird watching events in your communities; many people will pay to participate in these activities.
• Christmas tree gifts: Make ride coupons available for Christmas gifts to be put on the gift trees in local religious/church facilities.
• Sponsoring rides: Other agencies, entities, or family and friends may want to become sponsors. Make sure you have the paperwork available to make this easy. Promote this idea to local businesses for their workers.
• Raffles and rummage sales: Create opportunities for local businesses to advertise by contributing their products; also items from other members in the community.
• Radio-a-thon: Sponsor a radio-a-thon for pledges of donations over the course of the following year.
• Flyer - newsletters: Send information to local businesses, customers, and community members spelling out the needs of the organization for its various functions.
• ASK: Transportation entities need to ask for financial help from entities in their local communities.

The round table discussion was an excellent opportunity for transit system operators to share their successes in regard to local fundraising activities. The ideas are listed with a brief description on how they work. SURTC has the names of the individuals who shared these ideas and their phone numbers. If you have any questions about any of the fundraising ideas please call SURTC and we can put you in touch with the individual who reported on the fund raiser.