Vendor Information
Vendors are a huge part of the Oregon Public Transportation Conference, so it is important to us that your participation be a positive experience. We invite you to decorate your booth in the spirit of our theme,
“Transit—Sustaining the West.” It’s a mix of sustainability and the Wild West, so bring your cowboy hats and “green” supplies. We’re also adding an outside exhibit area so vendors can bring their larger buses. New ethics legislation passed during the 2007 session prohibits us from cash giveaways and raffles to individual public officials. We will still have the
passports string, but instead the great raffle prizes will go to the winner’s transit agency. This year we will have a golf tournament on Saturday, so load up your clubs and come over early, it’s a great opportunity to network with your customers.
For more details on any of these activities, please see details below or call Kelsey Wilson at the Oregon Transit Association, 503.636.8188 or e-mail her at
kw@oregontransit.com.
Vendor Schedule
Saturday, October 25
10:30 am Golf Tournament at Gearhart Golf Links
Sunday, October 26
3:30 – 5:00 am Vendor Set-up in exhibit hall (booths only)
5:30 – 7:00 pm Vendor Welcoming Reception (sponsored by Schetky NW)
7:30 – 9:00 pm Vendor Set-up in exhibit hall (move buses in*)
7:30 – 9:00 pm Vendor Set-up in outdoor exhibit area (buses only)
Monday, October 27
6:00 – 7:00 am Vendor Set-up in exhibit hall (booths only)
7:00 – 9:00 am Vendor Set-up in outdoor exhibit area (buses only)
12:00 – 1:30 pm BBQ Lunch in outdoor exhibit area
1:30 – 2:30 pm Vendor Expo
3:45 – 4:15 pm Break in Vendor Hall (cookies and refreshments served)
5:30 – 6:30 pm No-Host Happy Hour in exhibit hall
6:30 – 9:00 pm Showdown in the Old West Murder Mystery Dinner
9:30 pm Buses Depart exhibit hall (booths may leave but are encouraged to stay)
Tuesday, October 28
12:30 – 2:30 pm Awards Lunch
*Due to the layout of the Seaside Convention Center, we can’t have buses moving in and out during training sessions. The fumes rise and go straight to the classrooms. Sorry for the inconvenience. After a few years of trial and error we have determined that the buses must all be brought in at the same time and leave at the same time or it gets too logistically complicated. If you plan on bringing a bus for the indoor exhibit hall, please note the move-in and move-out times. The outdoor exhibit hall will be a little more flexible, but try to arrange to move buses during the designated times. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Golf
This year we will organize a golf tournament for conference participants on the Saturday before the conference begins (it starts on a Sunday this year). We would encourage vendors to join us at Gearhart Golf Links as it will be a great opportunity to network with your customers. Bring your rain gear and sunscreen, who knows what the Oregon Coast has in store for late October! Please fill out the golf registration form for each participant separate from the vendor registration form.
Passport
Each conference participant will receive a Passport at registration listing all of the vendors. Participants will be asked to visit each booth during designated Vendor Expo times to learn what the vendors have to offer. In exchange, vendors sign the attendees Passport. Participants who complete their passport will enter it in a drawing for raffle prizes donated by the vendors. We encourage vendors to contribute prizes that can be used by providers to enhance rider services. For example, in the past, EK Coaches has given away portable steps for passengers entering high floor buses. Another idea may be a pizza party for the office of the winning passport. With new legislation we are limited to prizes that benefit an entire office/agency rather than an individual.
Booth Décor Competition
This competition was a huge success last year and really jazzed up the Vendor Hall. Thanks to all the vendors that participated. The title of this year’s conference is
Transit—Sustaining the West. Conference participants will have an opportunity to vote for the booth that best fits the theme and you’ll get to display a big blue ribbon for “best in show.”
Outside Exhibit Area
In the past we have had to limit the number and size of buses vendors could bring into the exhibit area. With the new state price agreements, we think it’s important to provide more space for our bus vendors. To do that, we are opening an outside exhibit area. We will plan appropriately for weather and schedule events in this area to draw participants out.