Chapter Chats

Mobile

(Credit: Marty Harris)

Marty Harris (far right) -- the director of the new OSSN Mobile Chapter in Alabama – held his group’s very first meeting recently. In fact, most of the agents who attended had not yet joined OSSN, so they really benefited from Marty’s presentation about working as a professional home-based travel seller!

Memphis/Northern Mississippi

When the OSSN Memphis/Northern Mississippi Chapter began sharing marketing ideas during its May meeting, these agents couldn’t stop! Patricia Bannister, the chapter’s director (standing), led the group through an extensive session of brainstorming the best ways to promote their home-based travel businesses.

(Credits: Patricia Bannister)

The chapter opened its meeting at 6 p.m. with discussions over dinner, and these OSSN members were still talking past 8.45 p.m.! (In this issue of the “OSSN E-Agent,” you’ll find Patricia’s article sharing the best of their ideas.)

Orange County

The OSSN Orange County Chapter (Calif.) enjoyed the “Classic Hawaii Experience” last month!

They sampled coconut cake and island hors d’oeuvres in a flower shop (Regal Flowers), as they learned about the latest travel products and services available in Hawaii this year.

(Credits: Char Martin)

Chapter Director Char Martin (far left) organized the event, with the generous help of (l to r) Kathy Schugg (Hyatt), Ray Benevidas (Classic Vacations), Jodi Clifford (Marriott), and Diane Fraser (ResortQuest Hawaii).

Nashville

(Credit: Penney Rudicil)

These happy agents in the OSSN Nashville Chapter broke bread on May 21 at Caney Fork Fish Camp, one of the city’s most unique restaurants that offers “high concept casual Southern food!” Enjoying the meeting were (front, l to r) Cathy Humphries, Carol Hall, Brenda Wagers, and (back, l to r) Kevin Rudicil, Lisa Jurkonis, Penney Rudicil (OSSN’s Eastern Regional Manager), Karen Piper, Rick Smith, and Susan Schafer.

Austin

(Credit: Jeff Grieder)

David Appleby (far left) led his very first meeting as the new director of the OSSN Austin Chapter last month! Other chapter members joined David and OSSN Midwest Regional Manager Jeff Grieder (fourth from right) in planning the chapter’s future activities and growth. And, during the meeting, Susan Weber of Itineraries To Go (not pictured) won a free OSSN membership renewal!

RCI “Train the Trainer” Cruise

OSSN organized a special “train the trainer” cruise last month aboard the new Royal Caribbean ship “Liberty of the Seas.” Royal Caribbean sales executives led a workshop on the ship to prepare OSSN chapter directors for leading future travel agent fam cruises. Shown here (standing, far r) is Jill Hanlon, RCI’s home-based and online channel manager, teaching the directors how to present Royal Caribbean’s products during seminars at sea.

These OSSN directors clean up nicely! Enjoying Royal Caribbean’s hospitality are (seated, l to r) Midge Kramer (OSSN’s director in the Bradenton/St. Petersburg/Tampa area) and her husband Robert, RCI’s Jill Hanlon, Penney Rudicil (OSSN’s Eastern Regional Manager), and (standing, l to r) Karen Shipman (a member of the OSSN Memphis Chapter), Patricia Bannister (the Memphis chapter director), Tami Blanco (RCI’s director of sales, strategy, analysis and training), Marty Harris (the director of OSSN’s chapter in Mobile, Ala.), Jeff Grieder (OSSN’s Midwest Regional Manager), and Penney’s husband Kevin.

(Credits: Patricia Bannister; Bobbie Murphy)

Sharing cruise stories on this training trip were (l to r) Jeff Grieder, Tami Blanco, Jill Hanlon, Patricia Bannister, and Penney Rudicil. The OSSN directors on this voyage returned home ready to lead many new Royal Caribbean seminars at sea in 2007 and beyond!