Proper Appreciation of a "Vandalia Leader": Gary Sosniecki

Wouldn't you like to find something interesting? Here, on this page? On another webpage somewhere? Inside a smalltown?

WELL...I'm not going to claim the most original thoughts. A few of my writings may be interesting, and many won't be all that original. But this isn't about me. This is (largely) about a man named Gary Sosniecki. He is a person with whom I am familiar, but have never met. Perhaps I will be able to remedy that sometime soon, after he goes into a "semi-retirement" mode following his departure as editor of the "Vandalia Leader", the town newspaper in Vandalia, Missouri. Before continuing, I'll point out that I have previously brought up - and on occasion will continue to bring up - this small town along U.S. Hwy 54 at the corners of Audrain/Pike/Ralls Counties in Northeast-central Missouri.

Gary Sosniecki and his wife Helen have been newspaper reporters and editors for virtually their entire adult lives. I did not know much about them until the past two years. Most of what I learned was through the award-winning editorial writings of Gary, printed online each week for the past few years at http://www.vandalialeader.com - some of his editorials told me more about what has been happening in Vandalia, MO, than if I had gone to town every week for the past two years --- something that "almost happened". The two of them have owned the publication for a few years and recently announced the sale of the newspaper to another group. There will be a new editor-reporter soon, and I sure wish him the best and hope he follows in the shoes of the Sosniecki's. I believe that Vandalia, Farber, and all of the surrounding communities will have been improved due to their common sense reporting, editing, and editorializing. And the latest, and his next-to-final, "Leader" editorial from Gary shows to me that an impact can be made just by speaking out. He wrote about the things that would make the town better. Not a harsh critique, but a gentle nudge to residents, officials, even people who no longer live or work there, to get things "fixed" or upon which improvements may be made. And although this blog/column is about Gary and Helen and their impact, I suppose it's time to put in my two cents, partially because of his call to discuss transportation issues which have a direct effect on Vandalia, MO, USA.

==================
Here's my perspective on something Gary has brought into focus: U.S. 54 and a four-lane highway in northeast-central Missouri going northeast from Mexico, MO:

A useful 4-lane route for traffic going northeast from Mexico, MO to U.S. 61 "toward Hannibal", even if not going TO Hannibal, should include Vandalia. In fact, taxpayers should demand this. I'm not speaking of taxpayers from Vandalia --- all taxpayers in Missouri and in the United States of America --- should vocalize their preference on this issue. If one seeks a "good" route to U.S. 61 from Mexico, MO, you'll see it exists: it is primarily along what is now the two-lane U.S. 54 which already goes through Vandalia. Although it may not be a perfect route to the view of many in Mexico, MO, it is - as I see it - the BEST POSSIBLE route for the price, largely due to the already existing right-of-way and the costs associated with building such a project. Indeed, there is already one project set to bid in 2009 which will spend at least $3-million on rehabilitating a nearly 8-mile stretch of U.S. 54 as it runs from MO 19 east to a point just west of Vandalia and another separate project set (bid in 2009) to improve U.S. 54 from east of Route 154 to Route U, a section of pavement five-and-a-half miles in length. That information serves as an agreement with my viewpoint. Does it match your view?
Certainly, I do not discount what many want - a route that connects Mexico to Hannibal. But, one can see that Missouri Route 19 already goes toward the Hannibal area - it lands along U.S. 61 at New London, MO. Sure, a four-lane highway may be preferable along that route should analysis show traffic volume demands MO 19 be widened. At this point, it is a revamped four-lane U.S. 54 that makes sense because of it's logical access as a southwest to northeast route to U.S. 61 and on INTO Illinois as an ALTERNATE route to Hwy 19/Hwy 154/U.S. 36/I-72 at Hannibal, especially should, heaven forbid, something happen to close that I-72/U.S. 36 bridge at Hannibal/East Hannibal. And let us not forget that there is a bridge across the Mississippi at U.S. 24 in Quincy, which already serves as a good northern alternate to the Hannibal bridge.
Please consider writing/calling/e-mailing MoDOT, Congressman Hulshof, Senators Bond and McCaskill, Governor Blunt, Lt. Governor Kinder, your state representatives, state senators, and local leaders to give them an idea of what you think.
===============

Surely, if I've learned one thing from reading editorial columnists - having a viewpoint can by handy, even if it is not popular.

Gary Sosniecki's column in the Vandalia Leader will be missed by many. If he hears of this blog post, I hope he heeds my request: please BLOG YOUR EDITORIAL. The world needs well written editorials. Your editorials are still going to be needed, even if you're not publishing a newspaper.

Good luck Gary and Helen Sosniecki as you continue your journey, whether concentrating on pressing family matters, to move on to run another publication or take a new set of jobs, or if simply to enjoy traveling this great world.
--------------------------------------------
Please discuss this and other posts from this blog in the "comments" section.
===============
Buzz Ullrich
editor of Morning Show Travel

What travels around, goes around

You will be impacted by the ups and downs of the travel industry. It is inevitable. Whether it's the economic downturn being predicted by some forecasters, or the obvious impact the babyboomers will have on the industry over the next 35 years (do you realize how many millions of people we're talking about...most of whom will take trips, cruises, vacations that last a month or more, etc.???).

The questions are numerous, including, "Do I want a piece of this trillion-dollar-plus industry?"

The market shift has already begun. Books have been written about it. Companies have been formed to capitalize on the ideas that all kinds of entreprenuers kick around in their heads. And the questions we all ask about the industry are going to have answers inside the next 3 to 4 years. Perhaps now is the time to discuss an issue that is clouding up the newest part of the industry: internet travel agencies.

First, for those who did not read my profile, I have been a reporter for more than 20 years. Over that period, I have been friends with or acquaintences with at least four "travel professionals" who worked in a building as travel agents. At times I would hear of them barely scraping by, and at other times they reported having been blessed with a thriving business.

I know it has been widely reported for several years that travel agencies are facing declining enrollments in the "brick and mortar" side of the business. Recently, a friend entered into the business and told me about the company he joined early in 2007. I had heard about it in passing, but did not know much about YTB Travel Network. He invited me to a "Red Carpet Day" presentation and said to me, "I think you'll like what you see, but if not, you aren't going to owe anybody anything. All you'd be out is a few hours of your day and you'll even get a free lunch out of it for listening to the spiel." When I went to the Gateway Center in Collinsville, Illinois, I got a quick first impression. Well, okay, a second impression. My first impression was through the website that my friend Jim Fassero (mentioned in my first blog entry for this column) had through YTB, http://www.ytb.com/traveltips365 (Jim's site for entering the business side of YTB as a RTA - Referring Travel Agent). I looked it over and wondered very cautiously if I was looking at something of a scam. Jim, if you were to know him - as I have - for 25 years, is a REAL SKEPTIC. I, especially after what I've seen as a reporter/editor, am even MORE of a skeptical nature. And something told me to look hard at this company, dig around, listen, ask questions of people inside the travel business, look at dozens of web postings and articles about YTB Travel. In other words, soundly and deeply view the company with an open mind, and not be hasty in making ANY decisions about it.

On my first occasion at a YTB Red Carpet Day, some things stood out. The Chairman or CEO of most companies do not tell you up front that they are all about marketing, while the staff that surrounds them is all about operating the company to the highest standards possible. Nor will you likely hear the words "integrity" thrown about in the audience before and after a set of managers talk about their business. I hadn't encountered this kind of culture in a "marketing" business. BUT - I found out that YTB is NO MERE MARKETING BUSINESS. It is a TRAVEL AGENCY, complete with training programs that help RTA's develop the TRAVEL BUSINESS side (selling airline tickets, cruises, etc.) and Reps learn about the marketing side of the company. MOST Chairmen and CEO's are not about to do something else: bring the words "faith" into their presentation, or allow the top company director to bring "God" up during his brief stage presence --- which wasn't the end of my viewing this on a slightly more elevated and spiritual level. In fact, when was the last time a nationally-recognized company had an "introducing our company to you" meeting which ended in the entire room holding hands in prayer? I don't recall hearing of that meeting or that company - not saying it hasn't happened, but it's not something widely reported unless it is a faith-based or God-based business. Certainly, you don't expect to see such a thing in a public venue with a "Marketing Company".

Let me just say that after all that --- a great number of people would be MORE skeptical than interested.

Me? I went back two more times, spent three more weeks looking into the business side of YTB Travel Network, and found myself blessed enough to [have saved up some money and been given a check from working with a non-profit group so that I could] buy my little corner of the market through YTB. It's all over the interent: ONE-POINT-THREE-TRILLION-DOLLARS in the USA is spent on travel yearly. IF I got only .005% of that, I would be able to stop writing columns forever, unless I really wanted to write (okay, I'll always want to write...you're correct).

Meanwhile - there are some falsehoods being released as facts by others on the internet. It isn't hard to spot the mistakes made by those who claim to know how YTB works when releasing their LIES and MISTATEMENTS within their so-called facts. They claim that buying into the company costs much more than it does. They claim that YTB is a "card mill", or a company that does business without meritorious training and certification. Investigate the company yourself, as I have done, and you'll find out it's not perfect - but it is well-done and you can learn the proper way to conduct yourself as a travel agent.

And because of a few industry people who don't like the market-shift or the companies who are taking advantage of such a change, others are bowing to pressures and trying to assault YTB. Well, at least one publication has made a statement regarding this kind of issue.

You can view a column in TRAVEL WEEKLY to see what they say. I'm not going to say it's painting a rosy picture of YTB Travel Network. But, it is NOT an attack. In fact, Arnie Weissmann, who wrote the article titled "YTB and political correctness" ends with a stream of thought that makes me glad that I decided to join YTB Travel Network as an RTA/Rep.

As I learn more about the industry, through classes at YTB University and other resources, I will share some of what I've learned. I am not YET a travel professional - but I will get there. And I hope some of you come to realize the importance of MARKETING in the travel business. If we do NOT market those vacation packages and deals, those airfare specials, all those CRUISES and hotels, trains, buses, car rentals, etc., we may as well pack in our business and let someone else get all the money. Are you willing to let the expedias and orbitzes and travelocitieses get all the pie at the expense of people who legitimately learn the craft? If so, take a good look at yourself and reassess your position in business - not just the travel business.

Special Note: I did not post the link to the article in TRAVEL WEEKLY, but you can subscribe or register with them at: http://www.travelweekly.com/ - and search for articles related to YTB or any other company or news item. They have a ton of great industry information. And they have copyrights - so I didn't want to violate their copyright by printing verbatim information out of the aforementioned article.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Now, the shameless plug: my sites are listed in the links...marketing or simple booking - look them over and see if you want to join the YTB Travel Network or buy travel through my booking site, which is morningshowtravel dot net)

Thanks for reading!

Buzz, Editor - "Morning Show Travel"

[Available for morning shows soon. Contact me for additional information.]

Book: The Coming Economic Collapse

"The Coming Economic Collapse" is the title of the book by Dr. Stephen Leeb. It deals with the price of oil and what it means to the worldwide economy.

Is Dr. Stephen Leeb on the right track? If so, what will that mean to Americans who like to travel? Could his predictions of $200 a barrel oil be on target and cause an economic collapse in our modern world?

I found this interesting piece on Dr. Leeb's belief and assertion: It's from a Big Picture edition of Total Picture Radio - online, the address for this interview is: http://www.totalpicture.com/content/view/378/190/

There are no two things about it. If and when you listen to this man, you'll want to consider saving up for a trip --- to the supermarket and back. $4.00/gallon gasoline could seem inexpensive by 2010.

According to Dr. Leeb, the demand of oil from the middle east oil producers is growing at about 300,000 barrels per day - due to, in large part, the increase of demand from China, India, and other "developing" countries which currently use about one-third per person of the amount which those of us in most developed countries use.

We in North America take for granted the cost of simple goods and services which hinge on the price of gasoline, diesel fuel, and other petroleum-based products. The price of most goods would rise at incredible rates (both quickly and "way up there") should the price of diesel fuel increase in the same way the price for "regular, mid-grade, and premium" gasoline/petrol is expected to rise. And we know the price for diesel WILL rise along with everything else. I can already hear the "DOH" from Homer Simpson.

Again...if you want to hear Dr. Leeb, listen to Peter Clayton's interview: http://www.totalpicture.com/content/view/378/190/

(this is the same link used above)

PAY ATTENTION CLOSELY TO THE DATE ON THIS INTERVIEW --- IN JULY.

He was discussing $80/barrel prices by the end of this year, in July.

Um --- it was trading at $90 the other day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Good luck, world!

What do you know this week?

There are many resources available to the travel professional online, with numerous travel organizations that aid the travel industry. I'll point to one that I've been reading lately> http://www.tia.org/ --- the Travel Industry Association. They have an upcoming event in Charlotte, NC, which runs October 22 through 25th, called TIA's Marketing Outlook Forum 2007. Since I am a newcomer in the industry, I'm sure it would benefit me to go. That having been said, I would have needed to rearrange my schedule weeks ago in order to do so. But, that shouldn't stop YOU (if you're a travel agent or other travel marketing professional) from signing up and learning more. I will grant that you'd better want to spend your money to: 1) go there in the first place (although it's probably a tax-deductible trip); 2) go to the individual workshops - some may cost you $75 or more.

If you'd like information about this, here's a link: http://www.tia.org/industrymeet/mof/index.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Blog items for non-travel-agents:

Does YOUR airport have a BIG ENOUGH RUNWAY for the latest super-sized jets?

The Airbus A380 handles around 525 passengers. The company says it's A380 is cleaner and greener and quieter with its new engines and cabin design. Want to see/hear their :60 second online presentation? Go here: http://www.a380delivery.com/ and view the little box.

What is next?
A train that goes the speed of sound? A bus tour to the women's prison facility [Women's Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center] in Vandalia, MO, USA?
I guess we'll see soon.

+++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++

Did I mention yet that "my website" is up and running? Well, okay, there are two of them!

YOU can book travel through my website: http://www.morningshowtravel.net

Become an online travel agent through my other site: http://www.ytb.com/morningshowtravel

When we start out...

...we probably ask ourselves "what is our destination?" first. YES, it is about the destination. And yet you'd better not forget how you're going to GET THERE...and how much will it cost? I'll do my homework and keep looking for great tips for getting there, making it cost-efficient, and I SURE HOPE I make it fun & interesting! Leisure travel can truly reduce your stress level!!!

Thanks to Jim Fassero for reintroducing the idea of getting into the online travel business, and to my wonderful friends Kathy and Helga both whom have worked or continue to work in the travel business and had put the initial thoughts in my head through the years. At some point, I'll tell you more about each of these people, and - my aim is to help you find something you can "take to heart".

By the way --- I've spent my adult life as a professional broadcaster, and am a musician-singer and/or "entertainer". I'm sure this will be touched upon frequently as I blog.

You'll see some of my favorite bloggers are discussing the broadcasting industry or other forms of entertainment. I encourage visiting the linked blog sites as a way to gain knowledge or insight - as I enjoy reading "high brow" writers within their fields. You'll see some of my favorite bloggers also are discussing religion, generally about Christianity...in many of those sites, you'll see faith-based or theological posts and discussions. Keep an open eye to these topics and discussions as you can learn a lot just from reading the blogs of theologians - since they don't just talk about theology in a blog.