What a country!! It's Memorial Day 2009 and I have a day off to do whatever I want! And what have I done? I woke up about 7:00, got energized with a cup of French-pressed Sumatran coffee that tastes as good as it smells, read the newspaper, then decided to fix breakfast and then remembered I had a survey I needed to put together and include with an eblast. I know, I know, that's a lot like work.
What's my point? Just this - I get to do anything legal (and what Sherrie says is okay for me to do) that I want because there have been those over the years who were willing to put themselves in harm's way to insure I had the freedom to do so. My father-in-law was in the Navy on Guadalcanal in 1943 and 1944. I have to remember to call and thank him today.
And if you ever thought you'd like to know more about the battles of World War II, there's a tour you have to take. Click here to see information on the finest tour of its type around. Sherrie and I had the opportunity to take a side trip to Normandy and see Omaha Beach, the cliff the U.S. Rangers climbed and the American Cemetery. It was one of the more moving days of my life and it was but a single destination of the tour offered by Image Tours. Call us at 800 888-0922 or 615 833-0922 for details.
Click on this link to see some of the photos we took at Normandy.
Do you know the history of Memorial Day? Originally called "Decoration Day", the day was set aside after the Civil War to decorate graves of Union soldiers killed in the conflict. In fact, the official name was Decoration Day until it was changed to "Memorial Day" in 1967 and then changed by the Uniform Holiday Observance Act of 1971 to be the last Monday in May. And because it was a "Yankee" holiday, most if not all Southern states did not observe the holiday until the sixties. In fact, there are still some states and companies that don't recognize it fully by giving employees the day off. For some, the Recent War of Yankee Aggression culminating in Sherman's "Retreat to the Sea" through Atlanta and environs is still fresh on their minds and they'll Never Forget.
The next time you travel about the U.S. without hindrance and document checks, remember a veteran.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
High School Class reunion
I have a high school class reunion coming up in less than three weeks (not saying which one, but we used a wedge-shaped tool pressed into a moist clay tablets to take notes) and I am really looking forward to it. It's been interesting reconnecting with people I literally haven't heard from or of for a half century. I remember some better than others, some I don't remember at all (but that doesn't necessarily mean I didn't know them in school I guess) and I find I have a bond with every one of them. My dad was transferred a lot and I spent longer in Greenville, SC, than I did anywhere else until I moved to Nashville, so I guess that's why this seems so special, because these are the people I knew in a simpler, less hectic time. And as I wrote that I thought, well, yeah it did seem less hectic but that's looking at it in the rear view mirror. At the time it didn't seem quite that way.
There is a core group of students who maintained contact over the years and they have had several reunions and I just never found out about them until after the fact. They've done a great job, and I had a chance to offer a small bit of help in setting up a group room rate at a local hotel. What I had the chance to do is tiny compared to the time and effort these others have put into making this what may be the fondest memory a lot of us will have, from finding a venue for the main event, arranging a tour of the old school, setting up the evening activities, deciding on food and beverage service, arranging for entertainment, setting a budget, collecting money, and promoting the event to all the members who could be reached. They did a great job and I hope they are recognized for their effort. If I have the chance, they will be.
I found all of my classmates except for a couple on Facebook. It is undoubtedly one of the best tools around to reconnect with people with whom you have lost contact. If you don't have a Facebook account, go to http://www.facebook.com/ and set up an account. Fill in your profile completely, especially the sections on where you went to school. In the upper right hand column is a Search field. Type in Charlie Funk Nashville TN and my name will pop up. Request that I add you as a friend and I'll reply and help you get started.
It's also interesting to see how others handle reunions as well, whether school, family, military or other. An increasingly popular way to get together and reminisce is to take a cruise. Most reunion leaders we work with have prior experience and really like cruise reunions because there's so little for them to have to do to be sure everyone is pleased and has a great time. I may just go along on one of the upcoming reunions to see if they have as much fun as I think Sherrie and I are going to have.
There is a core group of students who maintained contact over the years and they have had several reunions and I just never found out about them until after the fact. They've done a great job, and I had a chance to offer a small bit of help in setting up a group room rate at a local hotel. What I had the chance to do is tiny compared to the time and effort these others have put into making this what may be the fondest memory a lot of us will have, from finding a venue for the main event, arranging a tour of the old school, setting up the evening activities, deciding on food and beverage service, arranging for entertainment, setting a budget, collecting money, and promoting the event to all the members who could be reached. They did a great job and I hope they are recognized for their effort. If I have the chance, they will be.
I found all of my classmates except for a couple on Facebook. It is undoubtedly one of the best tools around to reconnect with people with whom you have lost contact. If you don't have a Facebook account, go to http://www.facebook.com/ and set up an account. Fill in your profile completely, especially the sections on where you went to school. In the upper right hand column is a Search field. Type in Charlie Funk Nashville TN and my name will pop up. Request that I add you as a friend and I'll reply and help you get started.
It's also interesting to see how others handle reunions as well, whether school, family, military or other. An increasingly popular way to get together and reminisce is to take a cruise. Most reunion leaders we work with have prior experience and really like cruise reunions because there's so little for them to have to do to be sure everyone is pleased and has a great time. I may just go along on one of the upcoming reunions to see if they have as much fun as I think Sherrie and I are going to have.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
About three years ago a new way of selling travel appeared on the scene. According to their hype, their multi-level marketing scheme was the future for travel sales and that travel agents as they were now known were dodo birds that no one had had the courtesy to tell they were extinct. The company that brought this radical new tool to the world was Your Travel Business, usually known as YTB.
Like every other MLM that has ever come along, those in early who sold lots and lots of suckers on the downline did indeed make a lot of money. And just like every MLM that has ever come along, those entering late who bought in never recouped their investment.
The idea was that each new recruit, who paid $500.00 to join and $50.00 a month to stay a member, would become a "referring travel agent" or RTA and in turn recruit others to buy in and they would recruit still others. It was clear to those who hadn't drunk the kool aid that the whole thing was a pyramid scheme, had nothing to do with selling travel and made false promises to recruits about how much money they could make, how many free trips they could get, and more.
Many of the recruits were fervent, passionate believers to the point of being obnoxious and insulting to those who truly are travel consultants, who have studied and worked hard to be a part of an honorable profession. Just as knowing where to buy aspirin doesn't make one a doctor, knowing where to find travel content did not make someone a travel agent.
Things began to unravel about a year ago when first California and then Illinois filed suit against YTB alleging, among other things, that the company was an illegal pyramid scheme. The situation is about to come to a head. See this link http://www.travelweekly.com/article3_ektid194332.aspx
I'll save you the time of doing the math, but the average YTB "travel agent" made less than $31.00 commission in the first quarter of 2009. That a little more than $10.00 a month for which each agent paid $50.00 a month to participate.
I didn't major in accounting but I took several accounting courses and as near as I can tell, this isn't a good deal.
To all those out there who bought off on the YTB myth and joined: If you are serious about wanting to sell travel, if you have a passion for helping people get the best vacation possible, contact me at charlie@justcruisinplus.com.
There' no hype, no kool aid, and no membership fee.
Meanwhile, all the real travel agents and counselors in the world can take satisfaction in knowing they represent the best in what we do.
Like every other MLM that has ever come along, those in early who sold lots and lots of suckers on the downline did indeed make a lot of money. And just like every MLM that has ever come along, those entering late who bought in never recouped their investment.
The idea was that each new recruit, who paid $500.00 to join and $50.00 a month to stay a member, would become a "referring travel agent" or RTA and in turn recruit others to buy in and they would recruit still others. It was clear to those who hadn't drunk the kool aid that the whole thing was a pyramid scheme, had nothing to do with selling travel and made false promises to recruits about how much money they could make, how many free trips they could get, and more.
Many of the recruits were fervent, passionate believers to the point of being obnoxious and insulting to those who truly are travel consultants, who have studied and worked hard to be a part of an honorable profession. Just as knowing where to buy aspirin doesn't make one a doctor, knowing where to find travel content did not make someone a travel agent.
Things began to unravel about a year ago when first California and then Illinois filed suit against YTB alleging, among other things, that the company was an illegal pyramid scheme. The situation is about to come to a head. See this link http://www.travelweekly.com/article3_ektid194332.aspx
I'll save you the time of doing the math, but the average YTB "travel agent" made less than $31.00 commission in the first quarter of 2009. That a little more than $10.00 a month for which each agent paid $50.00 a month to participate.
I didn't major in accounting but I took several accounting courses and as near as I can tell, this isn't a good deal.
To all those out there who bought off on the YTB myth and joined: If you are serious about wanting to sell travel, if you have a passion for helping people get the best vacation possible, contact me at charlie@justcruisinplus.com.
There' no hype, no kool aid, and no membership fee.
Meanwhile, all the real travel agents and counselors in the world can take satisfaction in knowing they represent the best in what we do.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Don't leave home without it
Well, I think the Feds have finally settled on immigration regs for U.S. residents. Well, almost. Effective June 1, 2009, anyone entering the United States from another country by whatever means must have either a passport or a passport card.
On or after June 1, U.S. citizens must have a passport to return to the U.S. by air. Period.
But, just so you won't get dug in too tight, there is also something called a Passport Card. A passport card allows U.S. citizens to re-enter the U.S. on the ground (on foot or in a vehicle) or on a cruise ship. But before you begin thinking you're good to go with a passport card for that Caribbean cruise you've been planning, read again the paragraph just above. If a passenger used a Passport Card to board a cruise ship has to return to the United States from another country by air, he or she will not be permitted to return using the Passport Card. There is no wiggle room.
It's not about getting out of the country. It's about getting back in. Yes a Passport Card costs about half as much as a passport but it is also only valid half as long as a passport and the Passport Card utility is inferior except in limited circumstances
So how often does someone have to fly home from a non-U.S. port while on a cruise? Far more often than you think. And even if it only happened once every million cruise passengers, if that millionth passenger is you, statistics go out the window.
Charlie's tip for the decade - GET A PASSPORT! It's just not worth the risk.
Alaska is really hot this year with better deals than I have seen since - EVER. Alaskan cruises never come to mind that I don't think of an incident that occurred about five years ago.
It was late August and a woman called to get information on an Alaskan cruise. From the conversation, it was obvious she had never taken a cruise but she also didn't want to be obvious about it because she didn't want "the wool pulled over her eyes". Just to be sure our agent knew she was serious, she explained that she could only travel the first or second week of September, and she was ready to give our agent a credit card but only if our agent could guarantee that the glaciers would still be out. The agent put the client on hold and came in my office and frantically asked "What do I tell her?" My response - take the credit card 'cuz if the glaciers aren't out for her cruise we have a whole lot worse problems than a credit card charge back.
On or after June 1, U.S. citizens must have a passport to return to the U.S. by air. Period.
But, just so you won't get dug in too tight, there is also something called a Passport Card. A passport card allows U.S. citizens to re-enter the U.S. on the ground (on foot or in a vehicle) or on a cruise ship. But before you begin thinking you're good to go with a passport card for that Caribbean cruise you've been planning, read again the paragraph just above. If a passenger used a Passport Card to board a cruise ship has to return to the United States from another country by air, he or she will not be permitted to return using the Passport Card. There is no wiggle room.
It's not about getting out of the country. It's about getting back in. Yes a Passport Card costs about half as much as a passport but it is also only valid half as long as a passport and the Passport Card utility is inferior except in limited circumstances
So how often does someone have to fly home from a non-U.S. port while on a cruise? Far more often than you think. And even if it only happened once every million cruise passengers, if that millionth passenger is you, statistics go out the window.
Charlie's tip for the decade - GET A PASSPORT! It's just not worth the risk.
Alaska is really hot this year with better deals than I have seen since - EVER. Alaskan cruises never come to mind that I don't think of an incident that occurred about five years ago.
It was late August and a woman called to get information on an Alaskan cruise. From the conversation, it was obvious she had never taken a cruise but she also didn't want to be obvious about it because she didn't want "the wool pulled over her eyes". Just to be sure our agent knew she was serious, she explained that she could only travel the first or second week of September, and she was ready to give our agent a credit card but only if our agent could guarantee that the glaciers would still be out. The agent put the client on hold and came in my office and frantically asked "What do I tell her?" My response - take the credit card 'cuz if the glaciers aren't out for her cruise we have a whole lot worse problems than a credit card charge back.
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