Following, Zurstadt's presentation, the minutes of the October 25, 2002, Annual Business Meeting, held in Austin, Texas, were approved.

Secretary/Treasurer Ralph R. Miller, CA, CBV, CHA, CHAE, presented the treasurer's report. He referred the members to the treasurer's report, which was printed in the April/May 2003 issue of The Bottomline. Miller informed the members that the Board approved the budget for 2004, which includes a continuation of HFTP's current programs, with no dues increase for the coming budget year. The focus for the 2004 budget will be to rebuild the membership by enhancing the value to all members. A particular focus for the direct members will be the launch of ProLinks.

President Elect Tina Samson, CHAE, announced that from the strategic prospective the single most important initiative the board will be marketing in 2004 is ProLinks. ProLinks will initially be a member benefit for direct members. The program was created to close the geographical gap between members internationally by providing an online meeting forum that focus on specific industry related topics. As a result of feedback from the Leadership Academy, the Board of Directors decided to modify the ProLinks plan. The board decided to defer the 2006 initiative to eliminate the geographic boundaries requiring chapter membership. A task force was appointed to review the elimination of geographical boundaries as a requirement to join a chapter. This task force will then make a recommendation to the Board for their review. The Board appreciates the ProLinks feedback/input from the members at the Leadership Academy.

For the President's Report, Zurstadt said that her monthly e-mails would serve as the president's report. She also notified the audience that the foundation awarded $20 thousand to the Rosen School of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida and $15 thousand to Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston.

Executive Vice President Frank Wolfe, CAE, stated that this was a record Annual Convention. In this difficult economy, this is a great thing to experience. Wolfe thanked the members that attended the record breaking Leadership Academy.

Zurstadt thanked and introduced the 2003 Advisory Council Chairs. The council reports were available for members to pick up in the back of the room.

Immediate Past President/Nominating Committee Chair John J. Cahill, CHA, CHTP, informed the members that as a result of the Nominating Committee's work that year, the committee had come up with suggestions to change the Board's structure. Cahill brought these suggestions to the Executive Committee in June, and as a result, the Executive Committee asked Cahill to research the possible reorganization of the Board's officer positions and tasks. Cahill brought his research results to the Board in October, and the recommended changes to the association's officer positions were approved. The officer positions will now comprise President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.

In accordance with Article X, Section 3, of the HFTP bylaws, Secretary/Treasurer Miller cast the ballot for the 2003-2004 slate of officers, and declared the individuals mentioned below as duly elected. Miller informed the members that the 2003-2004 Executive Committee and Board would be installed at the President's Evening later that evening. President Tina Marie Samson, CHAE, Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando; Vice President Frank A. Agnello, Jr., CMA, CHAE, The Wyndgate Country Club; Treasurer Ralph R. Miller, CA, CBV, CHA, CHAE, Inntegrated Hospitality Management, Ltd.; Secretary Agnes L. DeFranco, Ed.D., CHAE, University of Houston; Immediate Past President Wendy K. Zurstadt, CPA, CHAE, CHTP, Hartford Golf Club.

In accordance with Article X, Section 3, of the HFTP bylaws, Secretary/Treasurer Miller cast the ballot for the 2003-2004 slate of directors, and declared the individuals mentioned below as duly elected. Wolfe installed the uncontested slate of Board of Directors as: Brenda Burke, CHTP, Hilton Hotel Corp.; Cihan Cobanoglu, Ph.D., CHTP, University of Delaware-HRIM; Clyde Cruise, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide; John L. Eslick, Jr., CHTP, Gaylord Entertainment-PMO; Mohammed Hussain, Stage West All Suite Hotel & Theatre Restaurant; Anna McFarland, CPA, CHAE, CHTP, Anna McFarland & Associates; William Oates, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.; Terry L. Price, CHAE, CHTP, CPA, Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa; Joseph K. Romano, CHAE, Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport; Jerilyn B. Schnitzel, CHAE, CHTP, Lexington Country Club; Jules A. Sieburgh, CHTP, Host Marriott Corp.; Stacia A. Turner, CHAE, CPA, Club Consultants, LLC.

President Zurstadt updated the members on the revision of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry. HFTP is tentatively planning a joint meeting with CMAA (Club Managers Association of America) members at the Hospitality Technology Professionals forum in November. The meeting will be a town hall forum open to managers, controllers and club technology vendors. The goal is to obtain a laundry list of items that need to be addressed for the club industry technology standards.

Past Presidents Frank A. Santos, CHAE, CHA; John S. Lewis, CHAE, CPA; Thomas L. Moore, CHAE; Sal V. Spano, CHAE, CHA; William Collins Stapleton, CHAE; and Henry A. 'Buddy' Weeks, CHAE honored Fran Tally. Tally was hired as the association's assistant director 33 years ago at the 1971 Annual Convention. She later became the executive director. Tally help develop HFTP's publications, scholarship initiatives, industry relationships, certification programs and HITEC. Fran retired in 1986. The association presented Tally with a clock honoring her service and dedication.

Vice President Agnello presented the chapter charter to the Michigan State University Student Chapter, his college alma mater.

Agnello informed the members that there were 752 members registered for the Annual Convention. Agnello thanked and recognized the HFTP Educational Advisory Council members.

President Elect Samson informed the members that 2003 HITEC was a success, with 4,121 attendees, 608 booths representing 268 companies. She also announced that 68 percent of the floor has been sold for 2004. The 2004 HITEC Advisory Council met in September and the education program has been determined for HITEC 2004 which will be held June 21-24, at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas.

The 2004 Annual Convention will be held October 27-30, at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove, Calif.

There being no further business, the meeting concluded at 1:15 p.m.