ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- ASTA members in a nationwide vote rejected a
controversial cost-cutting plan that would have streamlined the
Society's operations by reducing both the number of elected
officials and chapters across the country.
Results released by ASTA headquarters show 855 members (61%)
voted against the referendum, while 539 (39%) voted for it. The
vote was conducted by e-mail.
ASTA president Richard Copland had strongly supported the
referendum in the face of severe opposition from a coalition that
included two former ASTA presidents.
However, in a press briefing after the vote, the ASTA chief was
conciliatory.
"The result was rather significant and decisive," Copland said
during the press conference. "It was democracy in action."
He called the voter turnout, about 20% of the membership,
"impressive."
Although the issue involved the arcane topic of governance, it
nevertheless struck a cord with ASTA members and ignited a heated
debate over how the Society should address its structure and
financial limitations.
Opponents agreed that ASTA needed to save money as its
membership and income have fallen, but they believe the plan was
the wrong approach because it would move the national organization
further away from members, driving them out of the organization and
fostering the creation of other local trade groups.
They also accused ASTA headquarters of rushing a membership vote
without giving adequate thought to alternatives.
Former ASTA president Phil Davidoff, who was part of a coalition
that opposed the reduction plan, said he was pleased that it was
rejected by ASTA's members.
"I have always believed that when the membership of ASTA is
given full information on both sides of an issue, they will make
the right decision -- and that's exactly what happened," Davidoff
said.
As approved by ASTA's board in December, the plan would have
reduced the number of chapters to 14 from 32.
The ASTA board was to be reduced to 19 members from 24, while
the number area directors was to drop from 16 to 7.
ASTA officials estimated the changes would result in $500,000 in
savings over two years.
The composition of the ASTA board also would have changed, as
three seats were to be occupied by board-appointed
directors-at-large, possibly members from consortia or major
agencies.
Copland maintained that for ASTA to fully represent all segments
of the travel agent community, it would have to make room at its
table for representatives from other agency groups.
"Our problem is fragmentation," Copland said. "That's why we
have not been as successful as we should be. We must be
unified."
But board member Linda Rawlings of Travel Advocate in Denver, a
member of the coalition that opposed the plan, said there should
have been more input from the Society's rank and file.
"We all need to make some changes -- and we don't need status
quo -- because this is a disaster the way we are going, but we need
to do it with a lot of input and we need to think about it,"
Copland said. "This plan was not the right plan."
Rawlings said the coalition would begin work on developing an
alternative plan.
Similarly, Copland indicated the issue was far from over.
He said ASTA's board would regroup and pursue a "Plan B" that
would include more input from the membership.
"I think [members] will support this," Copland said.
"I don't know how this is going to come out, but I will
definitely go forward.
"This is much too important an issue to let sit around for
another year or two."