UTU Bus - April



White, sleek, streamlined and gleaming, with sparkling windows reflecting the sun, a motorcoach bearing the name Membership One stood outside UTU International Headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, waiting to begin its maiden journey. Membership One has no "home port." Built on the chassis of a heavy duty MCI motorcoach, the vehicle was crafted to stay perpetually on the road, traveling from site to site across North America. With its high- and low-tech capabilities, Membership One will be used for live training lectures, as well as computer-based training and software demonstrations made possible by its onboard computers, modems, network links, CD-ROM players and its numerous options for making a connection with the Internet. It will host video presentations, on-site and remote conferences, and thanks to its satellite communications system, make it possible for an expert in Boston, Chicago or Nashville to deliver long-distance lessons and conduct dialogues with members in Los Angeles, Seattle or Las Vegas. Membership One will serve as the focal point for large outdoor gatherings, as well as for small closed-door meetings. It will prove itself invaluable for insurance presentations, General Committee meetings, national and state legislative presentations, membership services exhibitions, organizing efforts, voter registration campaigns, and more. Membership One will give UTU members a home-field advantage, regardless of their location or time constraints.

Plenty of room for all		On-Board Classroom/Training facility


Membership One on its maiden voyage in a New Mexico snowstorm


Pictured above, left to right are: Leon B. Davis; Richard W. Peterson; Daniel T. Bentley and Brian L. Donald
With its full complement of state-of-the-art transportation, navigation, communication, and computational devices, none are more qualified to serve as drivers and operators of Membership One than our own UTU members represented by the UTU Bus Department. Ready for the historic maiden trip was General Chairperson Daniel T. Bentley, of Local 324 in Seattle, Washington, where members work for Evergreen Trails, Inc. (Gray Line of Seattle). Due to last-minute change of plans, accompanying him on the journey would be Dick Paterson and Brian Donald, both of Local 324. The fourth member of the expedition, Leon Davis, an employee of Texas, New Mexico & Oklahoma Coaches, Inc. (Panhandle Trailways), is a member of Local 1697 in Happy, Texas. "Eventually, there will be other operators on the team," Davis said, "but right now, it's up to us to handle the break-in period and work out any kinks."