Skål International has a unique program that encourages two clubs in different countries to establish a mutual understanding and friendship. The objective is to exchange personal visits, ideas, projects and culture.
Budapest – 2nd Twinning Partner
SKAL Budapest becomes SKAL San Francisco's
Second Twinning Partner
At a special dinner held in San Francisco on Wednesday, May 18, 2009, Skal International San Francisco and Skal International Budapest signed a twinning agreement created anddesigned by SFO's Past President Melita Thorpe and Budapest President George Paldi. George Paldi and the Budapest Club hosted the 70th World Congress, and we in San Francisco will look forward to bonding with this energetic and exciting club.
SKAL Budapest & SKAL San Francisco "Bridging the Cultures"
Presidents George Paldi and Kirsti Maki
Twinning between Budapest and Hungary
On Tuesday evening, May 18, 2010, at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko, President Kirsti Maki and members of Skal International San Francisco met with George Paldi, President, Skal International Budapest and concurrently President Skal International Hungary and Skal International Counselor, Hungary, to sign the Twinning Agreement between the two clubs.
Present for the occasion, were Nahid Olfati, Vice President, Region III, SIUSA, and Eva Voisin, Honorary Consul General, the Republic of Hungary. Officiating as MC was Executive Director Chris Spirandelli, who communicated the directives from Jim Power, the Secretary General in Torremolinos, Spain.
It was an evening to remember highlighted by the ambiance, the amicale, the tributes from each club to the other, and a group of Skalleagues eager to exchange ideas, well-wishes, and B2B visits to each others countries.
The evening epitomized,in the words of our Skal International President, Nik Racic, from Zagreb, Croatia, "Living the True Spirit of Skal."
Quad-City Twinning Reunion
Seattle/Victoria & San Francisco/Vancouver
attempt a quad-city reunion of Twinned Clubs
aboard the Golden Princess
(L to R) Pamela Chatry (VYR), David and Alene Freidenrich (PHX/SEA), Beverly Shukar (SEA), Gordon Chatry (YVR), Nahid Olfati (SIUSA/SJC), Kevin Ridgeway (YVR), Nader Milani (Nahid's husband) (SJC), Claudette Main (SFO), Lydia Miller (VYR) and Jim Main (SFO)
It was one of those beautiful days in Autumn on September 25th , as we all assembled at Seattle's Pier 91, for the embarkation of the Golden Princess' one-night cruise to Vancouver... Skalleagues from Vancouver, its twin city San Francisco and the home club Seattle (Nobody from Victoria was able to attend) gathered to toast the clubs togetherness and to network in the lovely surroundings of the Golden Princess.
Nahid Olfati was the "senior officer present afloat" from the U.S. as Vice President Region III, Skal International USA, and Gordon Chatry, President, Skal International Vancouver, led the troop from Canada. The Skal toast was raised in the Wheelhouse Bar, a tradition started by the late Seattle Skalleague, Derek Cond, many years prior on similar past cruises... It was a brief gathering, but it was one that brought Skalleagues together united in "living the true spirit of Skal."
Those from the US enjoyed their additional time in Vancouver, one of the world's most beautiful cities, before returning to their own clubs to recount their experiences ... It is sometimes difficult for twinned clubs to get together for joint functions, but when it happens, it is truly a memorable experience.
Vancouver – 1st Twinning Partner
San Francisco & Vancouver Twinned SKAL Clubs in 2008
In a historic event, Sheila B. Hyman, CTC, and Brian Veitch, presidents of Skal International San Francisco and Vancouver, respectively, signed and announced the twinning of their two clubs during San Francisco's 60th Anniversary Dinner. There is a mutual desire for each club to learn more about the other and to become closer in friendship and in business involvement. The many similarities between the two include the beauty of the two cities, the importance of each as a major port on the Westcoast of North America, and the similarity of the two clubs as leaders in the Skal movement. Each club should be congratulated for this innovative move, being the 24th worldwide twinning and only the fourth club within the USA to twin.
Vancouver News
Gordon Chatry, Owner and General Manager of Inntimate Inns, Ltd. has been re-elected President of Skal International Vancouver and was installed this winter for the year 2010. We in San Francisco Skal congratulate him on his election and look forward to getting together for a joint meeting soon.
San Francisco Skalleagues are encouraged to coincide your trips to Vancouver with the second Wednesday of the month so that you can visit the Vancouver Skal Club and attend one of their dinners. If you are able to do so, please contact their president, Gordon Chatry at gord@inntimateinns.com or their Executive Director, Ivano Corazza at ivanoc@shaw.ca
Skål is a worldwide organization of travel industry professionals promoting global tourism through friendship and peace. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry.
