GGC2005 - Pre-Vote Announcement!!!

SC posner wrote:

I got Karen to join RTC almost 2 years ago. As well as GGC0000 Y-Group. I
know she answered someone's question on RTC. But that is beside the point.
She is a lurker and I intimidated her into participating in this Bidding
process. At the time I talked her into this, we had no firm commitments
from other TAs.

She has a great reputation here in Tulsa, OK and has loads of experience. I
thought that is what we want in a GGC TA?

If you have a problem with Karen, talk to me ... Don't insult her!

You wanted it and here it is Karen Wheelock's Resume:

World Travel Service has been in business for almost 50 years and is the
largest travel agency in Oklahoma. I, Karen Wheelock, have been an agent
for 17 years and a cruise group specialist for 10 years.



World Travel Service is a member of World Travel Partners, a member of the
GIANTS CONSORTIUM, a member of CLIA, a member of the Tulsa Chamber of
Commerce and a member of Executive Women International. I am sure there are
other memberships, but these are the ones that I can think of that may be
relevant.



I have assembled and escorted many groups, from just 5 cabins to 350 cabins.

I have worked with all the major cruise lines and have a great relationship
with Carnival, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Holland America Line,
Princess, Cunard, and Radisson Seven Seas.



"Sue Keenan" wrote in message
...

Lloyd Parsons wrote:


In article , Sue Keenan
wrote:



Lloyd Parsons wrote:


In article , Lloyd Parsons
wrote:




In article , Sue Keenan
wrote:




Lloyd Parsons wrote:



Woo Hoo! Did we get some nice bids in. And your ggc2005 committee

has

been hard at work to decide what to put up for bid.

We got very nice responses from 4 Travel Agents, here they are (in

no

particular order)
Karen Wheelock of WorldTravel Services of Tulsa, OK.
Cal Ford who we all know from here
John Szeto who has been trying forever it seems.
Peter Berlin who everyone also knows.

We've got selection out the wazoo this year!

You want a Western Caribbean? We got 'em, in more than one flavor
How about a West Coast? It is there too
New ships? Yep, got 'em

Great selection from a bunch of excellent TA's.

Voting will commence as soon as the website is updated to show the

bids

selected for the vote. At that time we will also post the rules of
voting and how the results will be used if something doesn't pop up

as

the hands-down favorite.

So keep watching www.ggc2005.com for the news!

Lloyd

Tropicale 2000
Sensation GGC2002
Golden Princess GGC2003
Radiance of the Seas GGC2004
Celebrity Millenium GLC2005

So how many times has Karen Wheelock posted on rtc?


Sue ---found no posts from Google Groups

I have no idea, nor am I overly concerned with that and neither was

the

rest of the committee.

As you should know, it gets increasingly more difficult to get TA's
that will bid at all on the GGC's because of the flame level that
exists primarily here. When we posted for TA's to bid, she was one of
them.

Thanks for asking....

Lloyd


I got to thinking and maybe that answer is too short. Let me expand on
it.

When the committee was being formed and discussions started within the
committee, as well as the postings I made here about TA interest, the
responses were underwhelming to say the least. We felt that all too
many of the TA's that are here all the time would not bid, and we were
almost right.

I literally only knew of 2 TA's that would bid when I called for bids.
I had been on the phone to a number of TA's from RTC to try to recruit
them and had received not very encouraging conversations. I will not
say who I called, nor will I say what was discussed. But the
conversations led me and the committee to believe that the responses
would be minimal at best.

So we took the TA's that responded to the call for bids, and I thank
them for their responses and the hard work it took to do those bids in
the face of knowing that whoever wins (and maybe even doesn't win) will
take some flak from some here that get their jollies bitching.

All of that said, the bids that will be posted for voting are the ones
that are available for a GGC this coming year. We think they are
excellent bids, with a broad selection, much broader than in the past.
Soon it will be up to you as voters to decide which of these bids you
want. They will be identified as to who submitted so if that is a big
deal to you, you can factor that in.

Lloyd

I'm sure there are a lot of TAs that read rtc and don't post, but if
they didn't know the requirements had changed, how would they know to
ask for a rfb?

I don't recall seeing a post from you saying you lifted the following
requirements?

1. Be a participating member in RTC
2. Be a full-time travel agent
3. Be owner, principal or can get permission to commit the agency to a
contract.

Sue


Great 20/20 hindsight! G

All of this is true, but we did it the way we did it. In future
another committee may decide to do it differently. We like the results
and are not going to change anything at this stage of the game.

None of the previous committee's rules are required to be used at all.
I assume that all of the committee's have built on each other with
changes along the way. Actually, I know that is exactly how it has
been done.

We did ours our way because that seemed to be necessary as we were
seeing little positive feedback from anywhere about this GGC. I sure
saw and heard enough negative though!

Lloyd

LLoyd,

Those were your rules for GGC2005. At least they were when you posted
them on rtc earlier this year.

Would you please post some info about Karen Wheelock's experience as a TA?

Thanks,

Sue







Asking how much experience a TA has or any business person, should not
be taken as an insult.

I also looked for the info on the Travel Agency's website before I asked.

Sue

Sorry if I seem overly sensitive. But it seems as though if anyone tries to
do something good for this group they get flamed! I have never seen so many
individuals just trying to start crap! No wonder people don't want to post
on this Group.

If you or anyone was interested in submitting a bid or even wanted to see
the RFB, all you had to do is ask .... we as members of the GGC2005
Committee would have been happy to send anyone a copy. We rewrote the RFB
to remove some of the Loopholes of the past and tried to make it more
appealing for the TA's to want to submit a bid.

Is there a need to be mean and nasty just for the sake of being mean and
nasty? These TA's worked hard to put these packages together. Some have
great itineraries, Some have great prices, Some of the TA's you might like,
Some of the Ta's you might not like and some TA's you might not know. But
they all took the time to try to submit bids to allow us a choice for a
Great traveling experience.

All the GGC2005 Committee tried to do is get bids on Cruises that people
would want to go on. If you don't like the bids or the TA's ... Don't vote
and by all means don't go. Don't ruin the Cruising experience for the rest
of us. Please! Let the GGC be what it stands for .... a Great Group Cruise.
We go for the Group not just the Cruise!

I respect and thank them All, for their efforts!

Chip Posner
This is my soap box and I am standing on it!


SC posner wrote:
You wanted it and here it is Karen Wheelock's Resume:

World Travel Service has been in business for almost 50 years and is the
largest travel agency in Oklahoma. I, Karen Wheelock, have been an
agent for 17 years and a cruise group specialist for 10 years.

I have assembled and escorted many groups, from just 5 cabins to 350
cabins.

I have worked with all the major cruise lines and have a great
relationship
with Carnival, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Holland America
Line,
Princess, Cunard, and Radisson Seven Seas.

Thanks Chip,

I couldn't said it better.

I repeat to all, "If you don't like the bids or the TA's ... Don't vote and
by all means don't go. Don't ruin the Cruising experience for the rest of
us. Please!"

Lets make this the GREATEST Group Cruise of all !

Tobieon an Island in the Pacific

"SC posner" wrote in message
m...
Sorry if I seem overly sensitive. But it seems as though if anyone tries
to
do something good for this group they get flamed! I have never seen so
many
individuals just trying to start crap! No wonder people don't want to
post
on this Group.

If you or anyone was interested in submitting a bid or even wanted to see
the RFB, all you had to do is ask .... we as members of the GGC2005
Committee would have been happy to send anyone a copy. We rewrote the RFB
to remove some of the Loopholes of the past and tried to make it more
appealing for the TA's to want to submit a bid.

Is there a need to be mean and nasty just for the sake of being mean and
nasty? These TA's worked hard to put these packages together. Some have
great itineraries, Some have great prices, Some of the TA's you might
like,
Some of the Ta's you might not like and some TA's you might not know. But
they all took the time to try to submit bids to allow us a choice for a
Great traveling experience.

All the GGC2005 Committee tried to do is get bids on Cruises that people
would want to go on. Let the GGC be what it stands for .... a Great
Group Cruise.
We go for the Group not just the Cruise!

I respect and thank them All, for their efforts!

Chip Posner
This is my soap box and I am standing on it!

Take a chill pill Chippy...............Not once was there any nasty, flames,
remarks towards her........It was the process that is in question....... So
drop it already

Maybe if you made it worth while for the agents to make more money instead
of asking for the moon you might have gotten a better response.

Lets visit old friends for the first time the cheapest way we can as a group
with the most amenities.

Fred
"SC posner" wrote in message
m...
Sorry if I seem overly sensitive. But it seems as though if anyone tries
to
do something good for this group they get flamed! I have never seen so
many
individuals just trying to start crap! No wonder people don't want to
post
on this Group.

If you or anyone was interested in submitting a bid or even wanted to see
the RFB, all you had to do is ask .... we as members of the GGC2005
Committee would have been happy to send anyone a copy. We rewrote the RFB
to remove some of the Loopholes of the past and tried to make it more
appealing for the TA's to want to submit a bid.

Is there a need to be mean and nasty just for the sake of being mean and
nasty? These TA's worked hard to put these packages together. Some have
great itineraries, Some have great prices, Some of the TA's you might
like,
Some of the Ta's you might not like and some TA's you might not know. But
they all took the time to try to submit bids to allow us a choice for a
Great traveling experience.

All the GGC2005 Committee tried to do is get bids on Cruises that people
would want to go on. If you don't like the bids or the TA's ... Don't
vote
and by all means don't go. Don't ruin the Cruising experience for the
rest
of us. Please! Let the GGC be what it stands for .... a Great Group
Cruise.
We go for the Group not just the Cruise!

I respect and thank them All, for their efforts!

Chip Posner
This is my soap box and I am standing on it!


SC posner wrote:
You wanted it and here it is Karen Wheelock's Resume:

World Travel Service has been in business for almost 50 years and is
the
largest travel agency in Oklahoma. I, Karen Wheelock, have been an
agent for 17 years and a cruise group specialist for 10 years.

I have assembled and escorted many groups, from just 5 cabins to 350
cabins.

I have worked with all the major cruise lines and have a great
relationship
with Carnival, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Holland America
Line,
Princess, Cunard, and Radisson Seven Seas.

my only question/concern is who is this other TA? do you know people who
have dealt with her in the past? is she someone's private agent? these can
all be a concern. Everyone here on RTC is familiar with the other names and
has their own opinions of them.

--
Sheree


"Lloyd Parsons" wrote in message
...
In article , Tom &
Linda wrote:

"Lloyd Parsons" wrote in message
...

So how many times has Karen Wheelock posted on rtc?


Sue ---found no posts from Google Groups

I have no idea, nor am I overly concerned with that and neither was
the
rest of the committee.

As you should know, it gets increasingly more difficult to get TA's
that will bid at all on the GGC's because of the flame level that
exists primarily here. When we posted for TA's to bid, she was one of
them.

Thanks for asking....


Perhaps next time it might be worth stating up front that the TA's that
bid
don't have to be RTCr's. It might generate even more interest. Having
the
stipulation, as in the past, that the TA must be an RTC poster reduces
the
"pool" of TA's that can bid.

Even though you did get a non-RTC TA to bid this time, maybe if you
state up
front that you don't have to be an RTC poster you'll get even more
interest
next time.

--Tom

I won't argue with that. But that isn't the way it was done this time.
Next GGC the committee can do like us and make their rules also.

For information, each GGC committee is empowered to do whatever is
ethical and legal to produce good results. They are not bound to the
previous committee's rules in any way except possibly that it makes it
easier.

And actually, there is no requirement that the GGC chair even empanel a
committee as I was told more than once.

All in all, I think we got some very nice bids that you all will find
at least one if not more to like.

Lloyd

Dar Freddy,

A Chippy is an English prostitute! My name is Chip, yes that is my real
name!

I wasn't referring to Karen I was referring to the people that think the
Committee has an agenda or we have some way to rig the out come!

If you think the process is wrong or skewed, volunteer to be on the
committee next year and change it! Then we can criticize you for trying to
do a good job for the GGC.

By the way, how do we make it worthwhile for the TA's to bid? How do we
make it more profitable for the TA's? How do we keep the amenities the
Cruisers seem to want?

I think the TA's have done a great job with the itineraries and pricing!
Plus we have the amenities that GGC seems to want. I applaud them all for
taking the time and making the effort to give us choices.

I also thank my fellow GGC Committee members for giving of their time to
make this possible! There were lots of phone calls and an unbelievable
amount of E-mails to reform the RFB so we could get TA's to bid!

Chip
Still on the Soap Box


"Freddyp" wrote in message
news:GhYuc.1813$CW.1707@lakeread05...
Take a chill pill Chippy...............Not once was there any nasty,
flames,
remarks towards her........It was the process that is in question.......
So
drop it already

Maybe if you made it worth while for the agents to make more money instead
of asking for the moon you might have gotten a better response.

Lets visit old friends for the first time the cheapest way we can as a
group
with the most amenities.

Fred
"SC posner" wrote in message
m...
Sorry if I seem overly sensitive. But it seems as though if anyone
tries
to
do something good for this group they get flamed! I have never seen so
many
individuals just trying to start crap! No wonder people don't want to
post
on this Group.

If you or anyone was interested in submitting a bid or even wanted to
see
the RFB, all you had to do is ask .... we as members of the GGC2005
Committee would have been happy to send anyone a copy. We rewrote the
RFB
to remove some of the Loopholes of the past and tried to make it more
appealing for the TA's to want to submit a bid.

Is there a need to be mean and nasty just for the sake of being mean and
nasty? These TA's worked hard to put these packages together. Some
have
great itineraries, Some have great prices, Some of the TA's you might
like,
Some of the Ta's you might not like and some TA's you might not know.
But
they all took the time to try to submit bids to allow us a choice for a
Great traveling experience.

All the GGC2005 Committee tried to do is get bids on Cruises that people
would want to go on. If you don't like the bids or the TA's ... Don't
vote
and by all means don't go. Don't ruin the Cruising experience for the
rest
of us. Please! Let the GGC be what it stands for .... a Great Group
Cruise.
We go for the Group not just the Cruise!

I respect and thank them All, for their efforts!

Chip Posner
This is my soap box and I am standing on it!

If you read Karen Wheelock's Resume you will find that she is very
experienced and has a great reputation. World Travel Service has been in
business for almost 50 years and is the largest travel agency in Oklahoma.
Karen Wheelock, has been an agent for 17 years and a cruise group specialist
for 10 years. She is a delightful person to deal with. She has a true
desire to make any travel experience pleasant and enjoyable for her clients.
I have known her for a couple of years.

I wanted to stay neutral in this, (since I am on the Committee) but her
company is right here in Tulsa. We Tulsans are proud of Tulsa and are
protective of each other!

I hope that answers some of your questions. If not feel free to ask others,
or you could always call her! 1-800-324-4987 x 259 or check out their
website www.WorldTravelToday



"sheree" wrote in message
t...
my only question/concern is who is this other TA? do you know people who
have dealt with her in the past? is she someone's private agent? these
can
all be a concern. Everyone here on RTC is familiar with the other names
and
has their own opinions of them.

--
Sheree


"Lloyd Parsons" wrote in message
...
In article , Tom &
Linda wrote:

"Lloyd Parsons" wrote in message
...

So how many times has Karen Wheelock posted on rtc?


Sue ---found no posts from Google Groups

I have no idea, nor am I overly concerned with that and neither was
the
rest of the committee.

As you should know, it gets increasingly more difficult to get TA's
that will bid at all on the GGC's because of the flame level that
exists primarily here. When we posted for TA's to bid, she was one
of
them.

Thanks for asking....


Perhaps next time it might be worth stating up front that the TA's
that
bid
don't have to be RTCr's. It might generate even more interest.
Having
the
stipulation, as in the past, that the TA must be an RTC poster reduces
the
"pool" of TA's that can bid.

Even though you did get a non-RTC TA to bid this time, maybe if you
state up
front that you don't have to be an RTC poster you'll get even more
interest
next time.

--Tom

I won't argue with that. But that isn't the way it was done this time.
Next GGC the committee can do like us and make their rules also.

For information, each GGC committee is empowered to do whatever is
ethical and legal to produce good results. They are not bound to the
previous committee's rules in any way except possibly that it makes it
easier.

And actually, there is no requirement that the GGC chair even empanel a
committee as I was told more than once.

All in all, I think we got some very nice bids that you all will find
at least one if not more to like.

Lloyd

Chip wrote...
Sorry if I seem overly sensitive. But it seems as though if anyone tries to
do something good for this group they get flamed! I have never seen so many
individuals just trying to start crap! No wonder people don't want to post
on this Group.

Or go on a GGC... Sorry, Chip... You know I love you, but taking on this group
is a lot like committing suicide... I give you guys a lot of credit for putting
up with the crap that goes on here... Hang in there, buddy!

Pam ----- has lost my faith in the *group thing*

Even though you did get a non-RTC TA to bid this time, maybe if you state up
front that you don't have to be an RTC poster you'll get even more interest
next time.

I have to agree with Tom on this one. I am sure there are several TAs that
many of us know, who might have put in bids (as crazy as it may seem), but the
rules that were originally stated on RTC, said that the TA's submitting bids,
had to have been regular posters on RTC... Did I miss a published correction to
that, somewhere?
Mind you... I personally couldn't care less WHO bids, or who wins the bid...
Just saying that I think that there would have been even more options, had
others known that this particular requirement had been dropped from the
criteria...

Pam

In article , Lunyma
wrote:

Chip wrote...
Sorry if I seem overly sensitive. But it seems as though if anyone tries to
do something good for this group they get flamed! I have never seen so many
individuals just trying to start crap! No wonder people don't want to post
on this Group.

Or go on a GGC... Sorry, Chip... You know I love you, but taking on this group
is a lot like committing suicide... I give you guys a lot of credit for
putting
up with the crap that goes on here... Hang in there, buddy!

Pam ----- has lost my faith in the *group thing*

It is only a problem if you let it be. Since the flamers are in the
minority, and the worse they can do is **** me off, it ain't no big
thing! ;-)

The good part of the group thing is that those that go have a good time
with a minimal amount of bitching on the cruise......

Lloyd