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Join ATSSA’s Midyear Meeting in Rhode Island
Join roadway safety professionals for ATSSA’s Midyear Meeting to help shape policies and initiatives for the roadway safety infrastructure industry for the coming year. Network with more than 350 industry professionals from across the country who are gathering in Providence, R.I., to further innovation and infrastructure for roadway safety, Aug. 23-26. The meeting is tailored to national committee members and friends to learn, network and build leadership skills. “These meetings are critical to the work of our Association,” said ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner. “We lay the groundwork for many efforts and innovations for advancing roadway safety at our committee and council meetings. We were pleased by last year’s record-breaking attendance of 381 and hope to exceed that this year as we work to develop roadway safety plans that utilize the funding approved in the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act.” Join roadway safety professionals for ATSSA’s Midyear Meeting to help shape policies and initiatives for the roadway safety infrastructure industry for the coming year. Network with more than 350 industry professionals from across the country who are gathering in Providence, R.I., to further innovation and infrastructure for roadway safety, Aug. 23-26. The meeting will be held at the Omni Providence Hotel and is tailored to national committee members and friends to learn, network and build leadership skills. “These meetings are critical to the work of our Association,” said ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner. “We lay the groundwork for many efforts and innovations for advancing roadway safety at our committee and council meetings. We were pleased by last year’s record-breaking attendance of 381 and hope to exceed that this year as we work to develop roadway safety plans that utilize the funding approved in the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act.” Registration is free for ATSSA committee and council members but is required so register now. Public agency and department of transportation DOT employees who are ATSSA members also register for free and should request the discount code from meetings@atssa.com if they are not also a committee or council member. Reserve hotel rooms within the ATSSA room block online or by calling 401-598-8000 by Aug. 5. The Midyear Meeting includes an ATSS Foundation Fundraiser on Aug. 24 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The fundraiser is hosted by the New England ATSSA Chapter with New England Highway Technologies as title sponsor. Purchase fundraiser tickets during registration $60 advance, $75 onsite and enjoy a New England-style dinner, games, prize drawings and entertainment from Stone Shakers, the group that won ATSSA’s Battle of the Bands contest in 2021. “The ATSS Foundation appreciates the work of the New England ATSSA Chapter in organizing this fundraiser, which supports Foundation programs including the Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship, Chuck Bailey Scholarship, the National Work Zone Memorial and our youth activity book,” said Foundation Director Lori Diaz. “The Squantum Association facility is beautiful, historic and overlooks Narragansett Bay, providing a wonderful setting for the evening’s activities.” The full schedule of Midyear Meeting events is below. Registration and hotel booking are now available. Tuesday, Aug. 23 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Member Engagement Committee 1:30-5:30 p.m. – Chapter Presidents’ Council 6-7 p.m. – Chapter Presidents Council Reception by invitation only Wednesday, Aug. 24 8:30-9:30 a.m. – General Session 9:45 a.m.-noon – Work Zone ITS Subcommittee 9:45 a.m.-noon – Women in Roadway Safety Council 9:45 a.m.-noon – Strategic Highway Safety Plan Council 1-5 p.m. – High Friction Surface Treatment Council 1-5 p.m. – Innovation Council 5:30-6:30 p.m. – ATSSA Reception 6:30-9:30 p.m. – ATSS Foundation Event Thursday, Aug. 25 8 a.m. to noon – Guardrail Committee 8 a.m. to noon – Pavement Marking Committee 8 a.m. to noon – Sign Committee 1-5 p.m. – Temporary Traffic Control Committee 1-5 p.m. – Traffic Signals Committee 1-5 p.m. – Safety & Public Awareness Committee 6-7 p.m. – PAC Reception Friday, Aug. 26 8-9 a.m. – PAC Oversight Committee 9 a.m.-noon – Roadway Worker Protection Council 9 a.m.-noon – Government Relations Committee
ATSS Foundation Fun Run continues growing
The ATSS Foundation's annual Fun Run saw increased participation for its third straight year. The Foundation Fun Run started in 2020 as part of ATSSA’s 50th anniversary celebration in New Orleans during ATSSA’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. That year’s event covered 2 miles and took place on a downtown path overlooking the Mississippi River. The event has evolved since then as a great group activity for ATSSA member companies, families or friends, or for individuals, all of whom can take part anywhere across the country – or the world. Participants have the option of a 5K Fun Run or the 33-mile Roadway Safety Challenge, both of which can be run or walked. The ATSS Foundation's annual Fun Run saw increased participation for its third straight year. The Foundation Fun Run started in 2020 as part of ATSSA’s 50th anniversary celebration in New Orleans during ATSSA’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. That year’s event covered 2 miles and took place on a downtown path overlooking the Mississippi River. The event has evolved since then as a great group activity for ATSSA member companies, families or friends, or for individuals, all of whom can take part anywhere across the country – or the world. Participants have the option of a 5K Fun Run or the 33-mile Roadway Safety Challenge, both of which can be run or walked. Registrants for this year’s Third Annual Foundation Fun Run numbered 144, up from 124 in 2021. The inaugural Fun Run included 36 participants. Some of this year’s runners provided photos and data from their runs. The 2022 event was held May 14-29, with runners and walkers able to complete their event within that timeframe. People choosing the 33-mile distance can complete it over multiple days. This virtual event benefits The Foundation’s charitable programs such as academic scholarships, the National Work Zone Memorial and youth programs. “This Fun Run offers a great opportunity for our members to engage in team building and a healthy activity while supporting The ATSS Foundation. To me, that’s definitely a win-win,” Foundation Director Lori Diaz said. “I enjoy participating with co-workers at ATSSA headquarters and look forward to next year’s event.”
Make your mark by leaving a gift that matters
People like to make their mark in this world and often seek ways to leave a long-term legacy. Those lofty goals can seem elusive but are easy to achieve through The ATSS Foundation Planned Giving program. “By making The Foundation part of long-term financial planning, supporters can know they are making a difference beyond their lifetimes,” Foundation Director Lori Diaz said. Planned giving can be set up in multiple ways in consultation with a financial advisor or estate planner. People like to make their mark in this world and often seek ways to leave a long-term legacy. Those lofty goals can seem elusive but are easy to achieve through The ATSS Foundation Planned Giving program. “By making The Foundation part of long-term financial planning, supporters can know they are making a difference beyond their lifetimes,” Foundation Director Lori Diaz said. The ATSS Foundation’s core purpose is to promote roadway safety through charitable giving and public awareness programs. One of its many programs is the Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship, which helps the children and spouses of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in a work zone incident pursue their dreams. Planned giving can be set up in multiple ways in consultation with a financial advisor or estate planner. Options include making a bequest in a will—such as specifying a dollar amount for The ATSS Foundation, designating a percentage of the estate or giving the remaining value once bequests to loved ones have been met. Another option is listing The ATSS Foundation as a beneficiary of a retirement plan, life insurance policy or Individual Retirement Account IRA. People also can simply donate to The ATSS Foundation—either in general or with the funds specified for a specific program. Establishing a financial investment in The Foundation through planned giving provides a way to: Provide academic scholarships for loved ones of fallen or permanently disabled roadway workers until work zone deaths are eliminated. Honor those who died in work zones, including work zone workers, motorists, pedestrians, law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics and children through supporting the National Work Zone Memorial. Give children the opportunity to work through the grief of losing a loved one alongside other children dealing with a similar situation through Experience Camps Travel Scholarships. Support the education of new public agency engineers who specialize in work zone safety and temporary traffic control through the Marty Weed Engineering Scholarship. Educate the next generation of drivers through youth programs like the work zone educational activity book and a new teen driver education course. The Foundation Legacy Circle was established to recognize individuals who make a commitment to the Foundation through their estate planning. Individuals are urged to notify The Foundation of their long-term plans by completing the gift intention form even if they prefer to not be recognized publicly. “We are thankful for the generosity of the individuals who have already chosen to become Legacy Circle members and have assured their lives will have a lasting impact. We welcome others with questions to contact us,” Diaz said. “The best way to establish a gift, however, is in consultation with a financial planner.” For more information, foundation@atssa.com.