One Voice for Travel Agents 2017 ASTAPAC Annual Report
Giving is Easy! ASTA.org/Donate or text “ASTAPAC” to 71777
The American Society of Travel Agents Political Action Committee (ASTAPAC) is a special fund established under federal election laws to allow ASTA to collect voluntary contributions from travel agent members for the purpose of supporting political candidates and parties. ASTAPAC has been raising the Society’s political profile since 1979.
Our advocacy successes are thanks to the travel agents and agencies who contribute to our PAC program.
Letter from the Co-Chairs Dear Valued ASTA Members: As Co-Chairs of ASTA’s Government & Political Affairs Committee, we are proud to report that 2017 marked a milestone fundraising year for ASTAPAC. Last year, ASTAPAC raised $230,392, marking the second time we have broken through the two-hundred thousand dollar mark. Even more heartening, 2017’s fundraising totals represent an increase of 147% over our fundraising totals from just four years ago. Eleven of ASTA’s 26 chapters exceeded their fundraising goals. It was also fantastic to see 17 chapters raise more PAC funds in 2017 than in 2016. This success is not by chance. Our members clearly recognize that ASTAPAC is a critical tool in the Association’s advocacy arsenal. It allows us to pool resources, engage in the political process and influence public policy. Thanks to strong support from ASTA chapters and members across the country, we are in a better position than ever before. As the 2nd session of the 115th Congress begins, the relationships cultivated on Capitol Hill by ASTA headquarters, ASTA chapters and members using ASTAPAC resources will be invaluable. ASTA is being invited to “sit at the table” on a broad range of issues which will affect each and every one of our businesses.
For 2018, the Government & Political Affairs Committee, which oversees both ASTAPAC and ASTA’s government affairs agenda, is focused on the education and recruitment of ASTA members for our political advocacy efforts. In particular, we hope to increase our PAC participation rate to 30% of eligible members in 2018 (from 25.2% in 2017). In Washington, DC, PAC size matters! Contributions to ASTAPAC are essential as we advocate for our members, our businesses and our clients. ASTA has over 2,500 active member companies – we have the numbers to be heard on the Hill. And with more contributors, we can do better – for our members, our clients and our profession. We look forward to building on our success and encourage you to make 2018 the year you take your involvement beyond writing a check or donating online. Please respond to ASTA grassroots alerts for e-mails and phone calls to members of Congress and state legislators, volunteer to testify before state legislative committees or represent ASTA at fundraisers for Members of Congress in your district. Most importantly, encourage your fellow ASTA members to make an investment in travel agent advocacy through ASTAPAC. Our heartfelt thanks to all who donated in 2017. Your contributions inspire us to advocate tirelessly for the travel agency industry and the travel consumer at all levels of government.
With Warm Regards, The Co Chairs
JENNIFER WILSON-BUTTIGIEG 2017 Co-Chair, Government & Political Affair Committee Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc. New York, NY
CHRIS SEDDELMEYER 2017 Co-Chair, Government & Political Affair Committee Travel Concepts Lima, OH
ASTAPAC Annual Report 2017–1
2017 Government & Political Affairs Committee Co-Chairs JENNIFER WILSON-BUTTIGIEG Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc. 35th Floor New York, NY 10016 Phone: 212-592-1210 jenniferwb@vwti.com
CHRIS SEDDELMEYER Travel Concepts 334 Ponderosa Trail Lima, OH 45805 Phone: 419-222-2121 chris@travelconcepts2121.com
Members LES BURGER Ladera Travel 325 Sharon Park Drive, Suite D5 Menlo Park, CA 94025 Phone: 650-854-3222 les@ladera.travel
BRIAN CHAPIN Ensemble Travel Group 950 N. Michigan Av. Suite 3604 Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: 312-951-7494 bchapin@ensembletravel.com
NORA FAIFER Altair Travel & Cruises 6160 Treeridge Trail St Louis, MO 63129 Phone: 314-968-9600 norafaifer@altairtravel.com
NATALIE VOLIN LEHR Carlson Wagonlit Travel 701 Carlson Parkway, Suite 1500 Minnetonka, MN 55305 Phone: 763-762-2275 Natalie.VolinLehr@carlsonwagonlit.com
MICHAEL HANSON Sabre 1250 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 825 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 202-467-8203 Michael.Hanson@sabre.com
DREW DALY World Travel Holdings 1201 W Cypress Creek Suite 100 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 Phone: 954-958-3614 ddaly@wth.com
JOHN F. HASKINS Viking Travel Service 610 N Washington St Naperville, IL 60563 Phone: 630-983-1766 jhaskins@vikingtvl.com
KATE MURPHY Wings Travel Group 702 DeKalb Pike Bluebell, PA 19422 Phone: 215-628-3322 KateM@WingsTrips.com
DEBORAH S. MANGAS, CTC,ACC Menno Travel/American Express 210 S Main St Goshen, IN 46526 Phone: 574-534-1521 deb@mennotrav.com
MARY PETERS Friendly Travel 1506-D Belle View Blvd Alexandria, VA 22307 Phone: 703-768-6020 mary@friendlytravelonline.com
ISAAC “IKE” REYNOLDS Reynolds Travel, Inc. 8934 Commerce Loop Dr Columbus, OH 43240 Phone: 614-847-8008 ike@reynoldstravel.net JORGE SANCHEZ Mena Tours/American Express 5209 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL 60640 Phone: 773-275-2155 jorge@mena.travel MARILYN BELL ZELAYA Willow Glen Travel Agency 1275 Lincoln Ave San Jose, CA 95125 Phone: 408-298-0136 willowglentravel@earthlink.net
Ex-Officio(s) JAY ELLENBY Safe Harbors Business Travel, LLC 126 S. Main Street Bel Air, MD 21014 Phone: 800-344-5656 Ext. 1408 jellenby@safeharbors.com
DAVE HERSHBERGER Prestige Travel/Travel Leaders 9895 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, OH 45242 Phone: 513-793-6586 dave@prestige-travel.com
ZANE KERBY ASTA 675 North Washington St., Suite 490 Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-739-6804 zkerby@asta.org
Staff Liaisons EBEN PECK ASTA 675 North Washington St., Suite 490 Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-739-6842 epeck@asta.org
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GENEVIEVE STRAND ASTA 675 North Washington St., Suite 490 Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-739-8711 gstrand@asta.org
ASTAPAC Fundraising Growth
Thanks to strong support from our members and member companies, the PAC reached new heights in 2017, increasing by $119,320 (or 147%) between 2013 and 2017. According to OpenSecrets.org, ASTAPAC is now the sixth largest PAC in the travel and tourism sector, behind only the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the U.S. Travel Association, Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association.
ASTAPAC Annual Report 2017–3
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ASTAPAC Annual Report 2017–5
How Does ASTAPAC Decide Which Candidates to Support? Deciding which candidates to support in a given year is a process involving the Co-Chairs and members of the Society’s Government & Political Affairs Committee and ASTA’s Government Affairs staff. Staff analyzes and interprets Congressional voting records and is able to pinpoint who is who in the area of travel and tourism policy and who best understands and supports the travel agency industry. Among the criteria used by the Government & Political Affairs Committee to determine which candidates to support are the following factors: 1) Is the candidate sympathetic to the goals of travel agents? Has the candidate supported specific proposals or policies advanced by the industry? 2) If an incumbent, does the candidate hold a key position of responsibility (i.e. chair or member of important committee or subcommittee; member of majority or minority leadership)?
For a complete list of 2017 ASTAPAC contributions, please contact Genevieve Strand at gstrand@asta.org.
3) If a nonincumbent, will the candidate pursue assignment to a key committee or subcommittee, or likely to be in a position to assist the profession?
ASTAPAC makes financial contributions to candidates for Federal office, regardless of party affiliation. We do not support candidates in state and local elections, nor do we engage in presidential politics.
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It is worth noting that a campaign contribution through ASTAPAC is not a means of buying votes. It is a “no strings attached” way of ensuring that responsible and dedicated legislators who understand and support the travel agency industry remain in or are elected to office.
2017 ASTAPAC Charitable Match Program Since 2010, ASTA’s Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) has funded the ASTAPAC Charitable Matching Program, which provides chapters who reach PAC fundraising and participation goals with matching funds to the charity of their choice. The goal of the program is twofold: to stimulate PAC fundraising and support ASTA’s advocacy work while allowing our chapters to give back to their local communities. Below are the chapters who qualified for matching funds based on 2017 fundraising.
$1,500 in matching funds for the first five chapters to hit their fundraising goal:
• • • • •
Midwest Long Island Carolinas Mid America Southeast
$750 in matching funds for the next five chapters to hit their fundraising goal:
• Hawaii • Arizona • Southeast $1,250 in matching funds for the five chapters with the best participation rates:
• • • • •
Midwest (37.8%) Long Island (34.3%) Southeast (33.8%) Mid America (21.3%) Hawaii (15.4%)
$500 in matching funds for the next five chapters with the best participation rates:
• • • •
Orange County (12.3%) Arizona (10.8%) New Jersey (9.4%) Southern California (8.6%)
Prerequisite
To qualify for charitable matching funds, a chapter must have an overall chapter participation rate of at least 7.5 percent, with minimum total fundraising within the chapter of at least $1,000.
$500 in matching funds for the most-improved chapter measured by percentage increase in total fundraising from 2016 to 2017
• Orange County (395% increase) • New Jersey (145% increase) • Mid America (23% increase) $250 in matching funds for five the mostimproved chapter measured by total overall funds raised in from 2016 to 2017
• Orange County ($7,768 increase) • Mid America ($2,711 increase) • New Jersey ($1,883 increase) $250 in matching funds to each chapter meeting the prerequisite:
• • • • • • • • •
Arizona Hawaii Long Island Mid America Midwest New Jersey Orange County Southeast Southern California
ASTAPAC Annual Report 2017–7
2017 Donor List SUPERNOVA $5,000 ASTA Corporate Advisory Council ASTA Midwest Chapter BCD Travel Commonwealth Business Travel Group Enterprise Holdings Inc. PAC Jackie Friedman Roger Hale John Haskins John Lewis Sabre PAC Signature Travel TravelStore, Inc. Matthew Upchurch Virtuoso NOVA $1,000 to $4,999 Eric Altschul ASTA Arizona Chapter ASTA Central Atlantic ASTA Mid America Chapter ASTA Orange County Chapter James Bailey Gloria Bohan Lisa Buckner Cheryl Bunker Joshua Bush Matthew Cameron Marc Casto Conlin Travel CTS Systems Donna Daniels Michael Dixon Bob Duglin Fox World Travel Troy Haas Bill Haire Margaret Haskins Pamela Irwin Denise Jackson Zane Kerby Amanda Klimak Geoffrey Landis Cathie Lentz-Fryer LUXE Travel Management Eric Maryanov Lauren Matthews Steve Orens Ovation Travel Group, Inc. Vicki Powell Libbie Rice Stuart Rotherberg John Smith Susan Spain Special Needs Group, Inc. Jim Strong
Lee Thomas Travel and Transport, Inc. Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg Marilyn Zelaya Rick Zimmerman Governor’s Club $501 to $999 Rick Ardis ASTA Hawaii Chapter Philip Banks Roger Block Patricia Buckholt Ann Chamberlin Brian Chapin Jay Ellenby Ernest Held Dave Hershberger Alan Hess Ernesto Lavandero Ted Lawson Jenn Lee Walter Lee Debra Masters Mark Meader Merit Travel Group Eben Peck Mary Peters Helen Prochilo Eric Reader Doug Risser Jorge Sanchez Chris Seddlemeyer John Smith Gloria Stock Mickelson Charles Sturm President’s Club $250 to $500 Craig Baldridge Fred Bursch Bill Coyle Andrea da Rosa Jose da Rosa Leila Dada Drew Daly Christopher Dane Nora Faifer Betsy Geiser Tamara Golden Wendy Goodenow Jeff Gregory Richard Haymaker Cheryl Hudak Joanne Hunt Scott Koepf Toni Lanotte-Day Dan Lekki Peter Lobasso David Lovick Deb Mangas
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Ann Marie Moebes Kate Murphy Beth O’Donnell Olga Ramudo Patrick Reynolds Deanna Richert Laura Rodriguez Mary Siefert Marie Smith Genevieve Strand Jennifer Walker Ann Waters Team 100 $100 to $249 Karen Adamitis Susan Aft Mary Allen Agbayani Raju Ahmed Cynthia Albright Marilyn Allegra Lesley Ames Nick Amin Angel Anger Ignacio Arellano ASTA Orange County Chapter Kathryn Ayala Bernice Bakely Barbara Baker Ruth Banas Amy Barnhill Randi Becker Kelly Bergin Kendra Berke Thorton Susan Biver Amy Boche Gloria Bochenski Lucy Borokowski Michele Boyd Colleen Brechon Christine Brockwell Cindy Brown Les Burger Paul Busang Donald Buynack Donna Campbell Peter Carideo Juan Carrillo Patti Cash Anthony Cimino Barbara Columbo Donna Cooper Audrey Cooper Tony Cosenza Joann Costagiola Cynthia Cunningham Gary Da Rosa Gavin Da Rosa Csilla Dali Patti Daniel Claudia Darling Richard Darling
Laura Davis Cynthia Erikson Jane Essenburg Jillian Everhart Lynn Farrell Janine Ferko Sandi Ferreira Dick Fislar Mary Pat Flanaghan Carole Formento Marilyn Fredericks Sharon Fritz Pat Fulton Linda Furlan Jo-Marie Galaga Joanne Gardner Diane Gelaude Joanne Giampa Judy Gibbs Betty Given Rajib Goyal Donna Greenwald Joan Grossman Jesse Guerra Avril Guinn Nita Haas Marie Hagar Robert Hale Lisa Hale Judy Hall Darrellynn Hanes Gail Hannon Ardeen Harris Amy Hartline Gywn Hayes John Heimburger Miriam Hernandez Angie Hill Carole Hoffman Tama Holve Elizabeth Hoppe Marion Huiberts Janice Ierulli Dan Ilves Barbara Jathas Carol Kalisz William Kauke Kim Kelly Susan Kelly Shawn Kendall Judy Keslik Ken Kimi Ilene Koenig Deb Kolnick Debra Kopeshke Linda Kozan Nancy Kozlowski Mary Krueger Cornelia Kruse Darcy Lard Kimberly Launer Wayne Lee Carol Lekki
Aggie Lewis Kim Linda Marilyn Lindberg Theresa Lock Rosaria Longobardi Judith Louis Cynthia Lucking Laura Lukasik Andrew Lukasik Gerald Mack Shari Mardis Judy Marshman Cynthia Maynard Barbara Mazzola Joseph Mazzola Carol McConnell Rebecca McKay William McLeod Maria Merlos Raymond Miyashiro Anatalia Montano Mark Moorehead Julie Morgeson Eugene Nicewonger Dennis Niernkerk Jane Norman Jeanette Ouetel Virginia Peterson Russell Pickett Barbara Pokornowski Angela Porter Ingrid Price Griffin Price Debra Quinn Tresa Reed Amy Reetz Mary Reporto Mary Margaret Reuther Isaac Reynolds Sheri Richer Erika Richter Henry Ristic Diana D. Ritter Sandy Robinson Tony Sabar Giselle Sanchez Steven Sanchez Marge Santo Monique Sattler Howard Scharf Ryan Scheidler Kim Schneider Mary Ann Schneider David Schooler Linda Schreiber Ina Schweitzer Janet Seno Debra Sernus Susan Shimkus Kathy Siewert Krystina Slotwinski Janet Smart Christine Strauss
Mary Sturm Kathy Sudeikis Judy Sumka Michael Sutko Stephen ThomasSchulere Robert Thompson Fred Tiechen Rita Tosto Ines Turus Renaud Urban Nancy Van Allen Ralph Vasami Hope Wallace Duane Wallace Mary Beth Walsh Jim Ward Annette Weber Shirley Webster Phara Webster Daniel Webster Mike Weingart Donna Welke Linda Wendler John D. Werner Maureen Wilkinson Elizabeth Wolak Norma Zarate Caryn Zavislak Lorrie Zinda Patriot $1 to $99 Suanne Adair Nancy Alderman Suzanne Alexander All Points Vacations Tracy Allen Penni Allison Michael Alon Etti Alon JR Anderson Charlene Anderson Heather Anderson Francine Angel Lynn Atkins Stephan Atlee Steve Ball Harriet Balter Allen Barber Peggy Barnard Cindy Barnett Anthony Baumann Sheila Bear Nothrice Bellot Roberta Bengtson Terrie Berger-Davis Kelly Bigel Judy Blount Staci Blunt Shonda Blutcher Pam Bonin Patricia Borrell
Jennifer Brady Michele Brooks Candace Brown Demitra Bryant Bill Bryson Karen Bullard Jim Bullard Maylena Burchfield JoAnnette Byas-Marston Ruby Cade Cayce Callaway Linda Caplan Kayla Carstensen Jonelle Cash Andrea Caulfield Parminder Chadha Phyllis Chambers Charmaine Chan Anita Chaney Virginia Clark Sharon Claytor Priscilla Cleveland Jesse Cleveland Natasha Cloud Myrna Cohen Dorene Coleman Terrie Conrad Martha Conway Bob Cooke Connie Corbett Denise CoubarousPayne Juliette Course Lybia Covington Bobbi Cox Elizabeth Cox Courtney Crockett Norma Cummings Dolores Curry Isaac Cymrot Greg Davis Bell De Souza James DeGrazia Franchetti Delaine Andrea Dixit Brenda Dodd Brenda Drafahl Roger Dryden Bianca Echeverria Janie Eldridge Julie Elliott Sue Elliott Michelle English George Estelle Roban Everett Renata Faeth Manal Fahmy Dawn Farrell Pam Faust Larry Faust Bobbi Felsot Kat Ferson Alison Finco
Teresa Flions Michael Forrester John Foxworth Sandy Foxworth Fun & Sun Travel Center Deborah Funderbunk Debbie Funderburk Trisha Galvez Gabriel Garavanian Howard Garfield Rudy Garza Lynette Gaters Karen George Kimberly Gerhart Sarah Gilliland Denise Gilpin Laurie Gluck Kurt Goldschmidt Sonja Goldschmidt Johanna Gonzalez Vitral Goode Jane Goodman Alan Goodwin Adrienne Greben Jamal Guiden Althea Hager Lynn Hakam Jan Hammond Jennifer Hand Peggy Harrell Yolanda Hart Dorothy Harwell Rashidah Hasan Nancy Hawkins Kris Heba Rose Hennessy Tyler Henry Lauren Henry Carol Henry Surretter Hicks Cheryl Hill Sharon Holder Jason Holland Pat Hollywood Suzette Holmes Shelli Holmes Home Town Travel Dale Hosti Dan Howell Lois Howes Karen Hughes Antonio Iafrate Rita Iafrate Adrienne Jackson Cecilia Jardine Causey Jasmine Sequana JohnsonBethea Dedria Johnston Janice Jones Patricia Jones Brenda Jones Tessi Jones
Ann Jones Stanton Jones Cheryl Jones Debra KalsmithSternberg Melissa Keiser Kim Kelly Charlena Kendericks Vonda Kimble Joan Kingsley Pam Kingston Judy Kotkin Sarah Krafty Barbara Kulba Alex Kutin Geneva Kutin Patricia Ladner Yolanda Lampkin Loretta Lasseigne Isabella Lau Rodney Lau Esperanza Lawson Caryl Lee Christine Lee Elizalde Lejano Nina Lewis Ann Lewis Frances Lindsey Sarah Little Janine Lock Linda Lockner Shewana Mack Barbara Mack Jesse Mackey Linda Magert Jun Malana Esther Malana Sheri Marchat Joanie Mardis Bruce Mardis Judith Matthews Angel McCracken James McGriff Anne McPhillips Roger McWhorter Faye McWhorter Victoria Medeiros Rhoda Medvene Kay Meyer Arethia Middlebrook Peggy Mikuni Alicia Mills Geoffrey Millstone Brenda Millstone Christopher Minoletti Lugenia Moore Karen Morris Ruben Muniz Roberta Murphy Maria Murray Maria Murray Maral Nazarian William Neuman
Melissa Nunn Lise O’Donnell Andrea Oppenheim Phyllis Panos Robert Papkin Joseph Parekh Angela Paz Elena Pelsinger Frederic Pelsinger Cindy Petty Joshua Poole Richard Post Mary Post Steve Powers Gloria Quarterman Thomas Quarterman Karen Quinn Linda Radulich Brenda Ramsue Alecia Rankine Monique Redman Chandra Reeves Denise Rehe Shelly Reister Shelly Reister Vicki Rhoads Jamie Rhoads Malka Riesenberg Barry Riesenberg Cheryl Roche Deborah Rogers Romanian Connections Marsha Rosner Carolyn Russell Fran Russell Antoinette Russo Gloria Ryan Robert Salem Lynden Saltibus Jim Sanderson Irene Sauger David Sauger Renee Scalzini Susan Schafer Daniel Scher Randi Schoenfelder Donna Scott Scott Sengdara Mary Severa Kim Sherett Anne Sherwood Tracy Shorter Dustin Shumway Tyler Shumway Rhonda Shumway Patsy Simmons Alonzo Simmons Serena Simmons Victoria Smith Katrina Smith Tonia Smith Susan Smith Montgomery Smith
Crystal Smith Candy Smits Devonna Snuggs Ivan Soler Kendall Sommers Marsha Souders Pam Spivey Angelica Stan Stepping Out Travel Services Sheryl Stewart Larry Strayer Renee Sutton Michelle Tatum Paul Taylor Grace Terrell-Mccoy Patricia Tervola The Travel Corner Inc. Patricia Thorington Lisa Townsend Tracey Troisi Nelson Tseng Stacey Turner Grisel Velasco Jeannine Ventimiglia Joseph Ventimiglia Carol Vettel Sharon Viotto Julia Wadsworth Alice Walker Wanda Ward Cynthia Watters Terri Waxler Stacey Weeks Linda Welch LaNise Wilder Denora Williams Al Williams Vereen Williams Zashnetta Wilson Diane Wilson Amy Windham Linda Wolfe Evelyn Yancey LaurenYoungblood
ASTAPAC Annual Report 2017–9
One Voice For Travel Agents
JENNIFER WILSON-BUTTIGIEG 2018 Co-Chair, Government & Political Affairs Committee 212-592-1210 jenniferwb@vwti.com
EBEN PECK Executive Vice President, Advocacy 703-739-6842 epeck@asta.org
CHRIS SEDDELMEYER 2018 Co-Chair, Government & Political Affairs Committee 419-222-2121 chris@travelconcepts2121.com
GENEVIEVE STRAND Manager, Government & Industry Affairs 703-739-6806 gstrand@asta.org
675 N Washington St, Suite 490, Alexandria, VA 22314
ASTA.org
Travelsense.org
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