ETA Today
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News for and about the ETA Community |
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Vol 1, Issue I |
September 14, 2007 |
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(Jan2008)ETA Continues Efforts to Benefit Members, Industry |
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In its ongoing efforts to benefit members and the electronic payments industry as a whole, ETA continues to post significant accomplishments while laying the groundwork for the future. Here are just some if ETA’s recent achievements:
ETA Meets with Discover on Possible Joint Efforts
ETA representatives, including staff, members of the Industry Relations Committee and Board members met with key executives from Discover Network to address issues identified by ETA members and discuss ways the two organizations can work together. Discussions centered on promoting the growth of electronic transactions and preserving the integrity of electronic payments. The group also discussed Discover’s transition to a new acquirer model and how ETA can be an effective distribution channel for information from Discover.
ETA Featured in GreenSheet
The GreenSheet has invited ETA to write a regular column focusing on legislative and regulatory issues that may affect the acquiring payments industry. The first of what is expected to be a monthly column (as issues warrant) appeared in the Nov. 29 issue of GreenShee.t These columns will focus on informing the MLS community about legislative/regulatory issues ETA is monitoring that could affect the broader industry.
ETA Supports Visa PABP Mandates/PCI Adoption
ETA issued a public letter of support for Visa’s Payment Application Best Practices (PABP) Security Mandates for the US region. The letter was distributed broadly in the form of a press release, featured in ETA Currents and sent to industry media outlets to express support for the compliance milestones set forth in the mandates. The letter strongly urged that the PABP be incorporated into the PCI Data Security Standard, which is currently being implemented.
ETA Participates in U.S. Senate Banking Committee Briefing
As a result of awareness created through ETA Capitol Hill outreach programs, ETA was invited to participate in a Senate Banking Committee staff briefing to share its perspective on the need for national data security/breach notification legislation. Representatives from MasterCard, Visa, the Center for Democracy & Technology, and the Consumer Data Industry Association were also invited to be on the program to brief the senior Senate staff. ETA joined the other groups in supporting a preemptive and risk-based national data security/breach notification law. While it appears passage of a comprehensive data security bill is unlikely this year, ETA will continue to monitor and participate in legislative efforts that could impact members.
2007 Strategic Leadership and Networking Forum (SLNF) a Huge Success
ETA hosted a successful 2007 SLNF attended by more than 360 people, and has already begun planning for the 2008 edition, slated for October in Chicago. The creation of broader networking opportunities sits at the top of the agenda for the Program Planning Committee. The committee met with ETA staff in December to review event evaluations and made format changes for 2008, which will include a networking breakfast, luncheon and two breaks on day 1 and additional networking activities on day 2 to ensure members have ample opportunities to mix and mingle.
Education
ETA hired a new Director of Education and Professional Development, Rori Ferensic, and is looking forward to exciting new developments on the immediate horizon. ETA is making an overall update to ETAU course content to ensure relevancy, accuracy, consistency, proper scope and timeliness of subject matter. ETAU courses may ultimately be provided in multiple delivery formats, including instructor-led, online and/or a blended learning approach to enhance learner retention and engagement.
ETA will launch its first online course “Sales Channel Development,” in April, following the Annual Meeting and will continue to build additional online courses using existing content, enhanced with audio, interactive activities (i.e., flash generated games), short quizzes after each section, learning-supportive graphics, and final exams/assessments.
ETA, with the help of the education committee will expand its offerings to include general sales or customer service training classes, through partnerships and alliances with third party vendors in the coming year. In addition, ETA published a new edition of Encyclopedia of Terminology for the Acquiring Industry and is looking into creating a Wiki that would be housed in the members-only section on the Web site.
Compliance Day Underway
ETA is hard at work on the 2008 Compliance Day, which will be held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. Among other topics, this session will focus on changes in card brand operating rules and data security requirements, along with details on compliance issues relative to the prepaid and gift card marketplace.
Research Seeks to Extend Value of the ETA Annual Meeting
ETA is working with McKinley Marketing to conduct research on how to extend the value of the Annual Meeting. As part of this research, McKinley Marketing interviewed ETA thought leaders and developed an electronic survey, which was sent to more than 5,500 members and non-members who have attended at least one Annual Meeting in the last three years. This e-survey also gathered member satisfaction feedback. In addition to suggestions for enhancing the existing event, some of which have already been put into use for the 2008 event, the research will uncover potential solutions and technologies that can be employed to promote year-round networking.
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