Happy 75th Anniversary, SKAL International! Our international organization was founded, April 28, 1934 in Paris. Today, SKAL International clubs are in 90 countries and we have over 20,000 members worldwide.

Our good friends & gracious hosts for our April Installation of Officers at the Hilton West Palm Beach Airport, were Fred Ghadimi, the Hilton's Vice President & General Manager of Hotel Operations and, Tom Miller, the Hilton's Director of Sales. Fred, Tom and their entire staff rolled out the red carpet for those of us in attendance! The evening began with a cocktail hour filled with a delectable selection of hors d'ourves, followed by a delicious Surf & Turf Duet dinner. As always, Fred and Tom made this evening even more special with their special knack of making each of us feel so special. A big thank you from each and every member and guest attending!

A huge thank you to Wayne Lampert for serving as our President during the last two years'! Wayne, you have represented us well and we all look forward to continuing to work closely with you.

We must also thank Mok Singh, our ISC Councillor, who installed our new officers and board of directors.

This special evening also included the presentation of two new members! This brings our current membership to 47 members. Guests included Past President, Charlie Beiser and Nancy Beiser and NEW transfer member: Sharon Malone / Mai-Kai (Ft. Lauderdale). Guests included potential new members: Charlotte Tom / Princess Cruises/ & Cunard Line, Todd Stevenson / Holland-America Line, Marie Periu / Cruise Connection, Maria Ciaramitaro / Cruise Connection, Frank di Maria / Cruise Connection, Alex Gannon / RCI and Rick Gannon, Steve Crist / W. Palm CVB, and Gloria Price Mills. Miami SKAL Member: Al Walleser and Anne Walleser. Other guests included: Giuseppe Favoloro, Michael Kerry, Sydell & Marvin Davis, Mike & J.P. Hartfield, Marilyn Falkow, David Herman, Marianne Cassidy, Lucia Ganoza, and Marina Garcev.

The Opening Toast was presented by Mok Singh and the Closing Toast was presented by Teresa Nix.

SKAL Holiday Cruise plans are well underway. We're sailing on a 3-night cruise onboard the NEW Ruby Princess, Thursday, December 17. Reminder: Availability is limited!! … Members and guests are already making plans (many have already made their reservations) to attend, so why don't you plan to join us?

YOUR Board of Directors' seek to make SKAL / Ft. Lauderdale & Palm Beaches an organization where each of YOU can help to make us stronger! We will be making announcements during the next two months and asking your assistance with planning / implementing and participating in upcoming activities which will help us to have more camaraderie and interaction. … PLEASE, feel free to share with us any suggestions which you may have for activities / fundraisers / guest speakers! Contact me at tnix@princesscruises.com, Beth Cohen at CohenKnott@us.costa.it, or Dick Stafford at rwstaff@bellsouth.net, with YOUR suggestions! … WE DO NEED YOUR HELP!!

Upcoming SKAL Meetings: Dick Stafford, our SIUSA Representative and Wayne Lampert, Past President will be attending the upcoming NAASC Conference in Anchorage in May. November features Budapest who is hosting our SKAL International Annual Conference. All members are encouraged to attend these meetings as they are a terrific way to make new friends, … create new business contacts, … and learn more about SKAL!

The 32nd Annual SKAL International Region IV Congress & Golf Tournament is being hosted by Tampa Bay and is scheduled for the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, Clearwater, Florida, August 28-30, 2009. Should you wish more information, contact: Carlos Banks or check web-site: www.skal-ftlauderdale-palmbeaches.org.

Thank you for electing me your President in 2009! I value the trust which you have given me and look forward to working with each of YOU, … YOUR Board of Directors and fellow Skalleagues everywhere. Working together, we can continue to make Skal / Ft. Lauderdale & Palm Beaches the strong organization upon which SKAL International was founded.

Now, let's "jump start" a fantastic year! … I challenge each of you to bring ONE NEW MEMBER before December 1!! We all know someone of management level in Travel / Tourism / Hospitality who is not currently a SKAL member. Invite them to come to a meeting TODAY!

Don't forget to check our website www.skal-ftlauderdale-palmbeaches.org to get more information on our club, … the upcoming "CALL TO MEETING", … and also take time view our April Installation photos!

Beth Cohen will be conducting our May meeting as I will be at the Princess Cruises / Cunard Line National Sales Meeting in Los Angeles. Plan now to attend the May meeting, and plan to volunteer your assistance when asked!

SKAL!

Teresa Nix, President
SKAL Ft. Lauderdale & Palm Beaches

2009 FUTURE MEETINGS