Access ServicesVolume 5, Issue 23

July 6, 2012

Bob Lutz & Ed Begley with Jay Leno accepting his award

Rick Streiff, Mark Maloney and I recently attended the 2012 California Air Quality Awards at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. In addition, one of Access Services’ new compressed natural gas (CNG) MV-1s was also featured and given a prominent spot just outside the door of the museum as guests arrived.

Sponsored by the Coalition for Clean Air, the event honored a number of individuals for their contributions to improving the air quality in Southern California. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was given the Leadership in Government

Award for his environmental policies and comedian Jay Leno was given the Clean Air Leadership Award for promoting domestic green automotive technologies. During his remarks, Leno showed several video clips (http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/) that highlighted American companies and their automotive technologies. One of the evening’s highlights (at least for us) was a clip of an interview that Leno did with George Karbowski, Director of Operations and Maintenance for Foothill Transit, that featured Foothill’s Proterra zero emission bus.

Andre ColaiaceDeputy Executive Director, Planning & Governmental Affairs

Clean Energy Vehicle Recognized80 People…Take a moment and think about what the 80 People at Access achieve 24/7, 365 days a year. What we deliver is a significant life contribution to those we serve and their families.

We are:o a $122M firm serving 144,000 unique

customers that most people don’t think about in their life cycle. We serve approximately 9,000 trips daily, on a 24/7 basis.

o 80 supporting one of the largest population centers and land masses nationally.

o 80 serving the second largest paratransit nationwide.

o 80, a dedicated core team, tight, focused, tested, proven and dynamic!!!

Why all the facts? o Because there is a key element of ACCESS

that contributes to who we are…That is Our Drivers.

o A dedicated group of people who care, give, support, serve, help, and oversee the safe delivery of our customers.

OUR Roadeo, is not only a day in the sun, a day of fun, filled with hot dogs, family, fellowship, rubbing elbows, shaking hands and kissing babies.o This event challenges the best of our best,

honors their skills, creates pride, loyalty, a competitive spirit and heart.

o Our Champion is then advanced into a National Competition representing ACCESS.

o Our 2011 Roadeo Champion, in the national competition placed in the top fifteen…lucky 13th.

So, join us and make OUR Roadeo a success by volunteering to serve, party, participate and eat all the hot dogs you can!!!

Shelly VerrinderExecutive Director

Executive Report

Behind the Scenes

Dale Carnegie Training ………… 2PTSD Training …………………… 2Safety Blitz ………………………… 3Volunteer Driver Coalition ……… 3Glendale Abilty Expo …………… 4Rider Comments ………………… 4

In this issue:

One of the privileges of working at Access is that it promotes a culture of learning and encourages employees to take advantage of trainings that can maximize their potential. I along with team members Steve Chang, Rogelio Gomez, Marcia Velis and Meelissa Jarvis had the opportunity to attend Dale Carnegie’s training program on “Effective Communications and Human Relations.” I am thrilled to share that it was a wonderful learning experience for all of us!

On the very first day of the eight

week long training curriculum, we learned that we’d be stretched far beyond our comfort zone, and indeed that was the truth. During the course of the program, we gave several short presentations based on our personal and professional experiences. Coaching was given in a supportive and positive environment, and our very own Yvette Richardson was one of the volunteer coaches. During group exercises, we learned and applied Dale Carnegie’s principles on improving memory techniques, conversational skills and handling disagreements constructively. Similar to athletic skill-improvement that comes only with consistent and effective practice, we were molded during the entire series, to enhance our personal and professional effectiveness.

One of the interesting exercises was to develop goals in the areas of self-confidence, people skills, leadership, and stress control. These areas were re-assessed to evaluate our progress towards the end of the program. We

also enacted movie characters and advertisements with the intent to develop our animation skills, while learning to make our presentations more enthusiastic, which was fun! In addition, we all won various awards for Outstanding and Breakthrough performances.

In our fast-paced workplace environment, we often ignore the fact that there is much value in developing our personal skills and strengths. As Dale Carnegie once said, financial success is based 15% on professional knowledge and 85% on “the ability to express ideas, assume leadership, and to arouse enthusiasm among people.” We believe that the real value of taking the Dale Carnegie program is to actually live it and practice the principles. I know this experience has enriched me and my fellow team-mates, and we are grateful for that opportunity.

Geetu BanerjeeProject Administrator

Dale Carnegie Training

On June 27th Eligibility’s CARE Evaluators provided a training seminar on Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder (PTSD). This training was conducted by Leslie Martin, LCSW., who works in

the Trauma Recovery Services department at the West Los Angeles Veteran’s Administration (V.A.). The entire transit evaluator team of professionals from CARE Evaluators were in attendance along with the Eligibility and Mobility Management team from Access. Access appreciates such efforts of Access Eligibility’s, CARE Evaluators in providing their staff with additional educational opportunities to learn about various conditions that effect our population of applicants as well as customers who use our service. To date Eligibility’s CARE

Evaluators has provided their TE staff further education in the following areas:

June 2012 - Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder (West Los Angeles V.A.)April 2012 - Lupus (Lupus Foundation)March 2012 - Parkinson’s (USC Keck Neurological Department)February 2012 – Scleroderma (Scleroderma/Arthritis Foundation)

Geoffrey OkamotoProject Administrator

PTSD Training at C.A.R.E. Evaluators

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Some of the graduates: Marcia Velis, Rogelio Gomez, Geetu Banerjee & Coach Yvette Richardson

Gathering before the crack of dawn on June 26th, MV Transportation launched the June Safety Blitz. The topic for the month was “STOP Signs and Intersection Awareness.” On behalf of Access, I had the opportunity to attend the Safety Blitz.

The break room was decorated with colorful balloons and signs.

As drivers reported to work, they were greeted by MV managers with coffee and donuts. Drivers were given pens and “Think Safety bracelets” and a choice of an MV Hat or lunch bag. More importantly, MV managers used this opportunity to talk about Safety, reminding the drivers of all the potential hazards they face every day while crossing intersections and how they can avoid those hazards. The message was that safe driving is more than just how one operates the vehicle; it is being aware of the surroundings and the challenges presented.

Access’ San Fernando Valley Service contractor “MV Transportation” is committed to

keeping Safety as their number one priority and hosting Safety Blitzes like these is a great way to reinforce that message.

Faustino SalvadorOperations Supervisor

Safety Blitz

On June 21st, representatives from multiple Volunteer Driver Programs both within and outside of Los Angeles County met at the Access offices to discuss issues of best practices, crucial to the operation of these unique types of transportation services. This was the second meeting of Volunteer Driver Programs of LA County that Access had hosted and the center-piece of the meeting was a presentation by a Mr. Rich Smith, the founder of the Transportation Reimbursement and Information Program (TRIP) of Riverside County.

After the assembled members selected what the group’s name would be going forward: The Los Angeles County Volunteer Driver Coalition, Mr. Smith provided his presentation on his own volunteer

driver program that provides mileage reimbursement funds for TRIP customers who have a volunteer driver take them on trips.

Access is very interested in encouraging the development and growth of Volunteer Driver Programs in Los Angeles County as these programs provide a different and unique transportation option for County residents, many of whom are Access customers. Volunteer Driver Programs can be structured in such a way that customers not only receive transportation, but the driver can be a friend or neighbor who can provide assistance beyond what Access is able to provide.

The TRIP model of Riverside County is structured in a way that customers coming to the program, must have already selected the

person who they would like to drive them, be it a friend, relative and/or neighbor. When a trip is made, the customer fills out a form and TRIP sends to the customer a mileage reimbursement check, which the customer can then present to the driver.

In Los Angeles County multiple volunteer driver program models exist and it is Access’ hope that through these ongoing meetings Access can help these organizations grow and provide even more transportation services throughout the county. For further information on Volunteer Driver programs, please ask either Gilbert Garza or myself.

Eric HaackStrategic Planner

Volunteer Driver Coalition

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The city of Glendale opened their ‘Transport Ability Expo’ to an eager crowd of the community’s seniors and people living with mobility impairments. It was a day made to order for Access and other transportation vendors, providing an opportunity to inform and educate citizens who were unfamiliar with the Los Angeles bus system. The Glendale Expo also provided introductions to residents of other travel options, including Beeline, City, Checker and Dial-A-Ride services.The setting provided a family picnic atmosphere that included hot dogs and balloons and was held at the Glendale Amtrak/Metrolink Station, now named the Larry Zarian Transportation Center, in honor of the late Glendale Mayor. Presiding at the Access station was Operation Supervisors Christina Blanco and Gina Breceda, from the office of C.A.R.E. Evaluators, Supervisor, Edward Quintana, along with Senior Mobility Management Counselor Stephen Wrenn, and me.

As members of the Access family there was interrelated responsibility for each of our customers. Questions regarding safety were answered in a forthright and positive response. Where the clients relayed their fears in travel, together we assisted customers in discovering their independence in using public transportation. Ms. Blanco and Ms. Breceda displayed not only their usual professional attitude but compassion as they assisted persons in wheel chairs boarding various vehicles and not always an Access vehicle. Supervisor Quintana provided wheelchair securement explaining to each patron safety tips in marking and tether strap installations.The Glendale Transport Ability was a huge success in providing opportunities and benefits for older adults and people living with disabilities with travel options. The Expo facilitated local resources and information to help its’ members to maintain their independence and pride. Access also extends their gratitude to San Gabriel Transit for their assistance and for providing the vehicle that was used for staging at the event.

Erik WashingtonMobility Management Counselor

Glendale Transport Ability Expo

“Access has been a real lifeline for me... In the time I’ve used Access I’ve only had a few problems. I’d say about 95% of the time I get great drivers who are prompt, considerate, kind, caring, gentle, and mind the rules of the road (they even go over the speed bumps gently)... I’ve had several drivers who went out of their way to help me out utilizing the help fo the dispatchers. Everyone has been helpful when there has been confusion.Without Access and its thoughtful employees, my family and I would have a lot of fear about getting from here to there. Thank you for your valuable service!”

Kazuko, Northridge Rider since 2004

Rider Comments

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Access Services Consolidated Transportation Services AgencyPO Box 5728 El Monte, CA 91734

Tel: 213.270.6000Fax: 213.270.6055 Email: info@asila.org asila.org