My Dear Fellow Skålleagues,

My name is Toni Koster...and I am running for President of Skål USA.

It has been a privilege and honor for me to serve on the Skål USA Executive Committee as VP of Administration, VP of Membership, and Region III VP, five of the past seven years. 

The friendships I have established over the years through Skål, both domestically and internationally, are indescribable. They are, I believe, to be the essence of what Skål is all about. Relationships and doing business among friends! And my Skål relationships and friendships are all a priceless part of the fabric of my life. 

The President is entrusted with the duty and responsibility of representing its' entire membership and I believe that I can do that and that I am the right person for the position. I believe that our Skål USA Executive Committee has done a tremendous job over the past few years and I would like the opportunity to continue with their direction and vision.

Membership! Membership! Membership! Membership is the nucleus of our organization. Growing our membership has to be the number one directive for us and I believe that if we work together, we can make that happen. We continue to face challenging times in trying to increase our membership. We need to focus on retention and new membership to continue to be healthy and to be a trusted association of value in the eyes of our members. My goal will be to work with our VP of Membership and Membership Directors to identify the new clubs that we have the potential to bring into our fold. I will also contact each of our clubs that are struggling to see how we can help them and then put a plan in action to achieve that goal.

Communication is the next goal, I would like to see continue. Our Executive Committee has done a great job of communicating with our members but I would like to see us continue to have monthly calls between the Executive Committee and our Club Presidents and SKÅL USA Reps. I think that it is very important that our members feel that they are part of our great organization and that their opinions are important.

In addition, it is imperative that we make Skål relevant! We need to continue to grow our Young Skål members as they are the future of Skål! We need to enhance the Skål brand and to achieve the recognition of the industry as a premier travel organization. We need a long-term plan for subsequent Executive Committees, we should find one or two global tourism issues of consequence per year that we should advocate nationally and internationally.

I have attended ten NASC Congresses and the 2013 World Congress hosted by Skål New York. I took special pride in co-chairing the 2000 NAASC Congress, which was hosted by our club and held in Reno/Tahoe. In addition, we hosted the 2012 SKÅL USA Winter Board meeting.

I have been a member in good standing since 1992 of Skål International Reno/Tahoe #479. I have had the honor of serving as President of that club twice and had been the SKÅL USA Representative eight times. I transferred my membership from Skål Reno Tahoe to Skål Tampa Bay in October 2017. This year I was on their executive committee as Director of Membership.

For more than 38 years, I have thoroughly enjoyed my work in the travel and hospitality industry, holding management positions at Trans International Airlines, Budget Rent-A-Car, Avis Rent-A-Car, Sands Regency Hotel and Casino, Atlantis Casino Resort Spa and currently Vice President of Sales for ZoomAway Inc and President of my own company, Florida Destinations Travel. 

I embrace the philosophy of Skål to the very core of my being and have complete and total trust in the value and credence of this organization. My dedication to the principles of Skål is often conveyed to the new members of our organization. Through my own personal insights and experience, I often find myself in the role of "mentor" as I listen to the ideas and even the apprehensions of the upcoming generation of Skålleagues. My desire is to share with them my devotion to Skål, with the hope that they too will become verdant and loyal members of our organization. 

I believe that I know what it takes to help grow our membership and strengthen our Skål name in the tourism world. We need to continue to open up clubs that have dissolved. I promise wholeheartedly to support the Skål USA Executive Committee and its' growth for membership and brand recognition to the fullest of my capabilities.

I truly believe in change...it is healthy, and with it comes fresh ideas and motivation. This, I assure you, I will bring if elected as your President. I would like to be the voice for the Skål USA Executive Committee and will help Skål USA move forward in a positive way.

I ask for your vote in the upcoming election as President. My promise to you is commitment, respect, integrity and most of all friendship! Please, if you should have any questions, feel free to call me at 775-848-9666 or email me at tkoster@brighthouse.com .
Happiness! Good Health! Friendship! Long Life! Skål!