July 20, 2010 - The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF) attended the Elevator U Conference at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana on June 8 – 10, 2010 where release of the new EESF / Elevator U Safety program, Rise Up Safe Rider, was announced.

EESF and Elevator U not only care about maintaining the highest standards of university facilities management, but also about safety education available to college students.  These organizations wish to prevent any injury or death because of lack of elevator knowledge. 

Rise Up Safe Rider is a safety kit developed for university resident assistants, student government representatives, public safety officials, on-campus elevator shops and on-campus media such as the newspaper, television and radio stations. 

The safety kit, which is available by download from both www.EESF.org and www.ElevatorU.org, consists of a Planning Guide, safety posters for elevators, escalators and moving walks, a brochure, a radio public service announcement as well as an article and press release for student publications.

Rise Up Safe Rider program materials are user-friendly for malls, airports and transit systems, as they are generic in the safe riding rules with eye-catching graphics. 

EESF and Elevator U have been working together for the past several years to create a campaign for the university setting.  The pilot program was created by a Communication class at Michigan State University, who developed the initial components plus an entertaining video of students explaining safe riding methods.  EESF and Elevator U appreciate the time of those students involved, especially Kallie McConkie, who led the student team and Matt Wright, who served as the Elevator U coordinator with the team.  EESF and Elevator U also wish to thank Matt Rupp, EESF Marketing Committee Chair, Mike Ryan, EESF Chairman and Marketing Committee member as well as Stuart Rosebrock, C. E. Electronics graphic designer, for assisting in the final stages of development for print materials.  

The final program was presented at the Elevator U Conference, where each attendee was asked to take the materials to their universities, deliver the program and provide feedback. 

During the Conference, Elevator U supported the Foundation by allowing them to host a silent auction on June 9, 2010. 

Elevator U requested each exhibitor bring at least one silent auction item to be displayed in the exhibitor’s booth.  Conference attendees visited each booth to view and bid on the items available.  This gave the exhibitors a unique opportunity to interact with conference attendees and display their products. 

At the conclusion of the event, each exhibitor brought forward their item and the winning bid was announced.  The Elevator U silent auction raised $3,659 for EESF which will be used to help the Foundation achieve its mission. 

In addition to the silent auction, Glenn Duncan of Parts Specialists, Inc. volunteered to conduct a 50/50 raffle with proceeds to go to the EESF.  Duncan sold tickets for two days, collecting $1,402 from attendees and exhibitors alike.  The winning ticket belonged to Gary Schreiber. 

EESF would like to thank the exhibitors for their generous donations of items for the silent auction; everyone who bid on items; those who purchased a raffle ticket and the Board of Elevator U for allowing the event to take place. 

For more information about the Rise Up Safe Rider program, please visit the “Safety Education” page at www.EESF.org. For more information about the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, please visit www.EESF.org, e-mail info@EESF.org or call (251) 479-2199.

Rise Up Safe Rider University Program
An Elevator, Escalator and Moving Walk Safety Guide for University Students

• Aimed at students on university campuses – an at-risk group
• EESF’s newest safety program
• Developed with the help of university students and the Elevator U organization

Click here to download the Planning Guide
Click here to download the Elevator Poster
Click here to download the Inside Elevator Poster
Click here to download the Escalator Poster
Click here to download the Moving Walk Poster
Click here to download the Rise Up Safe Rider Brochure
Click here to download the Rise Up Safe Rider Public Service Announcement
Click here to download the Article for Student Publications
Click here to download the Press Release for Student Publications

National Elevator Escalator Safety Awareness Week - www.eesf.org
A promotion of Elevator, Escalator and Moving Walk safety for the public

• Celebration takes place the second full week in November each year
• Program developed to increase elevator escalator safety education awareness
• Program introduced in 1994 and since has expanded in virtually all locations to an audience of over 12 million riders
• Program expanded to include Canada in 2006
• Detailed “How To” Planning guide is available free of charge for volunteers
  
  Click here for more information about Safety Week.

The goal of this initiative is to create a strong Board of Regents to oversee the running of the Foundation from the perspective of the vertical transportation industry as well as those industries that rely heavily on the equipment.

Join us in the Recruit for Safety campaign!  Do you have an interest in helping EESF spread the word on Elevator and Escalator Safety? Do you know an industry member that would be a perfect fit? EESF is actively seeking nominations for individuals to fill the positions. Nominations for suitable board members may be sent to:

Don’t miss out on this rewarding opportunity!

The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was created by the elevator/escalator industry to develop and disseminate safety materials to the public in order to eliminate preventable accidents on the industry’s equipment. For more information, visit:  www.EESF.org

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Ashley H. Rains

To take advantage of these discounts, simply enter the code word “Elevator U” in the comments section upon checkout at www.elevatorbooks.com. The discount will be reflected after purchase.

For more information, or to order your subscription by phone, contact Brad O’Guynn at Elevator World:

Phone:  (800) 730-5093, Ext. 38

e-mail:  brad@elevator-world.com

October 20, 2009 - The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF) hosted its annual fundraiser on Sunday, September 20, 2009 during the UNITED Convention and Exposition in Orlando, Florida.  The event, a reception recognizing contributors, EESF’s founding members and the UNITED team, raised $25,901 to help the EESF’s mission to educate the public on the safe use of elevators, escalators and moving walks through informational programs.  Of this total, $1,470 is earmarked for the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation of Canada (EESFC).  The amount raised by this event will enable the Foundation to purchase materials to educate 92,503 children with the Safe-T Rider program.

The event was held immediately following the UNITED Presidents’ Reception.  Attendees enjoyed decedent dessert martinis, “magic” ice cream, various desserts and cocktails.  The Cordial Dessert Martini Bar, sponsored by GAL/Hollister Whitney and Innovation Industries, Inc. featured delicious combinations of creams, chocolate, coffees and liqueurs.  The Pure Magic Ice Cream station, sponsored by Canton Elevator, the Elevator Conference of New York and The Peelle Company, was a show and a dessert, as a liquid nitrogen blast created ice cream made to order in an array of flavors. 

Other sponsors include Silver Sponsors AFD Industries, Inc. and C. E. Electronics as well as Bronze Sponsors AEDARSA, C. J. Anderson & Company, Courion, Draka Elevator Products, EHC Global, Inc., The Elevator Radio Show, Leistritz Corporation, Maxton Manufacturing and Minnesota Elevator, Inc.

EESF displayed 17 signs throughout the ballroom – one for each year the Foundation has been supported by an annual campaign with a list of each campaign’s contributors.

During the reception, Rob Merlo, NAEC Liaison to the EESF Board of Regents, presented awards of recognition to EESF’s founding members – Elevator World, the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC), the National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities International (NAESAI) and the National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII). 

Awards were also presented to the UNITED team – the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA), NAEC, NAESAI and the National Association of Vertical Transportation Professionals (NAVTP, now the International Association of Elevator Consultants [IAEC]).  Each award was inscribed:

“The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation recognizes it’s Founding Members / the members of the UNITED team for your generous commitment of time, support and inspiration to educate the public on the safe and proper use of elevators, escalators and moving walks through informational programs.”

CECA and Elevator U each presented their 2009 campaign contributions to EESF at the event with CECA donating $5,000 and Elevator U giving $2,500.  The Foundation appreciates the continued support received from both of these organizations.

 The event was an excellent opportunity to network with fellow UNITED attendees and EESF members while being recognized by EESF for being an integral part of the mission of the Foundation.  Merlo served as the chairman for the Recognition Reception Planning Committee, whose members included Bobby DeFrancesco and Cornelius Walls.  The committee and EESF staff extend a special note of appreciation to the UNITED team – without them, this event would not have been possible. 

The event hosted 332 attendees with 16 companies in the industry as sponsors of the reception.  These sponsors typically support the Foundation throughout each year by becoming members, volunteering in their communities as well as sponsoring multiple events and fundraisers.  It is because of their giving that EESF was able to recognize the giving of others through the Recognition Reception.

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July 21, 2009 – On June 16, 2009, Elevator U supported the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF) by allowing them to host a silent auction during the Opening Night of the Expo hours. 

The EESF is the industry’s non-profit organization whose sole mission is to educate the public on the safe and proper use of elevators, escalators and moving walks through informational programs. 

Elevator U requested each exhibitor bring at least one silent auction item to be displayed in the exhibitor’s booth.  Conference attendees visited each booth to view and bid on the items available.  This gave the exhibitors a unique opportunity to interact with conference attendees and display their products. 

At the conclusion of the event, each exhibitor brought forward their item and the winning bid was announced.  The Elevator U silent auction raised over $4,000 for EESF which will be used to help the Foundation achieve its mission.  The EESF can purchase and ship Safe-T Rider materials to 16,000 elementary children with these funds. 

 L to R: Glenn Duncan (Elevator U), Terri Emmons (Elevator U), John Castano (Lift Solutions)

In addition to the silent auction, Glenn Duncan of Parts Specialists, Inc. volunteered to conduct a 50/50 raffle with proceeds to go to the EESF.  Duncan sold tickets for two days, collecting $1,450 from attendees and exhibitors alike.  The winning ticket was drawn and the winner was John Castano of Lift Solutions.  Castano accepted his $725 winnings which he graciously donated back to the Foundation. 

EESF would like to thank the exhibitors for their generous donations of items for the silent auction; everyone who bid on items; those who purchased a raffle ticket and the Board of Elevator U for allowing the event to take place. 

Dick Gregory looks over the auction items as raffle tickets are sold on the exhibit floor.

To find out how your company or organization can plan a fundraiser or for more information about the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, please visit www.EESF.org, e-mail info@EESF.org or call (251) 479-2199.

Some sad news which we learned about last Friday, our industry lost a great elevator man, John. W. Blatt. For those of you who did not know John, he was a kind, caring and compassionate man. Please take a moment to sign his on-line guest book and to read his tribute by clicking this link. It’s amazing to read about his accomplishments and how much he contributed to life! Both visitation and service will be held on Saturday March 1^st in Port Clinton, OH.