LEXINGTON, Ky. - If the proposed ABA-UMA consolidation is approved by members of the two organizations, you can bet the committee overseeing the unification won't be making this mistake:

They won't name the combined association something like CrossSphere.

The board of the National Tour Association has already tried that, and members of the association have told the board to stuff it.

In resounding fashion, NTA members voted 320 to 94 late last month against keeping CrossSphere - The Global Association for Package Travel, as the name of the organization. The board adopted the unusual name after it had gone through a lengthy -- and not-inexpensive process -- of attempting to rebrand and re-identify the association.

The board's renaming decision created enormous turmoil. (See Feb. 15 issue of Bus & Motorcoach News.)

Two months after the name was changed, the association's 60-membership Leadership Team supported having a membership referendum on the issue. A key element in the uproar was a petition signed by 201 tour operators opposing the new name.

The board, citing the petition and the feedback from the Leadership Team, decided to have a bylaw vote, asking members to ratify the new name.

What they got was 77 percent of the members voting to restore the old name and reject the new.

"More than anything else, I am ready to move on and work with our members to demonstrate the continuing strength, value and leadership position of this association," said NTA Chairwoman Ann Thomas. Thomas was a strong proponent of the new name.

The best spin was offered by NTA President Hank Phillips: "This decision speaks loudly in support of the tradition and heritage of the association, both of which came out of our initial brand examination. Although our name was in question, the core values, benefits and direction of this association have remained the same," said Phillips.

The NTA is comprised of nearly 4,000 professionals involved in the packaged travel industry. For more information, go to www.CrossSphere.com; whoops, make that www.NTAonline.com.