In a referendum, members of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) approved a Bylaws change adding two voting…
In a referendum, members of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) approved a Bylaws change adding two voting at-large members to the Society`s Board of Directors. ASTA`s Board of Directors proposed the plan, with the approval of the majority of Chapter presidents, in order to make ASTA the representative of all segments of the travel agency community. The referendum passed by a vote of 1120 to 666 (63 percent to 37 percent).
As the representative of a unified industry, ASTA will now be better equipped to serve its members, said Richard M. Copland, CTC, ASTA president and CEO. Recent years have taught us that we all face common challenges and that we address them best when we work together. With the support and involvement of a wide spectrum of travel agents and agency representatives on the Board, ASTA is in an ideal position to meet those challenges for all of our members into the future.
Two at-large Directors will be chosen by the Board from ASTA`s Corporate Advisory Council (CAC); one of them will sit on the Board`s Executive Committee. Any Board member can nominate a candidate for an at-large position. At-large directors will be elected by majority vote of the Board and will serve one-year terms, with a maximum of two terms.
ASTA can only change its Board structure with the support of travel agent and travel agency members, said Copland. I am proud of the democratic process that brought us to this point, and I believe the past several months have shown the importance of ASTA within the travel agency community. Two proposed referendums have both been heavily debated, showing how much our members value ASTA. Now is the time for all ASTA members and elected leaders to pull together as a team to address the issues that face our industry, Copland continued. With the involvement of the CAC in the recent efforts to challenge ARC`s new voiding rules, we successfully won concessions to benefit agents. Now, with Board representation from the CAC, we look to strengthen our ongoing efforts on government relations, consumer awareness, professional and business development, education and the dissemination of vital industry information.
The mission of the American Society of Travel Agents and its affiliated organizations is to enhance the professionalism and profitability of members worldwide through effective representation in industry and government affairs, education and training, and by identifying and meeting the needs of the traveling public. The Society is the world`s largest and most influential travel trade association with more than 20,000 members in 140 countries.
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