Forget January 1. To me, September always seems like the beginning of the new year. And so it seems only appropriate that the TMAC national board is entering the fall season all energized and ready to tackle a host of projects.

This month's biggest news is the launch of registration for the 2012 Conference & AGM in Fredericton. We have an exciting program planned for you, with some terrific pre and post tours, practical professional development sessions and real down-home Maritime hospitality in one of the friendliest cities we've ever visited.

We've also just sent out the RFP for our 2014 conference. For the first time, we've opened the conference to any destination anywhere in the world, so if you want 200 or so of Canada's best travel writers, photographers and industry professionals visiting you and telling your destination's stories, well, this is your big opportunity. If you missed the e-blast, contact Tina Hutchinson (tina@travelmedia.ca) for details.

September's other big project is the beginning of membership renewals (see the report below). For media members, if your last name starts with L to Z, you'll want to start compiling your tearsheets now.

On the renewal forms, you'll notice one significant change. We're asking you to indicate whether you want a hard copy of the Membership Handbook or not. We know not all of you use the hard copy, but those who do are very attached to it. At the same time, we're trying to control both our costs and our impact on the environment, so we're only sending it to new members and those who really want it.

Next year, though, you'll see an even bigger change: To reward those who volunteer their valuable time for TMAC (and to encourage others to do so), we're going to start counting points for TMAC volunteer positions. The membership committee is working on a proposal for what those points values should be, and we plan to start implementing them when we launch the A to K part of membership renewal in 2012.

And speaking of changes . . .

Another big change is one you'll notice when you register for the conference. We have updated our Media Code of Conduct, and for the first time we have a formalized system in place for dealing with disputes involving TMAC members. We have also struck an Ethics Committee, chaired by Dale Dunlop, who spent the summer revising the code while the rest of us were at the beach.

There are basically three major changes. The first is that we have added the following item:

"The annual Media Marketplace is a forum for exchanging ideas and generating opportunities for media stories. It is not to be used as a means of advancing personal business interests or promoting products and services for financial gain to industry members."

The second is that, upon registering for the conference, our media members will be asked to check a box indicating that they have read the Code of Conduct, agree to its terms and understand the consequences of violating the code. This is in keeping with what similar organizations, such as SATW, do as well.

And the third addition is that we've established a process for dealing with disputes. If there is an issue that cannot be resolved between the individuals involved, it should be put in writing and brought to the attention of the national president. Depending on the circumstances, it will most likely go to the Ethics Committee, who will make a recommendation as to how to deal with the issue. Consequences could be a verbal caution, written reprimand, suspension from certain activities, or in truly extreme cases, expulsion from the association.

The idea here is to be open and transparent and to make sure as far as possible that everyone understands TMAC's rules and expectations, and what the consequences are for violating them. Indeed, our sincere hope is that we never have to invoke any of this. But if we do, at least there can be no surprises. You can (and should) read the whole Code of Conduct at www.travelmedia.ca.

This is all part of our ongoing effort to establish a strong foundation for a thriving and successful professional association. As we continue through the fall and winter, we'll be working on some long-term strategies for TMAC, including revisiting the RFP for a new website. We have lots of projects, both big and small, in the works, which seems only fitting for the beginning of a new year. We'll be sure to keep you posted.

Meanwhile, happy travels and have a great and productive fall!

- Joanne Sasvari, national president, TMAC

joannesasvari@hotmail.com

 

Joanne Sasvari

Want to know a bit more about TMAC's president, Joanne Sasvari? One of our inquisitive reporters sat down with Joanne to find the answers to . . .

1. Where were you born? In Don Mills, Ont.
2. What is your current job description? Freelance writer.
3. How long have you been doing that?  For five years - before that I was either a writer or editor at newspapers and magazines for many years.
4. What's the best thing about volunteering with TMAC? There are so many benefits, it's hard to pick one. You get to meet really interesting people on a different level than just socializing or at Media Marketplace. And you gain a real insight into how the industry works on both sides and who makes things happen.  
5. What's the scariest thing you've ever done?  Leaving the comfort and security of working for a major newspaper to run my own business.
6. Any guilty pleasures? Oh many! But lucky me, I've managed to make them into paying work . . . cocktails, gossip and fashion!
7. What's your favourite airline? I have to say flying business class on Air New Zealand is a pretty awesome experience.
8. And favourite destination?  Anywhere in Italy makes me happy.
9. What was your best press trip? The government of Capri (Italy) invited me on an individual trip, and let me bring my husband along. For a whole week we had guided tours in the morning and free time in the afternoon. Bliss. And I got a ton of stories out of it.
10. What will be the biggest challenge for TMAC in the next 12 months? We are at a crossroads: We have to decide what kind of organization we want to be, what our role should be and how, or even if, we want to grow. We also have to decide how we can best help our members navigate this very challenging time in the industry.
11. Who do you most respect in TMAC? There are so many people - anybody who takes the time to volunteer and create a better organization.  People like Jo Matyas and Dale Dunlop, unsung heroes who do so much work and are so smart.
12. What is your greatest extravagance? Designer handbags. I appear to be in denial about being a freelance writer! And I'm addicted to mystery novels.
13. If you could sit next to any man on a long-haul flight who would it be? I believe Colin Firth would be at the top of that list. 
14. Any woman? Though she'd be terribly intimidating - Hillary Clinton because she's so smart and I'll bet she has some great stories.
15. What is your major bugbear about travelling? Oh! Hands down: airport security.
16. What is your "must have" item when on the road? My beautiful lavender cashmere shawl.
17. Any tech item you like to travel with? My e-reader.
18. How much do you travel each year? A lot, sometimes up to half of the year.
19. Is there anything you won't eat? I'll try anything once.
20. What do you hope to be doing in 10 years? To have a novel sitting on top of the Globe and Mail bestseller list!

BRITISH COLUMBIA - The B.C. chapter has a few new members and we are hopeful that our membership drive in October will attract more-from both media and industry.

 

At our AGM last April, which was held at the Listel Hotel, president Randall Shirley handed over the baton to Jane Mundy and several members offered to stay on the board, along with a few new faces. Our main goal is create events and services that will build our membership. Here is the new TMAC B.C. board:

• Jane Mundy (President, media)
• Joanne Blain (Vice President, media)
• Morgan Sommerville (Treasurer, industry)
• Rose Chase (Secretary, industry)
• Jorden Hutchison (Events Coordinator, industry)
• Jane Ince, industry
• Michelle Dunn, industry
• Lucas Aykroyd, media
• John Lee, media
• Luba Plotnikoff, industry

Several TMAC B.C. members attended the TBEX conference in Vancouver. Some members, industry and media alike, found it rather disappointing, but they likely didn't attend the "non-narrative travel writing" event, which included chapter member and our former pres Randall Shirley. Naturally, it focused on the art of creating a list (his blog is all lists of travel favourites, www.5faves.com).

Our summer sizzler at the newly renovated Hotel Georgia had a good turn-out (about 40) and fun was had by all! Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 24, hosted by Fredericton Tourism and New Brunswick Tourism in an effort to attract our members to the national conference. Looks like it will take place at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. As mentioned, our main focus is membership drive, just in time for a big turnout at our PD day in January - we are hopeful that a Pacific Northwest marketplace can happen. Last year, despite a freak snowstorm, our PD was a great success, thanks largely to Tourism Richmond.

TMAC B.C. board member Lucas Aykroyd is among the contributing authors for the inaugural edition of Frommer's Far & Wide: A Weekly Guide to Canada's Best Travel Experiences, which hits shelves this fall. Aykroyd covered everything from hockey and hiking to festivals and fine dining in his native province. And a flagrant blurb of self-promotion: My The Ocean Wise Cookbook has been short listed for the Canadian Culinary Awards. That's it!