Traffic Club Celebrates 99
"To
promote the development of transportation and logistics professionals
through education, information resourcing, corporate networking and social
interaction."
On May 18,
in Chicago, Illinois USA one of the world’s oldest and most important
transportation organizations The Traffic Club of Chicago (TCC) hosted
its 99th Annual Dinner at The Chicago Marriott Downtown
“Over
1,000 members and guests attend this event, including a head table of
sixty senior executives, representing a broad cross section of today's
transportation and logistics industry,” says Bill Fors, TCC Executive
Secretary.
“Our
most important event of the year, this gala affair is the TCC primary
fund raiser for the scholarship program that awards scholarships to member
and area students for both college education and also for the study of
transportation logistics.”
Honorable
W. Douglas Buttrey, (right) Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board,
Washington, D.C. is featured keynote speaker.
Founded in
1907, when railroads were the big business of the day and ruled the entire
USA transportation process, The Traffic Club of Chicago began as a club
where manufacturers (shippers) and railroad management could learn to
work together and come to know each other better.
On March
28, 1907, Frank T. Bentley, traffic manager for the Illinois Steel Company,
called the first volunteer meeting of industry representatives at an informal
dinner at the Auditorium Hotel in Chicago and the Traffic Club of Chicago
was born.
A long list
of celebrities and influential people have graced the quarters of the
Traffic Club of Chicago throughout its history.
Included
in this distinguished category are United States Presidents Taft, Coolidge,
Hoover, Eisenhower and Reagan.
Other notable
individuals include Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, America's first air ace
of World War I and founder of Eastern Airlines, Amelia Earhart and Will
Rogers, Jr.
Today, the
Traffic Club of Chicago, headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois continues
to grow, retaining its original goal while broadening its scope to include
not only transportation executives from the rails and road but also from
the airlines and air cargo industry.
Bill
Fors is down to earth and quite personable as he goes about his task of
both building TCC and coordinating its activities.
An ex-radio
announcer and local personality, he modulates both his tone and manner
in what is acknowledged as a tough job.
“We
are involved in several initiatives that include air cargo.
“Earlier
this year (April 9) TCC joined area organizations including the Air Cargo
Association, Customs Brokers & Foreign Freight Forwarders Association
of Chicago, and others, who sponsored “Transportation
Night” which brought a big crowd to Rosemont near ORD for an excellent
evening of networking.
“We
also offer a wide variety of year long entertainment opportunities for
our members and their guests, from sporting events to top-billed dinner
theatre parties.
“Our
idea at TCC is to be an active venue of professional and networking opportunities
by leveraging the enormous variety of the great City of Chicago.”
Although
The Club no longer has its own quarters, members enjoy many benefits,
including access to private dining and country clubs around the Chicago
area, as well as across the country and overseas.
An annual
schedule of programs and events provide our members the opportunity to
network with other industry professionals, while our scholarship program
continues to support the organization's philosophy of direction and guidance.
“Come
September 21,attention will be drawn to air cargo as Dave Brooks President
of American Airlines Cargo headlines the TCC Executive Series Luncheon
at Rosemont Restaurant.
Tickets including
luncheon are just $40
“This
is a big week for the TCC.
“Our
Annual Dinner Golf Outing that is held today Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at
Cog Hill Golf Club in Lemont, Illinois sets the table for tomorrow and
is an additional fund-raiser for our Scholarship Program.
“With
an average attendance of over 300 golfers, all courses at Cog Hill are
reserved by TCC for this event.
“Sponsors
of the TCC Scholarship Program at the "Doctoral Level" have
the added benefit of playing "Dub’s Dread" venue for the
Cialis Open.”
Membership
is available to anyone involved directly or indirectly in freight transportation
and logistics.
Resident
membership ($250) is for people whose company address is located within
a seventy-five mile radius of downtown Chicago.
Non-resident
membership ($60) includes individuals whose company address is located
outside a seventy-five mile radius of downtown Chicago.
www.traffic-club.org.
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