If you were not with us for FPTA’s Fall 2006 Membership Meeting & Tabletop Expo, you really missed a super event—and your presence was missed by us!  We had perfect weather at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort, and everyone enjoyed a great time together in Orlando!

 

This year-end show included two very informative and useful seminars.  One covered key payphone programming issues and the other presented the IDT Prepaid Solutions program.  They both provided in depth Q&A opportunities and offered real world information that is helpful to running and expanding your business.  Sincere thanks to Mike Black of DA Comp Consulting, for his fine presentation of the programming information and to Tony Dantonio of IDT for the prepaid program presentation.

 

The conference featured a tabletop trade exhibition and industry reception with the latest in product and service innovations for PSPs, and with a good array of the industry’s top vendors exhibiting.  FPTA appreciates all of the vendors that attended this event and participated in the Tabletop Trade Expo—we really value your loyal support!

 

FPTA also wants to take this opportunity to extend our special thanks and appreciation to the Industry Sponsors that helped make this event possible:

v   NAVIGATOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS(Dial Tone) v   CTI(OSP/*11) v   AMBER NETWORKS(Wireless @ Payphones) v   NCIC(OSP/1+ Coin LD/*77/International Collect)

 

These all are excellent companies offering you top notch products and services.  Each one is really stepping up to support your payphone association and the industry in general—and you really should try and give them your business whenever and wherever possible.  (They are all FPTA Vendor Partners and you can learn more about the best deals on their services by calling FPTA Technologies toll free: 1-800-927-5050.)

 

In addition to our Seminars, Tabletop Expo and Industry Reception, we also held our FPTA Annual Membership Meeting as part of this event and conducted a formal vote on two important items: 1. Re-election of Directors; and 2. Modification of Associate Member-Services Vendor dues.  By a virtual consensus, the FPTA membership re-elected Jim Bimonte (Chairman), Tony Kerbo, Joe Williams and Guy Strempack to serve new two-year terms on the FPTA Board of Directors.  FPTA congratulates these Directors on their re-election and extended our sincerest thanks and appreciation for their ongoing service to FPTA and to the industry.  This organization is truly fortunate to have individuals of this caliber, diversity and dedication to serve on our Board.  Each one deserves our highest recognition and thanks for their service.

 

The membership also approved the dues modification for Associate Member Services Vendors, as proposed by the Board.  This change in dues is intended to ‘level the playing field’ between the various services vendor companies that wish to participate in our FPTA events and associate themselves with the FPTA family of vendors.  The new dues for these members will be $300/month, effective October 1, 2006.  Notably, any payments received from our services vendors, in the form of commissions to FPTA Technologies or in other forms of contribution or support for FPTA or its affiliates, will be credited dollar for dollar to meet these monthly dues obligations.  Although the new monthly dues amount is far less in the way of support than we receive from our major Vendor Partners, the updated dues level at least set a reasonable contribution floor for services vendors to participate in the FPTA membership activities and enjoy the benefits of associating their businesses with the FPTA family of vendors.

 

Following the formal Annual Membership Meeting portion of the agenda, reports were presented on the key legal, legislative and regulatory issues affecting the industry by our FPTA lobbyist in Tallahassee, Lester Abberger, and Executive Director, Bruce Renard.  These reports touched upon the present status of the Lifeline/Link-Up, FCC New Services Test, FPSC OSP Rate Caps, and the other major initiatives being pursued in earnest by FPTA on your behalf.

 

Wrapping up the Fall 2006 event was the FPTA Industry Raffle, with a variety of great prizes and lots of fun!  Our big prize winners were: Video iPod—Scott Jones; Sony Portable DVD player—Marie Phillips; $100 Best Buy Gift Cards—Tom Rose & Mark Toms.  Special thanks to the following companies for their generous contributions to the FPTA Industry Raffle:  1-800-FAIRCALL; CTI; NCIC; AMBER NETWORKS; WTI; TU LLC and FPTA Technologies.  Once again, these folks are supporting your Association and your industry—so please remember to support them with your business whenever you can.    

 

In closing, this was a really super event with lots of timely and valuable information, networking and fellowship—all in a first class setting at the Coronado Springs.  Please know that your attendance at these FPTA events is extremely important to the ongoing vitality and success of your Association.  If you were there with us—thanks so much for your participation.  If you were unable to attend this time, please make it a point to be with us for our FPTA Spring 2007 event—at another great location to be announced soon.  Your participation is critical to our mission for the industry and your ongoing loyalty and support is sincerely appreciated.