GCLA Code of Standards Introduced

The Greater California Livery Association’s Bold Move To Define a Transportation Culture with Credibility

We can all agree that the pandemic allowed for an industry reset. In the early weeks of March, my team alongside the GCLA board of directors, decided this was our time to reimagine a “new” luxury transportation industry image and overall brand. As the predominant organization representing professional transport to the 40 million occupants of California, we decided we needed to ask more of our members. We determined the time was right to overhaul our admittance policies and create the first-ever Code of Standards. While membership-driven groups are in tough shape right now, marketing a more stringent policy was a bold move. We believe it is a good plan and adds credibility and cache along with value to our organization. Here are the new qualifiers to being a member of the GCLA:

1. Member agrees to properly license their business(es).

2. Member agrees to carry the legal amount of business insurance including vehicles and workers compensation plans according to law.
3. Member agrees to carry legal amount of insurance coverage for all outsourced / insourced work performed.
4. Member agrees to carry and maintain proper permits and licensing for the state or country in which you operate.
5. Member agrees to honoring all insourced/outsourced work agreements with the fellow association members, including timely payments.
6. Member agrees to handling all member-to-member disputes arising from any misunderstandings quickly and through the GCLA Ombudsman's Committee.
7. Member agrees to refrain from unfair badmouthing or denigrating the GCLA brand or its members or board including the mal-purpose use of Facebook, Linkedin and other social media platforms.
8. Member agrees to disclose any conflict of interest to the GCLA / Ombudsman Committee at the time the conflict is known.
9. Member agrees not to use vulgar language, intimidate, threaten or physically ( including legally or monetarily ) abuse another member(s).
10. Member agrees to keep current with association financial commitments.

The Greater California Livery Association’s Code of Standards and Ethics embody our collective goals for guiding our interactions with one another as businesses, and with the greater public we serve. While these standards are no easily measured, we believe providing examples, definitions and goals do go a long way in helping all of us achieve a higher standard of awareness of our thinking process and the related behaviors that are the result. In addition to the aspirational ethic concepts outlined below, the Four Pillars of Standards and Ethics are:
The Maxim RRFH:

Respect (for yourself and others as individuals and businesses)- A high regard for yourself and others, and the resources entrusted to them, are the key things to be aware of in your daily operations and conduct. An environment of respect builds trust, confidence and mutual cooperation.

Responsibility (for your actions and recognizing the actions of others)- Taking ownership for the decisions you make, or fail to make, and the consequences that follow- is a key element of trust. Others notice this and are more likely to follow your lead in an environment of honesty, solution-finding, and forgiveness.

Fairness (the rules should be followed because adherence or violation affects/effects everyone)- Making decisions that are balanced, un-biased, non-favored, and aligned with the truth of matters and facts.

Honesty (certain truths DO exist, can be discovered, and should be protected)- Accepting the call to be truthful and act in a truthful.

Continuing on with our evolution for a better tomorrow, we now have a process for handling member grievances. We want our delegates to feel protected and cared for. We want our trade association to shine bright as the beacon of hope.

The Bylaw committee presented these changes to the board on June 12th and received a unanimous vote of confidence. We are going to rise up and come out of this trouble time a better, more professional and cohesive group of business owners to be sure. I am extremely proud to be able to share this with all of you.

Stay strong and be encouraged. We WILL make it through this – together.

Yours truly,
Sara Eastwood-Richardson