Chapter Spotlight Archives - Circumnavigators Blog

March 2024 Circumbits

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Mar 042024

*“March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.”*

Welcome to March

Weather has been off the charts, at least in America, in recent months…rain, snow, floods, winds, frigid temps. Now we look forward to a glorious Spring! Best wishes to all for a wonderful month.

Club News

Chapters have been active and Circumnavigators have been hitting the road for international and domestic adventures. Please remember to send us a photo or two and a brief message when you travel so we can share. The LOG is in the works and members should receive the latest issue this month. When you get your copy, please gives us your feedback. Our Annual Meeting will be held in New York City on May 17 at which time new officers and governors will be introduced.

Reminder

Let us know if you have visited all seven continents in order to receive your recognition certificate and be listed on this web site.

Chapter Highlights

Singapore Chapter Chapter President, Mr. Ang Hao Yao, presents new member, Mr. Suhaimi Zainul-Abidin with his membership certificate at the chapter’s February lunch event.

Palm Beach Chapter Members enjoyed an exciting evening with friends at The Wanderers Club Polo & Lobstermania Event. Chapter President Tom Van Horn said, “Congratulations to fellow Circumnavigator Polo Team Captain Tareq Salahi on his four goals. The Chapter also had a recent meet and greet luncheon at the Norton Museum of Art. The purpose was to allow members to get to know each other better and to provide their feedback regarding the changes the Chapter is making.

Washington DC Chapter Members gathered for Chapter meeting where they elected a new slate of officers.

Miami Chapter Carolyn Stein, Chapter President, welcomed new members Staci and Ron Schnell at the recent Chapter meeting at the Fort Lauderdale museum.

Circumnavigators Lion & Donna Curran (New York Metro) visited Everglades City, FL for the Seafood Festival. It is the “Stone Crab Capital of the World”.

Circumnavigator Win Everett (Jacksonville, FL) spent a week chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland. He reports, “Iceland is quite a different country in the winter, the countryside was beautiful. We enjoyed a lot of good meals as we traveled around, eating everything from lamb chops to the world’s most famous Icelandic hot dog. While in Iceland we took a ferry to Grimsey Island to walk across the Arctic Circle since we were so close.”

Circumnavigator Mark Pross (Washington, DC Chapter) unfurled the Circumnavigators Club flag at the Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs), Cuba, site of the failed April 1961 military invasion by Cuban exiles opposed to Fidel Castro’s Cuban Revolution. Having waited decades for the opportunity, Mark spent nine days in February visiting Havana, the Las Terrazas Biosphere Reserve, Valle de Viñales in western Cuba with its karst topography and traditional tobacco-growing techniques, the Korimakao artistic institution, French colonial Cienfuegos, Cuban Revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s Mausoleum in Santa Clara, colonial Trinidad, and former coffee and sugar slave plantations.

Circumnavigators Jon & Melody Dill (Naples Chapter) took an extensive tour of South America, enjoying the Iguazu Falls and the Amazon among other sites. In this photo, Jon handles a sloth.

Circumnavigators Ellie Hamby & Sandy Hazelip (At Large, Texas) reported on their latest adventure to South America where among other activities they caught (and released crocodiles). The Dynamic Duo are the best friends who went around the world in 80 days at the age of 81.

Scuttlebutt

Recently we told you about Circumnavigator Steve Barnett (At Large, Panama) who planned a six-month excursion through India by motorcycle. We are sorry to report that Steve’s trip was cut short by a hip problem that forced him to return to Panama for surgery. He hopes to continue the adventure later in the spring. Best wishes, Steve.

The Last Shot

Thanks to Circumnavigator **Win Everett** for this stunning shot from Iceland.

Do you have a good photo for The Last Shot? Please send to club@circumnavigators.org.

Luck to you!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is davidsig.gif

David A. Mink
International President
club@circumnavigators.org

January 2024 Circumbits

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Jan 022024

January 2024 — New Year’s Eve in Egypt by Suzanne Frye

Happy New Year!

Our historic club has now entered its 122nd year and there is much ahead. It is important to remember that we are a sharing club, giving members advice and strategy on travel. Most important is our mission: Through Friendship, To Leave This World A Little Better Than We Found It. Our mission isn’t limited to international events. Closer to home is equally relevant. So, Chapters and members, please let us know what we are doing to make the world a better place. Of course, our best wishes go to members, family and friends for a wonderful 2024.

Our Annual Meeting will be held in New York City on Friday, May 17. Yours truly will make the presentation at the end of six years of presidency. President David Mink will “Wrap it Up” with photos and Circum stories.

Chapter Highlights

UK Chapter held its annual dinner at the House of Lords, sponsored by Circumnavigator Lord Richard Faulkner. Thanks go to Chapter President Helen Jenkins for coordinating another wonderful sold-out event. About a dozen Americans made the journey to London to join the UK members and guests. Featured was speaker Per Besson with his program “Lessons from a Polyglot’s Travels through 193 UN counties.”

Michigan Chapter celebrated its annual Holiday Party with a luncheon at Plum Hollow Golf and Country Club, hosted by Circumnavigator Mary Lou Butcher, with a plated meal and a round-table discussion. Each attendee shared with the group where they’d been over the past year and where they were headed next year. The stories were amazing!

Chicago Chapter held an event in the wine cellar at Francesca’s in Chicago. Steven Cory Solomon talked about his experiences as a Rotary Scholar in Durban, South Africa. He shared how Dr. Jane Goodall and Archbishop Desmond Tutu changed his life through global opportunities beyond his wildest imagination.

During the event, the Chapter held its biannual election of officers. A signed photo of “Earth Rise,” which had been presented to the chapter in 1990 by astronaut Jim Lovell, was passed from outgoing President Jeneane Blom to incoming President Jim Franch.

Naples Chapter had a festive holiday event during which Circumnavigator Elaine Christian gave a fascinating presentation on her recent trip to the Himalayan Mountain countries of Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet.

Pacific Southwest Chapter held a holiday event at the home of President Virginia Foster and husband Arthur in La Jolla where members recounted travel stories and enjoyed a festive dinner.

Pacific Northwest Chapter held a memorable holiday party at the home of Circumnavigator Will Mason and his wife Maria. Chapter members enjoyed sharing stories and a marvelous buffet.

Circumnavigator Steve Barnett (At Large, Panama) is stepping off the Board of Governors as he embarks on a six-month solo motorcycle adventure in India. He says, “My plan for India is…. well, pretty much no plan! I’ll buy a motorcycle in either Bangalore or Goa (depending on what’s available) then ride to the southern tip of India and gradually work my way north for about five months. This is how I’ve traveled through most parts of the world— just winging it”. His wife Karen will join him for a little while in India in April and they are planning on going on the Deccan Odyssey train from Mumbai through Rajasthan to New Delhi. “I hope to get to the north to see Kashmir and Srinagar. Of particular interest are the houseboats on Lake Dal. I lived on a houseboat in Sausalito California for eight years and have always wanted to see what they are like on the other side of the world”.

Circumnavigator Helen Jenkins (President, UK Chapter) visited the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh, Morocco. International garden expert Monty Don ranks it as one of the best gardens in the world.

Circumnavigator Katie Koontz (At Large, California) was recently transferred to Los Angeles. Katie works for CNBC and she returned home to New York for a holiday libation at the Yale Club.

Circumnavigator Club treasurer Jim Franch (Chicago Chapter) was in Madagascar where he had this close encounter with a lemur. He explained that lemurs always live in small groups with defined territories and are run by a single alpha female. All females have a red-brown fur and all males like this one are black. They have no predators on this island so they are not afraid of humans.

Circumnavigator Sally Cole (Palm Beach Chapter) on the road again as she and husband Larry traveled to Cyprus to embark on a cruise through the Suez Canal with stops in Egypt and Jordan.

Circumnavigator Ed Hotchkiss (New York Metro) and his wife Khadija just returned from a three-month trip to 13 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. One highlight was spending five days in the little-known, three-island country of Comoros, located in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique and north of Madagascar. While it has miles of beautiful beaches, a thick forest, and even a live volcano, few tourists go there. He says, “I was fortunate to go to a local wedding, where I took a photo with these lovely women. The lady on the left has applied masonjoany to her face, a decorative cosmetic paste and sunscreen made of ground wood.”

Circumnavigators Suzanne Frye and Sue Murphy (New York Metro) spent New Year’s Eve at the historic pyramids in Giza, Egypt. As usual, photographer Suzanne caught some colorful shots there.

The Last Shot

Do you have a good photo for The Last Shot? Please send to club@circumnavigators.org.

Luck to you!

David A. Mink
International President
club@circumnavigators.org

October 2023 Circumbits

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Oct 022023

Visit Woodstown, NJ to see dozens of Halloween scarecrows. *Photos by Dottie Mink.*

Welcome to October

“I am so glad to live in a world where there are Octobers.” – L.M. Montgomery

Best wishes to all our members, family and friends for a wonderful start to autumn. Please make sure to send us info on your travels!

Thank you, photographers

Our photo contest raised funds to benefit the Circumnavigators Club Foundation. Following are the top photos in each category as judged by our team of professional photographers. You can find all of the photos by clicking on the photo tab on this site or link to: https://circumnavigators.org/2023-photo-contest/

Architecture

Hatshepsut Temple in Luxor, Egypt by Judy Swanson (Naples Chapter)

Landscape

Central Park by Judy Joseph (New York Metro)

Flora & Fauna

Mighty Lion in South Africa by David Mink (New York Metro)

Human Interest

Searching for Dao Bapa Kami in Jerusalem by Jennifer Teague (Washington DC Chapter)

Celebration of Life

Several Circumnavigators were among a crowd in New York that honored the late Circumnavigator Albert Podell, author and adventurer who recently passed away. Given that Albert had no heirs, treasures from his trips to every country were offered to guests as keepsakes. It was a great tribute to an amazing person.

Circumnavigator Brad Vogel with Albert’s “stuff”

Chapter Highlights

Pacific Southwest Chapter members had a very special time at the home of Kathleen and George Beebe complete with dancing girls, flight attendants, and a video presentation of the Beebe’s’ 15th circumnavigation with tips on how to travel using miles from credit cards.

Chicago Chapter members gathered at Cliff Dwellers Club for a lovely September evening event with a presentation by Dr. Nina Kraus of the Brainvolts laboratory at Northwestern University on the topic of “The Sounds of Languages”, following cocktails on the terrace and dinner overlooking Michigan Avenue.

Circumnavigator Cynthia Bassett (At Large Ohio) and her niece Lisa Kaeser had a sensational safari to Zambia where they enjoyed the scenery and photographing the wildlife. Lisa went fishing on the Zambezi River where she caught (and released) a 71-pound Vundu catfish.

Circumnavigator Bill Ashley (Washington DC Chapter) completed his 7th circumnavigation on a solo trip. Among other things, he visited two new nations—Nauru and Timor-Leste. He has now been to 178 countries. On the trip, he enjoyed catching up with friends around the world.

Circumnavigator Mark Pross (Washington DC Chapter) visited the Porta d’Europa (Gateway to Europe) on the Italian Island of Lampedusa. The monument, located at the southern-most point of Europe, is a memorial to all the mostly Sub-Saharan migrants who died while making the perilous boat journey from Libya and Tunisia.

Circumnavigator Suzanne Frye (New York Metro) celebrated her birthday with a camel ride in Mongolia.

Circumnavigators Lion & Donna Curran (New York Metro) enjoyed a trip to Kauai which was spared the terrible fires that devastated its Hawaiian neighbor Maui. Lion says Kauai is the wettest place on earth.

Circumnavigator Jason Chang (President, Washington DC Chapter) is touring around the region of Marseille, France and taking in the local flavors.

Circumnavigators Norm & Susan Dailey (Washington DC Chapter) are on the move again. After a visit to Lebanon, they headed off on the next leg of a 30-day trip that would encompass the five Stan’s (2 T’s, 2 K’s and a U). They visited the burning crater of Darwaza and ancient city Merv in Turkmenistan. Then the Shah-i-Zinda complex of mausoleums in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. On to the Iskander Kul in Tajikistan, the Altyn-Emil National Park in Kazakhstan and finally feed the birds in the Ala Archa National Park in Kyrgyzstan. More about this ambitious trip will recounted in the next issue of The LOG.

Circumnavigators Tareq Salahi & Lisa Spoden (Palm Beach Chapter) made their first trip to the Arctic Circle. The couple are new members from Florida. Tareq is captain of the American Polo team and board chair for Hotels@Sea.

Circumnavigator Ed Hotchkiss (New York Metro) and his wife Khadija Musa are exploring the “Stans”, shown here with a group of school children in Samarkand. Ed is a new member of the Circumnavigators Club.