Sponsored by: 
Don Brown Bus Sales, South Bay Ford, 
Discount Tire Centers, luggage bellhop, and Chosen payments

Agenda:

6:00 pm -7:30 pm: Registration / Networking / Vehicle Displays / Cash Bar / Entertainment by GCLA D.J. Mark Regan

7:30 pm: Introduction - GCLA President Mark Stewart

7:30 pm: Dinner

7:45 pm: Legislative, CPUC Meeting, SPAB/ PAB Update by GCLA President Mark Stewart

8:00 pm: Meeting Sponsors - Promotional Updates

8:30 pm - 9:30 pm: Presentation and discussion period led by Industry veteran Andi Gray. Andi Gray founded Strategy Leaders to help owners of established, privately held businesses achieve growth, profit, stability, predictability and peace of mind. Their proven formula helps businesses set goals and attain them. We figure out what's holding you back and teach you what you need to know to go forward.

Pre-Registration discounts for this meeting apply if you register before May 13, 2013.
        Members:$45.00 Non-Members:$60.00
Register on May 14, 2013 online or at the Door:
        Members:$60.00 Non-Members:$75.00

The Greater California Livery Association would like to extend its heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the tragic limousine fire in Northern California Saturday night. The GCLA is not aware of the cause of the incident nor will we speculate until official findings are made available. However, we will continue to monitor the investigation and release details as they become available. Please refer all questions to either myself or to GCLA Vice President Rich Azzolino at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Sincerely,

Mark Stewart - President
Greater California Livery Association (GCLA)
Phone: (866) 392-4252
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Whenever I attend meetings of the Greater California Livery Association, as I have for five years, I tend to focus on the many legislative and regulatory matters the group is constantly working with. They always dominate the agenda and discussion.

At the GCLA meeting last night in San Diego, it was the two sponsors who stole the show. Sponsors of industry meetings and events are quite common in the limousine industry, serving as valuable supporters. Without them, most of these events would not be possible.

We all know the deal: Sponsors pay to support an event, and in return, they get logos, kudos, many thanks, and prime time for sales pitches.

SAN DIEGO — The Greater California Livery Association will try to make headway in coming weeks in determining the legal status of the Uber mobile app service and rules surrounding the use of 10-24 passenger chauffeured vehicles by students.

Both matters topped the agenda Tuesday evening at the GCLA membership meeting in San Diego, which drew a record 75 attendees for a San Diego-based association meeting.

Uber and Out?
GCLA officials are meeting with members of the California Public Utilities Commission in San Francisco today and tomorrow as part of a review process that will determine whether the mobile app-based transportation service should be regulated. The GCLA maintains that Uber is not being held accountable and undercutting legitimate chauffeured transportation services that follow all state and local rules. The state's review process could take six months to a year, GCLA President Mark Stewart said.

Sponsored by
CHOSEN PAYMENTS and Don Brown Bus Sales

Location:

Phils BBQ Event Center
3750 Sports Arena Blvd
San Diego, CA 92110
Phone: 619.226.6333

 Agenda:

6:00 pm -7:30 pm: Registration / Networking / Vehicle Displays

7:30 pm: Introduction - GCLA Director Steve Levin

7:30 pm: Dinner Buffet - Cash Bar

7:45 pm: Legislative Update and recap from the First Quarter GCLA / CPUC meeting

8:00 pm: Presentation by GCLA vendors who are offering member benefits, promotions and package deals.

8:30 pm - 9:30 pm: Presentation and discussion period led by GCLA President Mark Stewart and Director Steve Levin with the following topics:

1. 1. 1. 1. San Diego Airport Update
            1. 10 year rule
            2. Conversion policy
         2. Uber and Mobile Apps update
         3. PAB/SPAB and the requirement for school contracts
         4. Current status of Public Utilities Commission
         5. NLA Summary of ruling on gratuities and overtime

Pre-Registration discounts for this meeting apply if you register before April 9, 2013.
        Members:$40.00 Non-Members:$55.00
Register on April 9, 2013 online or at the Door:
        Members:$55.00 Non-Members:$70.00

Sponsored by
Century Business Solutions and Don Brown Bus Sales

Location:

Proud Bird Restaurant
11022 Aviation Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: 310.670.3093

 Agenda:

6:00 pm -7:30 pm: Registration / Networking / Vehicle Displays

7:30 pm: Introduction - GCLA President Mark Stewart

7:30 pm: Dinner Buffet - Cash Bar

7:45 pm: Legislative Update and recap from the First Quarter GCLA / CPUC meeting

8:00 pm: Presentation my by GCLA vedors who are offering member benefits, promotions and package deals.

8:30 pm - 9:30 pm: Panel Discussion with Matthew Strack from Strack Transportation, Chris Hundley from the Limousine Connection and Perry Barin from Music Express. The panel will be moderated by GCLA Director Kevin Illingworth. Range of topics will include issues that affect operators of all sizes doing business in California. Plenty of Q & A will be available throughout the evening from all of our speakers.

Lewis Brisbois invites the livery industry's owners, operators, and operations personnel to join us for a small-group roundtable presentation on compliance with California's Wage and Hour Laws, current industry and litigation trends, and an individualized question and answer session. General topics will include:

• Employees and independent contractors;
• Calculating correct wages/overtime;
• Providing meal and rest periods;
• Providing compliant paystubs;
• Handling gratuities;
• Accounting for hours worked; and
• Handling terminated employees.

Date and Time: March 28, 2013 from 12 – 2 p.m.

Location: Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP, 650 Town Center Drive, Suite 1400, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

Registration Fee: $50 and includes lunch.

Presenter: Joseph Lordan, Esq. (Bio: http://www.lbbslaw.com/attorneybio.aspx?id=5058)

Registration: In order to allow for an individualized discussion, attendance is capped at the first 10 enrollees.

A 72-hour cancelation policy will apply.

Sponsored by Don Brown Bus Sales

Location:

Crowne Plaza Hotel
1177 Airport Blvd
Burlingame, CA 94010
Phone: 650-342-9200

 Agenda:

6:00 pm -7:30 pm: Registration / Networking / Displays / Cadillac XTS Sedan and Escalade SUV

7:30 pm: Introduction - GCLA Vice President Rich Azzolino 

7:30 pm: Food & Appetizers - Cash Bar

8:00 pm: Presentation / Legislative Update from GCLA Lobbyist Gregg Cook, Rob Grossglauser. We will also hear from DaVina Flemings, consultant at California State Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce.

8:30 pm - 9:30 pm: Panel Discussion with Rod Respicio from Boss Limousines, Goldie Bhullaar from Angel Worldwide and James Brown from El Paseo Limousine. The panel will be moderated by GCLA director Gary Buffo. Range of topics will include issues that affect operators whether small, medium or large. Plenty of Q & A will be available throughout the evening with All of our speakers.

As we begin another new year I want to remind all operators throughout the State of California that the Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) has continued to work at unifying, promoting and protecting the livery industry. I am including below a summary of our activities during 2012.

I know you have heard this message before, but I need to emphasize more than ever how important it is to increasing our membership. Do not assume that our organization has an unlimited amount of funds to address legal, legislative and airport issues. Your membership dues help support these activities and if you assume “the other person” will take care of it we will end up not having the resources to represent you and every operator in this state. Your dues are not a subscription to a newsletter, site services, etc. Your dues are your contribution to our efforts for the year. Whether you pay your dues in January or September they are your support for our efforts in all of 2013. Sign up or renew your membership today, only do affiliate business with GCLA members and encourage your associate operators to join the GCLA. Please be active and proactive in recruiting every operator in the State.

For those of you who have received membership expiration notices in the last few days by email, if you have sent your payment in, please be patient as we bring our new administrative assistant, Jennifer Sultan, up to speed with our systems. If you haven’t paid your 2013 dues please send your check or log into the site and renew your membership today.

GCLA Activities And Issues In 2012

AB 45 bill relating to Minors and Alcohol was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown effective January 1, 2013. The new law sets new standards for companies who operate large party vehicles where the consumption of alcohol may occur while underage passengers are onboard. Full details of the bill and the required documents to complete these types of runs are available through the GCLA.

AB 838 was also signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown which will allow electronic waybills to become the “Norm”, and will be effective January 1, 2014. We are moving at lightning speed with new technology and are embracing the changes that will allow us to operate our businesses more efficiently.

Our 2013 election results are in, the votes have been counted and there are some new faces on the GCLA board of directors. I would like to thank all the members who participated in our annual elections and would encourage you all to get involved with the activities relating to each of our service committees. We are looking for a record year with many new memberships, working much more closely with the CPUC and much more progress relating to the many issues facing our industry. 

GCLA Board of Directors

GCLA Committees

Sincerely,
Mark Stewart
President, Greater California Livery Association

LOS ANGELES — The new director of the California Public Utilities Commission charged with overseeing motor carriers spoke to California operators for the first time last night, bringing a clear agenda and a healthy dose of straight talk.

Brig. Gen. Jack Hagan, a U.S. Marine, was appointed director of the Consumer Protection & Safety Division of the California Public Utilities Commission on April 23Brig. Gen. Jack Hagan (U.S.M.C./California State Military Reserve), appointed director of the CPUC Consumer Protection and Safety Division on April 23, told members of the Greater California Livery Association he wants to clear up rules, enforce them fairly and more often, and act to root out bad agency behavior and inefficiencies.

"I can't fix it if I don't know it's broken," said Gen. Hagan, while walking around the banquet room at The Proud Bird in Los Angeles, taking notes and answering questions.

The veteran Marine and military commander — who served in Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait and Iraq, and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia — did not need a microphone.

GCLA 2012 Holliday Party

Happy Holidays to all of you. Place December 11, 2012 on your calendar and register online at www.gcla.org for the Annual General Meeting and Holiday Party at the Proud Bird Restaurant in Los Angeles. Entertainment provided by our resident D.J. Mark Regan, Prizes, food buffet, Plenty of networking opportunities, Vehicle displays and a recap of all the issues affecting the California ground transportation industry in 2012. Meet our Guest Speaker, Brigadier General (CA) Emory J. Hagan III, Director of the Consumer Protection & Safety Division of the California Public Utilities Commission. GCLA Lobbyist Gregg Cook will highlight our legislative news and introduce Assemblyman Steven C. Bradford representing the 62nd District ( Marina Del Rey, LAX, Inglewood, El Segundo, Hawthorne and Lennox area ) current Chair of the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee.

The General Meeting and Holiday Party is Sponsored By:

The Greater California Livery Association GCLA had the opportunity to participate at the 2012 Limo Digest Show in Atlantic City November 12-15, 2012. GCLA President Mark Stewart, Limousine Association of New Jersey LANJ President Tim Rose, Matt Daus from the International Association of Transportation Regulators IATR and Al Lagasse, Executive Director of the Taxi Limousine and Para Transit Association TLPA were guest speakers at the Association Summit. The Association Summit is the only place where Association presidents, leaders and members of associations come together to discuss all of the pertinent and hot-button topics that are currently affecting our industry and your business. It is an open forum that allows everyone the opportunity to speak their minds, share best practices, and communicate what is going on in different parts of the country.

GCLA Vice President Kevin Illingworth and GCLA President Mark Stewart At the 2012 Limo Digest Show in Atlantic City.This year's topics included:

California Airport Updates
Employee vs. Independent Operators
Rogue Mobile APPS

The Greater California Livery Association GCLA was named 2012-2013 Association of the Year and GCLA President Mark Stewart was named Association Leader of the Year at the Industry Achievement Awards Gala. The GCLA Board of Directors wants to thank all of our members for your participation and support in making the GCLA one of the strongest and recognized associations in the industry today.

I'm very humbled in receiving Association Leader of the Year, and would like to thank the Board of Directors, all of our loyal members and my mentors. These two awards go out to all of you!

We would also like to congratulate International Livery Services, Beverly Hills, for winning small operator of the year.

Don't forget to send in your ballot!

A reminder election ballots have been generated and mailed out. It's time for you to select your board member representatives for your region. Please take time to review and cast your GCLA ballot vote. Your involvement is what keeps our association strong.

GCLA - The Greater California Livery Association 2nd Annual GCLA Poker Tournament was a success thanks to a nice turn out of players, sponsors, Don Brown Bus Sales and supporting cast of GCLA Director Kevin Illingworth, Heather Terlaak from Classique Limousines, Anne Daniell from Torrey Pines Transportation and Kristen Messineo from LCT Magazine. Boris Akapon from BMA Transportation took home the Grand Prize, 50 inch flat screen TV donated by Don Brown Bus Sales after a great night of poker. You can check out all the action from our Facebook photo album by clicking the link below.

Poker Photo Gallery

Our nominations are in and the ballots have been generated and mailed out. It's time for you to select your board member representative for your region. While you are participating in the national elections please take time to cast your GCLA ballot vote. Your involvement is what keeps our association strong.

Election closes on December 1, 2012. Election results will be announced on December 3, 2012. The Complete Board of Directors and Executive Board will be announced at the December 11, 2012 General Meeting & Holiday Party.

Click the link below to view a list of everyone running.