Tips for Traveling Smart this Summer

Summer is now upon us. Many people around the country will be traveling this summer for vacation. However, this year there have been some changes that all travelers should be aware of.

The biggest change for travelers this year is what is costs before your plane even takes off. On certain airlines fees for changing your flights are up, prices for carrying pets onboard a plane or sending an unaccompanied minor have increased, and the price of checking additional bags has also gone up.

If you are traveling with a lot of luggage consider shipping it instead of checking it.  With increases in fees to check additional bags, shipping luggage has become an attractive option for some travelers. 

A few other tips to consider:

Check the weather for your departure city and destination city before you leave. If storms are expected, sometimes you can change your flight to an earlier or later time to avoid delays. For current airport conditions and possible slowdowns check www.fly.faa.gov or www.tsa.gov.

Pack snacks or meals to bring with you to the airport. You never know for sure if the airline will have anything edible to sell, or whether your flight will be delayed long past dinner. However, remember that you can’t carry drinks with you through security. You can buy them once inside or bring an empty bottle to fill with water.

For more traveling tips visit this link to read the full Wall Street Journal article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121185173544121695.html?mod=djemPJ

Is Your Family or Business Ready for a Disaster?

Visit www.stargazer.org to download forms and organize your critical information in case of an emergency. This is a free site and its resources can be very helpful to make sure that you and your family or business is prepared.

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ESS Employee Appreciation Awards

On June 6th, ESS awarded many of its longtime employees at the Austin branch with certificates recognizing their service. We handed out 22 5-Year certificates, 5 10-Year certificates, and 1 15-Year certificate to Officer George Beasley. Thank you to these employees for their many years of hard work!

ESS Participates in the AAFAME “Adventure Quest”

On May 31st, Executive Security members participated in and helped to sponsor the Adventure Quest put on by AAFAME (Austin Area Facility and Maintenance Engineers). This event helped to raise money for the Angelheart Children’s Shelter.

Chris Toliver, ESS General Manager, and daughter Macy compete at Adventure Quest.

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ESS & Friends Participates in the Mighty Texas Dog Walk

On May 17th, Executive Security and Friends participated in the Mighty Texas Dog Walk 2008 in Austin. This was a fundraiser to benefit the Texas Hearing and Service Dogs’ Assistance Dogs for Military Personnel Program and counted towards an attempt to break a Guinness World Record.

Texas Hearing and Service Dogs is a great organization that trains dogs to assist Texans with hearing or mobility problems.  Visit their website at www.servicedogs.org.

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
“If a business is worth a dollar and I can buy it for 40 cents, something good may happen to me.” – Warren Buffet