OUR 33RD WEEKLY UPDATE REGARDING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND SOME RELAXING ENTERTAINMENT FOR YOU TO ENJOY
FRIDAY, October 23
FROM CHRIS KRARAS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
“LIFE IS SHORT AND THE WORLD IS WIDE,
THE SOONER YOU START EXPLORING IT,
THE BETTER!”
Dear Friends:
So, I start this week’s message to you by emphasizing the quote that I cited above. In fact, I think all of us in this incredible experience that we have called a Pandemic have had the opportunity to step back and realize that, in fact, “Life is short”, and it is also extremely precious. I think what else has been obviously made very apparent to all of us is to learn to enjoy life to its fullest. Thus, the second part of the quote above, “The sooner you start exploring it, the better!” So, during these very trying and troubling times, I think it is really important to focus on the message, such as the one that I quoted above and then to share it with all your Group Members. As I mention to you every week, it is important that you as Group Leaders keep the spirits of your Group Members going in a positive direction, and that you continue to emphasize that there are definitely better times ahead and that everyone should focus on those better times. What better way to concentrate on the wonderful things that we can enjoy in the future, than to get them thinking about traveling all together to so many of the wonderful places in our country?
We also should now probably take a realistic look at the news that we have been getting over the last couple weeks relative to Covid-19. Yes, it does appear that the numbers are not currently moving in a favorable direction. But, as so many people have been explaining to us, from medical experts to the CDC and to all the News Media, these trends are sort of to be expected at this time of the year. We can look at this as either being very concerning and depressing, or we can look at it in a way that focuses on the fact that there are solutions on the horizon in the very near future. As we have mentioned so many times, in spite of the incredible surges of positive testing, the rate of people becoming extremely ill from Covid-19 and ultimately succumbing to it has gone down. Remember that all experts are pointing to the fact that several vaccines are already in Phase 3 of the testing, and at least two of them should be beginning to produce the vaccines within the next month. So, even though the numbers look a bit concerning to many of your wonderful Group Members, I believe it is implicitly important to all of us as Leaders to emphasize that we are, in fact, heading in the right direction to get this disease behind us.
Getting back to the world of travel for a moment, I have been reading a lot of articles in many highly-respected newspapers and magazines around the country and the theme seems to be one that indicates people are feeling increasingly more confident in beginning to travel again, and are showing a tremendous degree of confidence in the safety of motorcoach, airline, and cruising opportunities. One of the leading Organizations in the world of travel, MMGY Global, has indicated strongly that people across our country are just waiting patiently to start getting on the road again. That same Organization conducted a survey that found that at least 55% of all respondents to their inquiries said they are most likely to take a domestic leisure trip in the next six months. That should be extremely encouraging to you, as it is to all of us here at White Star Tours. Of course, there is a lot involved there such as the fact that the vaccines should become a reality and that the organizations that are producing the vaccine will be able to distribute it as quickly as possible. But, the feeling is that should not be an issue and that we should all be able to safely be on the road again somewhere within the first three or four months of 2021.
So, once again, with that in mind and knowing that somewhere in the next few months you and your Group will be able to get out on the road again, we are hoping that you took time to look over the Booklet of Special Discounted Rates that we sent to you recently. We also want you to know that our White Star Tours Staff is exceedingly appreciative of all you Group Leaders who are taking the time to speak with our Staff, as they continue to call each and every Group Leader that deals with our company throughout the United States. It is extremely important that you continue to give us this time so that we can help you get your program in shape for when the freedom comes for all of us to travel again in 2021. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being so attentive to our White Star Staff when they call you, and thank you so much for all the tentative reservations that you have already put in place with us. As I mentioned many times, you are under no obligation at all, but we all will be ready when the green flag comes out and you can get your people on the road once again.
Before closing, I have a couple tidbits of entertainment for you to enjoy. The first one comes from the First Presbyterian Church in Granville, Ohio which had been planning to take its summer/spring tour throughout the United States as they do every year. But, obviously, it was canceled due to the Pandemic. So, instead, they got together and created this beautiful rendition of “I Believe” that I know you will enjoy. Click here to enjoy a few minutes of inspirational singing. It is more than a coincidence that this group is known as the “Angel Choir”.
The next piece that I would like to offer you for your entertainment this week is actually a series of shows and snippits from Broadway in New York. As you may know, all Broadway Shows have been canceled until the end of May, 2021. But, you can sit back now and watch a series of very entertaining Broadway Highlights from “Great Expectations”, to Tony Award Winning Broadway Plays, to the Musical, “Sistas”, and to a “Cirque du Soleil” Special. So, feel free to enjoy some or all of these wonderful entertaining opportunities by clicking on the titles. (Please remember, there are several advertisements that appear periodically during the presentations that are, of course, not associated with our company. You can just wait them out and continue watching each production.) Enjoy!
SO, ONCE AGAIN, I BID YOU A WONDERFUL AND A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND WITH YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILIES. I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PRAY, ALONG WITH ALL OF US HERE AT WHITE STAR, FOR A QUICK AND COMPLETE CURE TO THE TERRIBLE PANDEMIC THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN EXPERIENCING. IT IS NOT THAT FAR OFF AND MAYBE WITH ALL OF US ADDING OUR PRAYERS INTO IT, IT CAN EVEN HAPPEN A LITTLE QUICKER. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COURTESIES AND FRIENDSHIPS. GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILIES!
“TRAVELING – IT LEAVES YOU SPEECHLESS,
THEN TURNS YOU INTO A STORYTELLER!”