15 January 2010

43rd AGA: The 2010 Interline Celebration
Registrations have begun and preparations are well in hand for WACA's 2010 Interline Celebration to be held in Recife, Brazil, from 17-22 October. Regular updates will be sent to interliners in future All Clubs Messages.
Pre- and Post-AGA Tours
Brochures for the pre-AGA tour to Salvador da Bahia and for the post-AGA tours to Natal and Manaus/Amazon have been prepared. A brochure for the the pre-AGA tour to Rio de Janeiro/Iguaçú Falls is in preparation and will be available soon. The number of participants for each tour is limited due to the flights that have to be taken so selection of participants will be on a first come, first served basis.
Details can be found in the Event Calendar section of the WACA Web site: /events.

Events Calendar
New Listing
The "Winter Holy Land Tour" is now a memory so the Israel Interline Club now invites interliners to see "Spring in Israel" from 10-15 June and will include visits to ancient, historic and fascinating sites in the Holy Land.
Update
The e-mail contact address on the event poster for the Las Vegas Get Away was incorrect. The correct e-mail address is: sandiegogirl@windstream.ne. Due to the error, the San Diego Interline Club has extended the registration deadline to 31 January. The individual's fax number indicated in the event poster has also changed to +1 760-268-0590. The Club is looking into more post-package options.
Specific information is now available about the Myanmar Excursion from 14-19 March, the Thailand Excursion from 19-27 March and the China Capitals Tour from 27 March-1 April all being hosted by the Airline Club of Thailand.
Three exciting packages are being offered to visit China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in the Discovery China 2010 - The Silk Road tour between 14 May and 3 June.
Details on the above events can be found in the Event Calendar section of the WACA Web site: /events.

January Newsletter
V.P. International Events and Special Projects, Elaine Miller, sends the following message for January.
Although we are now in the middle of January, it is not too late to wish everyone a Very Happy New Year 2010!  As we look towards a new year and enter a new decade, we are filled with optimism for what the next year will bring.
Looking at the WACA Calendar of Events provides us with a sense of adventure with all the interesting packages being offered by our clubs. We encourage everyone to check these out when planning your holidays and short getaways. Our fellow interliners around the world are always welcoming and I know they will provide their special brand of hospitality wherever you decide to visit.
Coming up quickly will be the WACA five Regional Meetings, starting with the Far East and Australasia Region March from 12-14 in Bangkok. Next is the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Meeting in Nassau in April. Africa, Indian Ocean Islands and Middle East Regional Meeting will also be in April from 9-11 in the Seychelles, and April 15-18 is the European Regional Meeting in Brighton, United Kingdom.  Last, but not least, is the North American Regional Meeting from May 7-9 in New Orleans, United States. Remember, all members are invited to attend any of these meetings and we encourage anyone who has the time to attend and participate in supporting your WACA. In addition, your Executive Committee will hold their bi-annual meeting from March 18-21 in Amman, Jordan. More information can found in the Event Calendar section of the WACA Web site: /events.
This year’s Annual General Assembly, to be held in Recife, Brazil, in October will be an election year. It is important that each Member Club and Region be prepared for this important event and nominate energetic and capable people to take over the running of your Association. There will be several openings this year and now is the time to be thinking about who you would like to represent you. In order for a democratically run organisation to progress, it is necessary for members to take part and help carry the load.
As we begin this year, I am again requesting your assistance in coming up with prizes for the Grand Venture Bonanza. To those who have already provided prizes, I thank you for helping us promote the selling of tickets. Remember, you can sell these Bonanza tickets at all your events. The tickets are available from our Headquarters Manager. Please advise myself or Keith at Headquarters if you can help with donations.
We are all saddened by the terrible news we are learning about the earthquake in Haiti. As I write this newsletter, I am wondering how we, as an organisation, can help. I know each of you will have an idea and maybe we can do something collectively to help those who have been displaced and left with nothing in one of the poorest places in the world. One idea would be through the WACA Relief Fund and the Red Cross. I know I will give locally to this organisation. One feels helpless at times like these, but imagine how hopeless the people of Haiti must feel. The world needs to help these people rebuild their nation and restore their dignity.
I started this letter on a note of optimism and I will close with the same thoughts for the coming year. May you all be blessed with good health and happiness.

Obituary
It is with regret that I announce the passing of Malcolm (Mick) Geraghty on 3 January advises WACA Past President, David Larkin. Mick met Diane Corrie at the WACA AGA in Nice in 1974 and they were possibly the first WACA interliners to marry. They belonged to the London and Vancouver Interline Clubs and Diane is a Past President of the Vancouver Interline Club and was also the WACA Vice President, North America, from 1976-78. Malcolm's funeral will be on 21 January. He is survived by Diane and their son, Lincoln. Messages of condolence can be sent to Diane at: dgandmbgeraghty@hotmail.co.uk.

Yours in interlining,

Keith Miller
Manager, WACA Headquarters
World Airlines Clubs Association
Tel.: +1 514-874-0202 (ext. 3243)
Fax: +1 514-874-1753
info@waca.org
www.waca.org