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Travelers Aid International Gets Back to Basics

TA Group 15

Upward Transitions joined representatives from Travelers Aid member agencies from across the U.S. and Canada in our nation’s capital for the 2015 Travelers Aid International Annual Conference, June 17-19.

The “Back to Basics” themed gathering included daily informational and educational sessions focused on leadership succession planning, volunteer management, battling human trafficking, crisis management, partnership formation, and fundraising along with break-out sessions for airports, agency leaders, and social service members.

Upward Transitions’ director of volunteers, Periann Pulliam, said that although she networks regularly with volunteer program directors from a variety of local organizations, the TAI Conference is the only opportunity where she has face-to-face time to exchange ideas and share best practices with other airport volunteer program directors.

“Every airport program is different, but we all deal with many of the same challenges, and nothing can replace talking with your peers to view a situation from a new perspective or to get fresh ideas for your program,” Pulliam noted.

In addition to the daily educational sessions, the group was treated to a behind the scenes tour of historic Reagan Washington National Airport which included a demonstration of a runway “foaming” by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s Fire & Rescue Department. Airport operations personnel offered a peak inside the operations control center which monitors activity in every corner of the airport for security, weather, and airfield safety.

“The tour of the operations center was a great precursor to our session on crisis management,” said Pulliam. “I now have a better understanding of how airport operations make and communicate security and safety decisions and how our airport volunteers can better provide support during times of crisis.”

Thank you to the Barrington Scholarship Program for providing financial support which allowed us to send representatives to learn and network with our Travelers Aid colleagues.

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