CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

From time to time we get letters from various areas inquiring about organizing meetings for the Travelers' Century Club in their vicinities. As you know, many areas have enjoyed success with regular get-togethers and interesting programs. TCC has no set policy on regional member meetings and will be glad to assist anyone interested. We will publish your announcements and contacts, as well as photos, in the Centurian, as well as on our Web site. Reports should be submitted prior to the publication of each Centurian.

The new Club Roster may serve as your guide to possibilities of interested members in your city or state area. Then you should get out a notice to those TCC members, asking if they would be interested in getting together. You are on your own in the beginning and need to have a few meetings to test the waters. If there is sufficient and consistent interest, TCC will reimburse you for postage and later provide letterhead and envelopes.

The area meetings are very loose since this is a social organization. Meetings can be in a home or in a restaurant. There can be speakers or members can talk about their latest trip. The Area Coordinator arranges for the local meetings, collects the money and pays the venue. He or she sends the announcements to members within 100 miles.

Attn: European Members …
Donna Marsh, previous Coordinator in Sarasota, FL, has resettled in the London area and plans an initial UK meeting on Sunday, September 24 (see the new United Kingdom Area page for details). Interested parties should send headquarters their e-mail address if not included in the current Roster, and also send their email address to Marsh at donna_marsh@hotmail.com.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

The Travelers' Century Club recognizes its members for their travel achievements in a manner not unlike the way schools and universities recognize graduation from grade to grade or degree to degree. Although there is no test or thesis required, it is hoped that members will take advantage of their travel opportunities to learn about the different culture, history, religion, food, language, politics, and all of the things a country or territory has to offer. Lifelong learning is an admirable goal, and it should also be a pleasurable and rewarding experience. As we “graduate” from level to level, we become a little bit more knowledgeable about, and familiar with, the world.

Ever since its inception 52 years ago, the club has never promoted, sanctioned or encouraged any real, or perceived, competition among its members. We are a social club composed of the world's most traveled people, and we encourage our members to visit and examine as many facets of the world as possible, as one would a fine diamond. But to get involved in some kind of race, or “travel Olympics,” pitting one member against another, would seriously damage, or even destroy, the wonderful harmony the club enjoys. We are all extremely well-traveled, but in all the meetings I have attended, in over 25 years, I have never heard a member brag about how many places he or she has visited. It just never comes up in conversation, and that is the way it should remain.

Of course, what members do outside the club, as they pursue their happiness, is their own affair. In that regard, some time ago the TCC Board of Directors voted unanimously not to certify the travel accomplishments of any member to a third party, for any reason. Because we use the honor system, such a representation is really impossible, and it is best that the club distance itself from what can only be termed “competitive traveling.” The only competition that really matters is the competition within one's inner self – to set personal goals; to accept the challenge of new experiences; to test the mettle of one's travel enthusiasm; and, most of all, to enjoy life.

It's not how many places one has visited that is important. It's the quality of the experience that really counts.

(From time to time we will feature some background on your Board Members.)

• Sanford K. Smith, has served as TCC
Secretary since the 1990s. He joined our organization in 1972, became a board member in
September 1979, and served as president from
1983 to 1984. He has visited over 300 countries.
He is an Attorney.

• David J. Barry joined the TCC Board on March 9, 1996, and served as president from
2002 to 2004. A world traveler, he retired from the
insurance business after having been an insurance
broker for over 38 years.

A special luncheon was organized by TCC members who were sailing on the 2006 Grand
World Voyage (1/5-4/23) aboard Holland America’s “Prinsendam.” L-R: Jurgen and Helga Hahneiser, Phyllis Henson, Gerald Hazel (middle rear), Bob Henson, Jim Smith and Joan
Madrid. They are from all over the U.S.

On July 20, the Denver-area chapter celebrated its 17th birthday with a potluck dinner at the home of Joan Madrid (pictured in front), who was one of the founding members. The chapter celebrates its birthday every year in July at Madrid’s home.

During the printing process we regret that some
names were inadvertently dropped from the
Current Roster. Among those names missing is
that of our former Past President and Board
Member Ruth Nelson, who lost her husband,
Gordon in May. (We extend our deepest
condolences to Ruth.)

We also received some new email addresses and
some new mailing addresses.

We have also been advised that the History of
the Club omitted a few names of those who have
visited the 315 countries on the TCC list and a
few who have visited 300 destinations.

We are enclosing a page with the print version of the Centurion that includes this
missing information, which can be inserted into
your roster since it is the same size. If your name
is missing or if we have not recognized your
300- or 315-country achievement, please advise
headquarters.

Kurt Shafer of Chatsworth, IL, has asked us several questions; we are answering one here and will continue to answer the others in future issues. If you also have questions, let us know.

Q: We are about 1800 members but how many of us know how the Board of Directors is selected and what are the qualifications?

A: Our Board is limited to a total of 11 Directors and Officers. Currently the Board comprises two attorneys, an executive with an art museum, a CPA, an engineer, a travel writer, retired airline executive, professor and insurance broker, a city manager and a travel executive. All have been TCC members for many years and regularly attend our four annual luncheon meetings in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas.

Qualifications include experience as a working executive, in a decision-making position. The member must be able to volunteer his or her time and attend the four Board meetings which precede the luncheons.

New Travelers' Century Club Members:

Berryman, Ms. Jane A.
Blackford, Ms. Peggy
Bobbett, Mr. Jonathan
Brenneis, Mr. Steve
Brenneis, Mrs. Herma
Burr, Robert E.
Campbell, Mr. Martin J.
Clatworthy, Mr. Geoffrey
Crane, Jr., Mr. James A.
Danchenko, Ms. Halina
Dufour, Mr. Jack
Dawidjan, Anush
Gamble, Mr. Ian John Alan
Gomez, Mr. Agustus Edwin
Grynick, Mr. Paul
Gustafsson, Hakan
Haft, Mr. Roger
Henson, Mr. Bob
Henson, Mrs. Phyllis
Heymans, Jr, Mr. Gene
Koch, Mr. Elliot
Lacey, Ms. Noeleta E.
Lum, Mrs. Ruby U.
Majewski, Mariusz
Meili, Mr. Jay E.
Mizen, Mr. Neil J.
Mockli, Mr. Gary
Pauloo, Ms. Joan B.
Santulli, Mr. David
Schmidt, Ms. Margaret L.
Schutte, Ms. Bernita
Seybold, Mr. Ted
Seybold, Mrs. Dorothy
Seminara, Mr. Gregory
Sheaffer, Dimpa
Silver, Ms. Sandy
Spero, Mrs. Lon
Spori, Kolja
Twentyman, Mr. Lee
Underhill, Mr. Robert A.
Wagner, Dr. Eric A.
Watts, Mr. Laurence
White, Harry E.
Wood, Mrs. Barbara

#488 Tristan da Cunha, James A. Smith
#489 Djibouti, Kenyon B. De Greene, Ph.D.
#490 Four Countries the Easy Way, Dr. Gregg M. Cox
#491 Journey across the Russian Federation, Wayne & Darlene Schild
#492 Camping at the North Pole, Part 1, Henry Lindon
#493 Panama –South America – Caribbean Tour, James A. Smith
#494 Ethiopia, Kenyon B. De Greene, Ph.D.

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 a 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 six weeks. Magnetic backing available, add $4.00.

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.

TCC Editor: Klaus Billep
Contributing Editor: Lorelli Embry

This summer TCC Board Member Pamela Barrus walked along the pilgrim route called “Camino de Santiago.” She walked from extreme Southern France, across the Pyrenees, and through the Basque country of Northern Spain. She has provided a day-by-day account of her journey, with observations about the people she encountered, the sights, and humorous anecdotes. There are also maps of her long walk. See www.pamsbigwalk.blogspot.com.

Attention Europe TCC Members: TCC UK is becoming an active group.Our first meeting will be held on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006 at the Mall Room, Royal Automobile Club in London. See the new United Kingdom Area page for details.

Pictured at the June 10 lunch at the elegant L. A. Farm Restaurant are Al Cruz, Marcia Sperry, visiting from the Houston chapter, and Rosine Cruz.

Past President Ruth Nelson converses with guest speaker Reda Anderson who described some of her extraordinary adventures, including the 12,500-ft. dive in a Russian submersible to get a close-up look at the Titanic. She has signed up for a couple of space flights.

Enjoying the wine reception prior to the June lunch are Bob Ihsen,Shirley Johnson and TCC Vice President Christopher Hudson.

Several TCC members related humorous travel experiences, as part of the June program. Pictured are TCC Secretary Sanford Smith, Rae Baker and TCC President Kevin Hughes.

Talking travel during the reception are Peggy Cochrane, Joyce Barnes and Althea Kifer.

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 Web site.

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

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, Diane M. Jarrett, Kenneth Ziegler