Open Letter to ETA from Agent at Small Office

To: Electronic Transactions Association

Re: ETA Strategic Leadership and Networking Forum,

September 16-18, 2003, Boca Raton, Fla.

Your efforts with the Cyber Cafe are on the right track in terms of trying to make the networking a stronger focus, but your entry fees for the event are still way too high for a smaller office.

I considered coming this time to hear Frank Abagnale, but $330 just for that day? $75, yes. $330, no. Southwest is running specials to a nearby city, and car rental is cheap enough. But $330, $450 and the non-member price of $700 all are out of line for a sales office that isn't seeking new vendors. There are other venues that offer the same networking opportunities at far less cost.

Please consider:

1. Becoming more friendly to the single agent/smaller office with a lower membership fee.
2. Offering a reduced fee for the single agent/smaller office to attend.

There are two new groups beginning to do that, and the word on the street is that ETA is no longer relevant to the smaller office. I hope you will find this information helpful. I wouldn't have written you if I didn't hope to participate in your efforts. Thank you again for your efforts to improve.

Sincerely,

Robert Mohon

Robert,

The regional acquirers' association meetings are proving to be very popular with the MLS community, and one of the reasons for their success has been the very affordable pricing. However, we still believe that EVERYONE in this industry should attend an ETA expo at least once. This tradeshow is the only forum in our industry that can give a sales professional the hands-on experience of the magnitude of components and players within the industry.

Editor

Goodbye ... for Now

Paul,

I have enjoyed serving on The Green Sheet's Advisory Board for the last 18 or so months. Your publication serves a real need in the ISO community for timely news and information and has been doing so since I first became involved in the credit card acquiring business back in early 1994. Pursuant to Bridgeview Bank's sale of its Bridgeview Payment Solutions subsidiary to NPC in June of this year, I have exited this wonderful industry at least for a period of time to pursue other opportunities. I wish you and your staff continued success with all of your publications.

Very truly yours,

Tom Haleas

Bridgeview Bank Group

Getting Smarter on the Street

Paul,

The "Street Smarts^SM" articles by Ed Freedman are already making an important difference for me. In my 30 years of selling, I have never read a better, more reasoned article than his advice on how to best pursue prospects in our business. Thank you for publishing it! Robert Van Sprague