Globespinners

Mega-Thoughts on the SATW Election

Fabulous elephant artist Wanalee reminds us all:

Remember to vote!

Wanalee, Thai Elephant Conservation Center, and

Betsa Marsh, SATW President-Elect Candidate

Campaign video: http://bit.ly/awtnKy

Endorsed by Presidents Laurie Borman, Marcia Levin, Milton Fullman, Cynthia Boal Janssens, Ed Malone, Laura Daily, Doug Hall, Jane Ockershausen, Tom Grimm, Bill Hibbard, Ted Ryan, Al Borcover, Hilda Anderson, Barry Anderson, Len Barnes

THANK YOU

Delicacies Every Step of the Way in Wales

Welsh cakes hot off the griddle at the Welsh Language Centre. Betsa Marsh photo

Welsh cakes, steamed mussels, coffee generously fortified with Penderyn Welsh whisky—it’s a blur of delights when you wander the sandy coves and rocky slopes of Wales, fork at the ready.

Come along with me on a foodie frenzy —who knows, you may even grow to love laverbread, that deep-black seaweed the Welsh pop into recipes when you’re least expecting it.

Win a Hocking Hills Getaway with Your Video

Shoot a video of why “I Love the Hocking Hills!” and you could win a full weekend retreat for two in Ohio’s  Hocking Hills. Enter through the Hocking Hills Tourism Association, shooting in front of a Hocking Hills landmark or attraction.

The winner will receive a cottage for two for two nights from At Boulder’s Edge Tipi & Cabin Retreat, dinner for two at The Brass Ring, lunch for two at Etta’s Lunchbox Museum and Café, tickets for two on the Hocking Hills Canopy Tour Zipline Adventure and a Fun Package for two at Hocking Valley Canoe Livery.

Win Wisconsin Getaways, Gas Cards, Tickets

Wisconsin has launched its Miles of Fun Giveaway with getaway packages, gas cards and one $2,500 grand prize to be given away through Sept. 5, 2010.

To enter, just complete an entry form and submit photos and a statement of 200 words or less about why or how fun originated in Wisconsin. All winners will be chosen at random.

• One winner will receive a $2,500 Wisconsin Getaway Grand Prize package, which includes a $500 Visa/Mastercard Gift Card and $2,000 to be spent at a Wisconsin lodging destination of the winner’s choosing.

• One winner will receive a $1,000 Wisconsin Getaway First Place Prize package, which includes a $250 Visa/Mastercard Gift Card and $750 to be spent at a Wisconsin lodging destination of the winner’s choosing. Getaway trips must be reserved and taken between Oct. 1, 2010 and Sept. 4, 2011.

• Two entrants per week will win a weekly prize, including gas cards and tickets to events and festivals.

Create Your Own Hershey Chocolate Dream Bar

Yes, it’s great fun to visit Hershey®’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pa., but how much better to get in there and pull levels, pick your ingredients and make your own chocolate bar? The new Create Your Own Candy Bar gives you the factory apron and hairnet, and sets you loose.

Want graham crackers crumbs, crisped rice, blueberry fruit gels, chocolate cookie bits, vanilla chips or rainbow jimmies? Pick three, then your bar is drenched with Hershey’s milk chocolate, cooled, wrapped and emblazoned with your own proud confectioner’s name. The introductory price for Create Your Own Candy Bar is $14.95.

Truman Library Focuses on Korea 60 Years On

With her brother on her back, a war-weary Korean girl tiredly trudges by a stalled M-26 tank at Haengju, Korea, June 9, 1951. Photo by Major R.V. Spencer, USAF

Friday marks the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War—a war that still has no end. President Harry S. Truman lived the sleepless nights of the conflict, a war that dragged his popularity with the American people to an all-time low. Now, the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum has an exhibit about this “Forgotten War”–join me to hear the curator’s take.

Ashley and the Presidents: George Washington, Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman

Ashley the Traveling Teddy has been on a  presidential

Ashley with a Revolutionary War soldier at the New Windsor Cantonement, New Windsor, NY. Betsa Marsh photo

tear lately, starting with George Washington and romping through the eras of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman.

Ashley, who travels for the third-grade students of St. Joseph Consolidated School in  Hamilton, Ohio, visited Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh, NY, where the General spent more time than anywhere else during the Revolutionary War.   This is where Washington created and awarded the first purple heart badge.

Nearby, at the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site in Vails Gate, NY, 8,000 soldiers, civilians and artisans built the last winter encampment of the Revolution. Ashley met her fetching young solider here, and learned about the Purple Heart.

Along the Hudson River, Ashley also visited the childhood home and presidential library of Franklin Roosevelt, and got friendly with the President and First Lady Eleanor.

She also couldn’t resist hopping into a shot of FDR’s Oval Office, recreated at his Hyde Park museum.

Ashley in FDR's Oval Office, recreated at Hyde Park, NY. Betsa Marsh photo

And half-way across the country in Independence, Mo., home of President Harry Truman, Ashley pulled another Zelig stunt, hopping into history on a whistle-stop campaign train with President Truman, his wife Bess and their daughter Margaret. Ashley was in the Kansas City area with the Society of American Travel Writers, co-sponsors of the Traveling Teddy geography education outreach with Build-A-Bear.

Ashley whistle-stopping with the Trumans at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Mo. Betsa Marsh photo

Betsa Marsh for SATW President-Elect

How do we, as travel professionals, thrive in a new world where everyone’s

Betsa Marsh

a content provider and everything’s free?

That seems the central issue as we strive to keep SATW the preeminent service organization for its members. How best to move forward through this perfect storm of technological upheaval, industry implosion and the Great Recession?

Sharing Best Practices

I believe we emphasize professional development even more, both in meetings and online. I’ve always found our SATW colleagues generous, and this is the time to share best practices.

On the newly designed SATW website, I’d like to bring two elements forward onto the home page.

• Ask an Expert would be the place for the latest on markets, writing and photography issues. It would showcase the expertise of active and associate members, and become a go-to resource for SATW members and prospective members across the web.

• Technology Tips would also be a must-read, a spot for SATW members to share their best discoveries for working smarter and faster. What new desktop application is making life easier? What new websites smooth research, writing and marketing?

Preserving Natural and Cultural Treasures

I’d like to further develop our commitment to responsible tourism. I believe SATW can become the leader in conserving the world we love to travel—both its wildlife and wild places. Some researchers now quantify tourism, if its effects were combined into one entity, as the fifth largest polluter in the world.

As individual travelers and as a Society, we can better steward the world’s natural resources. Our meetings are already becoming greener, and we can do more.

• Reduce the amount of paper and plastic we put in upstream, with more online handouts and electronic take-away information. Increased use of refillable water bottles when that is a safe alternative.

• Aggressively recycle every bit of paper, glass and plastic possible.

• Work with local food banks and kitchens to assure that any excess food serves needs in the host community.

Reaching New Members and Travelers-to-Be

We’ll extend our outreach to the broader community and potential SATW members through our digital photography and writing workshops.

And, as school budgets tighten, we’ll step up our dedication to geography education. I brought the Traveling Teddy program to SATW in 1994 and, with the support of a number of presidents, it’s become one of our most successful outreach programs.

• The bears encourage new generations to embrace diversity and explore the world beyond their classrooms. Teachers and students travel through our postcards, souvenirs, blogs and websites.

Serving SATW

SATW has been an essential organization for me, giving me opportunities I would not have had otherwise. It would be an honor to serve again.

• During my 21 years in SATW, I’ve been Central States chapter chair and membership chair. I’ve served on assorted Society committees, most recently the Code of Conduct and Strategy for the Future.

• On staff, I’ve worked as a writer and editor for such publications as the Cincinnati Enquirer and USA TODAY. During my freelance career, my work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Islands, Hemispheres, Midwest Living and AAA magazines, as well as newspapers across North America.

• I publish two websites, globespinners.com and Britainonthecheap.com.

• I bring 25 years’ business experience running my own small marketing communications firm.

• I’m gratified to have the support of 15 SATW Past Presidents. Here is their letter:

Letter of Support from 15 SATW Past Presidents

Dear Fellow SATW Member:

We are fortunate this year to have excellent leadership choices for President-elect. As past-Presidents, we know the dedication, time, and guts it takes to run for SATW office, as well as what it takes to stick with the job. It ain’t easy. But with the right candidate, SATW not only thrives, it grows.

That’s why we’re supporting Betsa Marsh. She’s been an SATW member for 21 years, has experience as a chapter chair and membership chair, and has served on a range of committees. And of course, she initiated the incredibly successful Traveling Teddy program. She’s innovative, she’s a consensus-builder, she’s dedicated. Most important, she’s a leader.

Betsa wants to focus on professional development during her term. In a troubled economy, we all need help with pitching ideas, developing markets, and learning new techniques. It’s how we earn our income. Betsa has run her own non-travel marketing business for 25 years, so she understands your needs as a freelancer, PR professional, businessperson.

When the SATW voting begins, please consider casting your vote for Betsa Marsh.

Thank you,

Alfred S. Borcover 1973 and 1974

Bill Hibbard 1978

Ted Ryan 1980

Barry Anderson 1985

Len R. Barnes 1988

Hilda Anderson 1992

Tom Grimm 1993

Cynthia Boal Janssens 1998

Jane Ockershausen 1999

G. Douglas Hall 2001

Marcia Levin 2004

Milton Fullman 2005

Edwin Malone III 2006

Laurie Borman 2007

Laura Daily 2008

Keep Calm and Carry On

As the Brits so famously said, “Keep Calm and Carry On.” I think it’s still good advice as we go boldly, together, into realms unknown. I would appreciate your vote.

Pamplona’s Rodero Serves Michelin-Star Surprises

Chef Koldo Rodero greets his guests at Restaurante Rodero, which his parents opened in 1975. Patricia Wood Winn photo

I’m just back from Pamplona, Spain, and there’s much more to this ancient Roman settlement than just stampeding bulls.

One of the pleasures is the farm-to-table cuisine at such fine dining restaurants as Rodero, a second-generation spot that has earned a Michelin star.

Read about my surprising Michelin-starred lunch at Restaurante Rodero.

Hemingway’s Spirit Palpable in Pamplona, Spain

The ghost of Ernest Hemingway seems to hover over every cobblestone street of Pamplona, Spain.

In the Middle Ages, many Spanish towns drove their bulls in through town to the central bull ring, but it took Hemingway in the 1920s to make the Pamplona festival of San Fermines world-famous. Now everyone knows about the Running of the Bulls.

Read about my search for  Hemingway’s Ghost.