Sundance alumnus Maya Leisure asking for help for our industry.
Maya Leisure
July 31 at 6:54 PM ·
Dear Congress, please save the motorcoach industry! They're responsible for more than you think. They help save the environment, by limiting the amount of cars/traffic on the roads and are Clean Burning! They also transport all branches of the military and bring in thousands of voters to your rallies. You required them to make all these expensive changes, retrofitting and buying new buses in order to stay in compliance. With these new equipment upgrades, and no income being generated because of the Pandemic, thousands of charter bus drivers are out of work. These bus companies we depend on are now stuck with the bill, and are ALL about to go out of business across the United States. Many of the smaller companies already have. They need your help - Now!
Motorcoaches Rolling For Awareness shared a link to the group: Motorcoaches Rolling For Awareness.
July 30 at 11:06 PM ·
The Coronavirus Economic Relief for Surface Transportation Act - or CERTS - has been introduced into the House by a bipartisan group of congressional representatives. We need to get the word out about how important this legislation is to the survival of our industry. As you did earlier with the Senate, please take a moment to click this link and fill out the form to send a letter to your representative. We and all of our fellow motorcoach companies greatly appreciate your help.
https://p2a.co/C7psGv4
P2A.CO
House Action! Support CERTS Act HR. 7642
Our industry needs assistance. Please write or email your congressional representative and senators in support of the CERTS bill now before the Senate.
WASHINGTONPOST.COM
America’s 3,000 bus companies make appeal for economic relief amid pandemic
Kyle DeVivo shared a link to the group: Motorcoaches Rolling For Awareness.
July 12 at 12:18 PM ·
Kyle DeVivo shared a link to the group: Motorcoaches Rolling For Awareness.
July 12 at 12:18 PM ·
Dave Millhouser is one of the old school bus guys who dominate our industry and he "gets it." Please share this explanation of why the motorcoach industry needs - and deserves - some real assistance.
MILLHOUSER.NET
Can't see the Forrest for the trees — Millhouser.net
Kevin R Creighton shared a link to the group: Motorcoaches Rolling For Awareness.
July 7 at 10:40 PM ·
Something to think about. What we do and have done...
Kevin R Creighton shared a link to the group: Motorcoaches Rolling For Awareness.
July 7 at 10:40 PM ·
Something to think about. What we do and have done...
As we mentioned earlier in the week, there is now proposed legislation that has been submitted to the Senate for consideration appropriating $10 billion in funding for transportation companies such as the motorcoach industry that have been severely affected by the crisis. We and our fellow motorcoach operations would greatly appreciate everyone reading this post to take one minute to click the link and send a message to your state's senators asking for their support.
https://p2a.co/9mw1Lxd
P2A.CO
Rally around S. 4150, the CERTS Act #RestartTheBus
In keeping with today's letter, here's a Way Back Wednesday post of Theresa from a company pizza and miniature golf event in 1989. That's Bob Simmons with her in both shots. Also visible in the second photo is Tom Doty (RIP), Dale Marks with his back to the camera and a young Don Young 😆 just to the right of Dale.
Thanks to retired Sundancer Dick Laycock for sharing these and a bunch of other photos from his days as one of our top drivers. Look for more of these pics in coming weeks.
Letters, we get letters... We're still in business and our drivers are still offering top-notch service. Thank you Theresa Bitondo!
"Our church had a wonderful time. THERESA, our driver, was so skilled in handling the bus and causing the trip to be without any anxiety going through mountainous terrain. She was very timely in meeting the itinerary and totally courteous at all time. We will request her for sure next time. Thank to all Sundance staff. You helped to make our experience a pleasant and memorable one.
The Fold Church
This week's Way Back Wednesday from the Dick Laycock collection features #415, a 1982 MC9, parked in front of a statue of Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox at the Trees of Mystery in Klamath, CA sometime in the late 1980s. According to Wikipedia, the statue of Paul Bunyon is 49 feet tall (the bus is 11') and is the tallest statue of him in the world.
https://youtu.be/Qk8EVJAiAT0
YOUTUBE.COM
The Motorcoach Industry Is Fighting For Survival! (Explainer Video)
Today's Way Back Wednesday photo, courtesy of Dick Laycock, shows the Nicest Man In The World, Phil Floyd, listening intently to instructions. Phil was famous for his outstanding customer service - so much so that we named an annual award after him, given to the employee who most exemplifies his commitment to making sure our customers have an all-around good experience.
2020 has been as tough a year as one might imagine. It's difficult to think in terms of gratitude in the middle of trials and tribulations so many of us have been dealing with for the past 8 months - so many of our people sick, so many deaths, the inconveniences and effects on our daily lives, the ongoing stress. That's why, more than ever, it's important to take a moment and give thanks to the relationships that matter most to all of us.
For us here at Sundance, what has always mattered most are the people. Our company motto is "We exist to serve our customers." But what's important to know is that the customers aren't only the people who pay money for a ride - each of us are both customers and servants to one another. So for a moment, in that spirit, we would like to take a moment to thank those people - some by name, many too numerous to name.
Thank you to the owners of the company - Dave and Stephanie Callender and Jim and Janet Seaton - who are the heart and soul of this enterprise. The only reason we've survived this long is because of the hard work and dedication and example set by these two fine gentlemen and their spouses. Particularly Jim, who has done so much these last several months to make sure we survived this long.
To the staff: Mike Feldman (Operations), Rosemary Dinh (Sales), John Zatzke (Shop Foreman), Greg Hanson (Safety), Kim Austin (Payroll, Benefits and company mom), Don Young (Accounting/Network IT), Jacki Wilson (Operations Assistant)
To the maintenance staff: Hoa Kim, A Lor, Jaime Garcia in the shop and Pedro Hernandez and Elicia Sanchez on the wash crew.
To our drivers: Lenny Papp, Theresa Bitondo, Robert Berkstresser, Steve Robinson, Francisco Rodriguez, Keri Belisle, Miguel Arvizo, Luis Chavez, Leland Clement, Jim Whitney, Tony Black, Ernie Ross,, Devon Lambert, Monica Mottola, Abel Rojas, John Campbell, Pablo Murillo, Daniel Cortez, Fernando Acosta, Art Gramata, Jose Garcia, Charles Jacobson, Octavio Yanez, Jonnathan Vilchis Carbajal, Joseph Montano, Dan Villa, Gloria Juarez and Marco Zepeda.
To our alumni, including Dick Laycock, Scott Blake, Tom Carpenter, Jane August, Rosie Aguirre, Barry Fennell, John Hogan, Robert Tucker, Maya Leisure, Gabriel Delgado, Jerome Reynoso, Sal Del Rio, Raul Ovalle, Bree Cholaki, Art Chew and too many others to name.
To our supportive vendors: Chuck Rowe (lawyer), Jeff Oman (CPA), Vicki Murphy (bookkeeping), Dave Dorr and Marshall Deems and the rest of the team at MCI, Tim Delaney, Bob Crecenzo and the fine folks at Lancer Insurance and TBI, Elizabeth Baker (uniforms); our industry partners in the United Motorcoach Association and the California Bus Association and our local "friendly" competitors; our law enforcement partners in the California Highway Patrol and the US DOT who keep us on the straight and narrow, and many others who help us along the way.
To our honored dead, who set the standards we all live up to: Frank Patton, Stanley Wright, Bo Wouk, Phil Floyd, Rick Walden, Floyd Hettich, Roger Brown, Jesse Gray, Delores Cochrane, Charlie Brown, Tom Dick and Mike Jones to name a few.
To the families, who supported our weird hours and last-minute dashes out the door, both sharing us and supporting this wonderful second family that has been so important to so many of us.
And, of course, we're very grateful for our many customers and partners who have booked or ridden our coaches through the years. Without you, we would not exist and we are grateful for each and every one of you.
Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!
Far Back Friday has #432, a 1987 102A3, reflecting near a desert water hole. Perhaps photographer Dick Laycock can tell us when and where he took this photo.
Most of this applies to Sundance too. Masks required, buses sanitized, air filtered and changed approximately every four minutes.
YOUTUBE.COM
Alaska Safety Dance
This week's Way Back Wednesday from retired Sundancer Dick Laycock is a newspaper article dated October 20, 1988 (your page admin's 24th birthday) from the Petersburg, Alaska "Pilot." A visit from a San Diego bus company was big news in a town of 3,200 people.
Happy Holidays to all of our team members, friends and supporters. Here's looking ahead to a better year in 2021.
Today's Way Back Wednesday post, courtesy of Dick Laycock, shows #410, a 1980 MC9 and the first coach Sundance purchased brand-new in (I'm assuming) Death Valley, CA. In your administrator's opinion, this was one of the best coaches we've ever had - a part of the fleet for about 30 years, it had well over 1,000,000 miles on it when sold and then continued to serve another SoCal carrier for many years after that.
Todays' Way Back Wednesday post, in honor of Kim Austin, shows Kim ready to help host the company's 30th Anniversary party in 2008.
Rest In Peace Kim. We will all miss you. 💔
It is with great sadness that we pass along the news of the loss of our Payroll and Benefits Manager and company mom, Kim Austin to COVID-19. Kim was a part of Sundance for 23 years and was the heart of the company who took care of everyone - payroll, medical and dental benefits, 401(k), the company Vegas trip and so very much more. We are heartbroken to know that we will never again see her smile and hear her infectious laugh. Rest In Peace Kim.
Below is information from her daughter Shvonne and son Austin.
Shvonne Perkins
February 23 at 3:28 AM ·
Today the world is just a little less shiny and magical. Our mom Kim Austin passed due to Covid19 related complications this afternoon. Here's what we want you all to know: We were VERY LUCKY in that we got to be there, in the room with her. We held her hands and stroked her face and played Spirit in the Sky on repeat for her. Austin Gastelum sang some songs and drummed for mom and did a beautiful musical prayer while we held Mom's hand. Once it was time for Mom to go, she went very quickly and without pain - her medical team made sure of that. Not one thing went left unsaid and she knew she was surrounded with love and laughter and acceptance. That is all about her death. What is the most important is her LIFE. Mom was everyone's best friend and surrogate mother/grandmother. She was sweet AND salty. She baked cookies like someone's grandmother and swore like a sailor. She was funny and sassy and the most entertaining person in the room. Her heart had room for EVERYONE. She did not know the difference between friends and family. She was, is, and will always be a gift to this world. Anyone who had the chance to know her is better for it. We know everyone will want to celebrate Mom and we will update you on how we can do that (maybe something safe remotely in the near future, and something bigger and more public when we are Covid safe). We love you all and appreciate the tremendous outpouring of support you've all offered us the entire time Mom was hospitalized.
A note from your admin. We aren't done yet.
Greg Hanson
February 22 at 7:58 PM ·
31 years ago last night, I got a phone call telling me "Aztec has shut down. Call Sundance at 7:30 tomorrow to get your assignment." I should be there right now - but thanks to COVID, I'm at home, commemorating that big turning point in my life from my home office, waiting until there are sufficient vaccines so I and my friends and co-workers can go back.
Let me just take a moment to thank Jim Seaton, Dave Callender, all of the fantastic people I've worked with over the years and the great clients we've been able to serve. It's not too often you can find an actual work "family," so I feel fortunate to have had that.
If you would like to help the family of Kim Austin defray some of the expenses associated with her passing, please click this link.
https://gofund.me/50759b70
GOFUNDME.COM
Kim Austin's Family Fund, organized by Shvonne Perkins
Today's Way Back Wednesday, again courtesy of Dick Laycock, shows #434, a 1990 MCI 102C3 in Death Valley.
This week's Way Back Wednesday shot features our intrepid Dick Laycock next to #431, a 1987 MCI 102A3, at St Mary's Chapel in Sedona, AZ approximately 30 years ago.
