The Green Sheet Online Edition
November 11, 2007 • 07:11:02
Forum
#h3 Don't slight the ETA
I read with interest the remarks made in the Oct. 22, 2007, issue of The Green Sheet ("Street SmartsSM - Next stop: Tradeshows") which suggested that ETA's Annual Meeting & Expo is "geared more toward ISOs and processors" and may not be of value to merchant level sales professionals.
While it is true that ETA's core constituency is the independent sales organization, our members represent every facet of the merchant acquiring industry.
We work hard to ensure that our annual meeting remains the largest, most dynamic and inclusive forum for business networking for everyone involved in the electronic payments business - including the MLS community.
In fact, much of the educational programming at this event is geared directly to the interest of those involved in direct sales - e.g., sessions on merchant retention strategies, emerging markets, sales best practices, and industry trends like free terminals, etc.
And, the event's reputation for fostering competitive but cooperative business development opportunities is unparalleled in the industry.
Our success in making the ETA Annual Meeting a welcome place for all is evidenced by its more than 3,000 attendees each year, many of whom are part of the MLS constituency.
We invite all Green Sheet readers to participate in this premiere industry event and to explore further the benefits of affiliation with the Electronic Transactions Association.
Speaking of benefits, in the coming weeks ETA will begin regular editorial contributions to The Green Sheet focused on key legislative and regulatory issues of importance to everyone in the payments community - we look forward to serving you.
Carla Balakgie, CAE
Executive Director
Electronic Transactions Association (ETA)
Carla,
Thank you for your gracious letter pointing out how we failed to adhere to one of our core missions, which is to fully support all industry trade associations and organizations that do so much to better the lives of the payments industry's feet on the street.
We heartily encourage our readers to attend ETA's Annual Meeting, knowing how much educational and networking value this event provides. And we are honored that the ETA's inaugural article appears on page 78 of this issue: "Washington update: What to watch in the coming months," by Rob Drozdowski, ETA Senior Director.
Editor
#h3 Call us, write us
Would you like us to cover a particular topic? Is there someone you consider an Industry Leader? Did you like or dislike a recent article in The Green Sheet? What do you think of our latest GSQ? E-mail your comments and feedback to greensheet@greensheet.com or call us at 800-757-4441.
Whether you want to upgrade your POS offerings, find a payment gateway partner, bone up on fintech regs or PCI requirements, find an upcoming trade show, read about faster payments, or discover the latest innovations in merchant acquiring, The Green Sheet is the resource for you. Since 1983, we've helped empower and connect payments professionals, starting with the merchant level salespeople who bring tailored payment acceptance and digital commerce tools, along with a host of other business services to merchants across the globe. The Green Sheet Inc. is also a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals.
Notice to readers: These are archived articles. Contact information, links and other details may be out of date. We regret any inconvenience.
