ASTA’s Young Professionals Society is happy to announce our plans for YPS Member's Only Day 2012.  All members are invited to join us in Washington, DC (well, technically at ASTA's headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia) on Friday, November 30 for a day of networking and valuable industry discussion.  The theme for our meeting this year is "The YPS Advocate."  We'll be discussing advocacy and the importance and value that brings to your business, your colleagues, and your industry.

As ASTA members, you've already taken the first step in contributing to these important efforts.  Without your membership support, ASTA will not be able to continue working on your behalf.  But our Member's Only Day will be much more engaging and educating.  We'll show you the real benefits of advocacy.  We'll meet with lobbyists and government relations representatives who will explain and demonstrate the value of a unified voice.  And we'll show you ways you can help us make a difference.  Wipeys are one of the voices of the travel industry, and we want our message to be loud and clear.

Please mark your calendar for Friday, November 30 to join us for this very important day!

What ASTA's Advocacy Efforts Do For YOU!

• ASTA is the only travel industry association aggressively fighting to improve the travel experience for all consumers. 
• Each and every day, ASTA is actively engaged in tackling the very real threats that could negatively impact your bottom line.
• ASTA is the single entity capable of and actually engaged in ongoing and active work for the employment rights of agents.
• When it comes to protecting you from anti-competitive taxes, legislation and regulations, ASTA is the sole voice speaking out on your behalf, and the only one continuously lobbying for your rights.
• ASTA is the only organization actively representing your business to the US government, as well as and state and local governments in support of a profitable and sustainable industry.
• There simply is no industry organization—other than ASTA—that has the leadership, the staff, the resources, the connections and the alliances to effectively defend your interests.
• ASTA is the only travel industry association aggressively fighting to defend and improve your business.

WHAT:     YPS Member's Only Day
WHERE:     Alexandria, Virginia and Washington, DC (meeting at ASTA headquarters; hotel TBA)
WHEN:     Friday, November 30, 2012 (arrive on Thursday night, and stay Saturday for a social activity)

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
8:30 - 9:00 a.m.         Breakfast & check-in at ASTA headquarters
9:00 - 9:30 a.m.         Welcome from YPS president & Introductions
9:30 - 10:00 a.m.     Meet Your Fellow Wipeys
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.     Advocacy 101/Hill Meetings 101
11:00 a.m. - 12 noon     The Ins and Outs of ASTA's Public Policy Issues
12 noon - 1:30 p.m.     Lunch with advocacy/government relations professionals
1:30 - 4:00 p.m.         Capitol Hill Meetings
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.         Meetings Debrief; YPS update and conclusion

Arrive on Thursday night for an informal no-host (each pays own) dinner at 7:00 p.m.  And if you don’t have to leave on Friday night for home, stay over and join us for an outing on Saturday to the National Aquarium in Baltimore.