Tillsonburg Ladies Travel Club focuses on Alaska, Hawaii
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The first meeting of the fall season of the Tillsonburg Ladies Travel Club met at the home of Heidi Van Riesen on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Hostesses along with Heidi were Indira Reynolds, Julie Avery, and Joan Weston. Our members enjoyed a beautiful home-cooked meal, seated at tables decorated with the theme of this year's study, which is Alaska and Hawaii.
President Judy Strobel welcomed everyone and introduced the new executive. Bette Clarke and Heidi presented a film introducing us to the study of Alaska, where we find the highest mountain in North America, Mt. McKinley, on to the beautiful islands of Hawaii.
This is the 115th year since the inception of the Travel Club. It is considered the oldest club in the town of Tillsonburg. The first meeting was held in 1900 at the home of Mrs. Livingstone with twelve present. Mrs. Olmstead, representing a travel club in Toronto, attended and helped organize a framework for the Tillsonburg ladies.
Many changes have taken place since 1900 – at that time members probably arrived via horse and buggy in comparison to our cars of today. Instead of a beautiful dinner, they would have enjoyed bread, jam and tea.
Methods of study have also changed. In the early 1900s, the Tillsonburg Library was called a 'subscription' library and the books were largely of a technical nature. A fee would be charged for the use of the books. Those members who travelled were willing to share their stories. As time went on a particular country would be voted on to study and each member was assigned a particular topic to present – as it is today.
The club is not just a social organization, but it was and remains a study group. More people are travelling and have interesting stories to tell at meetings, either by presenting a paper, power point, film, or even a song or dance.