December 2022 / January 2023 Issue

A Message from your President - Richard Scinta

Dear Skålleagues,

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are getting ready for another memorable holiday season!! It’s incredible how quickly a year goes by, as this is my last newsletter as Skål USA President. It’s been a fun year, but what’s been the most rewarding is the teamwork, camaraderie and, most importantly, friendship from all of our USA Skålleagues. We’ve done so much together this year, but most importantly, we discussed and voted for change moving forward with Skål International! I’m so proud of the leadership in our clubs for participating and asking the right questions to better understand the new structure that was being proposed. Then, when we needed you most, you came through and voted.  90% of success in life is showing up, and boy did we ever! The Skål USA Team led the way, and the new Bylaws and Statutes were approved and passed because of you.  

Many of us attended the World Congress in Croatia, and it was a great experience! The Croatian people were extremely hospitable and were so happy to have us there. In addition, the Skal spirit was alive and well, and I have a new appreciation for how small the world is. We have differences from time to time, but those differences are certainly dwarfed by the things we have in common and our friendship through Skål.

It’s been an honor serving as Skål USA President this year, and I’m more than encouraged by the Skålleagues who have stepped up to serve on the Skål USA Executive Committee next year and into the future. From a leadership standpoint, we are in a solid position, and I thank all of you who have come forward to lead. We will continue to need strong members to step up and become involved.  In closing I must say, making friends with the leadership of this great organization has been my biggest reward in being Skal USA president.  

Have a great holiday season, and I promise to see you all soon.

Skål!

Richard

We are pleased to announce the results of the recent elections. Please welcome your new 2023 Skål USA Executive Committee:

President

Alton Hagen, Skål Kansas City

Vice President Administration

Karen Trevino, Skål Arkansas

International Skål Councilor

Holly Powers, Skål Boston

Vice President Finance

Arthur Allis, Skål Tucson

Vice President PR & Communication John Stine, Skål Orlando

Skål USA Auditor

Barry Biggar, Skål Washington, D.C.

You may have noticed that one position is missing. That is because according to Article 5, Section 3 of the Skal USA Bylaws, one candidate must reach the absolute majority of 50% + 1 of the votes cast. That did not happen in the Vice President Membership position in last month's election. Therefore a new ballot will be sent with the names of the two candidates that received the most votes this week, and we will ask you to cast another ballot between the two remaining names before December 7th. The candidate with the most votes will be named your 2023 VP of Membership.

Skål International held its first World Congress in three years in Croatia and it was a tremendous success! In addition to the simple joy of being able to be together again, the membership officially voted on changing the governance of the organization ensuring Skål will continue to move forward in the future upholding our core values of friendship and working together. We are also happy to inform you that several of our Skål USA members received accolades from Skål International. We are proud of all of their efforts on behalf of Skål over the years.

Skål International Ambassador

Holly Powers

Skål Boston

Skål Order of Merit

Steve Richer

Skål New Orleans

Other awards and recognitions given out in Croatia includes two Membres d'Honneur

Robert (Bob) Bader from Skål Orlando and John Ruzich from Skål New York 

Tania Imani from Skål Orlando was recognized as a Rising Skål International Leaders

Skål Arkansas received the gold award for percentage increase winner in the Membership Development Campaign Awards

Congratulations to all! See you in Quebec!

Skål Orlando celebrated 50 years of leadership and success last month. The 2nd largest Skål Club in the country marked its milestone by honoring two of Skål Orlando’s founding members, Red West and Bo Swope.  Skål International President Burcin Turkkan was also made an Honorary Member of Skål Orlando during a live streaming presentation

Over the last 50 years, Skål Orlando has been extremely involved in local, national and international communities.  Four members of Skål Orlando have served as Presidents of Skål USA, including Bill Pullen, Bob Bader, Tom White, and current Skål USA President Richard Scinta.  In 2007, at the Skål International Congress in Turkey, Skål Orlando was awarded the prestigious Skål Club of the Year Award, and at the recent World Congress in Croatia, Bob Bader received the prestigious Membre d'Honneur award. Congratulations Orlando, and here's wishing you 50 more successful years!

The Skål International Atlanta Club held its past Presidents’ Gala in October to celebrate and honor its achievements and leadership with awards given to past and present members, including Skal International’s World President, Ms. Burcin Turkkan, an Atlanta Club past president. Her local and global leadership has significantly contributed to the new vision and direction of this prestigious international travel & tourism organization.

Atlanta Past Presidents doing the SKÅL Toast. Lorene Sartan, Harry Huff, Burcin Turkin, Mary Lou Foley, and Monika Pasquerello

Lorene Sartan - SKÅL Atlanta President 2022 and Burcin Turkkan - SKÅL International President 2022

Harry Huff, Lorene Sartan, and Burcin Turkkan welcome their newest member, Don Vellek, to Skål Atlanta

Legacy Vacation Resorts was declared the winner of the 2022 Skål Sustainable Tourism Award in the Urban Accommodation category at a ceremony held October 14, 2022 in the Kvarner Region, Croatia. As the USA's 1st Multi-State Resort Hospitality Company to achieve B Corp certification, this Tampa Bay, Florida based company believes in and reflects the triple bottom-line of people, the planet and prosperity. Learn more HERE.

Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards are open annually to all public and private sector companies, educational institutions, NGOs, and government agencies related to tourism worldwide. All sustainable operations and activities must be implemented by the company, NGO or agency applying for the award. The call for entries of the 21st Sustainable Tourism Awards boasts 50 eligible entries from 23 countries worldwide are competing in the nine available categories.

Skål Philadelphia

Holiday Party & Auction

Date: December 7, 2022

Place: The Mulberry

Philadelphia

Time: 5:30 - 7:30pm

Cost: $50

Online auction closes on December 7th before it goes live at the event

Skål New Orleans

3rd annual Holiday Auction

Date: December 12, 2022

Place: Four Seasons Hotel

New Orleans

Time: 6pm

Cost: $80

Silent auction benefitting the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation (LHF)

Skål Tampa Bay

Annual Holiday Auction

Date: December 12, 2022

Place: Winter Wonderland

Park

Time: 6:30pm

Cost: $70

There are over 45 items to bid on from hotel stays to activities and more

What better way to kick off the new year then with a complete staff or a new job? Don't forget our career center is available for our members at no cost at this time. Please click on the below videos to see how to find them on our new website.

Skål International has put our an Ideas & Implementation Manual filled with some great ideas and procedures clubs will find useful to provide ideas on how to bring sustainability culture into your club. It will also serve as a reference book when hosting activities and managing projects. Click here to see the manual.

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Skål USA Journeys is the bi-monthly official publication of Skål International USA. A special edition will be sent out when there is breaking news to share. We want to share your news with SKÅL members across the country. If you have breaking news or Club news for the newsletter, please send them to info@SkalUSA.org.

Skål USA Journeys & Lightning News Editor | Pam Davis | Vice President PR & Communications | (808) 225-8229