CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

Special thanks to our Area Coordinators for a successful 2003 season.

Dues notice for 2004 will be mailed in a few weeks.

Our 2004 Membership Roster will be mailed in January and will be our special 50th Anniversary edition.

Your TCC officers and board members want you to enjoy a very happy holiday season and send our special greetings at this time.

50th Anniversary
Our dates: New York luncheon and weekend meeting April 17, 2004

Las Vegas, October 1 & 2, 2004

Thank you all for many suggestions. Las Vegas was the favorite city selected.

Update Pacific Islands
The U.S. is closing three airfields in the Pacific, Midway Atoll, Johnston Island and Wake Island, which is closed already for runway resurfacing. Some international airlines are using economic twin engine aircraft and the FAA mandates that twin engine airplanes flying over water be within three hours of emergency runways. One of these islands will probably be opened again. Will keep you advised.

September 13th Meeting
Special thanks to Bill Altaffer for sharing with us so many exciting slides of Afghanistan. Thank you, Bill.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your President these past two years. Meeting new (and longstanding) members at our luncheons and on my travels to wonderful and strange places of this world has been a memorable and pleasant experience for me.

My special THANK YOU to Klaus Billep for helping to make my two years so smooth, productive and fun. TCC should be very grateful to Klaus for his excellent organizational skills – locally setting up our luncheons, accepting reservations and getting name tags correct. He also coordinates special events such as international meetings and our upcoming 50th year Anniversary Celebrations. Next he overseas publication of both the Centurion and our bi-annual membership roster. Thanks Klaus!

Next, Thank you to our superb Board of Directors. Everyone has an expertise of their own and contributes greatly to the success of the Club.

A final Thank you to Ruth M. Nelson who personally encouraged me and gave me confidence to become an officer. After serving 50 years on the Executive Board, Ruth is resigning – can you imagine the contributions she has made! I’ll never make 50 years, but my hope is to serve TCC for many more years.

Sincerely,
Floyd Baker

Past President Ken Ziegler recently celebrated his 80th birthday (see photo gallery below). Ken has traveled to all 317 TCC places and said this was no simple task. He has accomplished this with 81 cruises, 5 Antarctica trips, cruising through the Northwest Passage, and reached the North Pole aboard a Russian nuclear ice breaker. His toughest trip– this past June down the Danube River with two teenage granddaughters. They shopped and shopped and almost did him in!!!

Longtime member Robert Petrik, an experienced world traveler, is also the Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic.

Treasurer Kevin Hughes is on the road again Ashmore & Cartier Islands which are on the Guinness World Records list of territories. He is joined part of the way by Charles Veley of San Francisco, who has visited all 317 TCC places. For more info on Kevin, see Travel & Leisure magazine's Nov. 2003 edition, "On the Road Again."

Lani was born Feb. 2, 2001, and has traveled to more than 100 countries with her jet-setting parents, Jeff and Novita. She has traveled to every continent, and father Jeff has contacted Guinness World Records for his daughter's entry as the youngest person to have visited all continents. Father Jeff is on the way to complete all 317 places and should be congratulated for having climbed the seven highest peaks in the world (see photo gallery below).

Travel Warnings are issued to recommend that travelers avoid travel to a certain country. Public Announcements are means to disseminate info about possible threats. They are short term conditions. Info is updated daily on the U.S. Department of State Website: www.travel.state.gov.

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.

#423 A Somalia "Fly Through," by Ted Cookson
#424 "Caronia" Cruise, by James A. Smith
#425 The Rebirth of Afghanistan - Part I, by Bill Altaffer
#426 Remote Sub-Antarctic Islands in the Southern Indian Ocean, by David H. Horne
#427 Mali, by Erika Fernbach

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.

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.

We finally received our order for Silver 150+ Countries and Gold 200+ Countries in tie-tack backing and pin back. Cost $8.00.

We are now offering (at regular $10.00 price) a new "his and hers" lapel pin with a tie-tack backing making it easier to attach. We know that you will wish to order this item to show your friends and to wear as a symbol of the world's most prestigious travel club. Available to all members and provisionals.

For World Travelers we are also listing our 2004 dates: 50th Anniversary New York, Sat. April 17 Las Vegas, Fri-Sun, October 1-2 Los Angeles, CA June 12 & Dec. 11, 2004 Orange County, CA March 13 & Sept. 11, 2004 Please mark you calendars

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

Tel: 310-393-7419
Fax: 310-395-9511
E-mail: tccclub3@gte.net
www.travelerscenturyclub.org

Officers
Klaus Billep, Chairman
Floyd D. Baker, President
David J. Barry, Vice-President
Sanford K. Smith, Secretary
Kevin Hughes, Treasurer

Executive Board Members
Jules F. Diebenow
Christopher Hudson
Diane Jarrett
Ruth M. Nelson
Kenneth Ziegler