This is the second to last President's letter that I will write for the International Air Cargo Association of Chicago. Next month, we are holding elections and someone else will hold this seat and will be the voice you hear from beginning in December. Until then, you're stuck with me, and all the sappy stuff will come in next month's edition.
For now, I've got to say "thanks" for a bunch of great things that happened this month and that wouldn't have been possible without our members and a host of friends and guests.
The IACAC had not one, but two major events in October. The first was a bus trip to Rockford International Airport. Our group was small, but mighty. It's not the most socially distanced ride I've ever had, but twelve people with a coach bus to themselves felt like some kind of kick-ass school field trip that we absolutely stole it taking. Thanks to Dave Junkroski and PayCargo for helping to underwrite the cost of the bus. Thanks to Ken Ryan, Zach Oakland and Rockford International Airport for the tour and lunch.
For those of you who weren't there, you missed a lot but nothing better than this:
Bus. Down. The. Runway.
That's all I'm telling you - find somebody who took the trip and ask them. But watch the video:
Our second event was our annual Oktoberfest at Church Street Brewing in Itasca. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I arrived and the tasting room was, I don't know, four times the size of when I last saw it pre-pandemic. Kudos to Lisa and her team for what they've built. Kudos to the 50 or so attendees we had at the event. Kudos and thanks to cargo.one, BCS Placement, B&R Transportation and Basic Crating & Packaging for their sponsorship of the event.
Prost!
Looking ahead, there are a number of things that I'd like to ask everyone to please remain focused on between now and the end of the year.
- We've got an amazing luncheon next week with invited representatives from the ground handling companies at ORD who are operating multiple facilities. We have confirmations (as of 10/6) from Swissport and AGI. We have invited, and anticipate speakers from, WFS and MIC Cargo as well. Register here. NOTE - We're in conference room "Hotel" on the first floor, not the usual second floor big room.
- Immediate family members of member companies and individual members can apply for the IACAC Scholarship. Applications are being accepted through the end of November. Learn more here.
- Next month are our elections, and a number of board seats and the presidency is available. Please contact me if you're interested in running.
- The holiday party is coming up in December (it'll be here before we know it) and it is at Coopers Hawk Winery in Arlington Heights. Stay tuned - calls for sponsorship this month will be coming and start planning on raffle items to benefit our scholarship fund.