GCLA Updates
Over the course of the past 2 months I have been advising you that your association would be hosting a live event in December. Last week, after securing an official sponsorship from Cadillac and SoCal Penske, we were 100% set to go with a program that we believe our members are desperate for, a face-to-face program that brings together all the key players in luxury and business travel, tourism, meetings and events, hospitality and ground transportation. The event, coined “We Move California” was set for December 15th at the Hyatt in Huntington Beach.
Unfortunately, Governor Newsome announced new state restrictions effective immediately that made things impossible for us. So, sadly we report that we are postponing the GCLA December event to January. In it’s place we will host another Town Hall meeting that addresses important topics to hopefully include Prop 22 and next steps.
Two weeks ago, our association cobbled together a Town Hall (with one week to spare), hosted by Selim Aslam from MIB in San Diego and Harry Dhillon of Ecko in San Jose. Thirty-five percent of our current membership registered for the Zoom call, and all of those people showed up for the event. That tells us that there is a real need to have dialogue with our people beyond our e-newsletter. So, communicate we shall.
We are winding down on our board elections. There are two seats that have competition, Los Angeles and the Northern California regions. Please cast your vote by next Tuesday, November 24th. If you did not receive a ballot in the mail by now, call us immediately at (213) 349-0190. All voting ends at 5:00pm next Tuesday.
On membership renewals, please note that the GCLA has moved to “annualized billing” so that we can operate on a fiscal budget and run your organization in a more organized fashion. You will be receiving renewals this month. The GCLA board voted last month to keep membership dues to $75 for operations and $300 for suppliers. We have held these prices this low for the last two years. In your renewal notices, you will receive a stakeholder’s report from me that outlines all the activities of your GCLA this year and the macro-level outlook for 2021. You’ll also receive a membership satisfaction survey via email. We need to know how we are performing for you. We don’t want to guess at what you value most in this community, we want you to tell us.
In close, next Thursday and Friday our staff will be celebrating Thanksgiving so our newsletter will come out a day early. Speaking of Thanksgiving, I want you all to know who much my team and I love serving you. We appreciate your faith in us as we lead the way forward – upward and onward. This year was tough but alas, we are tough. History changed within our country and our world in a blink and the worst of burdens were laid upon us. My first month on this job was March 2020, a month I will never forget. I am ever grateful for such a wonderful board of directors and a fabulous person in Mo Garkani, your GCLA president to represent. I am hopeful you can find thanks in your lives and are able to reflect on at least one thing positive during this sacred time in our country’s heritage.
Sara Eastwood-Richardson
