OUR 43RD WEEKLY UPDATE REGARDING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, ALONG WITH ENCOURAGING NEWS REGARDING THE VACCINE AND NUMBER OF POSITIVE TESTS, A PROFILE OF ANOTHER ONE OF OUR WHITE STAR STAFF MEMBERS, AND SOME VERY ENJOYABLE ENTERTAINMENT FOR YOU
FRIDAY, January 22
FROM CHRIS KRARAS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
“TRAVEL AND CHANGE OF PLACE IMPART
NEW VIGOR TO THE MIND!”
Dear Friends:
Well, this past week was certainly one of much excitement, anticipation, and hope as we watched the Inauguration of a new President – Joseph Biden. I am sure that we were all relieved by the fact that there was no turmoil or uprising in our Nation’s Capital, and that the entire day and all the events associated with the Inauguration came off peacefully. We are all aware that there has been much strife over the last year caused by many different reasons. However, as we enter this New Year and this new Presidential Term, irregardless of any of our political affiliations, we must all join hands and pray for the success of the Administration. Even more importantly, we must all strive to find kind spirits and wonderful hearts in ALL people of the United States, so that we can continue to be the most beautiful and most admired country in the world. That spirit of unity could not have been summed up better than by a young lady by the name of Amanda Gorman, who participated in the Inauguration Ceremonies. I hope you got a chance to witness her presentation, because it was certainly moving. Amanda wrote this poem and delivered it impeccably. The name of her poem that she recited is “The Hill We Climb”. In case you did not have the chance to see it, you can view this beautiful delivery by clicking here.
Regarding the Coronavirus and this terrible pandemic that we have been living with now for almost a year, there is some very bright news on the horizon. First and foremost, the rising number of positive tests has begun to subside ever so slightly. Yesterday’s New York Times pointed out that the number of Coronavirus infections over the last two weeks has actually dropped by 11%. That is so exciting and encouraging and hopefully the trend will continue. Even more important is the fact that vaccines are now being distributed at a much faster pace, as state after state have begun to perfect the method of distribution. Last week, I mentioned that my wife and I were able to get the vaccine almost two weeks ago. This week, I am happy to announce that almost every single one of our White Star Staff Members have either gotten the vaccine or are scheduled to get the vaccine over the next two weeks. I know that many of you who are reading this email have gotten the vaccine as well. If you haven’t, I hope you will make every attempt to contact your hospitals, your doctors, and your pharmacies to try to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Last week I shared with you a video explaining why the vaccine is so important to all of us over sixty-five years of age, and that the negative effects are very minimal. I wish all of you the best of luck in getting this protection so that you, and all of us, can return to life as we knew it before this terrible virus struck us.
We are also encouraged over this past week or two by the dramatic increase in the number of calls coming in to our office for reservations for Groups, just like yours. It appears that there is new-found hope out there from a lot of your Group Members that realize that it won’t be too long before everyone is immunized and can begin enjoying the world of travel like they have in past years. We encourage you to call if you have not scheduled all your trips for 2021 and get them in place so we can have them all ready to go for you as soon as everybody gets the official “green light”, which we expect before the end of this first quarter of the year. Also, remember that the SPECIAL BONUS OFFER that we have been making available to you is extended to the end of February. Just as a reminder, if you book a new trip from now until the end of February, you will receive an ADDITONAL $300 REBATE paid directly to you, the Group Leader, for all your hard work. Again, I want to emphasize that there is no obligation and no deposit necessary. All you need to do is book a new trip of three or more nights, run the trip, and the bonus will be yours.
As a refresher, and as a way to stimulate some of your thinking as a Group Leader, this week I have decided to send you a video to give you some ideas for travel for the Year 2021. When this video was produced in October of last year, we sent it to all of our Group Leaders to view and to get started on your 2021 travel planning. The important aspects of this video are still valid today, as the video will give you ideas for travel, it will discuss our 50th Anniversary, and it will outline, in more detail, the ways we are handling the Coronavirus with Group Travel. Please note that a few times during the video, it is mentioned that our Staff will be reaching out to you to discuss 2021 Tours. From the time this video was produced last October, our Staff has done just that over the last few months – they have attempted to contact each and every one of you to discuss your 2021 travel plans. However, there may be some of you that we were unable to contact. If you have a trip in mind now that our Staff has not discussed with you, or if the video gives you ideas for new trips you would like to try, please contact our office right away so we can get the dates reserved for you and you can take advantage of that wonderful REBATE BONUS OFFER. To view the video, please click here.
This Week’s Staff Profile
Chris Himmelberger
Now it is time for our featured White Star Tours Staff Member. This week’s Staff Member is Chris Himmelberger. Chris is a wonderful young man who joined our Staff almost four years ago now and is actually one of the youngest people in our office. Chris has mastered the business of connecting clients to their individualized ideas of relaxation and fun through travel. He focuses on trips to beautiful Michigan’s Mackinac Island, Upper Peninsula and Franken-muth area, and also specializes in travel to the scenic northeast states of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Chris also has become an expert on the Big Apple of New York City, and once they open their city to Groups again, he will be putting together tours to this wonderful city. Chris has a very pleasing personality and we are so thrilled to have him part of our White Star Staff. Thanks for all you do, Chris!
Now it’s time for a little entertainment and humor. This week we are sharing with you a video of a funny comedian by the name of John Pinette. He visited the very popular program The View, and I am sure you will enjoy his brand of humor. Watch his performance by clicking here.
I thought you would also enjoy a heartwarming and spectacular presentation by an unbelievably talented violinist who appeared in one of the shows featuring great talents from around the world. I know you will find this extremely entertaining and also inspiring. Watch this incredible violinist by clicking here.
That is about it for this week. Again, I hope you are all getting through these winter months and staying nice and warm and, most importantly, safe. We pray that you can all get your vaccines, if you choose to take them, in the very near future so that you can feel liberated to the point where we can get you and all your Group Members traveling real soon. Have a wonderful week and God Bless You All!
“THE WHOLE OBJECT OF TRAVEL IS NOT TO SET FOOT ON FOREIGN LAND; IT IS AT LAST TO SET FOOT ON ONE’S OWN COUNTRY AS A FOREIGN LAND!”