Members of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) are encouraged to donate to relief funds of national charity organizations to help victims of the December Asian tsunami.“The recent tsunami had the greatest impact on the people of Asia. Many ASTA members have expressed their concern and desire to help those who survived this terrible disaster,” said ASTA president and CEO Kathy Sudeikis, CTC. “I encourage all ASTA travel agents to donate as they can by going to ASTA’s Web sites, www.ASTAnet.com
  and www.TravelSense.org
  where they will find links to several national charities.”

In addition, ASTA encourages members interested in extending the reach of the Society’s efforts to consider doing some or all of the following:

áÊÊSolicit donations from staff.

áÊÊEncourage customers to go to www.TravelSense.org to donate.

áÊÊDevelop a matching challenge with customers, i.e. match a small amount that they donate.

President George Bush on January 3 asked “fellow citizens to join in a broad humanitarian relief effort…In the coming days, [we] will ask Americans to donate directly to reliable charities already providing help to tsunami victims…I ask every American to contribute as they are able to do so.”

The mission of the American Society of Travel Agents and its affiliated organizations is to enhance the professionalism and profitability of members worldwide through effective representation in industry and government affairs, education and training, and by identifying and meeting the needs of the traveling public. The Society is the world’s largest and most influential travel trade association with more than 20,000 members in 140 countries.
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