It’s always summer somewhere

As summer winds down for many people, Circumnavigators know that we can always find places to enjoy the fun of summer. Best wishes to all members, friends and family for a wonderful August. Please keep us posted on your upcoming travels. We love getting photos and trip info.

Chapter Highlights

The Naples Chapter held its monthly summer meeting of the G.E.M.S. Group (Globetrotters Exchanging Memorable Stories) was held in July. Twenty-two members of the Naples Chapter attended.  They enjoyed an excellent presentation by Circumnavigator Tom Menaker, who with his late wife Bonnie, circumnavigated the world in their own 40-foot sailboat. The journey took eleven years to complete.  Tom shared many of his fascinating adventures and stories with the luncheon group

The Washington D.C. Chapter held its Second Annual Polo Event at the International Equestrian Center in Leesburg VA. Members from New York, Chicago, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida attended the event. A big congratulations to the Hotels at Sea & Resorts at Sea Circumnavigators Club Polo Team as well as the Team Captain Circumnavigator Tareq Salahi on winning the “Hotels at Sea Polo Cup”!

Singapore’s Chapter President Ang Hao Yao welcomed everyone to the Chapter’s Mid-Year dinner held in an historic black and white house. An outstanding Chinese dinner accompanied by fine wines and strolling minstrels ensured everyone had a wonderful evening.

Circumnavigator Michael Puldy (At Large, Los Angeles) and his wife Adrienne just returned from the South Pacific where they visited Fiji and Vanuatu. Michael reports, “Fiji is like being part of a movie…everything you read, see and hear is true.  Really great experience. Vanuatu was a 180 degree shift.  The US just opened an embassy, and yet we didn’t meet another American during our entire stay….let me just say a lot more rustic!  We did hang out with a reformed cannibal tribe and watched fire-walking which was wild!”

Circumnavigator and Second Vice President Jason Chang (Washington DC Chapter) attended the 79th Soil and Water Conservation Society’s international conference in Myrtle Beach SC where he moderated a symposium on the international activities of the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service’s from its founding in the 1930s to today. 

Circumnavigators Dottie (Naples Chapter) & David Mink (Past President) took their granddaughter Jennie to London, Rome and Venice as a high school graduation present. The Minks have now taken all five of their grandchildren on international graduation trips. The finale in Venice featured a spectacular fireworks display). Their son Dave (also a Circumnavigator) and his wife Carol accompanied them.

Circumnavigator Fred Mink (At Large, Delaware) and his wife Jan made a pre-Olympics trip to France. They spent much of their time biking in the southeastern region where they found the country to be very bike friendly.

Circumnavigators Melody & Jon Dill (Naples Chapter) had quite an experience on an Arctic cruise. They report, “we ran into major ice in southern Greenland, which required us to change our itinerary. Also, never made it to Churchill, because they were totally blocked with ice and no ships could get in. Tragic for residents who were waiting for fuel and other supplies. We got hit by a rogue wave which took out six windows in the ship’s dining room. Thankfully, it hit at 1 AM so no one was hurt.  Also, two zodiacs got stuck in fast moving ice and had to be rescued. Our zodiac was on polar bear watch while they created a path out of the ice sheet.” The good news, the Dills say, was that they saw polar bears and the trip was a lot of fun.

Circumnavigators Virginia Foster and husband Arthur Hammons (Pacific Southwest) ventured to the North Pole where they also had close encounters with polar bears.

Circumnavigator Suzanne Frye (New York Metro) visited the Republic of Congo and its capital Brazzaville where, as usual, she got some great photos and also enjoyed local dancers. Her wildlife and market photos are excellent. See photos below and another in the Last Shot

Scuttlebutt

Past President Howard Matson was in touch with former Club First Lady Betty Morasso on her 94th birthday. Betty is a Club member who was married to past President Alfred who passed over the horizon several years ago. Betty is doing well and asked to pass on her best regards to all Circumnavigators.

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
Editorial Director
club@circumnavigators.org

Club News

The 122nd Annual Meeting was held late last month in New York with members attending from around the country. New officers and governors were approved. Newly elected President Dan Peterson accepted the historic whale tooth gavel from outgoing President David Mink. After the luncheon, Mink “wrapped up” his six-year term with club history and travel reflections. 

Chapter Highlights

Pacific Northwest Chapter…Members gathered at the home of Circumnavigators Jim & Caroline Farrell in Bellevue, WA to socialize, share travel experiences and to review objectives and plans. The group enjoyed Caroline’s outstanding Italian buffet which included Italian and international wines. Members then viewed a video presentation by Rick Steves about Cinque Terre, Milan, Lake Como and the Dolomites. 

Palm Beach Chapter…Circumnavigators heard a presentation by member Tareq Salahi who is “Circumnavigators Club Polo Team” captain. Tareq provided fascinating info on the sport of polo. The Washington DC Chapter is hosting a World Cup Polo Event in Leesburg, Virginia in July and looks forward to cheering on Tareq and our team.

Chicago Chapter…Circumnavigators enjoyed an event at Evanston’s premier pan-Chinese restaurant (KOI) where their local Foundation scholar Elizabeth (Liz) Hyun debriefed the chapter on her recently concluded circumnavigation. She presented on how countries are handling long term area-wide Trauma (such as experienced by the Northern Irish troubles between the local Roman Catholic and Anglican populations).  Over 20 members and spouses attended this presentation.

Naples Chapter…Twenty members of the Naples Chapter attended the first G.E.M.S. of the season at the Seasons 52 Restaurant in Naples. Circumnavigators were treated to a presentation on Brazil by Betty and Marcelo Alvarez, who lived  there for seven years. G..E.M.S.  stands for Globetrotters Exchanging Memorable Stories and the group meets during the Florida “off season.”

Circumnavigator Elaine Christian (Naples Chapter) enjoyed a two-week visit to Morocco where she rode a camel in the Sahara Desert and visited Rabat, Fez, Marrakesh, Essaouria and Casablanca.

Circumnavigators Kathleen and George Beebe (Pacific Southwest Chapter) made it from A to Z with a visit to Zanzibar. It was their 200th “country” visited. We love the enthusiastic fan in the background of this photo).

Circumnavigator Donna Suddeth (Naples Chapter) spent several days in  Tunisia recently where she visited Carthage, Sidi Bousaid, the Medina of Tunis, Kairouan, El Jem and Monastir. El Jem was the third largest Roman coliseum.

Circumnavigator Jason Chang (Washington DC Chapter) flew straight to Morocco after the Club Annual Meeting in New York. Jason is the Club’s new Second Vice President.

Circumnavigators were part of the group traveling to the Azores for the Travelers Century Club conference. Among Circumnavigators on San Miguel Island were Melanie & Dan Peterson, Pam & Bill Girtman, Ray Olson, Cathy Shelton, Sherri Donovan, Mary Houston, Steve Fuller, and others. 

Foundation News

Follow our Foundation scholars as they travel around the world. 

Scuttlebutt

Honorary Circumnavigator Graeme Dingle reconnected with the Club after receiving his issue of The LOG. Graeme is a New Zealander who was honored in 1993 for his accomplishments in adventuring and mountaineering. He says he would welcome Circumnavigators who visit Auckland. In addition to his continued adventuring, Graeme co-founded the Graeme Dingle Foundation to help young people across New Zealand to overcome life’s obstacles. The Foundation reaches nearly 30,000 through their school and community-based programs that help build self-confidence, resilience, and promote good values and life skills. He has also written numerous books, his newest, The One Tree Hill Promise, to be published in October.

Circumnavigator Neil Mandt (at large, Los Angeles) is working on an exciting new project. The Emmy-Award winning movie maker is producing a documentary The Great World Race.  Amazingly, the show will record seven marathons run on seven continents in seven days. It should be ready for viewing in the fall and there are still a few more spots left for runners if any Circumnavigators feel ambitious. There is a web site www.thegreatworldrace.com.

Congratulations to Circumnavigator Charlotte Peterson (At Large, Texas) who recently married Joe Breslin in Naples, Florida. Charlotte is the daughter of Circumnavigators Dan and Melanie Peterson and her two brothers, Andrew and Matthew are also Circumnavigators.

The Last Shot

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

Luck to you!

Dan Peterson, 
International President 

Spring is here! 

Circumnavigators enjoy every month of the year, but there is something special about April with its flowers, gentle weather and anticipation of summer ahead. Best wishes to all for a wonderful month.

New York Metro Dinner

Join us for dinner and share your travel bucket list with fellow Circumnavigators on April 25 at Evergreen Chinese Restaurant. Guests welcome! Click here for details.

Annual Meeting in May

Our traditional Annual Meeting, now for the 122nd time, will be held in New York City on Friday, May 17. The late-morning meeting (open to members only) is followed by lunch and a presentation. Guests are welcome. Invitations will be coming soon.

Chapter Highlight

Pacific Southwest Circumnavigators celebrated Chinese New Year at the home of Circumnavigator Lynn Payette.

Circumnavigator Greg Wojcicki (Chicago Chapter) sent us a photo with his fiancé at Cape Aghulas, South Africa, the southernmost point of Africa and another shot with his son in Nambia.

Circumnavigators Lion & Donna Curran (New York Metro) were in far west Jamaica on their annual visit to monitor coral reefs there.  

Circumnavigator Mark Pross (Washington, DC Chapter) recently visited the two most famous towers of Bologna, Italy — the Torre degli Asinelli and the Torre Garisenda. Both were built between 1109 and 1119. The leaning Garisenda Tower is not accessible and the Asinelli Tower is closed to the public for area maintenance. Mark climbed the Asinelli Tower’s 498 steps several years ago, which afforded unique views of medieval Bologna.

Circumnavigator Brian Baum (Pacific Northwest Chapter) is on his way home from Antartica. On the way, he sailed north via the Atlantic “stepping stone” islands. These included the Falklands, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, and Ascension Island. He also got a look at the uninhabited Gough, Inaccessible, and Nightingale Islands on our way to Cape Verde. Here are a couple of his photos. More photos can be viewed on the Circumnavigators Facebook page.

Circumnavigator Katie Koontz recently was transferred to Los Angeles from Manhattan. Here she takes a skiing junket to Mammoth. Katie writes “Collectors Corner” for the LOG, so she would love to hear from members with travel-related collections.

Circumnavigators Vincent & Fran Cucchiara (Naples Chapter) traveled to Antarctica, their seventh continent. On the way, they stopped in Chile where they got this photo at San Rafael Glacier.

Circumnavigator Bill Ashley (Washington DC Chapter)was supposed to visit Libya in 2006, however, 2 weeks prior to the departure, Muammar Ghaddafi decided that no Americans were allowed to enter. Well, now Bill was finally was able to complete an 8-day sojourn without any hitches. Here is a photo of Bill at Leptis Magna enjoying the best Roman ruins in the world!  

Scuttlebutt

This writer had the opportunity to meet television celebrity Margaret Hoover who hosts Firing Line on PBS, thanks to an invitation from WGCU, the Southwest Florida PBS outlet. Margaret is the great granddaughter of President Herbert Hoover who happened to be an early member of the Circumnavigators (1930) and recipient of the Order of Magellan (1963). I told her that I might have some info about her famous relative that she didn’t know. Skeptical, she said, “Try me”. I gave her a packet on Hoover info from our archives. She laughed and said, “You got me!” During her presentation, she called out the Circumnavigators Club and the fact that her great grandfather circumnavigated five times.

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