EESF Holds Virtual AGM

The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF) held its annual general meeting (AGM) virtually on March 25, with approximately 15 in attendance. As attendees watched a PowerPoint presentation, Executive Director Shawn Cowden and Program Director Laurie Dueitt provided updates on various programs, sharing that visits to the “Safe-T-Riders” website for children increased in 2020, with 214,000 more visits than in 2019. With the pandemic bringing more youngsters online, this year, they said, visits are on track to surpass those in 2020. The program most negatively impacted by COVID-19 was the “A Safe Ride” program for senior citizens; and in another matter, EESF plans to rebrand its “Rise Up Safe Rider” program for college-age passengers. Strategic initiatives this year include building on the Safe-T-Riders program, developing a new brochure, revising bylaws, developing a disaster-recovery plan, organizing audit records and refining tradeshow exhibits to appeal to current and new donors. Other information shared was that the Toronto boat cruise fundraiser has been moved to 2022; National Elevator Escalator Safety Awareness Week is November 14-20; and the next AGM is planned in February 2022 in Mobile, Alabama, at a to-be-decided date.