Late November (25th) saw a great GALTA presence at the FEAST Festival Picnic In The Park celebrations in Veale Gardens, one of Adelaide’s lovely parkland areas that rims the south of the city. A tremendous opportunity for us to futher promote the GALTA branding with TSDs and member collateral being handed out to a variety of Adelaide’s denizens and visitors. A warm thanks to the management & staff of The Chifley On South Terrace (GALTA member #211) that accommodated us, hosted the networking function on Friday 23rd and provided us one of their executive meeting rooms & a working lunch for our Board of Directors meeting on Saturday 24th.
The networking function was well attended by members and guests with over 20 people enjoying the lovely late afternoon Adelaide weather in the rear courtyard of the Chifley. It was great to see a particularly strong representation by the Blaze Media team (GALTA member # 193) and several other local members dropped by to catch up, network and generally see how we were all doing in business. It was election eve so much of the banter was around the potential outcome for the following day. Following the function, some of us were able to adjourn to a local theatre to see one of the last performances of a FEAST production followed by a late dinner in a great Italian restaurant on Hutt St. Having now lived in a regional area for over 14 years, it was a great change to be able to partake of a good meal following a production rather than before it!!
The Board met after a delicious breakfast at one of Adelaide’s more popular cafes (again on Hutt St.) and very quickly got down to the agenda before us. Board members in attendance included Rod (Horizons at Peregian – GALTA member #1), Jeff (Coral Sea Resort – member # 251), Wally (founding member now business member # 289) and Phil (The Rainbow Connection – member # 61). We were joined by South Australia’s regional representative Rohan (Gay Destination – member # 330), Tasmania’s regional represenative Paul (Huon Bush Retreats – member # 229) and our very talented new Membership Services Co-ordinator Darren (Whitsunday Waterfront Retreat – member # 349). The budget projections for 2008 were ratified as were the fair days we would be able to attend in conjuction with next year’s Board meetings. The Board works hard throughout the year to ensure that we get the most ‘bang for your buck’ through selective state-of-the-art marketing strategies that includes print, cyberspace and personal promotions nationally and globally. Following a very productive meeting, some of us adjourned to a very welcoming election party hosted by Scott & Drew in their lovely ‘open air’ home nearby.
Sunday saw us at Veale Gardens for the day distributing collateral and catching up with what’s happening on the Adelaide scene. We were joined by Tim (Galstays – member # 287) who assisted Phil, Glenn, Jeff, Darren & Rohan with collateral distribution. A great day was enjoyed by all catching up with potential travellers and friends. The FEAST team (member # 212) performed a sterling job again this year and their efforts are to applauded.
The next functuion will see us at the Melbourne Midsumma Festival Fair day on Saturday 19th January (being held earlier this time as the first Asia Pacific Outgames will be held in Melbourne 30th January – 3rd February). The next Board meeting will be held in Sydney on Saturday 16th February as part of the 30th Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras celebrations followed by our presence at the fair day on Sunday 17th. Darren will be in touch with members closer to the dates with event details and where collateral can be sent.
The management team of the GALTA Board and our fantastic regional representatives would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful & safe festive season filled with great joy – and some well earned ‘time-out’ if you can arrange it. May the new year (of the rat coming up) bring you sustained success in your business and joyous prosperity in your world.
