Tom Byrne has joined the USO of North Carolina as Director of the USO at RDU. He comes to this position with exceptional skills for the job. Besides a long military career, he also has many years of experience in non-profit administration and mental health services.

With approximately 2,000 service personnel traveling through the RDU USO each month, Byrne is responsible for providing food and counseling for troops. His goal, and the goal of the all-volunteer staff, is to provide a little bit of home as the military personnel travel through. From phone cards to advice, Byrne doles it out with equal doses of humor and care.

Tom Byrne’s first point of contact with the USO was many years ago in South East Asia. As it provided a “brief respite from the chaos,” which is what he hopes to provide to service men and women heading to Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

It’s to his credit that within his first 90 days he has already had a visit from retired General Colin Powell. Byrne is responsible for outreach, funding and awareness in a 50-mile radius from the RDU USO. He plans to have monthly themes to promote giving to the USO, starting with Pennies for the Troops in November. In December, he will present a USO wish list and hope that Santa delivers. For more information about the USO of North Carolina or how to donate, visit http://www.uso-nc.org or call (919) 840-0941.

Starting January 1, 2008, RDU will be a smoke free facility. Under the terms of the ordinance to ban smoking at RDU, no smoking will be allowed in any airport buildings, including Terminals A and C, the parking garage and Park & Ride lots. Travelers will only be able to smoke in designated areas along the terminal curbs.

Smoke free indoor air policies protect the health of airport customers and employees by reducing second hand smoke. According to an article by CNN Money, eighty-six percent of air travelers surveyed are non-smokers. Also in a recent poll by Elon University, sixty-eight percent of North Carolina residents support a statewide law that bans smoking in public places. RDU joins a growing number of nearly 150 smoke free airports.

In conjunction with the new smoke free facility policy, RDU is also implementing an ordinance that prohibits littering of any/all organic or inorganic litter, refuse, bottles, cans, drink containers, gum, paper or plastic products, cigarette or cigar butts, trash, or other objects or materials that are unsightly. Additionally, it will be considered unlawful for any person in a vehicle to litter on airport property or operate a vehicle transporting loose materials at the airport.