CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

The recent Indian Ocean Islands Tsunami has killed more than 150,000 people and is by far the most destructive tsunami. Most people do not realize that a tsunami may be less than two feet in height, which is why ships don’t notice them. They travel unnoticed at a speed of about 500 miles.

Please support the affected countries by visiting them, since the actual damage is only to the immediate coastal areas. All four and five star hotels are operating normally.

The greatest concern for these countries is the no show factor or the delay in making the dream trip. You can show your support by actually visiting Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives Islands.

Dues 2005: Bills were sent in early January. If you have not yet paid your nominal dues, please send your payment by return mail.

Oops…Our club’s history omitted two very important club coordinators, Charles & Dorothy Mowery of Sarasota FL, now residing in Venice, FL. Click here to read the updated club history (then click "TCC News" to return to this page).

Thanks to member Bob Ihsen of Covina, CA, for his excellent slide presentation covering the Ukraine at the Dec. meeting in Beverly Hills.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

We hope you had a happy holiday season and are planning a trip to the tsunami area countries which are looking forward to greeting you. These areas desperately need your economic support through tourism dollars. Remember, only the coastal areas were affected, not the capitals.

The U.N. has pinpointed some lessons to be learned from the tsunami. We are all vulnerable to natural disasters but coastal areas and small islands are more vulnerable. Public awareness and education are essential to protect the people. Humanitarian aid should invest more in prevention and organizations should work together better and be more coordinated.

With the mailing of our March 2005 Centurion newsletter we are enclosing the 2005 list of TCC approved countries. The list is also available here on our Web site. (See the article below regarding changes.)

San Diego Members: Our regular September luncheon will be held in San Diego, Saturday, Sept.10, replacing our Orange County meeting. If you have not been to San Diego for a long time, this might be a good opportunity to stay overnight. We’ll give you suggestions in our next Centurian.

We’re pleased to announce another new area chapter – Nashville, TN, with Elisabetha Baugh as Area Coordinator. And the Southwest Area chapter has been reborn in Sarasota, FL, spearheaded by Area Coordinators Donna Marsh and Dr. James Oldshue.

From time to time, as world conditions change, the Travelers’ Century Club updates its approved list of countries. At its Dec., 2004, meeting, the TCC Board of Directors voted to add Prince Edward Island to its North American list (now 6), and Nakhichevan to its Asia list (now 49).

At the same time, the TCC Board deleted the San Blas Islands of Panama from its Central America list (now 7), the South Yemen Republic from its Middle East list (now 20), and American and Russian Antarctica (now 7). The net difference is two fewer approved countries, or a total of 315 as of January, 2005. The four deleted countries have been added to TCC’s Retired Countries list.

These changes are reflected in the current approved list of countries, grouped in 12 regions, on TCC’s website, and a new brochure has been printed. The last changes to the approved list were made in Jan. 2003, when three countries were added – Srpska, Kosovo and Trans-Dniester. TCC’s Country Status Rules were established in 1970.

To view the updated Country List, simply click the link in the blue column to the left.

Virginia Hunter, Santa Barbara, receives her 300+ Countries
Certificate and pin from Chairman Klaus Billep

Long-time TCC members Tom and Harriet Oakley with
their guests, Robert and Vivian Shea

Secretary Sanford Smith with Ginger Rustanius and
past President and Board Member Ruth Nelson

Board Member Ron Endeman and President David Barry enjoy
a happy moment with Ron’s wife, Judy, and Joyce Barnes

Past President Ken Ziegler and Treasurer Chris Hudson with Lorelli Embry

Charles Veley, San Francisco, has just posted his first edition of a “Master Country List” which he says is “intended for top people of TCC who have run out of places to go” – or for the “extreme travelers.” We counted 565 destinations. (He lists each of our states separately, for example.) He says he hopes to add links on “how to get to certain places and other functionality.” His website is www.mosttraveledman.com and he welcomes comments.

You’ll want to read the new Info File on Janet McAfee’s (Houston’s Area Coordinator) incredible report about escaping a bombing in Myanmar and the tsunami in Sri Lanka. Her report is also available online on the TCC Houston Area page.

Age should not be a deterrent to traveling, maintains Lorelli Embry, who took her 99-year-old mother on a 12-night Caribbean cruise last April. They had a great time and no problems. A positive mental attitude keeps you young, she says. Her mother crosses the century mark this March.

TCC received several Holiday letters from elderly TCC members who are still enthusiastically traveling -- but have slowed down a bit – and are taking more cruises. Who says traveling doesn’t keep you young???

• Files must be typewritten, single spaced and not to exceed two pages.
• Information should be non-commercial
• Information can contain personal observations
• Information should be factual but should mostly contain details not found in the usual guidebooks
• More background information can be included if it’s not a well-traveled destination.
• Information does not have to be about the entire country; it can be about a city, an attraction, the people, an adventure or any other glimpse of the destination.
• Remember that the readers are well-traveled people because only TCC members receive the Info Files
• Include information on difficulties, hazards, etc., as well as things not to miss.

#446 Madagascar, by Jean M. Williams
#447 Shetland and Orkney, by Kenyon B. De Greene, Ph.D.
#448 Aland Islands, by Rev. Robert Ippolito
#449 Nauru, by Tim Carlson & Dan Walker
#450 Nubian Desert, by Dr. Gregg M. Cox
#451 North Korea, by Dr. Gregg M. Cox
#452 Sabah, North Borneo, by Dave Garfinkle
#453 Tsunami Survivors, by Janet & Ken McAfee

Note: The opinions expressed are those of the writers and not the Travelers’ Century Club.

A hearty thanks to all of you club members for sending in Info Files for our Centurian. They are enjoyed by all, so please send in your items of interest. Don't forget that these must be typewritten, single spaced and not to exceed two pages due to cost of postage. Those of you who have sent in your Info Files that have not yet been published, please be patient as they will be used in the future. Note: We do not edit or correct misspellings, since we cannot match your type. You can also send your info files to our e-mail address: tccclub3@gte.net

Please note that when you request back issues of Info Files, there is a $1.00 cost per Info File. Click here for details.

We have new permanent name tags with the TCC Logo and your name engraved. Cost $7.50 including shipping. If you wish to order, send us your check and you will receive your tag in 14 to 21 days.

Club Lapel Pin – $10
Silver 150 Countries – $8
Gold 200 Countries – $8
250 Countries – $8

All pins are available with pin or tie-tack.
backing. Available only to regular members of the TCC.

North American Members – $15
Overseas Members – $20

Pin has tie-tack back only. Available all members, regular and provisional.

Travelers' Century Club
P.O. Box 7050
Santa Monica, CA 90406-7050

Tel: 310-458-3454
Fax: 310-395-9511
E-mail: tccclub3@gte.net
www.travelerscenturyclub.org

Officers
Klaus Billep, Chairman
David J. Barry, President
Kevin Hughes, Vice-President
Sanford K. Smith, Secretary
Christopher Hudson, Treasurer

Executive Board Members
Floyd D. Baker
Pamela Barrus
Ronald L. Endeman
Bart M. Hackley, J
Diane Jarrett
Kenneth Ziegler

The Centurian welcomes letters to the editor. Please mail to TCC. P.O. Box 7050, Santa Monica, CA 90406, or e-mail to mail@travelerscenturyclub.org. Submission of a letter to the editor constitutes permission to publish the letter in the Centurian and on our website.