Message from the Executive Director

A Message from NCTA Executive Director John Ward TIME TO LISTEN TO COACH

Fans of former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden work-from-home world expressed a desire to meet in person remember him not just for his stellar win-loss record and again as soon as safety would permit. admirable character, but for the plain and simple advice NCTA’s O&M conference in Durango, Colorado, presented he offered. Check out this gem: that opportunity. Unique attributes of the

“Do not let what you canconference venue allowed the meeting to not do interfere with what you can do.” be held safely and in full compliance with

As coal people, we have been learnColorado social distancing guidelines. Ining difficult lessons about adaptation for person attendees and their guests were also several years now. As the volume of coal able to take advantage of a wide variety used in the United States continues to of nearby recreational opportunities that decline, we are challenged to find new were open with full protections for visitors strategies to continue delivering value to in place. And the O&M program—which our stakeholders and support to the comoffers valuable content that can’t be found munities that depend on us. elsewhere—moved forward with a full and

At the National Coal Transportation substantive agenda. Association, we’ve already adapted in sevWith significant efforts by eral ways. We’ve increased the frequency NCTA’s all-volunteer O&M Executive and depth of our communications with Committee, and especially Program Comembers and policymakers. We’ve invited Chairman Kevin Johnson of Nebraska adjacent commodities to the table. (See Public Power District, the conference prothe last issue of Coal Transporter.) We’ve gram was reworked to support a “hybrid” revitalized our Waterborne Committee event. In-person participation by those and begun to increase focus on coal exable and inclined to travel to Durango was ports—both thermal and metallurgical— secured. Virtual tie-ins for other particias the balance of domestic coal production pants were provided. shifts in that direction. (See this issue of “Adaptability is being able to Is this the model for the future? Coal Transporter.) And we’ve begun to focus our conference programming and adjust to any situation at any Coach Wooden also said: “Adaptability is being able to adjust to any situation other educational offerings to support a given time.” at any given time.” Last March or April, workforce that will soon transition to a a YouTuber made a very funny video in new generation of professionals. –John Wooden which her current self conversed with her

Then along came COVID-19. last-December self, pointing out just how

Like every other organization, NCTA’s plans were immuch the world changed in a few months. A few months later, mediately affected as stay-at-home orders took hold in March. it was entirely different again. A few months from now, I expect Our spring meeting planned for Scottsdale was canceled and nothing less than more dramatic change. our popular Operations and Maintenance Conference was Like the healthcare heroes on the front lines of this panpostponed. We immediately began to study how others were redemic, as well as most other businesses and organizations, we’re sponding and to explore options for adapting NCTA programs. building our new airplane while we’re flying it. While we do so, We also did our best to listen to our members. we commit to remain nimble. We’ll continue to seek out the best

As spring turned into summer, it became apparent that ways to support the coal transportation industry’s policy and opersome NCTA members would be prohibited by corporate poliational objectives, providing quality educational opportunities for cies or personal situations from traveling for the remainder our members and other important audiences along the way. of this year. But other members afflicted by “Zoom fatigue” And we won’t let what we can’t do interfere with what we can. and the tidal wave of webinars that appeared in the new