Chapter Chats

Austin:

OSSN welcomes David Appleby as the newest OSSN chapter director! David will lead our new chapter in Austin, Texas. He’s a longtime Baptist pastor who organized many mission tours to Australia and other destinations before “semi-retiring” in 2005 and opening his home-based travel business. Congratulations, David!

(Photo credit: David Appleby)

Boulder:

Robin Paschall, the director of the OSSN Boulder Chapter, reports a good crowd at Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Louisville, Colo., for last month’s meeting with Happy Vacations! Lisa Larson (Happy Vacation’s rep) explained the company’s product line and travel agent sales incentives.

(Photo credit: Robin Paschall)

Houston:

Congratulations again to Jeff Grieder, OSSN’s longtime chapter director in Houston, on his new post as the association’s Midwest Regional Manager! Jeff will continue serving as the Houston chapter director while he works now with OSSN locals throughout the midwestern U.S.A. (During his tenure as director of OSSN Houston, the chapter has grown by more than 80 percent and now have more than 100 members!) Jeff began his travel career in May 2003 with a host agency, but he struck out on his own in 2004. For two years in a row, Outsmart Magazine in Houston has named him one of the area’s top travel agents!

(Photo credit: Jeff Grieder)

Mobile:

Marty Harris will serve as the organizing director of the new OSSN chapter in Mobile, Ala.! He began his travel career in late 1995 as an inside sales agent before striking out on his own in 2006 as a home-based agent. He joined OSSN in mid-2006, and now he’s starting a chapter in his city. Good luck, Marty!

(Photo credit: Marty Harris)

New York City:

More than 50 OSSN agents attended the first meeting of the OSSN New York City Area Chapter (pictured) yesterday at the Courtyard Marriott. OSSN President Gary M. Fee conducted a seminar titled “Setting Up Your Home-Based Travel Business” for the group. (Today, Gary will speak at the New York Times Travel Show in Manhattan.) If you’d like to attend your local OSSN chapter’s meetings, contact your chapter director. And, if you’re ready to organizing a new OSSN chapter in your area, call Gary or Melody at 941.322.9700!

(Photo credit: Gary Fee/OSSN)