Art Krakowsky (Electronic Engineering, 1993) and wife Carol took two granddaughters on a two week Elderhostel tour of Greece, followed by a 5-day home stay. They toured with 14 other grandparents and 16 other 13-15 year old grandchildren. The tour included lectures, dance lessons, and a sampling of all sorts of wonderful Greek food and music. The grandchildren performed an ancient play written by Aristophenes. The tour included many famous archaeological sites and museums including, Athens, Olympia, Delphi, and Thessaloniki. Most participants climbed Mt. Olympus (home of the Greek gods) and the group ended the tour with 4 days aboard 9 sailboats, cruising, swimming, and visiting several Greek islands.

Ron (Mechanical Engineering, 1990) and Barbara (Mechanical Engineering, 1993) Hill. have been volunteers at the Lab’s blood drives for the past five years. They are tremendously impressed to know that the Lab employees donate more blood than any other organization in Northern California. (Sign up now for the drive scheduled for October 10-13 in the old Central Cafe). Barbara coordinates the over thirty retirees who help as Greeters and in the Canteen. Ron fills in wherever and whenever he is needed.

Garith (Mechanical Engineering, 2002) and Amy (Laboratory Services, 2002) Helm spent 10 days in France with Amy's dad Frenchie Allec (Procurement, 1990) and her step-mom, Marie.  It was the first time Frenchie had been to the country of his parents' birth.  They took a river cruise along the Rhone, through Provence for 8 days, touring sights where Van Gogh painted, quaint villages and gothic cathedrals along the river, learning the history of the region and doing some wine tasting in Burgundy.  Frenchie met several people who were familiar with the town his parent's were from and was able to converse in French with them.  They went through 15 locks on the river between Arles and Lyon which also made the cruise very interesting.  After the river cruise, they spent three days in Paris, attended mass at Nortre Dame Cathedral and saw the major sights of the city.  One evening, Garith and Amy came across a carnival near the Louvre.  They rode the Ferris wheel and were able to see the Eiffel Tower all lit up when they stopped at the top...quite spectacular!  Everywhere they went the French people were warm and welcoming.  

Margie O’Dell will be setting up the schedule for next year’s (January through June) Retirees Travel Group. She would like retirees to volunteer to present a program or to suggest someone. They may e-mail her at TravelGroup@LLNLRetirees.org.

There will be no Retiree Luncheon in October because of the Dinner/Dance being held at the new Livermore Community Center on Saturday, October 15, 2005 (Happy Hour 6:00 p.m., Dinner 7:00 p.m.). Retiree Association members should have received a letter announcing the Dinner/Dance.

Please send any news or input (please include the date and department from which you retired) to Jane or Gus Olson. E-Mail: Jane@LLNLRetirees.org or Gus@LLNLRetirees.org.

This article appears in the October 7, 2005 issue of Newsline.