The TBTA 2019-2020 Community Outreach organization selected by a majority vote is BEAR…BE A Resource for CPS Kids.    We are excited to partner with Tammy Hetmaniak, Executive Director and her organization.   Refer to the latest meeting announcement for a list of needs that will help BEAR in their mission to offer hope and help for abused and neglected children and the caseworkers who protect them.   

Alissa Hennon, the member who nominated BEAR, will be TBTA’s Internal Advocate and serve as the Community Outreach Committee Chair.  Go to BEAR…BE A Resource for CPS Kids website and learn about how you can help with their mission and all the things they do to support CPS kids and caseworkers. 

The Primary role of the Education & Programs Committee is to develop educational programs for monthly meetings.

• Select and/or approve topics and speakers for monthly meetings and our Direct Only sessions

• Facilitate travel arrangements and payment for services for visiting speakers.

• Develop the meeting topic overview for our website at least one month in advance of each educational session.

• Select and purchase speaker/sponsor gifts and present on-site or mail with personal thank you note.

• During the years when TBTA is the host for the Texas Educational Day event, this committee works as a co-committee for that event, handling the educational topics and speakers

• Survey our membership annually to determine topics of educational interest

Primary role is to coordinate Texas BTA's annual charity golf tournament to raise funds for contribution to selected charity(s) programs.

• Organize/Chair planning including sponsorship, site selection, merchandise, silent auction, foursomes, registration, non-golfer event, safety, etc.
• Promote golf tournament
• Review committee progress with membership at monthly meetings.
• All committee members are committed to consistently attend monthly Texas BTA meetings and monthly Texas BTA Networking events.

PAC Donations for GBTA Members: 
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS CHALLENGE  Scroll to the bottom of the page to the donation section. Again, that you must be a GBTA member to use this link. 

PAC Donations for TexasBTA Members: If you are not a GBTA member, no problem! If you are a member of the local TexasBTA Chapter, simply log into the member only page HERE. PAC Rules prevent us from posting the donatino link to a public web page. Be sure to type “Houston” or “Texas” in the chapter affiliation box!

What We Do: 

Government Relations advocates policies that benefit the business travel industry. Along with GBTA & Chapter members across the country, we educate members of Congress, their staff, and agency officials about:

• How business travel stimulates economic and jobs growth
• Government policies that facilitate business travel
• Government policies and taxes that discourage or impede business travel
• Benefits of efficient travel buying and selling

How You Can Make a Difference:
Get involved! Government representatives need to hear from you - their constituents - about policies that facilitate rather than impede business travel. Unwise policies cost the business travel community time, money, and business opportunities. From increasing risk-based passenger screening to modernizing the air transportation system to expanding access to the U.S. through the Visa Waiver Program, your representatives need to know that their actions/voting decisions matter to you.

The 13^th Annual Chapter Challenge is ON!

GBTA members’ advocacy efforts are key to the success in advancing a pro-business travel legislative agenda. The Government Relations Challenge is designed to help raise the profile and maximize the profile of GBTA, organize the membership to be engaged in government relations, advocate and influence policy, and build relationships with elected officials. Chapters fulfilling these 6 tasks will be recognized as Challenge Partners.

• 35% of membership sends a communication to one of their elected o­fficials through the GBTA Legislative Action Center
• 25% of chapter membership signs up to be an Advocate
• Invite an elected offi­cial to speak at a chapter meeting or host a GBTA government relations focused meeting
• Chapter sends a letter or signs onto a GBTA Chapter coalition letter to its representative or senator endorsing a GBTA endorsed bill or vote
• Chapter appoints a liaison to the GBTA Government Relations Department
• Large Chapters (Texas BTA) raise $1,500, Medium Chapters raise $1,000 and Small Chapters raise $500 in PAC contributions. All must have 30% of members contribute

• Committed to consistently attending monthly TBTA meetings

• Work to develop and implements creative ideas for increasing membership, with a primary emphasis on increasing direct membership and therefore benefit all members.

• Coordinate a buddy program to mentor and introduce new members to current members and get them involved in the chapter.

• Coordinate new member orientation sessions to be facilitated by the TBTA Secretary and attended by Officers.

• Work to insure retention of members and encourage renewals

• Coordinate with the Registration/Hospitality Committee to host a New Member table at each monthly event.

Click here to view 2020-2021 Officer Election Platform

Primary role is to bring positive attention to the Texas BTA and its members’ professional/company interests.

• Committed to attending all Texas BTA Meetings & Networking Events.

• Solicit and encourage Texas BTA membership by coordinating publication of TBTA membership activities and accomplishments in a professional manner in appropriate industry and other local publications.

• Take/collect photos during TBTA related events

• Share photos and meeting recap content with the webmaster and the Social Media Chair

• Perform other duties as assigned by the President.

• Post updates & photos of events and interest on our TBTA Facebook & LinkedIn pages

• Increase viewership of our TBTA website & Facebook and LinkedIn pages

• Be the voice of TBTA on Twitter & Instagram

• Involve our membership in the "social voice" of the chapter

Primary role is to assist with the TBTA Monthly Meeting registration process & assist welcoming our New Members onsite. This committee works with the membership committee to host New member meetings.

• Committed to consistently attending monthly TBTA meetings.

• Perform the registration process at monthly meetings and events as needed.

• Arrive to assist with registration preparation 15 minutes prior to the opening of registration.

• Assist in distribution of name badges and facilitating registration process.

• Assist in greeting & directing attendees as they arrive at the registration desk and/or entrance to meeting

• Assist in collection of name badges at the close of the monthly meeting.

• Meet & assist New Members onsite

If you are interested in the 2019 application, the details will be released are below.

Current TexasBTA members in good standing have the opportunity to win (1) of (9) scholarship awards that can be utilized towards their professional development and/or approved travel industry related events (i.e. registration fees, hotel lodging, membership fees, etc.). All awards are subject to the terms and conditions set forth by the TexasBTA Board members and can only be applied towards TexasBTA board approved events/activities to include: travel industry related professional development, industry related conventions and transportation/hotel costs related to the convention events.  Awards may be used to offset costs of registration, transportation, lodging, and other items as pre-approved by the Board and Scholarship Committee upon request.  *Meals are excluded from the use of scholarship funds. *

TexasBTA members who did not win a 2018 TexasBTA scholarship in the amount of $750+ are able to participate, but the winners are obligated to participate as a TexasBTA Scholarship committee member for 2020, should they win a scholarship.

Scholarship Awards: Nine prizes will be awarded for a total amount of $18,500. Prizes will be awarded in the following amounts: (1) Diamond winner in the amount of $4,000, (2) Platinum winners in the amount of $3,000, (2) Gold winners in the amount of $2,000, (2) Silver winners in the amount of $1,500 and (2) Bronze winners in the amount of $750. 

 Essay: The essay is submitted within the application link, and is an opportunity to provide information regarding the applicant's merits, accomplishments, and other reasons why the applicant should be selected for a 2019 Professional Development Scholarship.  The essay should describe your experience, professional and personal accomplishments, and career goals and objectives.    In addition to these elements, the essay will be scored on organization, clarity and merits.   

APPLICANT ENDORSEMENT: By completing the following application I acknowledge that I am applying for a 2019 Professional Development Scholarship.  I understand that should I be awarded a scholarship in 2019, it would only be applicable for Board approved charges associated directly with Travel Industry Professional Development opportunities. I also understand that once I submit my application, it cannot be altered in any way.

In addition, I understand that I must be an active TexasBTA member at the time of reimbursement and that receipts must be provided to TexasBTA for any items that are to be reimbursement associated with professional development events or classes.

Some activities that are pre-approved by the 2019 TexasBTA Board are as followed:

• GBTA continuing education programs (including Legislative Symposium, GTP, GLP, Master’s Program)
• TexasBTA Annual membership
• GBTA Annual membership
• Texas Education Day  
• GBTA convention attendance (including air, 4 nights lodging room and tax and/or airport parking)
• Other Travel Related Educational Events (as approved by the Board)
• Continuing education at an accredited College or University in a field that benefits a travel industry career goal

My company leadership has been made aware of my intent to request this scholarship and has indicated that they will support any event attendance should I receive the scholarship, and we acknowledge this is nontransferable.

If I am awarded a Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze level scholarship, I agree to serve on the Scholarship Committee in 2020 and I understand that I will not be eligible to apply for a 2020 scholarship at these levels.  I will be eligible and allowed to apply for a “Career Builder”, TED, or similar level scholarship in any year.

Should I be unable to use all of the professional development funds by December 31, 2021, I agree to provide TexasBTA written notification, so the funds can be returned to the TexasBTA budget for the following year’s Professional Development Scholarship program.

http://www.texasbta.org/survey.php?id=37

Primary role is to plan the "fun" social events for TBTA and increase the ROI for our members with networking opportunities and community service events.

• This committee will plan social networking events, community service projects and holiday event parties. 

• This committee requires a time commitment of about 4 hours (maximum) each month, noting that prep for the holiday party will require slightly more commitment.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Set up and registration at each networking event

• Adding value to the social events through additional ways to network, incentives, and promotions

• Liaising with the official TBTA charities to offer community service projects

• Complete planning and execution of the holiday party event.

The mission of the Texas BTA Legacy Committee is to record and compile the chronological history of the Texas Business Travel Association (TBTA).   Our primary responsibility is to keep track of activities and achievements associated within the organization through the compilation of documents, photographs and interviews.