10/20/2009
(The following article was submitted to BarterNews
from David Wallach on behalf of the International Reciprocal Trade
Association.)
IRTA 2009 Legends Of Barter Convention An Unqualified Success
Quotes from attendees:
�I want to thank you again for putting on a great conference in
Dallas. I saw a lot of relationships being made, and a lot of
business getting done. Not only for me, but for just about
everyone else that attended.�
(Barry Cohen, BCL Soft)
�Ron (IRTA Executive Director), you did a amazing job at that
convention and just to let you know, people could not stop
talking about you and how much good you are doing for UC and
IRTA. I enjoyed myself and met some great people, I am really
glad I went! Thanks again.�
(Matt Hepworth, Atlantic Barter)
�I enjoyed the Dallas convention and congratulate you on a fine
show�
(Kenn Flemmons, Southern Barter)
�I found all of the conference seminars and panel discussions
very informative.�
(Dariusz Brzozowiec, BCI Poland)
�I just wanted to say thank you for hosting a wonderful
convention for IRTA last week. The Dallas Magnolia Hotel was the
perfect venue. The staff was impressive and the hotel was
impeccable. Everyone had a wonderful time.�
(Kim Strabley, IMS)
�Thank you Ron for inviting me to such wonderful gathering, my
head is still spinning with new barter ideas.�
(Sergio Lub, Friendly Favours)
On October 1, over 100 Modern Trade and Barter industry members from
all parts of the world converged upon the beautiful Magnolia Hotel
in Dallas to attend the historic 30th IRTA Legends of Barter
convention. Barter industry representatives came from Singapore,
Turkey, Russia, Brazil, France, Poland and North America to
celebrate the past, gain information, form business relationships
and plan for the future.
�The fact that so many traveled so far to be here and participate,�
declared IRTA Executive Director Ron Whitney, �emphasizes the world
wide acceptance of the modern trade and barter process that
capitalizes business and creates additional employment within our
economies.�
Barter Hall-of-Famer and CEO of Active International, the world�s
largest corporate barter company, Alan Elkin lead off the convention
by introducing the keynote speaker Paul Suplizio. Paul, an IRTA
founder and its first executive director, was primarily responsible
for obtaining legal recognition for the trade credit with U.S. tax
authorities that provides the very foundation of the modern trade
and barter industry. His keynote address focused on and encouraged
the industry to create a platform that would provide one card access
to all of the world�s commercial barter exchanges.
The keynote address was followed with introductions of all present
and the annual business meeting. During his �State of IRTA� speech,
IRTA President David Wallach said, �It is my pleasure to report to
you that IRTA is in excellent condition and continuing its 30-year
tradition of providing substantial programs and services to all
sectors of the Modern Trade and Barter Industry.� IRTA Treasurer
Mary Ellen Rosinski found IRTA in exceptional financial condition,
having cash on hand and with no debts either trade or cash.
The remainder of the first day was filled with various educational
seminars and panels. Subjects included a panel discussion on �The
Future of Universal Currency� led by Scott Whitmer, a �Seminar on
Sales Techniques� chaired by Gary Field, a session �Positioning Your
Exchange in a Recessionary Marketplace� moderated by Harold Rice and
a �Broker Training Session� hosted by Lisa Mullen and Elizabeth
Powell. That evening attendees enjoyed past friendships and made new
connections in the relaxed atmosphere of a delicious Hawaiian Luau
sponsored by Annette Riggs of Community Connect Trade located in
Boulder, Colorado.
Thomas Greco, community currency guru and author of �The End of
Money and the Future of Civilization,� was the lead-off speaker on
Saturday morning with his presentation �The Next Big Leap in
Cashless Trading.� His presentation chronicled the current economic
meltdown and the important role the modern trade and barter industry
will play in transcending the current economic system. �I was very
impressed with Tom�s presentation,� commented Michael Mercier (IRTA
Vice President), �the content was extremely informative and he
delivered his message in a very clear and understandable way.�
The afternoon was filled with seminars and training sessions
including �Certified Trade Broker Training,� �Maximizing Your Barter
Company�s Growth� presented by Creg Esh, �Using New Internet
Networking Techniques in Barter� hosted by Jason Richards and Sam
Waltz Jr., �The IRS & TIN Matching Issues� led by IRTA Executive
Director Ron Whitney� and �The Community Currency Movement And How
It Can Help Your Barter Exchange� moderated by Annette Riggs with
Thomas Greco. �I found all of the conference seminars and panel
discussions very informative,� offered Dariusz Brzozowiec of BCI
Poland
Later that day the IRTA Global Board of Directors welcomed newly
elected Board Members Maximilien Urso of Efficio (Paris, France) and
Annette Riggs of Community Connect Trade (Bolder, Colorado). David
Wallach was re-elected President and Michael Mercier was re-elected
Vice President of the IRTA Global Board of Directors.
The Board resolved to continue Operation Outreach by forming a
speaker�s bureau, creating a co-operative industry advertising
campaign, and developing lesson plans and syllabuses for course
presentation in economic departments of business schools,
universities and colleges.
Saturday evening and everyone in attendance is looking forward to
the Awards Dinner. This festive semi-formal event was held in the
Pegasus Ballroom which was a perfect place to meet the Legends of
Barter, honor those receiving awards, and party and dance the
evening away. The event was sponsored by The Allan Hackel Group, a
corporate barter company located in Boston, Massachusetts.
As dessert was served IRTA executive director opened the Awards
Ceremony portion of the program and began calling up those to be
honored. Those honored with awards are as follows:
Best Broadcasted Video News Interview for 2009:
�
1st place � IRTA accepted for all IRTA Members
�
2nd place � Badger Barter (tie)
�
2nd place � Active International (tie)
�
3rd place � BizXchange
(These videos will shortly be available on the new IRTA web site.)
Ambassador Awards:
go to those who have served the association by using their influence
to increase IRTA membership.
�
Bruce Kamm, Virtual Barter
�
Catherine and Barry Cohen, BCL/Soft
�
Phillip Dimitrox, XO
�
Debbie Lombardi, BBU
UC Broker of the Year:
goes to the most responsive and active Universal Currency member
broker.
�
Dea Shipp, BizXchange
IRTA Outstanding Achievement Award:
is for excellent co-operation in the media and public relations area
with other members of the industry.
�
Gary Field, NuBarter
IRTA Paul St. Martin Distinguished Service Award:
is the highest honor IRA can bestow upon a member and is awarded for
exceptional service that goes above and beyond the call of duty.
This year we have two very deserving honorees.
�
Dr. Oi Kum Lee of BarterXchange Singapore
Dr. Lee has worked tirelessly and diligently to both educate and
build awareness of IRTA and the modern trade and barter industry in
the Pan Asian area of the world, instilling the values, standards
and potential to create employment that is inherent to the industry.
�
Allan Hackel of The Allan Hackel Organization
Allan, who has been in business since 1954 and is considered the
�founding father� of the corporate barter industry, is credited with
the invention of the accounts receivable concept that is to this day
basic principle of a corporate barter transaction. He holds the
coveted Barter Hall of Fame award and has received almost every
award this industry has to offer. He continues to work every day,
functioning as the hands-on CEO of his organization that is the
oldest privately owned barter company in the world.
Before his death in 2002, Paul St. Martin worked with Allan for 18
years and was one of Allan�s closest friends. Therefore it is most
appropriate that at this time the IRTA Global Board of Directors
bestows this award upon him.
The Barter Hall of Fame:
is the highest honor the industry can bestow. The honor recognizes
individuals of the highest professional character and ethical
conduct who are regarded as indisputable leaders of the modern trade
and barter industry. An inductee must have a minimum of ten years of
continuous industry service and have made recognizable and specific
contributions to the industry as a whole.
�
Don Mardak of IMS Barter/International Monetary Systems
Don began his barter industry career in 1984. He has received two
IRTA Outstanding Achievement Awards, a NATE Gary Monkman Memorial
Award, served 10 years on the NATE board (two terms as its
president), participated as a founding member of the NATE Banc
currency system and presently serves on the IRTA Global Board of
Directors. Don has recently served as a spokesman and ambassador for
the modern trade and barter industry via several media outlets and
at investor conferences.
Legends Of Barter Award
In celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the International
Reciprocal Trade Association and in order to recognize certain
extraordinary individuals that have served the modern trade and
barter industry since 1979, IRTA presents the Legends of Barter
Award. It is an honor that was presented to members who have helped
to shape and define the industry over a period of ten or more years
between 1979 to 2009, as evident through positive and identifiable
actions.
This is an industry wide award and includes individuals from all
industry sectors including commercial barter, corporate barter and
the community currency movement. Honorees need not be IRTA members,
current industry members or present at the IRTA convention to
receive this award.
The individual honorees were listed in the Tuesday Report dated
09/29/09
click here.
|