Members will receive their copies of The LOG in August. This issue has Club news and features, but it is a bit abbreviated given the lack of travel and Chapter meetings during the pandemic. As Circumnavigators get back on the road, members are encouraged to let us know about their travels for Circumbits and The LOG. Please remember that we do not want complete stories to be submitted. Contact Tracy or David to discuss story concepts.
Al Morasso Jr.
Alfred Morasso, Jr. sadly passed away in June. He was a Past President of the Club, as was his father, Alfred Sr. Alfred (the first) was the sole survivor of ship sinking in 1920, a story that has been recounted several times in the LOG and online. It is an amazing story, so we are offering a link if you would like to read the whole story.
We are looking to share adventures with our members and we would like to do a story on mountain climbing. Please let us know if you are an avid climber at club@circumnavigators.org.
The Last Shot
Thanks to Gunther Winkler (Naples Chapter) for this photo of the Arches National Park in Utah.
The challenging days of the pandemic have made Circumnavigators reflect on the value of freedom—speech, worship, travel. Most members live in places where these values are cherished. As we get back to international travel, let’s remember the importance of freedom.
Over the Horizon
Al and Betty Morasso
Circum Legend Alfred (Al) Morasso, Jr. passed away in June at the age of 94 in Somerset, NJ. Al was a member of the Circumnavigators Club for a remarkable 70 years. His father, who was the sole survivor of a tragic ship sinking in Scandinavia, was President of the Circumnavigators and sponsored his son at an early age. Al later became President of the Club from 2004 to 2006. Al’s son (third generation Alfred Morasso) is also a member of the Club for 18 years and is a Life Member.
Always a colorful individual with a fascinating history, including service in the Korean War, he will be missed. The Club offers its sympathy to wife Betty and the whole Morasso clan.
A memorial service will be held at 2pm on Saturday, July 10, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 414 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ with internment in The Garth. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the United States Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc., Kings Point, NY or to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Friends of Music, Westfield, NJ in his memory would be appreciated.
Honorary President
Lois with past president Howard Matson in 1996. Inset: Lois at the last New York Metro Event.
The Board of Governors has bestowed a special honor to long-time Circumnavigator Lois Kahan. Lois, who joined the Club in 1994, was named Honorary President of which she remarked, “I’ll tell my family to make sure it is on my gravestone.” Lois has a great sense of humor and is adored by all. She has served the Club in many capacities and rarely misses an event in New York. Congratulations to our Honorary President!
Scuttlebutt
Circumnavigator Sir Clive Banfield, who lives in Saint Thomas, called our attention to the recent recognition by the National Geographic Society of a fifth ocean. The Southern Ocean now joins the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic and Indian Oceans. Clive has sailed all five oceans; how many other Circumnavigators have accomplished this?
The Last Shot
Thanks to Suzanne Frye (New York Metro) for this brilliant fireworks display in Sydney, Australia.
Beaches are getting busy again as shown from this photo from Ocean City, NJ
Summertime, and the livin’ is easy
Circumnavigators are enjoying a return to normalcy after more than a year of lockdowns, quarantines, social distancing, masks, and importantly, restricted travel. Best wishes to all Circumnavigators, family and friends for a fun-filled summer.
2021 Annual Meeting goes virtual again
Due to pandemic restrictions, our 119th Annual Meeting was conducted via Zoom technology for the second, and hopefully, last time. The good news is that 65 members participated in the meeting. All of the required agenda items were completed. Welcome to our new Board members, Jeneane Blom (Chicago), Michael Puldy (Pacific Southwest) and Steven Barnett (At Large, Panama). The meeting was followed by a fascinating travel presentation by Gunther Winkler (Naples). Gunther presented photos and stories from around the world. The Club sent a link to the Annual Meeting to all members. If you do not have it, please contact Tracy Sancilio at headquarters.
Seven Continents
Reminder, if you have visited all continents and are not on the list on this page, please let us know.
On the Road Again
Circumnavigators are beginning to travel internationally. If you have made a foreign trip, please let us know about it. It is important to share this information with members.
Egypt and Jordan
Norman and Susan Dailey (Washington DC Chapter) recently returned home from Egypt and Jordan. Fully vaccinated, they found that traveling to these two countries was easy, although PCR Covid tests were required. The Daileys reported, one problem was visiting during Ramadan, which coupled with a strict evening curfew, didn’t allow them to sample local cuisine, one of their favorite parts of traveling.
They reported, “Besides the spectacular sites, one overriding theme for the trip was the small number of tourists. At the Great Pyramid, they used to have 15,000 or more visitors a day–during our visit, less than 500. At Petra, in Jordan the same story. Usually thousands visit daily, during our visit, maybe several hundred. For us it was wonderful, for those that depend on tourists for income, a dire situation.” Having traveled to all continents and many wonders of the world, Norman is sorry that he waited so long to visit these two special countries.
Scuttlebutt
Circumnavigator Arthur Hammons (Pacific Southwest) has written a new book that was featured in an article of La Jolla Light. The paper reported: “The Rev. Arthur Hammons invites you to take up a pen to make the current chapter of your life “the best,” and he’s detailed his ideas for how to do so in his latest book, “This Chapter of Your Life.”
“The La Jolla resident said, “Our lives are made up of many chapters, and we can use all the other chapters as resources to make this chapter the best.”
Arthur is the husband of Chapter President Virginia Foster.
The Last Shot
Thanks to Circumnavigator Gunther Winkler for this shot of a Toucan in Belize. As mentioned above, Gunther shared his wonderful photos with members after the Annual Meeting. Gunther and his wife Maria recently traveled to Guatemala and Belize. Their travel story and photos will be featured in the next issue of The LOG.
Flowers are blooming in Helen Jenkins’ prize winning garden in Wales. Helen is the UK Chapter President.
Moving Ahead
After many months of writing about the pandemic, we see a light at the end of the tunnel. As you will see in some of the items below, Circumnavigators are slowly returning to normal times. Many members are fully vaccinated and planning to take off to see more of the world. Best wishes to Circumnavigators who venture abroad.
Live from Naples
In April, the Naples Chapter held the first “live” event since Covid put the brakes on in-person Club events. It was a “hybrid” meeting with Circumnavigators attending either in person or by Zoom to hear a presentation on Iceland by Chapter historian Sophie Classen. Surprisingly, more than 60 members attended for cocktails, brunch and social interaction. Only ten members elected to use Zoom. It was great to get together.
Reminder – Annual Meeting
Gunther and Maria Winkler in Tikal, Guatamala.
The Annual Meeting will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, May 19 at 5:00pm (EDT). After the formal meeting, members and guests will be invited to watch a presentation by Photographer Gunther Winkler and his wife Maria (Naples Chapter). Great photos from around the world will be shown. A reminder Zoom link will be emailed closer to the meeting. We hope you can join us.
On the Road Again
Circumnavigators are beginning to travel internationally. If you have made a foreign trip, please let us know about it. It is important to share this information with members.
Hawaii
Although it is not technically international for Americans, Hawaii is a long distance away. Pacific Southwest President Virginia Foster and her husband Arthur Hammons visited the far-flung islands and are able to share the technical issues of traveling there. You can contact Virginia by getting her email address from Tracy at headquarters. Circumnavigator Ken Mink also visited Hawaii, hitting several of the islands.
Egypt
The land of pyramids is turning out to be a popular destination for Circumnavigators. Several Club members have gone there and report that the pyramids, The Sphinx and other ancient sites are virtually empty of tourists, making for a delightful experience. Circumnavigator Melanie Peterson (Chicago Chapter) has recently visited Egypt, and Washington DC Chapter members Norman and Susan Dailey are in Aswan now and are attempting to get to Jordan. We will hear more from the Daileys next month.
Scuttlebutt
Two Circumnavigators and Order of Magellan honorees were in the news. The late astronaut Sally Ride will be honored on a coin. The U.S. Mint announced that late La Jolla resident and astronaut Sally Ride and late writer Maya Angelou will be the first two women honored on coins issued under the American Women Quarters Program.
“Sally would be so moved by this great honor,” said Tam O’Shaughnessy, Ride’s life partner and co-founder of Sally Ride Science at UC San Diego Extension. “It’s especially fitting that it comes during the 20th-anniversary celebration for Sally Ride Science. This tribute reflects Sally’s legacy not only as a trailblazing astronaut but also as a champion of diversity and inclusion in STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] fields.” Sally was a member of the Circumnavigators Pacific Southwest Chapter.
Explorer and adventurer Bertrand Piccard was honored by the Circumnavigators after he circumnavigated in a balloon in 1999. Later he developed the Solar Impulse, a plane that could fly without a drop of fuel. His co-pilot on that circumnavigation, Andre Borschberg, was also awarded the Order of Magellan. Now Bertrand has announced that he has fulfilled his promise, made in 2019, to come up with 1000 solutions to improve the environment. He wrote a letter to his friend and Circumnavigator Helen Jenkins which said, “Feel free to spread the word about this #beyond1000solutions campaign. The video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yHfGj6lpVwexplains our action in a simple and succinct way.”
Around the World with Albert
Legendary traveler and author Albert Podell wowed Circumnavigators with a fast-paced, witty travel presentation via Zoom. About 70 members and guests were treated to this fascinating travelog.
Calling all Collectors
Is there something special that you collect from each place you visit? Let us know! You could be featured in our “Collectors Corner” column of an upcoming edition of The LOG. Past collections have included beer bottles, keys, mugs and masks. Email Katie Koontz at katherinenkoontz@gmail.com if interested.
The Last Shot
Brian Baum (Pacific Northwest Chapter) says always carry your camera because you never know when the right moment will happen. He reports: “On a damp afternoon in November, the clouds briefly parted and the setting sun created a rose-colored wash over the marble buildings in the Campo Dei Miracoli in Pisa. Within a few minutes the effect was gone.
The sun sets on another winter. Thanks to Circumnavigator Kristen Koontz (New York Metro) for this shot on NC’s Outer Banks.
Save the Date for Annual Meeting
Gunther and Maria Winkler in Tikal, Guatamala.
The Annual Meeting will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, May 19 at 5:00pm (EDT). Hopefully this will be the last time for a virtual meeting. All of the obligatory Club issues will be addressed. Only members can participate in this part of the meeting. After the formal meeting, members and guests will be invited to watch a presentation by Photographer Gunther Winkler and his wife Maria (Naples Chapter). Great photos from around the world will be shown. We hope you can join us. Log-in details will follow later. The election ballot for this year’s nominees will be sent via email so please be on the lookout.
Circumnavigator Trips?
For decades, the Club took trips every couple of years, including a circumnavigation for the 90th Anniversary in 1992. We are now considering returning to Club travel, and we would like to get a handle on the level of interest from our members, including some input on the type of trips. Shortly, you will be receiving a survey by Survey Monkey to get info. Thanks for participating.
Need Your Help
As the pandemic goes away (we hope!), the Club will be making some major moves to increase membership and enhance the enjoyment of being a Circumnavigator. We are looking for members who will volunteer to help us in some of these areas: Photography, Advertising, Financial/Accounting, and Internet/Website. Please email headquarters if you have expertise in any of these activities
Back on the Road
Circumnavigators are beginning to travel internationally. If you have made a foreign trip, please let us know about it. It is important to share this info with members. Circumnavigators Vinny & Fran Cucchiara (Naples Chapter) recently ventured to the Bahamas.
The Cucchiaras report, “It was an 11th hour decision to visit Nassau and check out the Baha Mar Resort. However, nothing is easy in the age of COVID travel. The Bahamian government has very strict rules about letting people in the Islands. They require all visitors to have a health visa showing they are symptom free of COVID. No health visa, no admission.”
They go on to report the tedious process of getting the health visa, required tests and timetables. More testing was required for returning to the U.S. Their conclusion: “The trip was fun but the paperwork was a little bothersome.”
The Last Shot
Circumnavigator Ann Swinford (Michigan Chapter) took this stunning shot of the aurora in Alaska. More of Ann’s photos of the aurora will be shown in the next issue of The LOG.
Thanks to Jennifer Teague (Washington DC Chapter) for this photo.
The cold, icy, snowy weather has added to the misery of the pandemic in many parts of the United States. We can look forward to nice Spring weather and, hopefully, the easing of the pandemic. Some Circumnavigators are returning to international travel now that vaccinations are available. Please let us know by email if you are traveling or plan a foreign trip.
Report from UK Chapter
Chapter President Helen Jenkins announces exciting news that distinguished author and travel writer Andrew Eames will be the guest speaker for the House of Lords dinner in London on December 9. However, the guest list is already fully booked for the event. This is encouraging news that Circumnavigators are beginning to return to normal activities. Members who are not signed up can go on the reserve list by contacting Helen (via Tracy at headquarters).
Club Update
The long-awaited Order of Magellan event, honoring film maker Ken Burns, is still on hold until Mr. Burns feels comfortable with doing large events. We will keep everyone posted. The Club’s Annual Meeting will again be done virtually via Zoom. It will be held in mid-May with date and time to be forthcoming.
Photo Exhibit Presentation
The top photos in the 2020 Photo Exhibit/Contest were reviewed on a lively Zoom presentation. In most cases, the photographers were able to provide insight into their photographs and answer questions from members. We recommend that Circumnavigators take a good look at each photo by clicking on the Photo tab at the top of this page and going to 2020 Photo Contest.
Scuttlebutt
NASA’s “Perseverance” landed on Mars right on schedule on February 18. Amazing pinpoint technology. Canadians Henri and Natashavan Bentum signed up to get “Boarding Passes” for this mission, which launched in July 2020. Their names — along with one million other people — are engraved on a super-memory-stick so their names are now on Mars! Note the other fun bit—more than 313 million frequent flyer miles!
The Last Shot
Before the pandemic hit, Melody and Jon Dill (Naples Chapter) cruised to Norway with a number of other Circumnavigators. They took this peaceful country shot in Innfjorden. Makes us want to return to seeing the world.
The Circumnavigators Club is the only organization devoted to bringing together those men and women who have circumnavigated the globe. The Club's purpose is to encourage global fellowship and understanding. It strives to inspire people to see and absorb as much as they can about the world in which we live. It is devoted to providing those who have circumnavigated the globe with a forum for intellectual exchange.
Our Goal
Through Friendship, To Leave This World A Little Better Than We Found It.
The Club’s magazine, The Log, has been published since 1910. Now anyone can read The Log on our website, not just Club members. Take a look at previous issues here.
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