President’s Letter – August, 2017

Just because it is a summer month, doesn't mean that we're taking a break. To the contrary, between vacations (we're checking out the upper parts of Michigan as a family this week) and back to school for the kids, the IACAC has an active slate this month and into the fall. Let's dive into the upcoming and look back at what happened.

Early bird ends today for our golf outing and slots and sponsorships opportunities remain.

When we talk about the golf outing, I cannot stress enough that we do it for the students. The golf outing, along with our holiday luncheon, are the primary fundraising vehicles where we generate money that provides money to our annually awarded IACAC Scholarships. We're accepting submissions for 2017, so be sure to take a look. 

This year, the IACAC has worked to set up an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization so any contributions to sponsor the event or raffle prizes at our luncheon afterwards are a legally recognized tax deduction.

Don't let a tax break be the only reason you donate - do it so we can help defray the cost of education for worth students. 

Through today, registration is $400.00/foursome which includes golf, cart and lunch afterwards. Tomorrow, the cost goes up to $500.00/foursome. Single golfers are $125.00 for golf and lunch and lunch only is $35.00.

We also have hole and bridge sponsorships where for $150.00 and $100.00, respectively, we will place a sign with your company's name and/or logo where golfers will see it as the travel the course for the outing.

Register at this link to secure your golf spot or to sponsor today.

Rare opportunity with O'Hare at the end of August.

We could not be more thankful for the contributions and help of 2017 new member Adam Rod and the City of Chicago's Department of Aviation. Working with Adam, we scheduled an event open to everyone with Ginger Evans on August 29th. We'll have a Q&A session with Ginger about all things O'Hare. If you're curious about passengers, cargo, future plans, surrounding infrastructure, new carriers or flights, she is the person to ask. And if she doesn't have the answers I trust that she and her team can get them for us.

After the Q&A, a limited number of seats are available to tour O'Hare inside the fence line. On a narrated tour, we will cruise the taxiways and ramps only seen for most of us from inside a plane as we're departing or arriving. Because of the security component, registrants will notice some additional and different questions and we must submit an attendee list for screening to the Department prior to the event. 

It's free to attend the Q&A, $65.00 for the bus tour. We'll be providing continental style breakfast prior to the event which begins at 10:00 AM.

Click here to join us August 29th.

Other past & upcoming events:

  • Thank you to BCS Placement and Position : Global for your sponsorship of our July networking event at MB Financial Park at Rosemont. Rush cover band, food & beverage from Adobe Gila's and some amazing fireworks afterwards. The people in attendance really enjoyed their time and the consensus was to do this event annually.
  • Mark your calendars for our September events: September 12th will be our monthly luncheon and will be education-focused. Olya Lebedyeva is running point on this and there will be more details to follow, but know that we're going to seek participation from surrounding universities and colleges to promote their job and placement departments. 
  • September 21st we're back at Church Street Brewing for another networking event. We're looking for sponsors, so if you're interested, contact IACAC to help sponsor the event.

President’s Letter: January, 2017

Happy New Year, everyone! As my tenure as the President of the IACAC begins, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and talk about what I hope will happen in 2017 for the IACAC.

My name is Scott Case, and I am the President of Position : Global, a company that is focused on marketing and branding for companies in the logistics sector. I was fortunate to have been selected to design the new IACAC website several years ago and served on the Board of Directors last year. It is a pleasure to serve the Association as your President and I look forward to building on the work of the past Presidents.

2017 Events:

We are going to continue to build on the success of educational, social and professional networking events that took place in 2016. We are planning our usual series of luncheons, most of which will be held on the second Tuesday of the month. January will be an outlier because of the way the calendar is falling with everyone getting back to work and school winter vacations. We'll be on Tuesday, January 17th, so watch this space for more information.

We'll of course have our March Madness event, as well as our golf outing and holiday luncheon. There is the potential to add other events, such as bowling in Rosemont, a Wolves game or reprising some fun summer nights spent at Church Street Brewing Company.

Scholarship and giving back:

We recently learned about the young woman who won the IACAC Scholarship at Harper College this year. In the late 90's, the Association endowed a chair with nearly $10,000 in donations. We'll be telling her story in a post later this month, but what's important to know is that we are focused on scholarship this year, both our own and the ones we've endowed at Northwestern, Harper and Oakton. We are also working to create a separate 501(c)(3) charitable organization to pursue greater opportunities to raise more money to award students looking to continue their education.

Vendor partnerships to benefit IACAC members:

We value our members who spend their time to come to our events and be involved. We know it is commitment of both time and money, and want to make sure that we are delivering value. This is why in 2017 we are focused on identifying companies who serve the air cargo community and securing agreements that provide services, offer discounts or other considerations exclusive to our membership. We will have one such announcement later this month that is important for anyone who works with hazardous materials. Stay tuned.

Join or renew for 2017 today!

We'll be beating the drum for this, but with all these exciting things coming this year, don't miss out! Membership is only $50 for individuals and $130 for corporations with up to three votes and points of contact. You can do it online or do it on paper. Either way, do it today!

IACAC Special Election – March 8, 2016

The IACAC Board of Directors, in accordance with the association by-laws, is holding a special election to fill the vacancy of the office of President that was created when Sam Krouse resigned shortly after his election. Sam left the industry and took a job in another city.

We have two candidates who have declared for this special election, Brian Bartolotta of BCS Placement and Herman Ruiz of Channel Distribution.

Their biographies are reprinted below:


Brian Bartolotta

Brian has been a member of the IACAC for several years and has been very active in the international transportation and logistics communities and associations including the CCBFA, IACAC, the Traffic Club of Chicago and the CSCMP.

Brian is currently President of BCS Placement, which focuses on recruiting, education and consulting for the international transportation, freight forwarding, air cargo and logistics industries.

Brian has consistently increased revenues annually for BCS since 1997 and has advised and implemented successful growth strategies for other local private corporations. He has very strong business contacts including Fortune 500 executives and professionals.

By leveraging his diverse business network and analyzing social and data trends, Brian’s contributions will include increasing IACAC membership, IACAC revenues and participation.

Brian attended the University of Illlinois at Urbana-Champaign where he majored in Economics. Brian was an Evans Scholar, a full tuition scholarship based on academic and scholastic performance. Brian was also a member of the Illinois Men’s Wrestling team.

Mr. Bartolotta is active in several local charities including the Special Olympics. He is married with three children, ages 10, 8 and 5.

 

Herman Ruiz

Herman Ruiz, Jr., began working for the airlines in 1966 with Flying Tiger Line and in 1968 moved to Airlift International working in STL/IAH/SFO/LAX and IND. While with Airlift, he was their Chief Cargo Agent then Cargo Supervisor. He later moved to being a loadmaster working on MAC flights out of Travis Air Force base (SUU). He moved back to Chicago to work for Air Wisconsin International setting up their Road Feeder Service within the Midwest. He also worked for Airmax then moved to Alliance Airlines to handle their cargo claims and teach their hazmat classes.

He moved to International Express to run their bonded warehouse and handle ocean imports and exports. From their he moved to Gotoh Distribution and ran the FTZ, Bonded warehouse and G. O. department.

He then left to work for Garrison CFS and ran the Bonded warehouse and G.O. Department working with the rail lines and steamship lines.

He now works at Channel Distribution Corp. working in sales and running the Bonded warehouse and G.O. Department. He also teaches G.O. Classes for the industry working closing with CBP.

Herman is active with the Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts of America and the American Legion along with the IACAC.

He is a past President and Chairman of the Board of the IACAC.


 

Members in good standing are eligible to vote in the election, including those who have joined since our last election in November, 2015.

There are two ways to vote:

  1. Click here or on the picture of the ballot to download and submit your ballot to me no later than midnight, Monday, March 7th.
  2. Attend our March luncheon on Tuesday, March 8th to tender your ballot in person. Click here for more details and to register to attend. Seating is limited.

The ballots will be counted and the winner announced at the conclusion of the March meeting.

Click here to download the special election ballot for IACAC President.
Click here to download the special election ballot for IACAC President.

CBP Updates ACE Deployment Timeline

In what can only be called great news for the trade, CBP has come to their senses and made a change in their deployment schedule, no longer focusing on February 28, 2016, as the drop-dead date to be filing entries in ACE. They have instead opted for a more graduated timetable. Their announcement is reprinted below:

______

Working in close coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, the Border Interagency Executive Council, and the White House, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been actively tracking and assessing stakeholder readiness for the mandatory filing of all electronic entries and corresponding entry summaries in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). While significant progress has been made, continued concerns about stakeholder readiness have necessitated an updated timeline for the mandatory transition to ACE for electronic entry and entry summary filing.  This updated timeline continues to align with our December 2016 deadline for full implementation of the Single Window via ACE.

Taking into consideration the input from our stakeholders, CBP has implemented a staggered approach to the mandatory filing of electronic entries and corresponding entry summaries in ACE, and the decommissioning of electronic entry/entry summary filing capabilities in the Automated Commercial System (ACS). For further information on the dates and impacts, please visit www.cbp.gov/ace.

UPDATED ACE TRANSITION TIMELINE

February 28, 2016

Beginning February 28, 2016 CBP will start divesting the legacy Automated Commercial System (ACS) by:

  1. Offering limited Client Representative and Technology Service Desk support to the trade for ACS entry/entry summary types that are available in ACE.
  2. Performing ACS maintenance during peak business hours.
  3. Providing processing priority to ACE entries where corresponding ACS entries are still available.

March 31, 2016

Filers will be required to file in ACE and no longer permitted to file in ACS the following transactions.

  1. Electronic entry summaries, associated with the following entry types, with no PGA data:
    • 01 - Consumption
    • 03 - Consumption - Antidumping/Countervailing Duty
    • 11 - Informal
    • 23 - Temporary Importation Bond (TIB)
    • 51 - Defense Contract Administration Service Region (DCASR)
    • 52 - Government - Dutiable
  2. Electronic entries and corresponding entry summaries, associated with the entry types above, with data for the following agencies:
    • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for Lacey Act, unless paired with other Partner Government Agency (PGA) data
    • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), unless paired with other PGA data

The implementation of these capabilities through ACE means that the filing of the following transactions will no longer be accepted in ACS:

    • Electronic entry summaries (Entry types 01, 03, 11, 23, 51 and 52) with no PGA data
    • Electronic entries and corresponding entry summaries (Entry types 01, 03, 11, 23, 51 and 52) with APHIS Lacey Act data, unless paired with other PGA data on the same transaction
    • Electronic entries and corresponding entry summaries (Entry types 01, 03, 11, 23, 51 and 52) with NHTSA data, unless paired with other PGA data on the same transaction

May 28, 2016

Filers will be required to file in ACE and no longer permitted to file in ACS the following transactions:

  1. Electronic entries, associated with the following entry types, with no PGA data:
    • 01 - Consumption
    • 03 - Consumption - Antidumping/Countervailing Duty
    • 11 - Informal
    • 23 - Temporary Importation Bond (TIB)
    • 51 - Defense Contract Administration Service Region (DCASR)
    • 52 - Government – Dutiable

Required filing of these entries includes those with APHIS Lacey Act and NHTSA data, unless paired with other PGA data.

  1. Electronic entries and corresponding entry summaries for the following transactions:
    • Entry type 06 - Consumption - Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) with no PGA data
    • Entry types 01, 03, 06, 11, 23, 51, 52 with APHIS Lacey Act data, unless paired with other PGA data on the same transaction.
    • Entry types 01, 03, 06, 11, 23, 51, 52 with NHTSA data, unless paired with other PGA data on the same transaction.

Required filing of this entry type includes entries with APHIS Lacey Act and NHTSA data, unless paired with other PGA data.

The implementation of these capabilities through ACE means that the filing of the following transactions will no longer be accepted in ACS:

    • Electronic entries associated with entry types 01, 03, 11, 23, 51 and 52 with no PGA data.
    • Entries and corresponding entry summaries associated with entry type 06 with no PGA data.
    • Electronic entries/entry summaries, associated with entry types 01, 03, 06, 11, 23, 51 and 52, with APHIS Lacey Act data, unless paired with other PGA data on the same transaction.
    • Electronic entries/entry summaries, associated with entry types 01, 03, 06, 11, 23, 51 and 52 with NHTSA data, unless paired with other PGA data on the same transaction.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) filings will continue to be allowed in ACS to provide more time for industry to transition to ACE.  Further information will be provided on the mandatory filing in ACE for FDA data.

Summer 2016 (Specific dates to be provided)

Filers will be required to file in ACE and no longer permitted to file in ACS the following transactions.

  1. Electronic entries and entry summaries, associated with the following entry types, with no PGA data (except for APHIS Lacey Act or NHTSA) will be deployed and must be filed in ACE:

Entry Types:

    • 02 - Consumption - Quota/Visa
    • 07 - Consumption - Antidumping/Countervailing Duty and Quota/Visa Combination
    • 12 - Informal - Quota/Visa (other than textiles)
    • 21 - Warehouse
    • 22 - Re-Warehouse

Entry Summary Types:

    • 02 - Consumption - Quota/Visa
    • 07 - Consumption - Antidumping/Countervailing Duty and Quota/Visa Combination
    • 11 - Informal
    • 12 - Informal - Quota/Visa (other than textiles)
    • 21 - Warehouse
    • 22 - Re-Warehouse
    • 31 - Warehouse Withdrawal Consumption
    • 32 - Warehouse Withdrawal - Quota
    • 34 - Warehouse Withdrawal Antidumping/Countervailing Duty
    • 38 - Warehouse Withdrawal - Antidumping/Countervailing Duty & Quota/Visa Combination
  1. Throughout summer 2016, the following agencies will provide, if they have not already done so, functionality for filing electronically in ACE:
    • Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS);
    • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF);
    • Remaining APHIS data (APHIS Core);
    • Centers for Disease Control (CDC);
    • Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA);
    • Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC);
    • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA);
    • Enforcement and Compliance Commission (E&C);
    • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
    • Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS);
    • Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS);
    • National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); and
    • Alcohol and Tobacco, Tax and Tariff Bureau (TTB).

Agencies will provide further information regarding the conclusion of their pilots.  For details on the current deployment status and how to participate in PGA pilots, please reference the PGA documentation at cbp.gov/ace-pga.

The implementation of these capabilities through ACE means that the following transactions will no longer be accepted in ACS:

    • Electronic entries associated with entry types 02, 07, 12, 21, or 22
    • Electronic entry Summaries associated with entry types 02, 07, 12, 21 and 22, 31, 32, 34 or 38

Further information will be provided on the deployment of remaining core trade processing capabilities in ACE, and the mandatory use of ACE for all remaining electronic portions of the CBP cargo process.

Optional and Available ACE Functions during Transition

In addition to the specified filing requirements for each mandatory date, electronic filings will be permitted for those wishing/opting to file in ACE prior to the mandatory filing requirements in ACE for the following:

  • Entry summaries associated with entry types 01, 03, 11, 23, 51, and 52, until March 31, 2016 when they are required in ACE
  • Data for APHIS Lacey Act or NHTSA, until March 31, 2016 when it is required in ACE
  • Entries associated with entry types 01, 03, 11, 23, 51, and 52, until May 28, 2016 when they are required in ACE
  • Entries and entry summaries associated with entry type 06, until May 28, 2016 when they are required in ACE

We would like to reiterate that the updated transition timeline aligns with the December 2016 deadline for full implementation of the Single Window via ACE.  CBP appreciates all efforts from the CBP, trade community, and PGA stakeholders as we continue to work together toward the complete and successful transition to ACE.

Truck congestion at O’Hare – We want your comments

It's not the queue to get into the cargo areas of O'Hare, but it's what it looks like all the time right now.
It's not the queue to get into the cargo areas of O'Hare, but it's what it looks like all the time right now.

 

Things are a mess at O'Hare right now, and we want your feedback.

The lines to access the cargo areas are horrible. Once you're in the facility, the service doesn't get people handled quickly, politely or respectfully.

Air cargo is the most expensive mode of transport, but the way it is being handled right now at O'Hare is far from a premium service.

The IACAC, along with the Chicago Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association, are working to find solutions to this problem. We make no promises, but we are at the earliest stages of engaging all the stakeholders to better share our concerns and suggestions to take steps towards improving things.

If you have specific comments or suggestions, or would like to share something that you've experienced, please leave a comment below and we'll include these concerns as part of our discussions.

IACAC President’s Letter – December, 2014

This is the final President's letter that I will write. Next month, this space is turned over to the 2015 IACAC President, Jim Wilbrandt, who was elected to the position last month.Thank you!

It has been a year of change at IACAC, and to go back and look at what we accomplished as an organization month-by-month amazes me. None of it would have happened without a tremendous board of directors; people who give tirelessly of themselves for our members and the air cargo industry in general. Many of those people will be continuing on next year, some will be retiring at the end of this year. All are to be thanked for their hard work, dedication and service to the community.

When I look back on my tenure as President, there are a few things that happened of which I am most proud.

  1. A new iacac.com website. This new site did wonders for us. Unveiled in February along with a rethink of our monthly Pallet and a push into social media that we previously did not use to the fullest extent, we expanded the reach and message of the Association. Presently, The Pallet is sent to close to a thousand people in Chicago and around the globe. The new site also generated marketing revenue that eclipsed the previous four years combined.
  2. A renewed airline focus. Our name tells our charter; the International Air Cargo Association of Chicago. Look back at our past presidents list. There are countless names there who came from the ranks of airlines, and this year we worked hard to re-engage carriers and had their participation both as speakers at our monthly luncheons and as sponsors of numerous events. To those carriers who have been involved, please accept my thanks and I encourage you to continue to engage with the new board in 2015 and beyond. The number of airline members eclipses the total of the past eight years.
  3. A successful golf outing which generates scholarship dollars. Our golf outing was a great success and we surpassed last year's attendance in what was a continuing tough climate for social industry outings. The money raised at the golf outing (and at our upcoming holiday luncheon) goes right into the scholarship fund for students to continue their studies; look for the announcements again next Spring when we call for applications and look forward to helping defray the cost schooling for worthy recipients.
  4. An increased membership. Between people signing up for the early bird specials and our push to get people to join, we have added fifty more new members to the Association. We realize that with businesses consolidating into larger and larger companies, some long-time members go away. However, it seems like that when a larger company closes, a few smaller ones open as talented men and women take on new opportunities. For them, we are here to support and help them grow.

Our holiday luncheon next Tuesday, December 9th, is important for three reasons. Well, maybe four.

First and most importantly, it is a chance to bring a toy for our annual Toys for Tots drive that is spearheaded by Maureen Schmitt of Mallory Alexander. We've partnered with the Marines for many years in the past and our community's generosity is a wonderful thing to behold. Please come help a child have something under their tree this Christmas. Second, we raffle off some really great prizes, including a pair of tickets to Paris donated generously every year by Air France. (Note, the winner is responsible for the taxes which are approximately $200 per ticket). The money from those raffles benefits our scholarship fund. Third, come and socialize with your fellow IACAC members before the holidays and commitments overrun us all. Fourth and finally, it's a chance to RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2015. Get started, be one of the first to be on the 2015 membership rolls.

For more information and to register, click here.

This year's board was one of the strongest boards I have ever worked with. We made a lot of changes internally which positively affected how we are seen externally, and I can say we are heading in the right direction. I will return next year as Chairman, after which I will step down and remain involved as a paid member.

For me personally it was an exciting year of change as well. I departed my previous company to start my own place in August called The Chit Chat Group. Chit Chat opened with a focus on education, training and consulting logistics companies. In October, Chit Chat signed a two-year deal to exclusively represent Atlas Logistic Network throughout the Americas. This put the company rather quickly on the global stage, representing the third largest exclusive network in the world.

While the Chicago agencies are filled, we're looking for members in other gateway cities throughout the United States.

For more information on Atlas as well as our ongoing classes, check us out at www.thechitchatgroup.com.

Once again, thank you for the opportunity to serve as your President for 2014, and I am eager for the leadership that Jim Wilbrandt and the new board will bring in 2015. This new board is equally as strong and forwarding thinking and I'm looking forward to their certain success.

2015 IACAC election absentee ballot available

Members of the IACAC:

You may now download the 2015 Absentee Ballot for the IACAC elections.

If you will be unable to attend next Tuesday's luncheon meeting (registration open here), then you may download, complete and email this ballot to Christine Aguirre.

Absentee ballots must be received by November 10, 2014, to be counted at the meeting on Tuesday, November 11th.

Note the following for the ballots:

  • If your company is a corporate member with TWO contacts, you are allowed two votes.
  • If you have joined as an individual or have only one person listed on your IACAC record, you are allowed one vote.
  • Each position allows for the submission of a name for a write-in candidate.
  • Winners will be announced at the IACAC luncheon next Tuesday at the Holiday Inn, Elk Grove Village.

If you have any questions, you may contact Christine Aguirre by email at chragu27 (at) yahoo.com.

 

President’s Letter, September, 2014

First, allow me to wish everyone a happy, safe and wonderful Labor Day weekend. May you spend it with family and friends, recalling the memories of a milder-than-usual summer here in Chicago. Not that we're complaining, mind you, although reports of a sequel of the Polar Vortex are particularly troubling. If that's the case, I'm stocking up on firewood, driveway salt and wool sweaters early this year. happy labor day

We're also entering the traditional peak season for air freight shippers. With the unveiling of Apple's new flagship phone in a week and a half, plus persistent rumors they'll also unveil a watch as well, freighter and belly capacity from Asia is disappearing faster than a dropped ice cream cone on a summer day. Longshoremen on the West Coast have reached an agreement on health benefits, one of the alleged stickiest points of the negotiation, a new contract cannot be far behind. Shippers hope, as evidenced in the letter they wrote further encouraging both sides to formally come to an agreement as the holiday peak season ramps up in earnest.

Here at IACAC, we're looking forward to an exciting final four months of the year as well.

Luncheons

  • September 9th: Christel Aliamo, Regional Manager, The Americas, Qatar Airways Cargo. Registration is open for this event here on the site. We've not had a presentation to date on the growing impact the Middle East is having on global commerce. With three national flag carriers flying nonstop to the region from O'Hare now, it's as good a time as any to look at this market and the opportunities it offers forwarders and our shipper customers.
  • October 14th: The incomparable Brandon Fried, Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association, will give us his annual view on what is happening in Washington. In an election year, it's good to also get his perspective on what the scenarios are depending upon the outcome.
  • November 11th : At this meeting we hold elections for your IACAC board. Here from the candidates seeking your vote for the different positions and choose your representatives for 2015.
  • December 9th: Our annual holiday raffle and toy drive. As in past years, we will be partnering with Toys for Tots and holding a raffle benefitting our scholarship fund. I cannot say "thanks" enough for all the support of our golf outing raffle and would love to get an equal amount of participation for this one as well.

Vendor programs

We have mentioned it before, but if your company provides a service to the air cargo community, we would welcome the chance to work with you to be a preferred sponsor or provider of services to our membership. In exchange for offering some kind of exclusive offers to our members, we will promote your participation online as well as at our meetings and through other venues. If you are interested, please contact us to discuss this further.

President’s Letter – June, 2014.

Hello, everyone, and thanks for taking a moment to stop and read this letter.

As summer approaches and we look to warmer weather and more time outdoors, I'd like to take a moment to look back on May and look forward to what changes are coming to your Association this summer and into the fall.

IACAC Affinity Partners:  We're looking for some.

The board has discussed additional ways that we can deliver value to our members, and we are looking for partners to pioneer a vendor affinity program.  We've been fortunate to have the support of companies in the past, and we would really like to make a push for this over the summer months.

If you are a company who does business with air cargo companies and provides goods or services, we would love to talk.  We would create a custom URL to your company's site that is only accessible via the members-only section of our site, insuring that only our members can take advantage of those partnerships.

In exchange, we are willing to provide additional promotional consideration and opportunities through our social network channels, communication and on our site.

If you are interested reaching a growing and vibrant industry, please contact us at info@iacac.com for more information.

IACAC Luncheons: Past and future.

First, our thanks to the Chicago Department of Aviation and their Assistant Commissioner Frank Grimaldi, Jr., for coming and speaking to us in May. As anyone who has to drive around the airport for a living knows firsthand, it's a mess out there right now and we'd love to see the light at the end of the tunnel, even if we need to know that it's months or years off before we see it.  There's no question that Chicago is focused on growth, and it is an exciting time to be in the industry.

In June, we're doing our first networking luncheon in a long time.  Some have put the number five years in the air, and I will defer to those who have been around longer that the number is close to accurate.  Registration is open for the event, visit https://iacac.com/event-registration/?ee=22 to sign up.

Traditionally we take off the months of July and August.  There are no scheduled events for July, and August is when we have our annual golf outing on August 12th.  Registration is also open for that at https://iacac.com/event-registration/?ee=21.  We're looking for golfers and sponsors and both will have a great day at a tremendous course, Bridges of Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates.  There will also be raffles with prizes for the winners and proceeds benefit the Dennis J. Speck Scholarship Fund.  Watch this space and our other communication because details and requirements will be announced over the summer.

When we get back to luncheons in the fall, we're planning a panel discussion in September (our tentative vision is a panel of Middle Eastern carriers since right now we have two carriers flying to ORD with a third beginning in August), Brandon Fried, Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association is slated to speak in October, November is our general business meeting and December is the holiday reception.  When you summarize the balance of a year in one sentence, it makes you realize just how quickly time passes.

Starting in September, as we announced last month and will keep reminding people, luncheon pricing will change.  It will be $25.00 for members who register in advance and $30.00 for non-members and those who show up without an RSVP (including members).  You can pay in advance by credit card, or by check or cash on the day of the luncheon at the announced price.  Paying by credit card the day of, however, will continue to require payment of a $2.00 surcharge to offset the card processing fees.

Chicago as a hub.

This week, Customs and Border Protection in Chicago held their Trade Day and I was talking with someone who had a long conversation with a CBP chief about Chicago's importance as a global hub.  I was reminded that from Chicago, carriers reach us in one flight from Asia, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  Thinking about us in the context of a transshipment hub (when Chicago is really thought of us a destination that feeds the Midwest marketplace), completely changes the logic behind what Chicago means.  Imagine, sixteen hours from Hong Kong, change carriers and the next morning, you're in a South American market.  The possibilities are amazing.