Chapter Spotlight: NAFA's Wisconsin Chapter 2011 Holiday Meeting

All is well that ends well, but for Wisconsin Chapter Chair Paul Harrison, CAFM, CAFS, and CPM, it did not start out that way. "We had a featured speaker for our presentation (held on November 15 at the Western Lakes Golf Course, Pewaukee, WI), but we couldn't connect with them. So, I gave the presentation instead, and I used the drowsy driving presentation that is located under the Chapter Toolkit (section on the NAFA website: go here for full details), and did just a little editing."

With such on-the-fly actions, it could be assumed that the presentation might have suffered. However, Harrison said, "It was fantastic! I've already had three people ask for it for their own meetings." Harrison was also approached by Bill Kugel, representing Volvo at the gathering, about the presentation.

"It was one of the best (meetings) we've had, and it was mostly because of the interaction from people at the meeting," Harrison continued. "They shared and talked about family, friends, and the dangers of drowsy driving."

The need to turn a negative into a positive wound up as a lively, fully engaged meeting, and Harrison credited the materials provided in the Chapter Toolkit as a primary asset. "This was an example of finding a resource that NAFA provided and making it work."

Western Lakes is the home for the Wisconsin Chapter's annual golf outing as well, and when asked if partnering with a location is helpful for a chapter's organization purposes, Harrison confirmed the idea. "This is our twentieth year as a chapter and, at least twelve years or longer, we've been holding the golf outing there."

Bill Kugel said of the presentation, "It was excellent. You assume it is going to be boring. After all, it's about drowsy driving, but Paul put a lot of effort into it and people started listening." Kugel's presence at the meeting was to provide evidence for what Harrison was saying, as well as to present the technology now available from OEMs such as Volvo.

"The technology is now there to help avoid potential accidents, distracted driving, and drowsy driving incidents," Kugel said.

He also said that the best technology is still the common sense of the driver. "It's all about the basics. Get a good night's rest; if you're feeling drowsy, get out and walk a little; drink a cup of coffee; or pull over and take a quick nap if you're feeling tired."

So what do your chapter meetings and events look like? Send them to FleetFOCUS with a rundown of your meeting's minutes, presentations, and any informative and fun things that happened along the way, and you can be the next in our Chapter Spotlight!

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