A Message From the SoCal Chapter President

​A Message from your SoCal Chapter President 
While the summer sun sizzles… 
Many of us have been more than a little “hot under the collar” while raging war on AB5, first with our California State Assembly, then with our California State Senate.  Despite concentrated efforts by both members, (we hope that you, reading this did participate by contacting your representatives), and our executive team from Washington who traveled to Sacramento to lobby on our behalf, this bill passed in both houses. 
Effectively, if amendments are not placed into this bill before becoming legislation, independent contractor status in our travel industry, within the State of California will become unlawful. 
So, how can you help?  Continue to lobby your own state assembly representative and senator, express your support of our industry’s continued dependence on travel advisors who wish to be independent contractors.  Urge them to understand that this independent status is not being coerced, but a matter of individual choice.  Additional argument could be that IC’s in this state could simply find host agencies in other states, thus diluting the profits of California companies and their taxes paid to the state.  
And for the fun topics this summer…! 
We have long wished to create “ASTA on the Go” Events throughout our SoCal region enabling more members to attend and participate in what our great organization has to offer.  We are thrilled that our first ASTA on the Go, scheduled for July 25 at the Riverside Mission Inn has sold out…now has a waitlist for members who would like to attend.   
It’s with appreciation to Azamara, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean Cruise for their sponsorship that we look forward to sharing this evening with so many of our members in the inland empire. Please visit and like YOUR new, refreshed SoCal ASTA Facebook Page, #astasocal.  Follow to keep up with what we’re planning for our great members and do share with colleagues…the more we communicate, the stronger we are…and it’s fun in the sun time for us all! 
Keep sending those great clients on vacation…and take some precious fun time for yourselves…I know how hard you work! 
Kindest regards, 
Tama Taylor Holve 
SoCal ASTA Chapter President