A Special Section Highlighting Senior Lifestyles November 22, 2012
This monthʼs focus: Traveling
Area recreation department offers great travel opportunities BY EMILY HEDGES – CONTRIBUTING WRITER Seniors John and Karen Eggert will tell you that traveling with the Spring Lake Park Recreation Department is one of the best deals around. Given the value, they were surprised to learn that part of the proceeds go to benefit youth and adult recreation programs in the community, a fact that makes them feel even better about getting out of town. “The trips are so economical for what you get to do. If they are also raising money for kids programs, that’s wonderful. Both of us have tried to support our local community, and there are so many in need these days,” said Karen. When the City of Spring Lake Park faced budget shortages, city staff realized that recreation programs would probably be the first thing to go. “We’d been doing one-day trips, but some of the seniors began to request more extended trips. At the same time, our staff was trying to come up with some new ways to bring in dollars,” said Marian Rygwall, director of parks and recreation for the City of Spring Lake Park. Rygwall and her staff realized they had knowledgeable people who could plan and lead some extended trips for competitive costs and raise enough to help keep taxes down. “Our playground program, skating rink for the kids in winter, these are the sort of programs being covered by fees from our travel program,” said Rygwall. The department offers three to four extended trips a year to appeal to differ-
Seniors from Spring Lake Park travelled to the Pacific Northwest for 16 days. Here, John and Karen Eggert pose by a sign near Mount St. Helens in Oregon. ent tastes. Travel insurance is always included, so seniors put down a deposit knowing they can always receive a full refund if necessary. “Our goal is education, socialization and enhancement of life experiences, all at the pace each individual wants,” said Rygwall. “Some of the trips are for active seniors and some are more relaxed. They always stay in nice properties that cater to their needs. We program for the comfort of our seniors.”
The trips are multi-generational, with many seniors bringing along their children and grandchildren. However, for singles a group like this can offer the perfect option when traveling alone. “Seniors feel comfortable traveling with a local group. When they lose a spouse, or they don’t wish to go alone, they feel comfortable going with us. Neighbors come together and develop travel groups. It eases them into the
travel experience,” said Rygwall. The Eggerts have gone on three extended trips with the Spring Lake Park senior group. “We saw this program when we retired,” said Karen. “We had always wanted to go to Graceland, so we signed up for the Memphis trip. We loved it so much we went to New Orleans.” DEPARTMENT: TO PAGE 4
2 Mature Lifestyles – Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012
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Mary Wanderers travel extensively BY EMILY HEDGES CONTRIBUTING WRITER Mary Odell may have the best job in the world. In fact, she says if she ever retires, the City of Golden Valley should auction it off. “I enjoy my job. I’ve met some truly wonderful people,” she said. Odell serves as the escort for Golden Valley’s popular travel program. If you ask Jeanne Fackler, senior citizens coordinator with the City of Golden Valley, she’ll tell you that Mary is one important reason for the program’s success. In fact, she is such an integral part, the program has taken on the name Mary Wanderers. For more than 20 years, the Crystal resident has led excursions all over the country. “Mary is the perfect escort. She has a positive attitude, pays attention to details, can ‘go with the flow’ if there is a glitch, and has a great laugh,” said Fackler. “Our participants, some of whom have traveled with her for 20 years, have shared her joys and sorrows. Plus, when a trip ends with chocolate, it has to be good, right?” Mary and Jeanne plan trips with the help of Alice Norman from Medicine Lake Tours. Mary says that ideas come from her and Jeanne, along with suggestions from their seniors. She finds the most popular experiences include boat and train rides, home tours, and anything involving music. Some of her recent favorites have been a train trip to Chicago; Mackinac Island; a boat ride up the Mississippi River; Bayfield, Wisconsin; Washington D.C.; and Nashville. “Every trip I take is one of my favorites,” she said. “This has been a very good year. I especially love holiday trips. They really get people in the mood,” she said. Barb Bailey, longtime recreation director for Golden Valley, began the
The “Mary Wanderers” during a recent trip to Illinois. Photo provided by Golden Valley Seniors Program. travel program more than two decades ago that has grown in popularity each year. “Our trips are very popular with Golden Valley seniors, but we get a lot of people from the other suburbs,” said Odell. “We have a wonderful following. It keeps growing and we have new people all the time.” Mary believes meticulous planning is one of the reasons seniors keep coming back to the program. And she agrees Odell with Jeanne that chocolate doesn’t hurt. “I always have special treats, and I like to stay positive. Things are well planned, and people like that. It’s the
people that really make it for me,” she said. Odell wasn’t always a traveler. In fact, she didn’t fly in an airplane until she was 40 years old. She and her husband took their three children on small vacations. Now, when she isn’t on the go, she is probably spending time with her three grandchildren, who she says makes her heart smile. She especially loves to take them to Gopher football games. She is a season-ticket holder, although she will admit, she goes mainly to hear the band. Mary may also be found leading a crafting group at the Senior Center. Volunteers hand-make a variety of
paper crafts for local groups, such as the Good Samaritan Home, Golden Valley Rehab, and the Dinner at your Door program. “I just like doing things. I have a very good time, and I just love this job,” said Mary. Golden Valley Senior Center will host a travel show at the Senior Center located at 200 Brookview Parkway in Golden Valley on Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. Seniors are invited to come hear about upcoming travel opportunities over coffee, pie and ice cream. There is a small fee to attend. The group also hosts a travel show at the Hopkins Senior Center the end of March. For more information, call (763) 512-2339 or go to www.goldenvalleymn.gov.
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Senior center offers ‘armchair’ travel opportunities BY EMILY HEDGES CONTRIBUTING WRITER Chanhassen seniors are able to experience the history of the Holy Land, man a remote Icelandic weather station, sail the fjords of Norway, and take many more memorable journeys without ever leaving their own neighborhood, thanks to travel programming offered by the Chanhassen Senior Center. “Our Passport to the World program is kind of like armchair traveler series,” said Sue Bill, Senior Center coordinator for the City of Chanhassen. The popular lunchtime series features a different country and culture four times a year. A person who has traveled to or lived in the featured country leads each talk. Attendees receive passports and a sticker identifying each presentation they attend. Food and drink
Susan Baker shares her experiences about her trip to Morocco during Chanhassen Senior Center’s Passport Lunch Program. Photo by Chanhassen Senior Center.
native to that land complete the experience.
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“Four or five years ago, when fuel costs began to rise, I found
people were traveling less and less because of the expense,” she said. “Why not offer the chance to sit down in comfort and experience sights and sounds of various countries?” According to Bill, the community has embraced the series. Each presentation fills up quickly, drawing between 40 and 50 seniors. “People love hearing the experiences of other travelers. The programs are such a success,” said Bill. “Topics will change as presenters become available.” Chanhassen resident Fran Sheffel serves on the Senior Advisory Board. When her husband was alive, the couple loved to travel, visiting every U.S. state except Hawaii, and all of the Canadian Provinces. “It gives you the opportunity to see first hand a lot of countries that TRAVEL: TO NEXT PAGE
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Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012– Mature Lifestyles 5
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE you may have an interest in. You’re hearing from people who have been there,” said Sheffel. “It’s wonderful for a lot of people who can’t travel anymore.” Fellow Advisory Board member Marlyn Mauritz also tries to attend as many travel series presentations as possible. “It’s wonderful seeing people experience places they can no longer travel to,” said Mauritz. “We usually have a waiting list. Those programs go so quickly.” Mauritz credits Bill, the city staff and community of Chanhassen for the success of this and many other programs at the center. “We have quality help from the community. Sue does an excellent job. The community and the city are so supportive,” said Mauritz. The Senior Center added another opportunity for armchair travel through Lifelong
Learning presentations offered through Augsburg College, College of the Third Age. Retired professors from the Twin Cities come and give presentations approximately oneand-a-half hours in length on topics selected by Bill from a list of more than 75 options. The next presentation in this series is called Jerusalem: The City of God. Taking place on Dec. 4 at 10 a.m., attendees will learn about the city that is viewed by Jews, Christians and Muslims to be the City of God. The lecture will give an overview of the ancient and modern day history of Jerusalem, including pictures and stories from recent travels to Jerusalem. Reservation deadline is Nov. 27. The program fee is $3. The Chanhassen Senior Center is located in the lower level of City Hall at 7700 Market Boulevard. Residents from surrounding communities are welcome. For more information, call 952-227-1124 or go to www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us.
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MATURE Tips for using a travel agent A Special Section on Active Adults
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With money tight these days, it’s imperative that when looking to take a much-needed vacation, consumers avail themselves of the services of a professional travel agent who is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents. “Being a travel agent is more than just selling travel. It takes training, attention to detail and expertise to keep clients happy and coming back,” ASTA President and Chair Chris Russo said. “Travel agents are there for their clients before, during and after the trip and when the unexpected happens. We provide value, expertise, convenience and personal service to our customers and understand that travel planning isn’t just about places, it’s about people. “There is no doubt that today’s travelers have more options than ever before, from destinations, packages and pricing to booking methods and itineraries. But the most important decision a traveler can make is selecting the right travel agent, such as a professional travel agent who is a member of ASTA,” added Russo. Here are just a few reasons to use a professional travel agent:
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* Customer advocacy: If you have a problem with a particular part of your travel experience, the agent is there to act on your behalf to see that restitution is made. ASTA, for example, is the only travel industry association aggressively fighting to improve the travel experience, and air transportation in particular, for all consumers, not just those with access to the Internet. * Expert guidance: Travel agents, unlike instructions on a Web page, are experts in understanding and deciphering the myriad travel information and codes out there. It’s what they’ve been trained to do and they do it every day. * Personalized service: Instead of an impersonal voice thousands of miles away, travel agents are your neighbors. They know what you want and what you value in your travel experience. * Professional advice: Travel agents are there to make sure you get where you want to go, when you want to go and for the lowest price. * Time: Instead of checking a long list of travel Web pages, which only provide rates and fares for the companies that have contracted with them, why not go straight to the source? A travel agent has all the information at their fingertips, saving you a few hours in front of a computer screen. * Unbiased information: Agents work for their clients, not for a travel supplier. It makes sense that a happy customer will be a repeat customer. Every travel agency is different and accordingly, some are better suited to a given consumer than others. Here are some tips provided by ASTA on choosing a travel agent who is right for you: * Go with the Pros: Look for the ASTA label. Through its continuing education
and training programs, ASTA prepares its members to operate high-caliber, competitive businesses. * Ask Around: Tap friends, neighbors and relatives who use an agent they trust. You may want to visit or call several agencies to find the one that best suits your needs. Consider everything from the appearance of the office to the agent’s willingness to listen and answer questions. The best agents want to establish a long-term relationship with a client, not just make one sale. * Ask about Fees: Good agents will notify their clients of any additional fees, including service fees, up front. Doing otherwise is pointless, as the fee will appear as a separate charge on the client’s credit card bill. * Check Credentials: Many agents have been trained in business management, travel and tourism or geography. Others have supplemented their agency experience with extensive education and training courses. Some travel agents are Certified Travel Counselors (CTC) through the Travel Institute or Master Cruise Counselors (MCC) through the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). * Find out an Agency’s Track Record: Visit ASTA.org to see whether a member agency has had a complaint against it in the prior six months. Check with the local Better Business Bureau, while keeping in mind they will only have records of agencies that have had reports filed against them. Find a professional travel consultant who can help make your cruise vacation an unforgettable experience at TravelSense.org’s ‘Find a Travel Agent’ search directory, or request a free trip quote online.
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