IRTA
Sends Formal Invitation To NATE For Unified 2007 Conference
The
commercial barter industry has had two parallel trade
associations for the past twenty-two years. Much has changed
within the industry over the years. Not only have many of
the players (exchange owners) changed, but the agendas of
decades ago are no longer applicable.
Given
the aforementioned, along with some new challenges the
industry�s two associations are facing, the International
Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA) Board of Directors sent
a formal proposal to the National Association of Trade
Exchanges (NATE) Board of Directors on October 16, 2006,
suggesting that the two organizations stage a unified annual
conference.
IRTA�s
Executive Director recently sent the following statement to
BarterNews:
�The
IRTA felt that in the current environment of exchange
consolidation in the U.S. and with fictitious associations
claiming to represent the industry (i.e. NABA), it was
critical to join forces.
�The
strongest and most reputable exchanges have supported either
IRTA or NATE over the last 25+ years. These are the
exchanges that should continue to lead and leverage the
strengths of each other.
�We understand that the
NATE board will be considering this proposal at their next
board meeting, and we hope to report soon that there will
indeed be a joint conference for both owners and brokers in
2007.� |