Chapter Chats

Chapter News St. Louis

Nancy Baxter (center), the director of OSSN's chapter in Missouri, led a recent seminar titled "What Every Home-Based Agent Should Know" in St. Louis. Joining her for the event were (l to r) Sandy Shaner, Rowinna Drinkhouse, Cathy Cassidy, and Fran Colter.

Chapter News Chicago

OSSN President Gary Fee (far left) presents the "OSSN Outstanding Achievement Award For Extraordinary Service" to Rick Rosenfeld (second from left), the outgoing director of the OSSN Chicago chapter. Also pictured are Maureen Sullivan, CTC (the new chapter director in Chicago), and Jack Sullivan (the president of Sullivan's Travels, Inc.).

OSSN welcomes Maureen Sullivan, CTC, the new incoming director of the OSSN chapter in Chicago.

OSSN chapter in Chicago held a seminar on travel to Europe on Nov. 15 at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Brook, Ill. Speakers included Sandrine Pothier (manager of incoming services for La Collection Extraordinaire of France) and Larry Voelker (president of Euro World Holidays).

Chapter News Baltimore Grand Prize Winner

Janice Pollard won OSSN's grand prize drawing at the Home Based Agent Show in Baltimore this fall! She's very happy with her prize package: a brand-new computer, a new Web site from PrimaryHub.com, a subscription to the ClientEase database program, live supplier content from Passport Online, and e-marketing software. Now, she's ready to go building her home-based travel business!
Presenting the prizes to Janice are (l to r) Mickey Smith (president of PrimaryHub.com) and
Gary Fee (national president of OSSN).

Chapter News South Carolina

Scott Crowe (far right) -- the director of OSSN's chapter in South Carolina -- chats with students and instructors from the hospitality and tourism program at the College of Charleston and other invited travel agent guests aboard the Hapag Lloyd ship "Columbus" in Charleston, S.C.

Chapter News Long Island

OSSN agents in the Long Island (N.Y.) chapter gathered on Nov. 17 to hear OSSN Eastern Regional Manager Penney Rudicil discuss "Marketing for the Independent/Home-Based Agent." She shared many practical ideas for no-cost and low-cost promotions and advertising. In January, the Long Island chapter will meet in Farmingdale, N.Y., at the headquarters of Travel Impressions!

Chapter News Houston

OSSN Vice President Melody Fee (left) traveled to Texas to host chapter meetings in San Antonio (Nov. 29) and Houston (Dec. 1). Chapter directors Brenda O'Leary (San Antonio) and Jeff Grieder (Houston) co-hosted each meeting and (with their chapter members) gave her "a real Texas welcome," Melody says.

"I'm just totally into Texas now, and I can't wait to go back again! San Antonio was just a delight to tour, with its lovely Riverwalk area right at the base of the historic Alamo and the legend that surrounds its heroes, including Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie," Melody notes. Because the OSSN meeting took place only a few blocks from the Alamo, it offered a great opportunity for touring and enjoying the atmosphere of such a unique city. Royal Caribbean's Forest Yule addressed the San Antonio chapter and gave a great update on the cruise line's home-based agent Web portal and the fabulous "Freedom of the Seas!'

OSSN's chapter in Houston met at the popular Joe's Crab Shack restaurant for discussions with Melody and with Royal Caribbean's Lindsey Sirotka. With more than 30 members in attendance, the meeting was a great exchange of ideas and information. (Topics at both meetings included building group cruise sales in 2006, with an emphasis on developing incentive cruise sales business.)

Chapter News Inland Empire

OSSN agents in the Inland Empire (Calif.) chapter decide their dinner orders while simultaneously reviewing the latest itineraries from Norwegian Cruise Line. It's a tough choice! Pictured (l to r) are Nazlin Kassamali, Joanne Heale, Rhonda Shumway, Pierre Mainguene, and Loreene Orgoralini.

Barbara Sargent presents the cruise line's products to OSSN's Inland Empire agents at their recent chapter meeting.

Chapter News OSSN Show Booth

The next time you attend a travel agent show, keep your eyes open for the brand-new OSSN show booth! We're very proud of the professional re-design that will give OSSN a fresh look in 2006 and beyond.