On the Write Side
NUMBER CRUNCHING
Meet the Contributors to This Issue see page 10 edith wagner
emily k.
Founder and editor of Reunions magazine, Edith is the editor in chief of Premier Tourism Marketing’s Reunions Workbook, the leading guide for reunion planners. Read Edith’s page 10 column on ways to find and increase reunion group business.
A communications major at Lake Forest College in north suburban Chicago, our editorial intern recently studied abroad in New Zealand and the Netherlands, feeding her passion for travel and learning about other cultures. Emily has been a member of her college cross country team and spent summers working at a YMCA camp in Wisconsin. Enjoy her “Minnesota Theater Sampler” on page 44.
marty
8 sarbey de souto see page
44
weber
dave
see page
26
A sought after speaker and seminar facilitator, Dave operates David’s Tour Connections, a receptive tour operator that serves Myrtle Beach, the Carolinas and Virginia and offers outgoing tours as well. A former publisher of travel trade publications, he heads up our Southern editorial coverage. Enjoy Dave’s features on pages 26 and 29 and his marketing column on page 66.
randy
sue
see page
15
mink
alyssa
see page
54
arko
see page
24
cherwak
Alyssa, an editorial intern, is a senior majoring in English at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she is a writer for the Chicago Flame newspaper. Her interests include fishing, trying new foods and traveling. She has traveled to many U.S. cities, but her most memorable trip was to Guatemala. Enjoy Alyssa’s New York State gardens article on page 24.
Thinking of Elana Andersen Elana Andersen has been a stable force on Leisure Group Travel’s editorial team since 2002. Her knowledge of the Western group travel market is unrivaled, and we’re proud that she’s written more stories for the publication than any other writer. Early this year after a night out with friends, Elana suffered a stroke. She’s currently home in Scotts Valley, Calif., rehabbing and spending time with family and friends. We wish her a speedy recovery and our thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family in this recovery period. Elana can be reached directly at elana@got.net.
20,000 Amish living in Northern Indiana
13.4 Length of Manhattan Island in miles
bodle
Our long-time columnist is the author of the e-book How to Plan, Operate and Lead Successful Group Tours. A native of Cleveland, she lives in El Cerrito, Calif., with her husband, Jose Souto-Martinez of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her hobbies are dancing, gardening, reading, writing and traveling. Enjoy Marty’s column on page 8.
Leisure Group’s Travel managing editor is happiest when he’s touring New York City, which he visited last Christmas. Randy also enjoyed his next out-of-theoffice escape, a Pennsylvania trip that included Hershey, Chocolatetown USA. See his articles on pages 15, 19, 20 and 42.
6 April 2011
see page
A resident of Gilbert, Ariz., Sue is owner of Free Spirit Vacations and Events and co-owner of Red Hot Celebrations and Travel Alliance Partners. She also is an active member of the National Tour Association. The highlight of her life is when she is able to travel with her 16-year-old daughter, Jacey. Enjoy Sue’s “California Show Gardens” feature on page 54.
heather
see page
59
1861 The year Kansas entered the Union as the 34th state
90 Minutes between Hershey and Washington, DC
1,200 Varieties of roses at Huntington Botanical Gardens
lee
A senior at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., our editorial intern is majoring in English and history. Last fall she attended Oxford University in England, where she pursued her interest in soccer with the Oxford University Women’s Association Football Club. Enjoy Heather’s Wyoming ranch feature on page 59.
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272 Words in Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
620,000 Men who died in the Civil War
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