 Spring - 2007 As we said in the previous newsletter, "Time slips by very quickly", and even faster "when you're having fun!" We'll do our best to bring you up to date on all the activities since early 2006. With the sounds of the West Hills Chancel Choir concerts in the Weiskirche and the Pfarrkirche" in Mondsee, still ringing in our ears, the next significant event was a small group of parishioners, along with their parish priest, from Ss. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Binghamton, New York. Because ALC is intimately familiar with Italy, this time it wasn't necessary to do our usual "prevue", confirming, restaurants, and transportation well in advance. We were certain everyone would be ready and waiting to welcome us. Starting with the boat trip from the airport across the lagoon in Venice to the "rainy" farewell dinner on a small piazza in Rome, the group was saturated with art and church history. Two of the highlights were not to frequently visited mosaics in Ravenna and a private tour of the friars monastic quarters in Assisi. Needless to say, the highlight of the trip was the outdoor audience with Pope Benedict VI. The intervening period has also shown the continued success of ALC's "Personal Planning" of Adventures for anyone who wishes to seek out new and interesting places. Whether it was to England, France, Italy, or Spain, the following comments are always representative: ". . had a great time", "loved the hotel", and "your planning was wonderful and easy to follow." Even though preparing these itineraries is a time consuming endeavor, we feel committed to the niche for such services: a choice between the big guided tours and "going it alone". Clients frequently say they'll "be back next year" as soon as they decide on their destination. Just this past week we added a wonderful villa in Ravello, Casa Donica, to our ever-growing list of places you always want to come back to. Our continued focus over the past year has been to make area schools, both public and private, aware of our presence as a resource in planning and executing their group vacation trips, individual language study abroad, and even "year abroad" programs. While doing so is a continuing process, we have been retained to do the travel arrangements for a group going to Japan this July as part of a sister city relationship between Bath, Maine and Tsugaru, Japan. Planning is always exciting, but it's particularly rewarding to anticipate the "makeover" which will occur when such a group returns from being in another culture for any period of time. In an effort to promote understanding between various parts of the world, ALC is beginning a planning process to provide the opportunity for dialog between different cultures and religious denominations at a time in the not too distant future. We are also anticipating beginning to provide "volunteer" opportunities on an international basis. Stay tuned for developments. We do promise to keep you more informed on a regular basis so check back with us as the seasons change. Our next issue will be out in September. Until then have a wonderful summer, Sommer, verano, estate, été . . wherever you are. "We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?...Your playing small doesn't serve the world."
See you very soon! |
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