Written by Bob Meyer, Editor of BarterNews

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NATE's 20th Anniversary Convention Very Impressive

Fran Crumpton, Richard Harris And Bob Meyer Honored

A receptive and convincing turnout of 152 attendees, as well as an informative educational program at this year’s National Association of Trade Exchanges 20th Anniversary Convention, matched the upscale venue—the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For three days, September 9 - 11, accomplished independent trade exchange owners from across the U.S. and Canada gathered in the nation’s fastest growing city to work and play together. They enthusiastically greeted and embraced one another at the evening reception, renewing business relationships and growing friendships forged over the years.

Notable at this year’s meeting were the number of new entrees coming into the barter arena, and the renewed enthusiasm which was voiced by many of the industry’s veterans.

Reinforcing the zeal for professionalism and personal betterment was a most impressive turnout for greater education. An industriously large number of brokers—14—took the CTB (Certified Trade Broker) test, spending the time necessary to study for and then pass the exam enabling them to add the credible professional designation after their name.

Additionally, NATE has instituted a new exam—a first for the industry—which when passed allows one to become a Master Trade Broker (MTB). Four long-time veteran CTBs stepped forward to achieve the title: Donna Burlingham of Eagle Barter Exchange, Debra Merchant of Gulf Cost Trade Exchange, Kim Strabley of Continental Trade Exchange, and Linda Zibell of New England Trade.

At this year’s Awards Banquet three people were honored:

• Fran Crumpton of Gulf Coast Trade Exchange in Pensacola (FL). She received the NATE Executive Director’s 2004 Most Valuable Member Award for her tireless work with the association for decades, including directing the CTB program for numerous years. She has been with the association from the onset, as one of five founding members.
  
• Receiving the prestigious Monkman-Crumpton Award (named after two of NATE’s most prominent leaders) was another founding member, Richard Harris of National Commercial Exchange in St. Louis. Harris has served the association in various ways over the past 20 years—as president in 1989, as a director on the board, and as moderator and panelist at many convention seminars.
  
• Bob Meyer, publisher of BarterNews, was acknowledged by the NATE Board of Directors for his contributions to the commercial barter industry and given the first-ever NATE Lifetime Achievement Award.

Incoming president Victor Castano, of Alamo Barter in San Antonio, gave an impressive address to the attendees at the Awards Banquet, sharing his vision on the future of the barter industry. His comments and further coverage on the convention will appear in the next issue of BarterNews.

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Bentley Commerce & David Cooper Plan Nationwide Seminars For Educating America's Entrepreneurs On The Value Of Barter

Bentley Commerce Corp (OTCBB:BLYC) and David Cooper (see BarterNews cover story issue #62) will begin a series of seminars in January 2005 in ten major U.S. cities. The strategic alliance, titled “The Success Acceleration Tour For Entrepreneurs and Sales People,” will include a focus on using barter to gain a competitive advantage by preserving cash, gaining new customers, and increasing sales and profits.

The first event will be staged in Atlanta around half-day, one-day and four-day seminars, culminating with a VIP dinner. Also planned is an all day expo to showcase exhibits and provide networking opportunities for business professionals.

The tour is offering sponsorships to firms that provide business services and want to reach and influence those attending the events. Each city event will be supported by print and broadcast advertising estimated at $250,000, and is expected to attract 1,500 participants.

Part of the four-day event will be a program that teaches individuals and organizations about the barter exchange business. Bentley Commerce’s trade exchange management system will be provided to those who complete the program. For more information visit www.bentleycommerce.com and www.bentley.vbarter.com.

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Zeo Radio Networks Offers Consulting Services On Barter

Denver-based Zeo Radio Networks has announced a long-term agreement with Clifton Radio Consulting to offer consulting services to chr/rhythmic and urban stations on barter.

Clifton Radio Consulting, headed by Jerry Clifton, will provide its services to stations looking to win the battle in their market either by retooling their format and presentation, or by coordinating a format flip to one that’s more competitive financially.

Get New Money-Making Ideas And Valuable Contacts!

You can obtain useful, informative ideas and contacts in every available back-issue of BarterNews.

Our Apology To Richard Logie...

Last week we ran a story in which we misspelled Richard Logie’s name. We are sorry for this mishap, and consequently are rerunning it as follows. . .

New Worldwide Barter Travel Portal—World Travel Exchange—Now Available

Richard Logie, co-founder with partner Linda Sim of The Business Exchange located in Scotland, has spent the better part of last year, along with considerable money, in the construction of a barter travel portal that he envisions will move the commercial barter industry to a higher level.

(Logie, incidentally, working along with IRTA’s then Executive Director Paul Suplizio, was the person who organized the first IRTA/Europe meeting—which he sponsored and funded—back in 1995.)

World Travel Exchange (WTEx) was launched after Logie attended a European meeting last October, which was held in Brussels and hosted by Walther Smets. IRTA was an invited guest.

At the meeting, some of the attendees were lamenting about the uncooperativeness and lack of trust that existed among certain exchanges. The consensus was that travel is a universal need, and therefore one commodity that can build and further develop trading relationships among exchange owners.

Although there was general agreement that Logie’s idea of establishing a travel portal was a good one, he was concerned about how it would get built. So Logie heeded the suggestion, “It’s your idea, why don’t you work on it?”

With the goal of keeping the service and site as simple as possible to use, he consequently developed it as a tool for brokers who spend considerable time handling travel for their exchange.

Free Sign-up Ends September 15

There are 103 trade exchanges, including the world’s largest, now posted on WTEx’s site along with listings of 364 hotels, restaurants, resorts, car rentals, etc., all primarily based in Europe.

At present, WTEx is offering free access for any trade exchange with travel inventory to sell. After September 15, barter companies will need an IRTA-UC account for free access.

WTEx is not a payment system, but a booking system. Direct reciprocals and IRTA’s Universal Currency will be accepted for payment. For more information visit www.wtex.org, or e-mail wtex@tbex.com.

Every barter company in the world is listed on our web site, click through to our Global List of Barter Companies.

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Here & There...

• The holidays can’t be far away...as we have received our first notification of a Holiday Trade Fair from BXI Ventura/Santa Barbara & BXI West Valley. It will be held on Sunday, November 7, at the Oxnard (CA) Courtyard by Marriott on 600 East Esplanade Drive, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call: 805-376-9466 or 818-758-2929.

• Have you signed up to receive a summary via e-mail of the Tuesday Report every week? If not, go to the top of this issue (right hand corner) and sign up!

• China is exceeding market-opening commitments made in late 2001 as part of a package of deals agreed to for entry into the World Trade Organization. Top economic officials have reported the country plans to do even more to foster foreign investment, especially in the banking industry.