We imagine your calendar is rapidly filling up for the autumn and early winter season of trade shows and special meetings.
    But just in case you might have missed some of these events, here is our take on the “must attend” industry gatherings this fall.

September On Ice
September 26-30
The Cold Chain Global Forum at the Hynes Arena in Boston, Massachusetts.
     This is the big kahuna of cold chain shows.
     Smart money here in force: AA, UA, EK, and the list goes on . . .
     The Cold Chain Global Forum is the world’s largest event for temperature-controlled life science supply chains.
     Keynote speaker is John Rossman, author of the book The Amazon Way: How Amazon’s Fourteen Leadership Principles Can Transform Your Company’s Supply Chain Operations and Leadership Culture.
     Rossman jumps deep into Amazon’s fourteen leadership principles that have guided and shaped its decisions and culture.
     He explains what life science manufacturers can learn from Amazon to help revolutionize their supply chain operations, logistics, quality, partnerships, employee engagement, compliance and security.
     Amazon has gone from zero to one of the biggest freighter fleets in the skies.
     Rossman says he has his finger on the pulse.
     Works for us.
     Download the event brochure for more information on the weeklong event here.

Blarney & Brimstone
October 3-8
FIATA World Congress at The Convention Centre in Dublin.
     This is the 90th Anniversary of FIATA and this year the FIATA annual event is hosted by The Irish International Freight Association (IIFA).
     Some interesting history here from IIFA:
     “Freight Forwarding began in Ireland in the mid 1920’s when Lep Transport set up operations in Dublin.
     “There were some further local additions during the 1930’s but it was not until foreign direct investment in the 60s and 70s that an upsurge in the number of freight forwarders took place.
     “Today, in spite of amalgamations over recent years our association has over 110 full trading members. Since the late 1970s training of staff members plays an important part in our activities.”
     For our money, FIATA Dublin is the must-attend event of the 2016 fall season.
     There will be plenty of history, education, and blarney at this event to open some doors and maybe even some Irish Eyes.
     More here.

Lifting Voices In Washington
October 4-5
The U.S. Air Cargo Industry Affairs (USACIA) Summit at Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.
     It’s only fair—you pay your money and expect some results.
     Here is an event that pays you back right out of the gate, just by being in the right place at the right time.
     Cargo Network Services (CNS) delivers an initiative.
     We have dubbed this event “Washington Air Cargo Chorus.” Lifting this many voices at the same time and place within ear shot of government officials is sure to have an effect on future policy.
     The associations involved in USACIA have collaborated to unite senior U.S. government officials that have important roles in the movement of air cargo, including representatives from Capitol Hill and regulators.
     Supporting and active in this effort are Airforwarders Association (AFA), Airlines for America (A4A), Cargo Airline Association (CAA), Express Association of America (EAA), Express Delivery & Logistics Association (XLA), International Air Transport Association (IATA), National Customs Broker and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), and The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA).
     According to Lionel van der Walt, Cargo Network Services President and the individual responsible for spearheading this out-of-the-box initiative, “the time has come today to do something different.”
     “The air cargo industry is going through one of the most difficult periods in its history, which is being driven by factors such as weak global trade, overcapacity, currency fluctuations, the impact of unexpected external shocks such as terror attacks leading to additional costly systems and procedures, and the list goes on,” Lionel said.
     So the decision is simple—rather than individual voices having the net effect of whistling in the dark, it’s better to help raise the voices of this Washington Air Cargo Chorus.
     More here.

You Know You Want To Be There
October 26-28
The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA)’s 28th Air Cargo Forum at Porte de Versailles in Paris.
     TIACA meets every two years, but forget what you thought of the last meeting attempt in Seoul, Korea, which by any measure was generally regarded as a dud.
     Yes, TIACA axed the great Daniel Fernandez, the Secretary General that made TIACA rich and famous by piloting the organization into one successful ACF after another, in 2013. Now comes news that the current Secretary General, Doug Brittin is retiring at the end of this year. Doug is a nice guy and we are sorry to seem him move on. But attendees should suspend disbelief here.
     TIACA is what it always was—“air cargo unvarnished”—with deep thinkers, visionaries, and even a few professional drunks all in attendance in one place at the same time.
     It’s not to be missed. TIACA Paris is definitely not exiting Europe, although expect squads of media types from what could now turn out to be little “Little England” to be in evidence, “carry on” up and down every aisle.
     It might be a good idea to avoid the endless sales pitches from that crowd—just pilot your own drone to find the best and least arduous path!
     Admitted warts and all, TIACA remains the last best hope for organized air cargo to have a real voice.
     We recalled Jan Meurer and Jan Krems staring down those North Korean Guards at the 38th Parallel during a break in the action during the last ACF in Seoul.
     The question is: will you raise your voice in Paris?
     More here.

Istanbul Back on Calendar
November 16-18
Logitrans 2016 at the Istanbul Expo Center.
     This event is presented as a sort of Austria/Germany Road Show On Wheels and includes some of the same people you might bump into next May at the biggest expo in air cargo, Air Cargo Europe, which meets in Munich.
     Europe remains Turkey’s most important trading partner.
     “Today as Summer 2016 ends and things are back to normal in Turkey, logistics companies should be happy to know work continues on a grand new airport for Istanbul that promises to be the class of the world,” said Dr. Jutta Seitz.
     “No slowdown in investment, either; it continues at a rapid rate as Turkey modernizes and develops every aspect of infrastructure as lead by Turkish Airlines.
     “Today ports, railway lines, and roads throughout the country are being modernized and expanded.      Logitrans Istanbul captures all of this in our logistics event at the beautiful modern Istanbul Expo Center,” Dr. Jutta said.
     A total of more than 15,000 participants from 54 countries sought information from 220 exhibitors from 22 countries about their products and services in 2015.
     Logitrans expects to top that number in 2016.
     More here.

The Bird Is The Word
Date to be announced.
Atlanta Customs Brokers Turkey Feast
     The question is: how far will you travel for the best turkey meal you ever had in your life?
     And why are we listing a free meal in the “best of” upcoming events this fall?
     Well, firstly, it is about the food, which is simply divine, and also a feast that has been a tradition in the Atlanta air cargo industry every November for several years.
     Secondly, it is about the video, and forgive us if the song gets into your head and drives you nuts.
     But be forewarned—that can happen!
     If the rest of this report is about networking and learning, then we figure why not have some part of our offering centered on good eating?
     Have you ever heard of an army that doesn’t march on its stomach?

     Every year CEO of Atlanta Customs Brokers Deborah Torma and her bright-faced and friendly crew deep-fry a flock of turkeys in peanut oil.
     Then they set the tables, throw open the doors, and invite everyone in for a grand luncheon, Southern USA-style.
     It’s the stuff that dreams are made of.
     With an all-ladies staff, oriental rugs on the floor, light colors, and breezy attitudes, it’s a luncheon to die for.
     Number One on our Top Ten List for late November any year is the Atlanta Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Turkey Feast—the way a customs broker and freight forwarder ought to be!
     If you have never tasted a deep fried turkey, as it is said, “baby you haven’t lived!”
     Atlanta Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Tel: 404-762-0953.      www.atlantacustomsbrokers.com.
Geoffrey/Sabiha