CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

We extend special thanks to our Area Coordinators for a successful 2005 season. These are volunteer positions and we appreciate their time and dedication.

Invoices for the 2006 dues were mailed a few weeks ago. If you have not yet mailed your payment, please do so now so that your name will be included in our upcoming Roster of Members. We anticipate an April mailing date.

Our 2005 Approved List of Countries has not changed and will be valid until 12/31/06 . If you are traveling overseas and have forgotten your country list, you can go to any internet cafe or use a hotel business center to download info from our detailed website, www.travelerscenturyclub.org.

Special thanks go to member Bill Altaffer who gave an outstanding slide presentation at our December luncheon, covering his October, 2005, trip to North Korea .

Our March, 2006, presentation will be covering Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya by longtime member Bob Ihsen . We look forward to seeing you at our March event.

Jeanne Hoskins, from the Seattle area, has appeared twice on NBC's Ellen DeGeneres show. This 90-year-old world traveler was sent by the show to the Solomon Islands , which she reported on in the January 6 segment. She noted that the destination is pretty rugged for American travelers. She generally travels alone and said her travels, and being on the show, have changed her life. She has heard from many people as a result of her first TV appearance. She showed a photo of herself with a little Solomon Island girl with very blond hair and dark skin.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

It is with a sense of gratitude and humility that I assume the presidency of this wonderful organization.

Uniquely suited to serving the needs of its members by providing a forum for the exchange of stories and information, as well as maintaining a list of countries and territories that is recognized as “the gold standard” of world travel, the Travelers' Century Club is, I believe, the most exclusive travel club in the world. Just to become a member is an incredible achievement.

I was very happy and proud when I became a member, almost 25 years ago, and I am still as proud of the club and happy to be a member today. It has led me down so many “paths less traveled,” where the most unique and pleasurable experiences are waiting, that all I can do is express my gratitude.

And remember, it's not how many places you've visited that really matters; it's the quality of the experience that counts.

Your current TCC Officers and Board: Bart M. Hackley, Jr., Treasurer; Kevin Hughes, President; Pamela Barrus, Ronald L. Endeman, Floyd D. Baker, Christopher Hudson, Vice President; Diane M. Jarrett; David J. Barry, Past President; Kenneth Ziegler; Sanford K. Smith, Secretary. In front, Klaus Billep, Chairman.

TCC members who have traveled to 300 or more of the countries on the TCC-approved list are pictured at the December lunch in Los Angeles: Klaus Billep, Santa Monica; Bill Altaffer, Mammoth Lakes, CA; Charles Veley, San Francisco; Virginia Hunter, Santa Barbara; Ken Ziegler, Cypress, CA; Peggy Porter, Danville, CA; Ron Endeman, El Cajon, CA; Tom Porter, Danville, CA; Kevin Hughes, Phoenix; Sanford Smith, Vineburg, CA.

Enjoying conversation at the Christmas lunch in Beverly Hills are Sanford Smith, Judy and Ron Endeman and Rae Baker.

Visiting from Northern California are Tom Porter (with his Rolls Royce) and Charles Veley, pictured with Lorelli Embry.

Wilbur and Betty Williams invited Lori and Bob Lillibridge to the TCC lunch at Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant in Beverly Hills.

Three recent visitors to North Korea are Monty Anderson, Joan Youmans and Bill Altaffer, Tour Leader, pictured at the TCC luncheon in December in Los Angeles. Joe Walker and Don Parrish also traveled with them.

A sizeable first-page story on their visit last fall appeared in the Los Angeles Times. Titled “Bizarre Trip of a Lifetime,” the article describes their adventures and the restrictions by the North Korean government, similar to what was described and pictured in the 60 Minutes segment by Dan Rather on January 15. All of the above are quoted in the Times article, and of course the Travelers' Century Club is mentioned.

Altaffer gave a slide presentation on this North Korean trip at the December TCC meeting. Other TCC members have also recently visited North Korea. The December Centurian included a photo of Kevin Hughes and Carolyn Broadwell with Dan Rather when he was working on the 60 Minutes program

#473 Central Asia , by Erika Fernbach
#474 Golan Heights , Dr. Gregg M. Cox
#475 Matmata, Dr. Gregg M. Cox
#476 Visiting Andorra , Pedro Yannoulis
#477 Bangladesh , Sikkim & Bhutan , Part 1, by Dr. Kenyon B. De Greene
#478 Montserrat , by Jane S. French
#479 Germany – Berlin , by James A. Smith
#480 Expedition to the North Pole & Franz Josef Land, by David Horne

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.

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.

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.

The Winter edition of Four Seasons Magazine features an interesting and comprehensive four-page article on the Travelers' Century Club. Called “Collecting Countries,” the article features several well-traveled TCC members and provides some history of the club. The magazine is in the rooms of all Four Seasons Hotels around the world, sure to be seen by many travelers.

At the December TCC luncheon in Beverly Hills, Tom and Peggy Porter from Northern California receive their pins and certificates for visiting 300 countries. Chairman Klaus Billep made the presentation.

Outgoing TCC President Dave Barry receives his pin for visiting 200 countries from Klaus Billep at the So. California meeting in Los Angeles.

New Travelers' Century Club Members:

Ball, Dr. Barbara
Baraniecki, Mr. Ernest
Bishop, Mr. W. Lynn
Bishop, Mrs. Dorothy S.
Bowles, Mr. Roger
Bowles, Mrs. Beverley
Bryant, Mr. Carl L.
Grant, Mrs. Madeleine B.
Hamlin, Mr. Donald W.
Hollister, Ms. Nancy
Jackson, Mr. James W.
Jenkins, Mr. Donald J.
Kapetan, Mrs. Sandra
Kapetan, Mr. Eugene
Leeds , Mr. David
Mann, Ms. Noel
McClure, Ms. Jodie
McGregor, Ms. Louise
Mussetter, Ms. Sally
Myers, M.D., Ph.D, Terry L
Oerding, Mr. James B
Parker, Ms. Irma Parker
Palmer, Mr. Donald
Robinson, Sr., Mr. Frank H
Runge, Ms. Lois
Schlesinger, Mrs. Linda Pastel
Schlesinger, Mr. Peter
Soper, Ms. Elva R
Srinivasaraghavan, Jagannathan
Stanton, Mrs. Janet P.
Tauber, Mr. Morton P.
Wood, Mr. Tom

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
Kevin Hughes, President
Christopher Hudson, Vice-President
Sanford K. Smith, Secretary
Bart M. Hackley, Jr., Treasurer

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