Parking - April 2010 - 5

Volume 49, Issue 3 April 2010
Parking Magazine
800-647-PARK 202-296-4336 Fax 202-296-3102 www.npapark.org info@npapark.org Publisher John L. Fiegel, CAE Managing Editor Denise Gable Design TGD Communications

Chairman’s Update Herb Anderson
2010 Oﬀ to a Flying Start
Well, it has been an interesting start to 2010. Pigs have flown and hell has clearly frozen over because my hometown New Orleans Saints, the renowned NFL underdogs, won the Super Bowl in Miami on February 7. As a child in 1967, my parents took me to the first Saints game ever played, and never could I have imagined it would be 21 years before the team would see a winning season and 43 years until a Super Bowl victory. While I live in Vancouver today I still watch every Saints game and then spend hours analyzing the games with my friends and family back in New Orleans. It can be argued that we tend to overplay the significance of sports and its cast of characters; we often glorify men and women athletes, and then are disappointed when they let us down. While I am particularly prone to being caught in the fever and hype of sporting events, being at the Super Bowl this year watching MY team win was an emotional experience on a different level. Yes, I have suffered through 43 mostly miserable Saints seasons so the victory was especially sweet, but this team represents much more to the community of New Orleans than just wins and losses. Like much of the New Orleans community, I grew up with this team, as has my wife, brother and sister, and we collectively introduced a new generation of sons and daughters to the passion of supporting the Saints. When Hurricane Katrina devastated the City of New Orleans we all wondered if the community would ever be restored to its former self. The Saints were a visible sign of an uncertain future; with the Super Dome under renovation, the Saints played in San Antonio and many wondered if they were gone forever. The concern was fueled by questions as to whether New Orleans would again reach the critical population level that could support an NFL team, and the failing negotiations between the state and the team to extend the Super Dome lease. Through all of this, a young man with an injured shoulder who was discarded by his previous team was weighing his options for a continued quarterback career. As shocking as it sounds today, Drew Brees had only two options open, and Miami would have appeared to be a safer choice. After visiting the city of New Orleans however, and witnessing the devastation first-hand, he felt he could make a difference, and his decision left its mark at the Super Bowl in February. I have had the opportunity to meet Drew Brees and it is clear he is an impressive individual, and his resolve has played a significant part in the rebuilding of the community. The city of New Orleans is on the rise; there is a feeling that anything is now possible, and this is only partly due to Super Bowl success. New Orleans just elected a new mayor, Mitch Landrieu, who, I am confident, will lead the city to a bright future. Mitch is a man of integrity and a smart, vibrant visionary, and with a new city council led by Arnie Fielkow, Jackie Clarkson and Susan Guidry, the city of New Orleans will reach heights that no one could image. Just like the New Orleans Saints winning the Super Bowl!
Herb Anderson is chair of the National Parking Association and president, CEO and chairman of the board of Impark, based in Vancouver, BC. He can be reached at handerson@impark.com.
www.npapark.org PARKING April 2010

Ofﬁcers
Chairman Herb Anderson Immediate Past Chairman Andrew Blair Chair-Elect Jed E. Hatﬁeld Vice Chairman Mark Muglich Vice Chairman Robert Zuritsky Vice Chairman Alan Kahn Treasurer Jeff Wolfe Secretary Tim Leonoudakis

NPA Staff
Interim President John L. Fiegel, CAE Vice President, Events and Business Development Patricia A. Langfeld Vice President, Communications Denise Gable Vice President, Membership and Marketing Andrea H. Bryan Controller Rebecca M. Krzywicki Ofﬁce Manager/Executive Assistant Jennifer N.Harrison Legal Counsel Michael Stevens, Arent Fox LLP

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Parking - April 2010

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