President's Message
In his June 2 "newsletter," Peter Stilphen - who regularly writes articles about his famous "shrimp lady" - has tried once again to make OSSN one of his favorite targets.

OSSN Speaks Up!
Gary Fee and Melody Fee

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Mr. Stilphen's recent so-called "newsletter" contained an abundance of incorrect and misleading information in an effort to discredit OSSN and the TRUE identification program.

The TRUE program was established to identify agencies for the purpose of recognition by suppliers for commission remuneration to those agencies operating with a TRUE Code. The TRUE coding system was not established to provide travel industry discounts. The TRUE program has been widely recognized by suppliers, including cruise lines, tour operators, and major hotel and car rental companies as well. All agencies with a TRUE Code receive a TRUE CERTIFICATE, just as CLIA ID holders receive a certificate.

If agents operating an agency with a TRUE Code request to have their photo placed on their OSSN membership cards, OSSN offers them this option. The OSSN membership card is simply that - a membership card into this association that identifies them as an agency member of OSSN.

Whether a supplier elects to ask for the TRUE certificate or the OSSN membership card (which may contain the TRUE code and photo on it) to approve a reduced rate request, then it is that supplier's elective to do so. The supplier may request the TRUE certificate, just as it may request a CLIA certificate or a CLIA card. We have set the record straight with Peter Stilphen on this matter time and time again.

Contrary to his recent comments, OSSN does NOT support the MLM business model, and we do not have any MLM agencies within our membership base. Our “Membership Agreement and Statement of Liability” is clear on this policy. We and our legal counsel have contacted Mr. Stilphen numerous times with the reconfirmation on this fact, and he elects to ignore this proven information.

There have been times that OSSN executives have spoken in front of audiences that have contained members of so-called MLM agencies. We, just like executives from major tour companies and cruise lines, have spoken in front of many types of audiences to discuss the opportunities that our industry has to offer. And, the thing to remember is that many good agents have come into our industry from various avenues of introduction. They may have first heard about selling travel in a less than traditional method, but this introduction may have been what led them into our industry to become a successful seller of travel, either on their own or with a more traditional host agency. We have personally met many successful home-based agency owners who first found out about this industry due to an early affiliation with an MLM “agency.” These particular agents have gone on their own with a CLIA, TSI, IATAN, or TRUE code, or they have repositioned themselves with successful host agencies and they have become a great asset to this wonderful industry we are involved in!

Mr. Stilphen also makes an ongoing comment about OSSN accepting advertising dollars. Yes, we do! And, our OSSN Allied Supplier members love reaching out to OSSN travel agent members with effective marketing! They use the opportunity to teach and train travel agents. And, YES, our Host Agency members ALSO want to reach independent contractors to work with them through advertising! We are VERY supportive of the Host Agency model and are always ready to build awareness for host agencies who want to attract and build an active sales force for their agencies.

Mr. Stilphen questions OSSN’s decision to run OSSN as a “for profit” corporation. Apparently, he believes that a different corporate filing structure such as a “non profit” makes a better business model. There may be certain tax advantages for a nonprofit company, but what really makes a good company is the people running it. OSSN has an executive team that always has the best interest of our entire membership at the foremost of our goals. One would be hard pressed to find OSSN members who do not feel they get a great value in service and benefits for their membership price. Indeed, we feel certain that we will always go above and beyond in fulfilling the needs of OSSN's members. The communication between OSSN members and our executive team - including 78 chapter directors across the United States, plus four OSSN regional managers, in addition to a great marketing and advertising staff, webmasters, show management team, OSSN's news editor, and our TRUE Administrator - is what keeps OSSN at the forefront as an association focused on satisfying an important group of travel professionals - OUR MEMBERS!

The fact that Mr. Stilphen also recently attended an OSSN seminar presentation that included a discussion of the benefits of OSSN during the recent “Travel Agents of Color Conference” and proceeded to act as an “Unidentified Heckler” from the back of the conference room is surely another example of his tactics to discredit OSSN. While sitting in the back of the room and interrupting the OSSN director who was speaking about OSSN benefits and services (the presentation which she was asked to make by the show's organizers), Stilphen did his best to degrade the TRUE program and its acceptance by suppliers. Sadly, this type of tactic only makes one appear to be less than professional, overall.

In the end, the fact that Mr. Stilphen continues to publish erroneous information and fails to research his material would only lead to the conclusion that he has some unknown purpose in trying his best to discredit an association that is made up of thousands of great professionals who are networking, growing, and profiting in this fabulous industry. Based upon the wonderful comments written to OSSN's home office after his latest erroneous article was published, OSSN members believe it would be more “suitable” for him to continue writing about his “shrimp lady” saga, his original series of editorials.

Mr. Stilphen’s leading comments which try to compare OSSN with a card mill are truly the last straw attempt to discredit OSSN. With more than 7,800 travel agent members and 78 active chapters across the country, OSSN’s goals to continue to provide ongoing tools, educational opportunities, greater recognition by suppliers, and training to professional travel agents will move forward with the same deliberate pace we have kept for 20 years! OSSN is excited to be preparing for our 20th year anniversary as a major association in 2010! It is our professional members that have validated our excellent worth as an organization that continues to meet their professional needs. This has always been our goal, and we look forward to meeting these challenges and achieving even greater goals as a major trade association in the years ahead!

(Gary M. Fee is president and founder of the Outside Sales Support Network (OSSN), and Melody Fee serves as OSSN's executive vice president. They may be reached at info@ossn.com.)

(Credits: OSSN)