ECONOMIC RESEACH GROUP

MEETING

March 18,2009

 

 

The meeting was called to order at noon with 30 members present. Chairman Keefer announced that our next meeting would be held at the San Mateo Elks lodge in the Pool Side Room at the regular time. The Republican Ladies Club will be occupying the main dinning room for a fashion show, so when entering the club get your beverage (optional) at the front bar, then proceed to the Pool Room. Tom also mentioned he has speaker openings for July and August. If no one volunteers to fill the spot he will either assign a person to secure a speaker or have it as an open discussion period.

 

After lunch Speaker Chairman Dwight Sale introduced Jack Dold, President of Golden Gate Tours Travel Agency.

 

Mr. Dold continued by telling of his contributions to the SIR travel programs serving all 173 branches as well as conducting the SIR State anniversary trips every 5 years. His company specializes with group travel so the SIR programs are a perfect fit. Jack finds that like most groups SIR has had membership loss and the number of braches offer travel plans has decreased. This means that branches are not offering exclusive trips for their branch only but are teaming up with other branches to arrive at a critical mass of travelers. Jack went on to say that the travel industry has been adversely affected for several years by a diminishing market, lack of commissions from airlines and car rental firms, cruise company consolidation and individuals booking trips via the internet. Most of the small travel agencies have disappeared with their market. Jack concluded by saying he was 69 and glad to be retiring.

 

A question and answer period followed.

 

Jack, thank you for the informative presentation.

 

OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE SAN MATEO ELKS LODGE ON APRIL 15. Our menu will be Sole or Roast Beef.

 

Call Bob Way (345-7014) if you have not already signed up to attend.

 

 

W. Schinagl

Secretary