NetNewsledger.com

THUNDER BAY – The North of Superior Tourism Association (NOSTA) is tasked with marketing tourism in the District of Thunder Bay and in Northern Ontario in general. 

NOSTA attends U.S. and Canadian sports shows, hosts Familiarization (FAM) tours, produces tourism publications, websites, fulfills enquires and distributes literature in key markets on behalf of its industry members and OTMPC. The “world famous” Lake Superior Circle Tour Adventure Guide and the NOSTA Regional Vacation Guide and Map are two highly successful tourism booklets produced and distributed free of charge each year by the association.

NOSTA wants to enhance the economy of the region and it’s member partners through increased visitor spending by attracting more visitors to its region and by providing those visitors with opportunities and reasons to stay here longer.

There is some perceived controversy from some in the tourism association who are concerned over the direction and thrust that NOSTA has taken in the past year.

NetNewsledger.com sat down with NOSTA President Lori Paras to talk about the issues.

NNL: Lets get right to the issues, your position as President has been publicly challenged, with some individuals suggesting that you should step down.

What is your response?

Lori Paras: Serving on the NOSTA Board, I am surrounded by selfless, energetic volunteers who have the best interest of our region top of mind- and I’m proud to continue to serve with them.

I was nominated and duly elected to that board, and that board in turn nominated and elected me to lead the Association as President for 2008/9.   I take that responsibility very seriously and have weathered many a storm over the past year filling it.

Collectively, our organization saw a need for change and growth – and collectively we have made some tough decisions during a very challenging year.  We have laid the groundwork for a renewed and revitalized association to serve our members.  I wish I could take more credit for these positive changes – but in practice it takes many energetic people working in teamwork.  I’m just proud to serve as their President.

My term on the Board extends to 2010 and I have been active on the board and Executive since 2005.  There is so much potential, and we are on the right track – my commitment as a Director remains very strong and I will serve at least the remainder of my term.

On December 18, our membership will fill expiring terms and vacancies on the Board of Directors, and following that meeting the Board will appoint it’s Executive for the coming year.  If I have the support of the new board I would be honoured to serve a second term as President, and if the board chooses to elect another from among our ranks I will be proud to support  them in their vision in my role of Past-President.

NNL: So, Is NOSTA “imploding” or “self-destructing”, as has been suggested by some?

Lori Paras: Not at all!  In fact we are proud to report to our members and our communities that great strides have been made to renew and strengthen the association through the year. 

Administrative policies have been reviewed, we have filled the positions of Administrative Assistant and Sales/Marketing/Membership Director with some incredibly energetic and capable individuals, we are moving our office to a much more accessible member-friendly high-profile location, and we are poised to appoint a dynamic individual as our new Executive Director.

That being said, it is obvious that not everyone in the community favours these changes- and unfortunately the voice of dissent sometimes makes good press. 

There are individuals whom in my mind are bent on destruction of the current NOSTA model, but that has not kept us from moving forward – nor do we intend to let this impact future progress.

We are disappointed by the very personal and defamatory attacks on individuals who are only doing their best to serve their community.

The appropriate democratic venue for membership input and participation is our Members Meeting/AGM on December 18 at the Victoria Inn.

NNL: If indeed there are outside forces intent on changing NOSTA (and challenging the Board and President), what is at the core of their political will?  What motivates their dissent?

Lori Paras: It has been rumoured that motivation goes far beyond simple “sour grapes” and natural inclination to preserve old business models.  The Province of Ontario will be moving forward with the HST, which has far-reaching implications regarding public policy and governance – including changes to the way that Ontario manages tourism marketing.

Currently, Northern and Northwest Ontario are served by NORTA’s, with NOSTA serving the North of Superior Region, Sunset Country to the West and Algoma Region to the East. 

Through close affiliation and fee-for-service agreements with OTMPC, our business models have proven very effective for the districts we serve.

Following ongoing community consultations, the Provincial Government will be moving ahead with a redistribution of marketing funds.  All the NORTA’s feel we are in an excellent position to continue to serve and grow in our roles as tourism marketers – and to expand our effectiveness in developing tourism products.

That being said, there are competing interests for that tourism money, and we feel that the attraction for funding and political clout provides motivation for others to work very publicly and aggressively to defame and cripple our association.

NNL: There are rumours suggesting the formation of an un-official ad-hoc NOSTA Renewal Team, consisting in part of former Directors of the Association.  Do you know anything about their renewal vision?

Lori Paras: First, let me state that I don’t believe in engaging in public confrontations. 

We are a volunteer-driven association serving our members and the regional tourism community. 

There is no place for, and no need for, taking sides or engaging in publicly divisive discussions and destructive rhetoric.  We have a democratic governance model, and the choices we make to best serve our members are made at the Boardroom table, in committee, and with our hard-working staff – not here in the media.

But you know, I did had a good laugh when I saw that.  From public statements made recently it is apparent that the “vision” is to re-create old power roles, and to re-instate old paradigms, policies and personnel.  If anything, I would typify them as the Regression Team, not the Renewal Team.

This path could potentially compromise the good constructive work that has been effected by the association over the past year, so I do feel a need to speak in favour of working out differences at the members meeting and within the newly appointed Board.  

NNL: So It Is full steam ahead for NOSTA?

Lori Paras: Yes. We are very excited for the future of tourism in our region.

NNL: Thanks for your time!

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