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Appalachian alumni spread family feeling with trips abroad |
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Thursday, 14 February 2008 |
 Members of the Appalachian family toured Florence in 2006. Special to The Appalachian
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by JULIA HARR
Lifestyles Reporter
Once an Appalachian family member, always an Appalachian family member, and who doesn’t enjoy a family vacation?
For the past 25 years, Alumni Affairs has organized tours to various countries and destinations abroad.
“Appalachian has a strong reputation for providing excellent tours,” Assistant Vice Chancellor for
Alumni Affairs Tracey C. Ford said. “People enjoy traveling with the Appalachian family and getting to
know other alumni, faculty and staff.”
Although these trips are geared toward alumni, Ford said parents, students, friends, faculty and staff
are all invited to attend.
Trips to Alaska, Italy, France, and Russia have been successfully organized previously.
This year, two trips to Ireland, and one trip to Rome and Florence, Italy, are filling up fast.
One of the trips to Ireland had 40 open spots.
To meet the demand, another trip to Ireland was organized and has 14 of 20 spots still open.
Ford is a tour veteran and attended a handful of the trips in the past.
“My favorite so far has been to France and Italy,” she said. “I’m looking forward to Ireland because of
the landscape. I’ve heard it’s a beautiful country.”
The first trip to Ireland departs May 24 and the second departs May 27.
Each of these trips lasts 10 days and includes numerous activities.
The second Irish vacation is called “Shades of Ireland” and includes sightseeing events to the Cliffs of
Moher, Blarney Castle and Dublin.
The trip to Rome and Florence, Italy, includes events like a tour of Rome, Uffizi Museum and Dinner
with the Tenors.
Trips range in price depending on length and destination, and the price of each includes airfare, some
meals, transportation and lodging.
“Anyone that enjoys travel and would enjoy it with a group [should come],” Ford said. “People who
enjoy getting to know other people associated with the university would like it.”
These vacations are so popular that people often repeat the experience and go on different trips
through Alumni Affairs.
“I hosted a tour to New England in October. It was a smaller group so we were on the same bus with
[another] group from different states,” said Tammy M. McCullars, an administrative assistant in Alumni
Affairs. “A mother and daughter from Portland, Ore., were on this trip and loved the interaction of our
group so much. We had so much fun that she asked me for my contact information so she could travel
with us again.”
McCullars said she appreciates the program because of the people she has been able to meet.
“We ‘tout’ the Appalachian Family theme to most everything we do, but this is truly and instance where
I know they feel part of our family. By the time the trip was over we have life long friends,” she said.
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