U.S. Travel Association, Washington, supports an amendment by Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) to S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, that would help reduce wait times for both international visitors and domestic travelers at major U.S. gateway airports. The amendment requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and implement a plan to reduce by 50 percent the primary processing wait times at large international airports of entry served by U.S. Customs and Border Protection by the end of fiscal year 2014. Also, the plan requires screening all air passengers at these airports be limited to 30 minutes under normal operating circumstances by the end of fiscal year 2016. Details: ustravel.org.

Industry leaders from eight plastics associations will hold a joint fly-in to D.C. on July 24. The associations are American Chemistry Council, American Mold Builders Association, International Association of Plastics Distribution, Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association, Plastic Pipe Institute, SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, Vinyl Institute and Western Plastics Association.

Endocrine Society will move from Chevy Chase, Md., to 2055 L St., NW, 6th floor, Washington, in February 2014.

American Humanist Association, Washington, filed suit in federal court against the city of Lake Elsinore, Calif., to stop it from funding the construction and display on public property of a monument depicting a soldier kneeling in prayer before a Christian cross. The city approved the design and funding, $50,000, of the monument in November of last year but has yet to complete its installation at the city-owned baseball stadium.

American Evaluation Association hired SmithBucklin for full-service management. AEA's headquarters will relocate from Fairhaven, Mass., to SmithBucklin's D.C. office. AEA has about 7,700 members in the U.S. and more than 60 other countries. Details: www.smithbucklin.com.

Thomas Freeley, previously CEO of a Virginia-based association management company, will be CEO at association management firm McKay Management, Birmingham, Ala. Freeley will succeed Joe McKay, who is retiring. The firm manages 70 associations in Alabama. It is a division of Dallas-based Associa. Details: www.mckaymanagement.com.

Patrick Steele, from senior developer, SRT Solutions, to senior .NET developer, Billihighway, Troy, Mich., a financial management provider for nonprofit organizations. Details: www.billihighway.com.

Freeman, Dallas, has launched FreemanXP, which, combines the marketing groups of Immersa Marketing, Digital Solutions, Freeman Creative and EventMark. The new division will offer event strategy, experience design, program management, production, digital & social media integration, entertainment marketing and measurement solutions. Freeman also launched FXP I cloud, a social engagement platform that allows clients to host integrated online events. Details: freemanexp.com.

National Business Aviation Association COO Steve Brown was recognized by Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, or RTCA, Washington, with the 2013 Chairman's Award, the organization's highest honor. The award recognizes an individual's longstanding contributions toward promoting RTCA’s goals in its work on new policies and technologies affecting the aviation community. Brown's work with the organization spans more than 20 years, including participation on the RTCA Policy Board, the Free Flight Steering Committee, and as subcommittee co-chair on the NextGen Advisory Committee. Details: www.rtca.org.

The Venable law firm is one of 14 firms recognized in the not-for-profit category in the Legal 500 2013 rankings. The firm also was one of six firms ranked in Tier 2. The practice was recognized for being a “‘very strong’ group [with] ‘tremendous depth,’ and an ‘excellent value for nonprofits’.” Jeffrey Tenenbaum, chairman of the firm’s Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group, was again designated a “Leading Lawyer” in the field. Tenenbaum is a frequent contributor to TRENDS and one of the nation's leading nonprofit attorneys. Other key leaders in the Venable group noted by Legal 500 include Brock Landry, who focuses on trade associations, and Robert Waldman, who focuses on charities and foundations. Also mentioned were George Constantine, who focuses on contracts, tax, antitrust, governance and political activity matters, and Lisa Hix. With more than 600 nonprofit clients nationwide, Overall, Legal 500 noted 59 Venable attorneys who received 62 placements in 15 practice groups in its 2013 rankings. Details: www.venable.com.

Brittany English Carter, marketing manager for Columbia Books & Information Services, the parent company of Association TRENDS, was named the 2013 Rising Star Award recipient of the Specialized Information Publishers Association at a gala event last week in Washington. Details: www.sipaonline.org.