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President's
Letter 
As I write my last president's letter I have
started to reflect on the past year. It's a time to
celebrate the successes, take satisfaction in our
accomplishments and wonder where the time went. I
started my presidential term for 2007 with three
overarching goals. To build our educational programs
with additional scholarships, grow our direct membership
and leave GBTA financially sound. We have achieved all
of these goals along with many others.
We had
a great turnout for the holiday gala at the beautiful
Buckhead Club.
Thank you to everyone
that brought toys for the troop's children to support
Warner Robbins Air Force Base. We collected over 43 toys
for the children, which I'm sure really made their
holidays special.
Congratulations to Cathy Cottrell
who was the winner and recipient of the first annual
Martha Fuller scholarship. Mike Fuller, Martha's husband
joined me on stage to present Cathy the $1,000.00
scholarship. It was a very emotional and touching
presentation.
I also wanted to thank the Board of
Directors and Officers for all their hard work and
dedication over the past year. I wanted to congratulate
both Rick Lackland and Jay Groene who were the
recipients of the President's Award for all their
outstanding work and dedication to GBTA.
Thank you to Tara Parker and the Community
Affairs committee that organized the holiday Sing-a-Long
at Wesley Woods on December 13th. To see the
smiling faces of the elderly really gives meaning to the
holidays.
Thank you to everyone that got
involved in 2007, I encourage you to get involved in
2008. It has been a great year for me as your president.
I leave with many friends and memories over the past
year and look forward to continue to serve you as
Chairman of the Board under George Dunwoody's
leadership.
Whatever the traditions you observe
this time of year, I hope they are meaningful and that
you end 2007 and begin 2008 happy, healthy and in the
company of family and friends.
Jim Wilkins
GBTA President,
2007
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A GBTA
Opportunity!
As your incoming GBTA President for 2008, I
wanted to let you know GBTA is expanding its education
and scholarship opportunities for 2008. To help with
your professional development, GBTA Is Proud To
Offer You A Professional Head Shot at only $35.
Yes, you read it right...only $35.
Start off the new year with your best foot
forward and your image polished. Have a professional
head shot taken at the January meeting. Sign up today!
You'll be ready for that request for a photo for the
company newsletter, a request from a client, and that
last minute speaking engagement. Thank you for your
continued support of GBTA, we want to support you as
well.
George Dunwoody,
GBTA President 2008
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GBTA January 8 Luncheon
Meeting
 Please join
us on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at the brand new
Cobb Energy Centre. Our speaker will be
Brad
Seitz, President and CEO Topaz Inc.
He will
speak on Hot
Topics, Trends and Predictions for the travel industry
in 2008. Topaz has over 25 years of analyzing travel
expenditures and helping travel managers with cost
savings. Look into their crystal ball to see where the
industry is heading.
RSVP Deadline: Thursday, January 3, 2008.
Registration Begins: 11:15am Click Here to
Register and Sign Up For Your Head
Shot |
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Remembrances from GBTA's
Holiday Gala
 43
toys were collected for the children of military
families at Warner Robbins Air Force base. Thank you to
Tara Parker and Jean Baker for making this wonderful
happiness possible.
 Jay
Groene, GBTA Director of Education, and Director of
Business Travel Sales for the Hilton Atlanta
Airport was presented with the President's
Award for his outstanding achievements and promotion of
GBTA. Jay and his Team gave GBTA a long to be remembered
Education Day in south Georgia and a weekend Education
Retreat in Washington, D.C. If that were not enough, it
is Jay's gift of presentation that makes the Silent
Auction donations so enticing the night of the
Auction.
 Rick Lackland, GBTA Chairman and Manager
Worldwide Travel Sales for Hilton Hotel Corporation was
presented with a President's Award for his leadership
and helping to grow GBTA into the exciting organization
it is today. Rick has served on the GBTA Board, as a
Director, Vice-President and President. As a Past
President Rick will be among the legacy of advisors that
will help GBTA in the future both with its members and
NBTA.
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Cathy Cottrell awarded
first annual Martha Fuller
Scholarship Martha Fuller, or Auburn Girl as she was known to
her many friends and colleagues, was a long time GBTA
member and on the path to become President of GBTA. The
path was interrupted when she retired from Delta
Air Lines and Martha took a new direction to be even
more involved in her church and her community.
In
the summer of 2007 Martha was on a church mission in
Central America when she was tragically killed in a
roadside accident. In her honor GBTA is proud to annouce
Cathy Cottrell, GBTA Director of Communcations, and
Travel Manager for Columbian Chemicals, as the first
annual recipient of the Martha Fuller Scholarship. Cathy
plans to use the $1000 scholarship for her CCTE
education.
 Presenting the award to Cathy
were Martha's husband, Mike Fuller at left and GBTA
President, Jim Wilkins at
right.
A Note From Cathy: I am so
honored to be the first recipient of the Martha Fuller
Scholarship.
Martha's passion
for sharing of herself,
of her love for education and
travel continues
to live on. The
scholarship was awarded at the
2007 GBTA Holiday Gala.
When my name was announced as the winner my eyes began
to fill with tears of
joy. As the scholarship
award moved from Mr.
Fuller's hand to
mine and he began to congratulate
me, I could sense
his endearing love for
Martha. This
scholarship was a gift not just from GBTA
but from Martha. You see, it was the way she led
her life serving others that led to this
moment. Even after her
time on earth was over, the memory of her
life continues to serve and influence
others. It was a
defining
moment. What a legacy of
love.
This scholarship
will be used with pride to obtain the
CCTE
designation.
When I walk across the stage at NBTA
Conference and Tradeshow to take my place
with other industry
colleagues, I will be thinking
of Martha and thanking her for leading such an
intentional life.
Cathy Cottrell, Travel
Manager/Buyer, Columbian Chemicals
Company | |
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GBTA
Gold Sponsors
GBTA Silver Sponsors
 In-Kind |
GBTA 2007
Officers and Board:
OFFICERS
President Jim Wilkins,
Turner Broadcasting
Vice-President George
Dunwoody, Worldspan
Secretary Peggy Hedditch,
Carlson Wagonlit
Travel
Treasurer Vic Sams,
WorldTravel
Chairperson Rick Lackland,
Hilton Hotels and Resorts
BOARD
Cathy
Cottrell, Columbian Chemicals
Mike
Griffin, Delta Computer Group
Jay
Groene, Hilton Atlanta Airport
Bobby
Hobes
Julie Kindred, Crowne
Plaza Buckhead
Tara Parker, Omni Hotel CNN
Center
Pam Tamasi,
Scientific-Atlanta
Gail Trombley, Southern
Company
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About GBTA GBTA, founded
in 1979, is a chapter of The National Business Travel
Association (NBTA) whose members represent major corporations
and travel suppliers. Both organizations, working together,
provide members with information on the latest technology and
service advances within the industry, as well as current
legislative issues and industry hot topics.
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