NICE Meeting of April 11, 2009 featured...

... Anette Isaacs, German historian and leader of German Elderhostels, speaking on the events that led to the "Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall."


The enthusiastic audience enjoyed the presentation...



...as well as the door prize, a $100 certificate towards any of the many Elderhostel programs in Germany.

"Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall" at NICE Meeting on April 11, 2009...

...10 a.m. to Noon, at the STATE BANK OF THE LAKES (847-548-2700) in Grayslake, 50 Commerce Drive, located east of Illinois Route 83, off Center Street, on Industrial Drive, across from the Post Office.

The meeting is in the Community Room in the basement (there is an elevator).

(Click on map to enlarge)

German Historian Anette Isaacs recounts the events that led to the
"Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall".

The event is free! Everyone over 21 is welcomed!

Anette will also describe the Elderhostel programs available in Germany AND there will be a $100 certificate to one winner for an Elderhostel program held in Germany.

For More Information:Call Pete Clark, 1-847-549-1659
or e-mail Pete at peteropbertclark@aol.com

On the day of this program, you can call 1-847-970-8700 (cell phone) for directions or other questions.

Elderhostel is...

...an organization with which you should familiarize yourself if you 55 or better IF:

• You like to travel.
• You enjoy spending time with people who share your passions.
• You want to learn while engaged in an enjoyable activity.
• You want an affordable trip.

I joined 7 years ago, have participated in 21 programs, and highly recommend their offerings. Here are posts about the canoeing program ...



...and the Behind the scenes at Disney program, both from last month...



A love of learning, and a love of being in the company of exceptional people while visiting new locales, and a love of participating in engaging environments -- all create extraordinary experiences -- which is what Elderhostel has been providing for more than a quarter-century. "Exceptional learning opportunities for adults at a remarkable value" is their motto, but in a nutshell, Elderhostel is older folks going to school without homework, without tests or quizzes, with long recesses, with nice people from all over the country, and with really good food service.

Elderhostel was founded in 1975 on five New Hampshire college campuses, based on the idea of inexpensive lodging and non-credit classes. As it evolved, Elderhostel programs left college dorm housing and moved to quality motels/hotels, and the meals similarly improved. In fact, many programs provide local, cultural cuisine to add to the "educational component" required of all programs. Our Mexico/Copper Canyon trip included local restaurants and even featured a "home visit" where we were served a traditional home-cooked meal by the matriarch of the home. Another program in Florida took us to local black churches for delicious home cooked meals.

Today Elderhostel serves 160,000 participants annually, offering nearly 8000 programs in the USA and Canada, with an additional 1251 programs in over 90 countries on 6 continents. Since Elderhostel is a non-profit organization, you eliminate the middle-man fees usually found in travel programs. There are 698,853 Elderhostelers living in 524,568 households with an average age of 71.7 years, of whom 62% are female. Over 4 million people have participated in a trip since Elderhostel began.

Elderhostel strives to offer low-cost, stimulating trips, and you can find a program to match any interest you wish to pursue. Programs can be found that cover one day or several weeks, though most are 5 days long. The average cost for US programs is a bit over $100 a day, a bit over $200 a day for international trips. Everything except transportation to and from the site is included in the advertised fee -- all meals, taxes, lodging, excursions, group shuttles to sites while on the trip, activities, lectures, and even all gratuities. No ups - no extras!

Best of all, perhaps, is the Travel Assistance Plan that is automatically included in the cost of the program. It provides 24-hour coverage in any emergency during the trip, including medical evacuation.

United States & Canada Programs	International Programs
• Emergency medical evacuation • Motor vehicle return to your home • Baggage delay insurance • Assistance with lost or delayed baggage • Help with travel document replacement	• Emergency medical evacuation • Limited medical coverage for an accidental injury or sickness • Baggage delay insurance • Lost, stolen, or damaged baggage insurance • Medical escort

And membership is free. Membership gets you free catalogs of all the offerings, though many use the convenient online search capabilities of the Elderhostel site, which also allows you to sign up online. Or you can call their toll-free number and speak with a live person for answers to questions or to register for for a program.

Many communities such as ours even have "alumni" groups which are local chapters composed of experienced Elderhostelers and those interested in learning about the organizations. I belong to the Northern Illinois Chapter of Elderhostel (NICE) and we meet every other month (photo below) and share our latest Elderhostel adventures, hear guest speakers, and socialize over lunch afterward.



As I mentioned, twenty-one of my adventures have involved active outdoor Elderhostel programs, all of which are listed here and include info and photos on each. Or go here for Elderhostel's description of program categories. It's free and could change your life! And just for fun, go to their website, type in a topic of interest to you, and see what programs are available for that topic. One warning, though -- Elderhostel trips can become addictive!

February Meeting Postponed -- Annette Isaacs presentation on April 11th

The February 14th meeting has been postponed until April 11th and will feature a presentation by Anette Isaacs, the Berlin Director for Elderhostel’s program provider, Group IST Germany. She will speak on the Berlin Wall being taken down and what has happened since.

There will also be a raffle of a $100 voucher to an upcoming Elderhostel program in Germany.

Nice NICE Meeting again...

... which was well attended considering it's so close to Christmas and all are so busy...




... and the attendees were rewarded by 3 presentations of trips. John was first, with narrated movies of his travels in Turkey and Greece on an Elderhostel program entitled "Discovering the Jewels of the Mediterranean: Athens to Istanbul." Then Bob reported on his program at Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park with another wonderful slideshow of photos he took of volcanoes, lava, a hike through a lava tube, steam from lava entering the sea, and more. Finally, Bill and Jenny recounted their trip to Thailand and Cambodia, replete with magnificent photos and firsthand info on the culture and religion of the land. Below is a photo of Bill, Bob, and John.



The next meeting is on February 14th, 2009, and more inspiring travel programs will be presented.

Writer's Group Meeting...

... was today following the NICE meeting mentioned above. Phyllis hosted us for a delicious lunch...




... during which we honored our founder, Don (on left), for his upcoming birthday, by all enjoying a piece of Boston creme pie...



...followed by readings of our latest memoir masterpieces.



The stories related the year Santa visited, the travails accompanying the knitting of a scarf when an inquisitive cat got into the act, the exploits of a bulldog named Brutus, and some reflections on jury duty.

December 13 Meeting Info

NICE DECEMBER MEETING

(Northern Illinois Chapter of Elderhostel)

Saturday, December 13 at 10:00 AM to Noon


State Bank of the Lakes, Grayslake, Illinois
In the basement meeting room


Bill Casale will be presenting his trip to Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos

the State Bank of The Lakes, 50 Commerce Drive in Grayslake, IL, 60030 ((847-548-2700) located east of Illinois Route 83, off Center Street, on Industrial Drive, across from the Post Office. (Double click on map to enlarge.)




We need at least two other presentations

(call Pete Clark at 1-847-549-1659
or e-mail at peterobertclark@aol.com)

There is no cost, there are pass-outs from Elderhostel, everyone is invited – please feel free to bring a friend!

NICE Meeting today!

Our bi-monthly meeting in Grayslake featured several trip reports today. The first was Don's PowerPoint presentation on his recent sailing adventure out of Camden, Maine on the ketch "Angelique." They spent 6 nights aboard as they explored the waters of Penobscot Bay, visiting small towns, spotting waterfowl and seals, helping raise and lower sails, taking turns at the helm, and dining on tasty shipboard cuisine and even including a lobster bake on shore. You can see a photo of the craft on the poster behind Don. The naturalist and folklore specialists also added much to the educational component of this program.



We then viewed a professional DVD showing the boat and all its amenities, which along with Don's photos and descriptions had us all ready to sign up for the trip!



Then Chuck showed photos of his recent 9 day trip canoeing Utah's Green River as well as his 6 day backpack trip in Arizona's Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The audience was amazed at the scenery but not anxious to do the seemingly straight-up climbs to reach the mesa tops!



The next meeting is Saturday, December 13th, in Grayslake.

Writer's Group Meeting...

The writer's group re-assembled at Chuck's place after the NICE meeting and enjoyed a lunch...



... and stimulating conversation as we re-connected after a hiatus of several months...



... and then the readings of our latest literary masterpieces followed -- always a wonderful time as we learn more about each other and get ideas for future pieces we can write.



KC Bird also joined our group today, and though he attentively listened to all the readings, he never contributed any constructive comments!

Writer's Group Meeting...

... at Don's place in Sedgebrook, beginning with lunch and conversation in the cafe...



...followed by sharing our latest memoirs, getting "caught up" since our last meeting was 7 months ago, and having light dessert. Seated (l to r) are Phyllis, Pete, Evie, and Don (Ellen is out of the photo on the couch.)

Our next meeting will be at my place following the NICE meeting in Grayslake on October 11th.

June and August Meetings canceled.

The next meeting will be at the Bank of the Lakes (Grayslake) at 10:00 AM to Noon on Saturday, October 11, 2008.

E-mail Pete at peterobertclark@aol.com or call 1-847-549-1659 if you have or will have an Elderhostel Trip you have attended and wish to present to the group at that time. We need at least 3.

Next Meeting June 14, 2008

The next NICE meeting is Saturday, June 14, 2008, from 10:00 - 12:00 Noon at the State Bank of The Lakes, 50 Commerce Drive in Grayslake, IL, 60030 (847-548-2700) located east of Illinois Route 83, off Center Street, on Industrial Drive, across from the Post Office. (Double click on map to enlarge.)



All are invited -- both those who have participated in Elderhostel programs and those with an interest in learning more about the programs.

Call Pete Clark if you have any questions: 1-847-549-1659 or email him at peterobertclark@aol.com

April 12, 2008 Meeting of NICE

Eleven attended today's meeting and president Pete welcomed everyone and took care of the business that needed to be covered...



...after which Bob showed a DVD he had made of his Elderhostel hiking program at the western section of the Grand Canyon out of Peach Springs, Arizona. The program featured 5 hikes along the rim and down into the canyon.



Then Chuck and Ellen presented a movie of their 2 Elderhostel paddling programs, the first out of Brooksville, Florida (paddling the South Withlacoochee, Hillsborough, and Weeki Watchi Rivers), and the other out of Stephen Foster State Park in White Springs, Florida, (hiking along the Suwannee River, paddling the Suwannee and Ichetucknee Rivers, and numerous local foods and folk arts/crafts.)



Finally, Pat, Executive Director of I-PLUS, related the services and philosophy of her program, Independent Positive Living Under Supervision, which enables homeless individuals/families of Lake County and the surrounding counties to transform their lives and become contributing members of the community.



Following the meeting, Pete treated everyone to lunch at the nearby Hillside Restaurant where engaging conversation ensued and all bid farewell until the next meeting in June.

(l to r: Bob, Ellen, Phil, Ed, Pete, Judy, Dixie, Pat, Adrian, and Jan)

Next Meeting is April 12th, 2008

The next NICE meeting is Saturday, April 12, 2008, from 10:00 - 12:00 Noon at the State Bank of The Lakes, 50 Commerce Drive in Grayslake, IL, 60030 ((847-548-2700) located east of Illinois Route 83, off Center Street, on Industrial Drive, across from the Post Office. (Double click on map to enlarge.)



All are invited -- both those who have participated in Elderhostel programs and those with an interest in learning more about the programs.

Call Pete Clark if you have any questions: 1-847-549-1659 or email him at peterobertclark@aol.com

NICE meeting at Sedgebrook - February 9, 2008

A full house turned out for the February Northern Illinois Chapter of Elderhostel (NICE) meeting at Sedgebrook retirement community, Lincolnshire. Many resident Elderhostel alums were joined by NICE members from the area to hear contrasting presentations about China.



Brad Swanson (photo below), Libertyville High School Principal, described and illustrated his experiences in November, 2007. Brad was one of 65 secondary school principals and educators from the US, UK, Canada and Australia spending two weeks with 80 of their Chinese counterparts. The group met in Changzhou, Jinangsu Province. The intent of bringing together educators from the Western tradition and China was to promote understanding and potentially to lead to student and staff exchanges.



After describing the markedly different system found in China, Brad commented that the greatest surprise was the Chinese interest in “how to develop a healthy balance” in teacher/student relationships. Brad stated that the Chinese system is a very autocratic classroom, something many teachers are interested in relaxing.

Following refreshments provided by Sedgebrook, Bob Chen (photo below), an Elderhostel alum and resident of Sedgebrook, illustrated an extended Elderhostel in southern China. Bob, trained as an engineer in the Chinese schools in his youth, shared his love of beauty as found in China, his observations on the ease with which the many minorities in China live together peacefully, and the contrasts between the rural areas and the pollution-generating industrial areas.



Both presenters remarked upon the contrast between the very old and very new, one as an outsider looking in and the other as an insider, absent for years, looking anew.

reported by Don Nylin

February 9th, 2008 Meeting is at Sedgebrook...

... again, located at 901 Milwaukee Avenue in Lincolnshire on the east side of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) between Half Day Road (Route 22) and Aptakisic Road from 10 AM to Noon. Sedgebrook is directly across Milwaukee Avenue from the new Barnes and Noble store.

Enter through the main gate and tell the guard in the gatehouse you are with the Elderhostel meeting in the Clubhouse. Turn right past the gatehouse, and drive to the parking lot on the left. Enter the building and tell the receptionist you are with the Elderhostel and get directions to the music room. You will be asked to sign in.

Following the meeting, some of us will be eating in Sedgebrook's cafe (dutch treat) and there are also eateries across the street from Sedgebrook.

NICE Meeting and Writers' Group (12/8/07)

Don welcomed the Elderhostel Alumni group to Sedgebrook, the magnificent retirement community facility in Lincolnshire where this meeting was held...



... and then the group of 18 or so listened intently...



... as our leader, Pete, introduced our speaker, Selby, who informed us of the groups and activities available to seniors in Lake County.



Then several members spoke of the Elderhostel programs they have participated in and answered questions pertaining to them, followed by Buzz and Alice who eloquently detailed their trips to Israel.



A tasty lunch at the Sedgebrook Cafe ended the morning's activities...



... and the members of the memoir writing group proceeded to Don's unit for our meeting/sharing session. (Here we are sharing some delicious Swedish desserts he concocted.)

December 8, 2008 Meeting is at Sedgebrook...

... located at 901 Milwaukee Avenue in Lincolnshire on the east side of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) between Half Day Road (Route 22) and Aptakisic Road from 10 AM to Noon. Sedgebrook is directly across Milwaukee Avenue from the new Barnes and Noble store.

Enter through the main gate and tell the guard in the gatehouse you are with the Elderhostel meeting in the Clubhouse. Turn right past the gatehouse, and drive to the parking lot on the left. Enter the building and tell the receptionist you are with the Elderhostel and get directions to the music room. You will be asked to sign in.

Following the meeting, some of us will be eating in Sedgebrook's cafe (dutch treat) and there are also eateries across the street from Sedgebrook. After lunch, there will be a meeting of the spin-off writer's group in Don's unit. New members are invited to join both the general meeting and the writer's group.

Writers' Group Meeting of 10/20/07

A number of our Elderhostel alumni group members gather together regularly to create memoirs under the tutelage of Don Nylin of our group, who has taken several Elderhostel courses on this subject. We have been meeting for several years now, and some of us have a couple dozen of these memoirs finished, and are in essence writing autobiographies, one chapter/incident at a time.

Today's meeting began with a delicious brunch (sausage ring with eggs) served by our hostess, Phyllis...

... and enjoyed by (l to r) Pete, Don, Phyllis, Ellen, and me (Chuck)...

... followed by each reading the latest lifestory (memoir) to the group for comments and to give the others new ideas. Perceptive comments, practical suggestions, and sincere encouragement abound, all with friendly good humor. And sometimes cathartic release and personal discovery during the writing process as we delve into our own memories and psyches, often unearthing buried treasures -- and of course fond reminiscences.



Now if you are getting the impression this group is simply an excuse to socialize with fun people and eat sensational food, you are wrong. Those are just wonderful fringe benefits of membership, but the writing is truly what it is predominantly about.



The concept behind memoir writing is for the author to divulge who he/she is and how he/she became that person over the years, by relating formative experiences so later generations (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc.) have an understanding and appreciation of the life and times of the author. And YES, new members to our writer's group are welcome!

NICE Meeting of 10/13/07

Our regular bi-monthly meeting starts with conversation as the early arrivals gather around the sign-in table (Kurt and Pat, Pat, Pete, and Jan).


Pete takes us through the business part of the meeting.

Ed and Judy share photos and information about their recent Elderhostel program in Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park and their subsequent visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park and also their ride on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad which crosses the Colorado/New Mexico border 23 times on its narrow gauge tracks between Chalma, NM and Antonito, CO.

Then Pat and Kurt told us of their Elderhostel trip, Land, Sea, and Skye, in Scotland.


The hour-plus presentation by Jean based on her extensive knowledge of Pakistan where she served as a medical missionary for 40 years was the highlight of the meeting, as she showed photos, artwork, and a DVD on Pakistani life and culture. Her garment demonstrates traditional dress, complete with the shawl, which is worn covering the head when a married woman is in the presence of males.

Jean also explained about Pakistani geography, history, culture, water problems, schooling, government, politics, customs...


... religion, and much more -- an exhaustive lesson on Pakistan which had the audience enthralled and later asking many follow-up questions.


After the meeting, we held our traditional post-meeting social gathering at a local restaurant. Hope to see everyone at our next meeting!