There are several things that make me proud to be a member of YTB and ZamZuu. I mentioned Flags4Vets just before Convention. The company has also been a part of Feed the Future in years past, which provide toys, computers, musical instruments, and other gifts to children. We also can’t forget Passport To Giving which provides a steady stream of income for non-profit organizations who no longer have to beg for money.

This fall YTB and ZamZuu will expand its community service to help even more people in the form of security services for the average person. We know all too well about nut cases who poke and prowl the internet for your personal information and end up posting it publicly for everyone to see. While the information age we now live in can be a huge benefit – there is a segment of society who is suffering for whatever reason – and in their own dysfunctional way, they believe that victimizing others will make their pain go away.

While these people may or may not take responsibility for their own wellbeing and happiness – there IS something YOU can do to protect yourself and your family from this ugly segment of society.

That’s why we have a special interest in what ZamZuu will roll out as a new premier identity theft recovery product called the Entrust America ID Recovery Plan. In the event of an identity theft, the covered member is assigned a certified “Rush ID Recovery Specialists” from Entrust America who performs all the recovery and restoration work on behalf of you, the victim.

Most other plans on the market today merely offer assistance and expense reimbursement, and the victims are forced to do their own recovery. Don’t be fooled by slick marketing tactics, partial solutions and fine print exceptions that protect them, not you.

Last year, as many as 10 million Americans were victims of identity theft according to the Identity Theft Resource Center.

We know how nasty and foul these perpetrators can be – but there is a way for you to remain in control and have peace of mind. Entrust your identity to local, regional, and national police associations and law enforcement (who also use THIS product) with Entrust America who fully recovers the victim’s identity, repairs the damage done, pursues the perpetrator, and takes legal action on your behalf.

The second product ZamZuu will launch is something we believe every parent needs in this day and age. Personally, I have no problem with people coming after me – but when it comes to my family that’s an area that’s so far out of bounds I can’t even put it into words. (And you know me – I have a way with words.)

KidZafe by Zamzuu helps you protect your kids from predators, bullies and sexting and helps you protect their privacy and reputation on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and on the mobile phone.

I could go on for days writing about this – but the mind doesn’t see in words – it sees in pictures – and I want you to get the full impact of what’s at stake here as a parent and what you can do to protect those you love. The video embedded below is powerful – especially if you’re a parent of young children. What I really like about this product is that it doesn’t force you to hide or lock up your children from the scum that may be after them – but it will warn and help you protect them. It puts you back in control of the information they now have at their fingertips.

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Want some great comic relief for the trip up to St. Louis? After the events of last week surrounding YTB and the stock jumping up in price, I decided to do some poking around on the internet to see what was being written about it this weekend.

Honestly, not much. Sure the stock tripled in just a couple of days, but when the price starts at 4 cents a share and climbs to 24 cents, there’s not much to talk about when compared to other stocks.

For Zealots however, little ol’ YTB appears to be the only thing that matters. (A company that controls them by living “rent free” inside their heads.)

Anti-YTB Zealots tend come out of their holes when things like this happen in an attempt to keep their illusions in check. While the folks of YTB and ZamZuu are busy gearing up for another Convention in St. Louis to educate themselves and celebrate another year – Zealots (who just can’t help themselves) get really nervous and vomit some real whoppers in an attempt to curb momentum.

This year however, unlike years past, (for those of us who take the time to pull up the historical pricing) there was a huge run on the stock last week. Was it pre-convention news? Possibly. YTB’s Q2 earnings report? Maybe. Or have people have finally caught on the zealots are full of themselves? (Most likely.)

What busted my gut over the weekend was reading the wreckage anti-MLM zealots left in the wake of the events. When the stock started it’s upward trend at the beginning of the week, I can only imagine how their palms began to sweat – and eyelids began their uncomfortable twitching. By Thursday morning the “head worm” couldn’t take it any longer and posted something in order to satisfy the uncontrollable twitching. Anyone who takes the time to post something like this over a $0.05 increase (as of Thursday morning) – simply shows how nervous, obsessed and irrational some idiots are over Direct Sales and Network Marketing.

Excuse me, that’s “pyramid scheme” according to them.

Oh, but wait – it get better.

The eye twitching turned into a full blown panic attack by 11:00 am that morning after the stock doubled in price once again. Clueless as to what was going on, the worm copied and pasted some screen shots of the 139% increase since his lame attempt to squash the stock failed to catch any traffic or traction. (How dare anyone not take heed of the Great and Powerful Man Behind the Keyboard.) Of course, it could have gotten plenty of traffic, and those who know this guy’s history – most likely took bets in the opposite direction. (If I had read it that morning, I sure would have bought more!)

By 5:00 pm that very same day – the mornings confusion and quote “Not sure what is going on” magically turned into “all so predictable” after 2 million shares were traded that very day when the financial were released after the bell. A flip flop that would have made John Kerry proud! (Did this guy not read what he posted just hours before?)

In all for the day – six separate posts that day all surrounding little ol’ YTB.

Too funny. Who has time for that? (I’m not talking about just writing it – but reading it!!)

For the record, the last time “predictable” YTBLA traded even close to 2 million shares in one day was August 12, 2008 when investors went running for cover thinking California’s Attorney General understood the difference between a legitimate business model and pyramid scheme. (We now know much different – he’s just as clueless as the worms.) The only other time prior to that was when YTB posted it’s first yearly profit – nowhere close to Convention but in April of 2007.

And that’s a trend this Goof calls “predictable”!

I have to give these liars some credit however. They remembered how they spewed illusions that there aren’t any Directors left in YTB to “pump and dump” the stock. Nope. Because they can’t use that as an excuse any longer when stock climbs a few cents a share, they decided to lay it out on Coach, Scott, and Kim! They’re the ones who are pumping up the stock before convention.

How? Well according to the head worm, they terminated their “employment” earlier this year, and are free to trade all they want. (My guess, based on how clueless he is about THAT idea, is so they don’t have to file a Form 4)

Let’s say (for like – a nano second) this worm is right about Coach, Scott, and Kim not being employees of the company. There would still be a Form 4 to document the trades regardless.

Why? Because Coach is still a 10% shareholder and Scott and Kim still reside on the Board of Directors until at least 2012. Until a Form 4 is produced showing even a single share of stock being traded by any of the three – the worm is simply squirming for an answer that will fit into the hole he’s created for himself. It’s a far better alternative than using common sense, logic, or reading actual documentation.

Poor guy – that would just be far to much to handle for a zealot like him.

With so much activity on one blog, the only other place I bothered to check in on was the Yahoo Boards which you just have to love for the simple reason that nobody who posts there owns a single share of stock. Funniest comment I read there over the weekend was some arrogant snot who thought the board was worth reading. Like anyone in YTB or better yet, an investor, would take any of these no name cowards seriously. The one guy who did stand up for the company (sort of) didn’t stand a chance after he misspelled his own name. (Like that has anything to do with stocks.) After that, the guy didn’t have a chance because that’s all the compost the worms needed to chew him up and extract him out the other end.

The rest of the holes these guys may have crawled out of could be better or worse – but I couldn’t tell you. Same story most likely – as they all follow the “head worms” with “baited” breath. (Poor saps have no idea they’re being baited.) Just more no name cowards who think they talk a good game, but end up looking as dumb as the dirt they squirmed out of. Nobody with have a brain really cares to participate in that kind of stupidity, ignorance or childish behavior.

Nope – the smart ones will be heading to St. Louis to celebrate another year that never should have happened.

The worms? They’ll eventually crawl back into the holes they came from after a while. Right now St. Louis is the place they’ll be in mind and spirit this week.

Funny how they wouldn’t touch this company with a ten foot pole – but it sure takes up a lot of energy and time digging holes for themselves.

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By the time you read this, our family will be in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. I’ve come equiped with my  “What part of NO do you not understand?” T-shirt which I purchased the last time we were in port here. (For those of you who have been here, you know why we need a shirt like this.) We’ll spend a relaxing day at Bamboo Beach Club since the kids wanted some beach time. (And still too young for Dunn’s River Falls)

Tomorrow is a big day in Grand Cayman. We’ll do a couple of excursions including swashbuckling on a Cayman Pirate Adventure in the morning and then spend the afternoon at Dolphin Discovery and the Cayman Turtle Farm.

Later that evening, we will dine and celebrate my daughters 8th (going on 18) birthday aboard Carnival Destiny.

This particular ship has been the top pick for a number of our clients since it was refurbished and started sailing it’s 4 and 5 day itineraries to the Caribbean from Miami. When Ronda and I were awarded Team MVP by our Directors at Convention and given a Carnival Gift Certificate as a way to say thanks for all we do, I pretty much immediately knew when and were we wanted to go.

Of course, you can’t have a proper birthday party without family involved. So we invited extended family to come along for the party on the World’s Most Popular Cruise Line. (They know a really good Travel Agent who got them one heck of a deal.)

So while you enjoy RPM and Red Carpet Day, we’ll be stuck down here in the Caribbean – thousands of miles away. (And lovin’ every minute of it.)

I’ll probably hit the internet cafe a time or two, but don’t be looking for any posts during the week. Like our newsletter that went out yesterday, this was written and scheduled last week before we left.

To keep you entertained – check out our favorite cruise tune this trip. I’m a classic rock and roller, but Michael Franti and Spearhead’s new tune “Say Hey (I love you)” gave me happy feet the first time I heard it. It’s got a create Caribbean beat and will certainly give you the itch.

So until I get back around the way – Enjoy!

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UPDATE: If you were on the Thursday Night Training Call with Ann Sedgwick last night or if you read the Travel Compass sent out last evening, you now know that BookCCL.com is open for YTB RTA’s to register once again. (Even if you did not have a previous booking or group already registered through their site.) Registration is reserved for RTA’s who have taken the appropriate training and upgraded from the Associate position who now qualify for the 70% commission level.

Instructions can be found in either the Travel Compass or in this weekends Newsletter sent out for Just Picture It Now Newsletter Subscribers.
~~~~~~~~~

If your read Monday’s article, you knew that I was up in Wood River for Red Carpet Day Tuesday. I enjoy these events because I’m able to actually see many of the organization face to face. I get a chance to look people in the eye, instead of talking with people over the phone, or corresponding via e-mail. Events such as Red Carpet, Convention, and other local meetings are important to me simply because like the documentation I have here, seeing the energy, the excitement, and passion in someone’s own eyes completes who we are and what we do.

Now that the company has overcome the allegations in California that some claimed would put YTB out of business, (the California AG’s and critics goal by the way) Wood River was a buzz.

Seeing is believing. I’m sure there will be those who simply take what they read in the media, blogs, and forums for face value. If you want to believe that YTB is banned in California, shut down, or has ended, you’re free to do so. As we move forward, and people see that YTB’s still around, still making headlines, and obviously still operational – I would imagine that it would only cement that critics aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed.

The same type of myths were planted on the internet surrounding YTB’s relationship with Carnival Cruise Lines. Attempting to state anything other than a very solid and stable relationship with the World’s Most Popular Cruise Line has been considerably more difficult to spin however. There’s been plenty of evidence over the years that Carnival not only enjoys, but values it’s relationship with YTB. Most of the evidence is private in the form of e-mails to the field directly from Ann Sedgwick, or the Saturday morning training calls she conducts on the company conference call number. Other evidence is available for everyone via several Sail-a-thons with Carnival and Princess who promote their product during these events.

Critics, as always, will persist however with their own agenda. Attempts have been made to make it look like our relationship with Carnival will soon fall like it did with Royal Caribbean. A few months ago, we decided to revamp and clean up the BookCCL.com accounts. Now that we have a Home Office staff large enough to handle the volume, YTB took on more responsibility asking Associates and TSO’s to call our own Travel Department for any Carnival related questions and bookings.

One of the overzealous critics who’s been on the “24/7 YTB Watch” found a segment in our internal communications and decided they could spin it to mean something else. This new twist with the company’s correspondence to the field is a perfect example of what Andy Cauthen talked about when they distort your response to their own agenda, and render your intentions worthless.

What was initially intended to strengthen our relationship and features was spun as Carnival distancing themselves from our company. They no longer wanted to work with the uneducated Yahoo’s who only want to recruit and pretended to be a Travel Agency.

It was also speculated by critics some time ago that the Home Office created an elaborate story about the Carnival Pinnacle Award. YTB first earned the award back in 2005, and there was a press release and pictures taken of Kim Sorensen and our BDM Ann Sedgwick. The story went that nobody could confirm the 2006 or 2007 award because there wasn’t any press release or additional pictures to match up. Truth of the matter was that over 11,000 National Convention attendees saw the award being given in 2007 and about another 6000 witnessed it down at Funshine in Orlando later that same year. Because one critic said he couldn’t confirm it with Vicki Freed at a trade show, (who I’m sure had a reports of past awards available at that very moment) the rumor was that YTB was blowing smoke.

Some can’t bring themselves to admitting that their mode of confirmation might not have been the best way to document the lie they wanted everyone to believe. But like most of what we read, there was no further documentation, not further verification, and if we wanted to prove them wrong, it was up to us to clean up their mess.

Just like the settlement agreement in California, we need to stop trying to prove to everyone who is right and who is wrong. Remember, when you get into a fight with a pig, you both get dirty, and the pig loves it.

Let our years and our status with Carnival speak for itself here. Type up a support ticket, ask them yourself what’s going on. Anyone who took the time to type up a support ticket or call the Home Office to end the myth that Carnival no longer wants YTB calling or booking through BookCCL.com found out it was a maintenance issue rather than the hand slap critics wanted it to be. Those who had existing bookings and groups through the site were immediately granted access once they submitted a support ticket with proper booking numbers. In addition, many of us have developed relationships with Team Carnival who are always a pleasure to speak with.

On Tuesday, 1500 Website Sellers and Website Owners witnessed Ann Sedgwick not only hand Kim Sorensen a Pinnacle Award, but also heard her say it was our fourth year in a row. She then took time to speak with all of us at Red Carpet about how YTB DOUBLED our production over 2007′s numbers. Kim’s goal in 2008 was to be the number one with the number one, and while we didn’t quite make that number in 2008, if we keep pace with the growth we have, we’ll attain that honor as well.

I can’t think of another supplier or vendor who has more clout, more pull, more credibility in the Travel Industry than Carnival. Disney, who we also work with comes close, but Carnival is one of the largest, most respected leaders when it comes to public perception and respect. They’ve provided hundreds of training calls, a number of ship inspections, semiars at sea, and have been able to provide a very solid solution to the “issues” Travel Agents have concerning FAMS and discounted travel. This five minimum booking policy with each vendor has been compnay wide for over a year now, so why critics still have an “issue” with us getting discounted travel, I couldn’t tell you. To me it’s just further validation that critics simply want to shove their own illusions down everyone’s throat and ignore what YTB is actually doing in the industry.

I’ve been telling you for years about critics, their illusions and their agendas. Andy Cauthen chimed in last week when we saw how our settlement with California was spun by these same critics and the media. It appears the our CEO, Scott Tomer also agrees with how lame the misinformation, myths, and lies are that’s thrown out there to distract everyone from what’s really going on with YTB.

I’ve got to ask you at this point…

Do you know any of these critics personally? Do you have any clue who many of them even are?

They wanted California to shut us down. They want Carnival to dump us.

Do you think it worked?

Then why on earth do thier illusions about who we are and what we do even matter?! Like California, and Carnival, the myths and the lies are catching up with our critics and the tide is starting to turn.

There is more we need to overcome and prove wrong. The battles are far from over. With California and Carnival as the latest examples of why people need to dump the self importance of the overzealous critics, you need to do what I do when I read the lies, the spin, the missinformation created to distract you.

It’s three simple words and it goes like this…

“Thanks for sharing”.

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By the time you read this, my family and I will be long gone and well into enjoying our family vacation. With our children now school age, our “travel and vacation” time has been limited to summers and a few weeks throughout the year when they are scheduled out.

I heard The Go Go’s “Vacation” the other day. Back in my radio days in the 80′s, I hated that song, but found myself tapping to the music and looking forward to this week. I swore off John Mellancamps “Jack and Diane” back in the day too, (then John Cougar) but now think it’s a good rocker. “Jack and Diane” was on the Top 40 charts for 10 MONTHS and I had to play it day – after day – after day…while working for a Top 40 Radio Stations in Youngstown, OH and then Pittsburgh, PA.

Typically while on vacation, you can’t keep me away from the computer and the internet, but I think that’s going to change this go around. I’ve got a couple of good books that I’ve wanted to read, which I should have a chance to complete. I also have some writing I’d like to do for some new auto responders for both my YTB Marketing and the 7 Day Quick Start Guide for new team members. (Which include YOUR team.)

It should give me a good opportunity to refuel for the summer months and head into the National Convention with a good head of steam. The countdown begins!

I’ll be back next week with more insights and updates for everyone.

Have yourself a great week and we’ll see you at the top!

P.S. – The FREE Newsletter will still be going out as I have most of next weeks ready and put on auto pilot to go out right on schedule and can assure you that if there is anything new or important to share even in my absence here, I’ll be sure to have it in the there. Just like here, it’s loaded with links and documentation for you to share with clients and prospects alike.

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

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Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

I started a huge task last week when I promised John Frenaye that I would get his questions answered. ALL his questions. Over the next couple weeks due to the length of this list, I’m going to focus on each of these questions one at a time. My goal here is not only to answer the question, but also point out why this question is even asked in the first place.

This will also be an excellent opportunity and tool for anyone with additional comments about each of the specific questions to get better clarification. Use the comments section to discuss each of the questions in greater detail. I remind you that I learned how to accomplish such a huge task from Brian Tracy and his courses, which teach that you focus on the each task one at a time, focus on the solution, break it down into manageable chunks, and before you know it, you’ve achieved your goal. (By the way…I just got an e-mail from Brian regarding a New Years Coupon to Save 20% on all his courses!)

It should be a really fun debate, and for those of you in YTB, take this information and documentation and use it. Here are the questions we have gone over thus far.

Question #1 - Why a compensation plan takes 12 pages to define?

I thought that might get your attention… ;-p

I’ve got a couple of questions.

I’m wondering if Carnival has a chance in the next couple days to get the word out about their new sales requirements for FAM’s to those of us in YTB? I’m also wondering what most of YTB will think of Carnival for making this move after our Top Producers enjoy a cruise with them for free. I couldn’t tell you if this has ever been done before, and I imagine that it probably has, but I’m wondering how often Carnival or any other cruise line reserves and entire ship for one company?

Wow…I have a lot of questions today, don’t I?

I spend a lot of time reading comments and posts on forums, message boards, and blogs and I find some of the positioning about what Carnival announced on Wednesday about their new requirements concerning FAM trips. For some reason, everyone who opposes the YTB business model thinks (in general terms) that Carnival is “putting the screws” to YTB for making this move, “turning up the heat” if you will.

Chaaa…right!

What Carnival is doing is trying to let the rest of the travel industry know they hear and understand the issues that Traditional Travel Agents have. For good reason too, Vicki Freed was hammered so bad on her Blog that she had to remove all comments from irate Travel Agents who condemned Carnival for supporting YTB and other Travel MLM’s. The problem is that Carnival knows exactly who and what YTB is. Not only has Carnival awarded their Pinnacle Award to YTB for the last three years in a row, but Carnival was also the company who came to YTB’s aid back in November to help prove to the rest of the industry that YTB sells travel.

Guys, they threw Travel Agents a bone, and they can chew on it all they want. Like I said in my last post, Carnival figured out a way to have their cake and eat it too. The issues are not either/or, and there is a way to have both.

I have to wonder when some will wake up and smell the coffee. They need to open their eyes and look at what just transpired. Can they not only see support Carnival gives YTB or the supporting documentation Travel Weekly and Modern Agent have provided with quotes about MLM’s producing impressive numbers for suppliers? Even long time opposition to YTB Travel Trade now understands the impact of YTB and our growing sales numbers.

Some also believe this is the beginning of the end of the impressive recruiting numbers that YTB has been producing, more than doubling our sales force from 60K to over 135K in 2007 alone. Little do they know, (or simply ignore) that YTB has been laying the ground work for what’s currently going on for months.

Back in August, at the National Convention, the Coach’s Birthday Bash was announced. While the contest does reward our top Power Team Builders, that’s only HALF of the ship. The other half of the ship this weekend are top Travel Sellers with our company. Winners of Travel sales were based on the number of bookings (double occupancy) for all cruises, tours, and vacation packages booked. Air, car, and hotel were ONLY included in the total if all three are booked together. No other combinations of air, car, and hotel applied.

Other Travel related programs introduced back in August included:

- In addition to our Directors who build teams, now any RTA who earns $25,000 in travel commissions in a 12-month period will qualify for fully paid health insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Commission level must be maintained to continue to receive this benefit.

- Effective January 1, 2008, new requirements were placed in order to qualify for a YTB Referring Travel Agent credential card. RTAs joining as of January 1, 2008 must sell a minimum of $1,500 in travel before applying for the RTA credential card. ($2,500 for CLIA requirements)

- Fun & Travel Magazine was introduced as a twice annual publication all about TRAVEL! (And ONLY Travel) This magazine discusses travel trends, features preferred vendors, and reviews the hottest travel destinations.

- RTAs were also introduced a new opportunity to sell a one-year subscription in a Two Fly Free program for a $300 fee. This will allow for free airfare from select cities when purchased in conjunction with a 7-10 night hotel stay (intern
ational destinations are also available).

Many also don’t realize that YTB already had it’s own requirements in place for FAM’s. Any RTA who wanted a FAM trip with Carnival, or any other cruise line, needed to abide and follow the following company requirements.

“Book only two cruises (two cabins) at regular fare for your customers and you’ll be qualified to take another discounted cruise.

Subscribe to Just Picture It Now for additional announcements and details!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635