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College Excursion Memorial Zion National Park
Bishop Gorman College Excursion Memorial
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his body of work is dedicated to all those individuals who participated in the program. The historic twenty-two trip sequence was a highly unique undertaking as the best as my INTERNET research could find. It started as a fiveyear plan and lasted seventeen years beyond that. The success of the program was in the quality of the individuals who participated. These were extraordinary teenagers who allowed me to do what few others would try. Luck had nothing to do with my participant selection. It reflects the moral fiber of the Bishop Gorman community. A review of the trip rosters clearly reminds me of how precious this was. I greatly exceeded all my goals and aspirations for the program which included the establishment of good working relationships with all visited schools. It was always important to offer an experience at an affordable price. Those who could afford the cost were often given the opportunity through other means. They never disappointed my efforts. The descriptions of each excursion come from my own recollections along with those of my children who were a part of so many trips. The additional resource of recommendations saved on my computer proved to be extremely valuable. Good performance on the trip(s) allowed me write about students on a more personal basis. Outstanding individual performances resulted in many of my best letters. My original Microsoft Excel files also had useful notes concerning individual participant performance. My ability to recall so many precise details suggests that the mind can operate like a DVD player. At times, my ability to remember minute details was downright scary.
Despite my desire to keep everything as accurate as possible, it is likely that some error has found its way into the narratives. This work is not a tell-all history and some omissions have been necessary and intentional. Specific names have been withheld unless they were involved in a totally positive experience. I have made numerous references to participants who I considered to be impact or MVP (most valuable participant). My letters were highly useful in determining this accolade. Those who performed poorly never approached me for a letter. Many participants attended public universities which did not require endorsements. All of the participants who participated on multiple trips became Hall of Fame participants as I would not have taken a person for a second trip if they had been a PITA [pain in the ass] on the first one. Most layed out the rules for the road which explains why my authority was rarely challenged. Wonderful Moderators and Supportive Principals Besides paying tribute to the wonderful moderators that were an integral part of the program. I acknowledge the support and wisdom of Fr. Charles Bolser, Fr. Richard Rinn, Dr. David Erbach, Fr. Thomas Von Behren, Mrs. Connie Gerber, and Mrs. Aggie Evert. God Bless them all.
Family Appreciation Page The strength of the excursion program was the many families who signed-up their children for participation. Familiar names of siblings gave me added confidence to take on the risks of the road. The satisfaction of escorting students I could rely on was a major reason for the success of the program. The children of students that I taught or coached gave me extra-special satisfaction. Never did any of them disappoint. I have created a family page to honor those families who were so supportive. Colleges Visited on Excursions I have a listing of all the colleges visited on the twenty-two excursions. I regret that I was unable to visit the University of Nevada, Reno (pictured) more frequently than I did. It provided a great option to students who visited the more expensive schools of California and the Pacific Northwest. School circumstances or awkward administrative policies worked against me after our last visit in 2003. The lack of photos for early trips was a result being too busy moderating the trips, and the failure of some slides and pictures to be processed. My attempts to take along student photographers to document the trips failed because of the June committments. I should have negotiated at a more aggressive level. I misplaced some digital images upon my retirement. Other pictures just could not be scanned well into digital images. I am happy for the photos I can present as part of the memorial. I will add any pictures I may receive or recover in the next year.
My Public School Background I did not drive a car during high school which made me a public transportation expert as I traveled frequently to sport venues around the large city. Very few of my friends drove so I had plenty of company on the buses and subway lines. New York was not like Los Angeles or even Las Vegas for that matter. I grew up in the very comfortable section of Bay Ridge in Brooklyn. Fort Hamilton High School faced the entrance to the New York harbor and was located in a quiet, highly residential area. Best of all it was only two blocks from my apartment building. My high school had 3,200 students in my senior year (grades 10-12) only.
I was a better than average student encouraged by my parents to attend college. College counseling was non-existent unless you were planning to attend an Ivy League school which I wasn’t. I was responsible and sensible and getting to Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium were high priority. Needing full control of my wits and senses, I did not partake in high school drinking or drugs. In geometric terms, I was every bit a social square. As a high school baseball player, I was a dedicated two-year co-captain and battered a legit .318. I was a good role model for younger players. I attended my first year at Queens College (City University of New York). I was unfortunate to be awarded a New York State Regents Scholarship woth $ 3,000 for the year. Since the city Universities were tuiton-free, turning down this scholarship with a brother three year younger was not an option. I had been accepted at the University of Kentucky and Utah State, and was rejected from the University of Connecticut. My guidence counselor thought I was nuts. I spent more than four hours a day on public buses and subway trains. My classes were MWF at 8 AM noon and 3 PM. If I didn’t leave my apartment (pictured above) by 6 AM. (If you were late and with a teacher who locked the classroom doors you were SOL).
My days included two miles of walking to get to these conveyances. I hated every minute of the experience although it proved to be of benefit for my maturity. I made the college baseball team in the fall but was academically ineligable after the grades were posted. By then it hardly mattered I improved my grades in the spring and by then I knew my first-year ordeal was coming to an end. That spring, I found Eastern New Mexico university listed under affordable colleges. Non-resident tuition was $90 per semester in 1965. Twenty-three hundred miles from home, it turned out to be a great choice.
My Educational Teaching Beginnings
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t all began at Aquinas Institute, a virtuous traditional all-boys Catholic school in Rochester, New York. The year was 1969, and the Mets won the world series. The New York Jets won the Superbowl that year when Joe Namath guaranteed a victory. The city school is located at 1127 Dewey Avenue, Rochester, NY 14613. I spent three years in a nightmarish climate that produced more than 122 inches or snow annually with temperatures often reaching beow minus 15 degrees. We did not see the sun for thirty-two days. During the latter stages of that streak the boys and the faculty grew hostile. I was not immune. Having been born in Brooklyn New York, I was familiar with snow, but never these annual amounts. Cornell University was responsible for seeding the clouds for those three years. Life on Lake Ontario I taught algebra one and two, and as a new teacher that had never planned to be in education aside from two educational college courses. Until a month prior the start of the semester I was destined to attend officer’s candidate school for the navy. A had qualified through a competitive process in the spring of my senior year. I was ready and fit to serve. An apologetic letter from the government announcing naval cutbacks made me an instant free agent without a job. Aquinas needed a math instructor and my principal pulled strings with my draft board to obtain an educational deferment. It was teaching or I was off to Viet-Nam with the army. I chose the classroom. Without a car, I depended on public transportation until a faculty colleague felt sorry for me and went out of his way to pick me up and drop me off each day. This was helped along by a scuffle on a public bus near the school. A mixture of Aquinas and public-school rivals on a public bus was never good was went without incident. On this particular day in Late September, a dispute turned into a fight. As a new teacher, I tried to intervene. It was a bad call as the larger public-school students turned their attention to me. I took a few punches before the driver intervened and radioed for the police. The bad guys quickly departed. I declined to fill out a police report. The next day, I looked as bad as I felt, but was a hero in the eyes of the student body. I became a favorite son of the administration as well. My rides began shortly after. When I did use a very good transportation system, I worked at school for a hour or more. That fall I spent most of my time preparing for math lesson lessons. I was often one or two days ahead of my classes. My math had major paid immediate dividends. My starting salary was $ 6,100 for 9-months. To supplement my income, I took a job as a tennis instructor at a summer camp. I had served as a counselor at a summer camp in upstate New York following ( one day after) my high school graduation. There I was the baseball man. That first summer went well and I met my wife Sharon, a very good camp counselor and a teacher in Florence, Arizona. We spent our off-days together traveling to places
such as Fenway Park in Boston and Montreal where we went for the chance to eat at a famous chinese restaurant. A teacher in Arizona, my western migration was assured. As I gained more experience in the classroom, teaching became more enjoyable. By Christmas break I was more than a month ahead on my lesson plans. The many athletes in my classes enjoyed my willingness to talk about most sports at strategic times. Since I had to prepare these students for the infamous New York Regent exams, I had to stay on task if I wanted to continue my career in education. I graded a lot of homework always returning the paper the next day. I also returned all tests the next day. Both practices were well received by the students and their parents. I coached tennis by myself and assisted with baseball and football. My last tennis match was canceled due to a seven-inch surprise snow fall. The date was May 3, 1972. Who could forget? It was my birthday and my favorite pub gave me free beers for the entire evening. The Aquinas experience was great, and by the second year I had overloaded classes. I was still a set-up for my married friend’s wives which rarely worked out. One girl whom I liked, had three brothers, all big tough city cops who had to meet with me one on one. I apparently did not pass their interviews. I was happy I didn’t. My coaching career did not expand dispite the fact that I now owned a car. I was morally obligated to Aquinas for three years and I greatfully would honor that verbal pledge. I started to look for high school jobs out west after my second year. I wanted to get back to the sunny and warmer west. I had graduated from Eastern New Mexico in Portales. The town created a comfortable experience and the 10,000 total population was a sharp contrast to the Brooklyn, New York environment. I enjoyed the slower paced life and the ultra friendliness of the local community. College Development I pledged a fraternity after failing to make the college baseball team as a walk-on. I became instrumental in helping my Zeta Beta Tau chapter become more credible within intermural sports. My coaching mentality started to form and while I could perform at a good level in softball, basketball, flag football and tennis, my brothers appreciated my spirit, enthusiasm and encouraging nature. I was more valuable to the chapter as their Treasurer, serving in that post for three years. My math major was hard and while I took some rather diverse classes I never changed my major. I saw myself as statistican or as evan a sports writer. A was no longer a social square, but hardly as advanced as most of my friends. I chose to be designated sober at fraternity functions. Portales New Mexico was in a “dry” county and someone had to be prepared to talk to the police both campus and city if necessary. I did my part on several occasions. Western Migration Moving to Las Vegas following the completion of my third year and my July 1972 marriage allowed me to pack up my car and head west. A teacher friend of mine from Aquinas was teaching and coaching at Bishop Gorman and he kept his eyes on possible openings. Until a position for the following year opened, I took a job with First Interstate Bank (now Wells Fargo) as a management trainee. The Bank used my teaching talents to train tellers and allowed me to follow their progress after conclusion in their assigned branches. I was also entrusted by bank leaders to set up
branch celebrations. I was good at setting up these affairs, having been the treasurer for three years with my college fraternity. Unfortunately, I was a poor banker who frequently riled his administrators with too many questions and less enthusiam than my former teaching assignment. I learned that not everyone wanted to hear the truth as I saw it. Many could not “handle the truth”. I was later assigned to the trust department downtown to push meaningless papers. In March of 1973, I spotted an irregular transaction. On the last day of the month I was suddenly called in see ny boss and fired without being given a cause. Before I left that Friday afternoon, I signed a non-disclosure document and went on my way with a rather generous compensation package. What had I stumbled upon? Since I had already been hired by Gorman for the following year, all was well in my world. Let the Games Begin Adjusting to the climate and temperatures of my first Las Vegas summer and winter spring took few adjustments. Playing tennis in July was another matter. I had lasted only twenty minutes at 117 degrees at three in the afternoon at UNLV to prove my own vulnerability. I was a Freshman/JV football coach that first season in 1973 and I quickly realized that “hell week” had truly earned its title. There were many educational and religious similarities between Aquinas and Bishop Gorman. Both schools held great reputations in their communities. Both were had less than ideal facilities. Both had good athletic teams. One big social difference would clearly stand out. It was the co-ed population and the amazing maturity of the girls at Gorman. Besides teaching geometry and algebra, I migrated into other subjects including consumer economics and an American History class of 45 students. The room only had 41 desks. We had to take (steal) seats from the class next door each day to hold class, only to lose those seats by the sixth period. In each class it was the maturity and the congeniality of the girls that made a difference. They were most often my best students and genuinely were willing to be the class tutors for all who needed help. Their efforts and conscientious study habits forced me to be a better teacher than I had been in Rochester where most of the students I taught were more concerned about, high-school hockey, football or illegal football parlay cards. My early years at Gorman exposed me to some sober realities. The Las Vegas lifestyle was totally different from anything I had experienced. Growing up in Brooklyn New York, I had lived in a 24-hour city like Las Vegas. It was perceptively more dangerous to roam around the New York Community than that of Southern Nevada. Coaching football and baseball at Gorman exposed me to 50 cent beers, 99-cent shrimp cocktails, and 24-hour breakfasts at Binions downtown. While my lesson plans and were always prepared, I was less dedicated to being mentally prepared following losses in my sports. I had a wonderful time with a variety of coaches in the mid 1970’s at the expense of a few embarrassing experiences. It was worth it as it taught me about family responsibilities in my later life.
Magical Mystery Tour Origins As a teacher I had been critical about the BGHS counseling paradigm or perhaps the lack of one. I was particularly distressed by the lack of college guidance. I studied for a master’s in counseling at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with the intention of moving on from a job in teaching that I reluctantly was willing to give up. In the spring of 1980, I said no to two job offers (one education, one non-education) that would forever change my life. A New administration at Gorman offered me a chance to put up or shut up. My counseling degree had prepared me more for statistical analysis than education context. Under wisdom and expertise of Aggie Evert, the Gorman counseling department was formed and expanded. Fr. Charles Bolser had the foresight to see value of our efforts and provided us with necessary resources to succeed. My early years as a college counselor revealed a lack of student familiarity with popular schools in California. Everybody knew of USC, but few had visited the place. In 1981, I approached Fr. Bolser about spending a few days in Southern California for the purpose of becoming familiar with colleges and universities I had never seen. He gave me the time and I paid for all expenses. I was accompanied by only my for-year old son and we visited more than twenty schools in four days. I brashly visited the offices of admissions where I introduced myself as the new college counselor from Bishop Gorman.
In fact I was the first college counselor from Gorman and this bit of public relations paid off handsomely. I was invited to participate on California college sponsored counselor tours that involved buses and large passenger vans. It was a wine and dine opportunity at outstanding hotels along with extensive tours, lectures and meetings with prominent faculty and students. Two years later I did a very informative summer two-week counselor’s program that exposed me to most schools from Eugene, Oregon to Seattle. Large vans and buses set into place the concept of bringing Gorman student to campus. I took slides of more than thirty more colleges and my collection immediately became a valuable counseling tool. Motivated by the desire to have students visit schools for the learning process it would bring, I launched the College Excursion Program in 1985. Now my question was how to do this?
Two Meaningful Experiences with Students In the winter of 1976, I agreed to be the head moderator of a Ski Club trip to Brian Head. Unable to ski because of a bad knee at the time, I could only moderate the oneday trip. With very little to do and a knee that really hurt in the cold, I spent a rather boring but sober experience in some parents’ condo. By the end of the day, I was not in a good mood. On the way home and in the dark of a January night, we headed down the steep and narrow road. A disturbance in the back of the bus was caused by a rather nasty young lady. I summoned her to the front of the bus where she informed me that she was leaving Gorman in a few days (it was semester break). She indicated that I could not do anything about her behavior and told me I could go (F… myself). I clearly smelled an overwhelming amount of alcohol on her breath and reacted immediately. I calmly said, “Driver, pull this coach over at the first safe opportunity you get”! She said! “You wouldn’t. I assured her that I most certainly would. My bluff worked and part one of my excursion training had begun.
In 1984 in Reno, I told my state championship tennis team to not be late for our departure for the match. We had a school sponsored breakfast following a demanding overnight bus trip. It was my first championship contested in the north. There was snow on the ground but the match was scheduled to take regardless of the cold conditions. Following our meal I cautioned everbody again to be on time at the bus. One person was not, and I instructed the driver to leave him. We made him run for the bus, and no one was ever late again. That was part two of my training. I gained valuable insight and experience on that trip. I learned about the capabilities of the bus and the driver. I learned that the DVR would be a serious responsibily and that planned rest stops were better than listening to the many requests.
Colleges Visited on Excursions [Number of visits]
Thirty-five Schools in California California Lutheran University [1] Cal Poly: San Luis Obispo [5] Chapman University [2] Claremont McKenna College [14] Dominican College [1] Fresno State University [1] Harvey Mudd College [13] Long Beach State University [1] Loyola Marymount University [17] Menlo College [1] Notre Dame de Namur University [2] Occidental College [12] Pepperdine University [15] Pitzer College [13] Pomona College [14] Saint Mary’s College [16] San Diego State University [2] Scripps College [13] Stanford University [18] University California, Berkeley [16] University California, Davis [2] University California, Irvine [12] University California, Los Angeles [16] University California, Riverside [1] University California, San Diego [13] University California, Santa Barbara [11] University California, Santa Cruz [1] University of the Pacific [9] University of Redlands [15] University of San Diego [16] Santa Clara University [18] University of San Francisco [17] University of Southern California [17] Westmont College [1] Three schools in Arizona: Arizona State University [1] Northern Arizona University [1] University of Arizona [1] One school in Idaho: University of Idaho [1] pictured Two Schools in Nevada: Sierra Pacific College [1] University of Nevada, Reno [10]
Ten Schools in Oregon: Lewis & Clark College [2] Linfield College [1] Oregon State University [6] Pacific University [1] Reed College [1] Southern Oregon University [2] University of Oregon [6] University of Portland [6] Western Oregon State University [1] Willamette University [1] One School in Utah: University of Utah [2] Six Schools in Washington: Central Washington University [1] Gonzaga University [1] Seattle University [5] University of Puget Sound [6] University of Washington [5] Washington State University [1]
The Four Most Popular Excursion Colleges University of San Diego
Loyola Marymount University
Santa Clara University
USC
Bus Barn
# 22
June 2007
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Honor Roll of Dedicated Professionals
he Wonderful Moderators who were such a big part of the Excursion Program and the trips of their participation. One can never say enough about how these people contributed to the success of the trips.
With the creation of the first college excursion in 1985, I sought spiritual the mental and guidance of two of my most trusted comrades in Father Bibeault and Father Rinn. A third invaluable aide was a person who never stepped on the bus. Fran Robertson was the first counseling secretary. She helped me set up important facets of the first trip. Not permitted to travel with us, she paved the way for secretarial participation in future years. It was Eileen Bortoli and Donna Geary who preserved the program after my five-year experiment. They were simply the very best moderators I could have ever imagined. I was fortunate in the initial year that Kay Thompson was willing to be the only female moderator on the maiden voyage. Mrs. Tess Fischer [1986]- School Nurse added medical peace of mind on the second excursion. Sister Tim provided spiritial wisdom. BGHS Students to the Rescue Ms. Theresa Miller [1986] - BGHS Graduate Ms. Mary Cantwell [1987]- St. Francis Instructor and former math student of mine Ms. Polly Romeo [1988]- former math student of mine Ms. Jennifer Burns [1989]- BGHS Graduate and former student aide of mine Ms. Angela Haddad [1989]- BGHS Graduate Secretarial Brigade Fran Robertson [1985]-Counseling Secretary Eileen Bortoli [1990,1991,1993,Fall of 1993,1995,1996]- Counseling Secretary Donna Geary [1991,1993,Fall of 1993,1995,1997]- Counseling Secretary Marian Burford [1996]- Counseling Secretary Margie Sanchez [1997,1998]- Administrative Secretary Kathee Speight [1998]- Attendance Secretary This group had perfect credentials to be moderators. They were efficient, personable, tolerant of students, and parents. Eileen Bortoli saved the program from extinction in 1990 when she faced the perils of the first trip to the Northwest. As the only female moderator, she endured the most grueling trip within the history of the program. Donna Geary joined the team the following year and the dynamic duo were incredible for many years. I must pay tribute to the husbands of these wonderful people who allowed them to leave family duties to travel with the group. Administrative and Clergy Contingent Fr. Richard Rinn [1985]- Principal and President Fr. Norbert Bibeault [1985,1991]- Physics and Math Instructor Sister Tim [1986]- Pastoral Ministry Dr. David Erbach [1988,1991,fall 1993]- Principal Fr. Dan Nolan [1991, June 1993]- English Instructor, Counselor Ms. Virginia Cunningham [1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005] Science Instructor, Administrator
The Proud, The Few, The Faculty Mrs. Kay Thompson [1985]- Spanish instructor Mr. Charlie Walsh [1988,1989,1990,1991]- Physical Ed Instructor Mr. Pat Inch [1989,1990]- Math Instructor Ms. Stacy DiVento [1998]- English Instructor Mr. John Goertemiller [1998, 2006]- Social Studies Instructor Mr. Simon Lei [1999, 2001]- Science Instructor Ms. Laura Tuttle [2001]- Social Studies Instructor Mrs. Julie Walkow [2003, 2004, 2005]- Religion Instructor Mr. Clifford Klinkhammer [1997]- Counselor Mr. Rick Spiritosanto [2003]- Counselor Mrs. Maria Healy [2006]- Spanish Instructor Mrs. Barbara Stewart [2007]- Counselor Mr. Eli Maslekoff [2007]- Counselor The Family Mr. Doug Seif [1987 & 1990 passenger, 1993 participant, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005]- Son Ms. Randi Seif [1991 passenger, 1996 participant, 1997 participant , 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007]- Daughter Eric Seif- [All Twenty-Two Trips] Head Moderator Doug began his excursion travels at age 10, and Randi at age 11. I wanted both to experience the opportunity to travel with a group of students before I called it quits. Little did I expect them to be moderators for a combined thirteen trips. Add the additional excursions as Dad’s son and daughter or as participants with their classmates, and they rode the bus for a total of eighteen times. As moderators, they followed orders to the letter. They not only anticipated what I needed but made sound suggestions to improve the current trip. Serving as peer counselors, they averted or corrected problems before they needed to be brought to my attention. They were largely responsible for my never sending any participants home for reasons of behavior. The experience of traveling and working with my children kept me going when I wanted to throw in the towel. They were pillars within the excursion program. Since they were my children and I had to look out for their well-being, it was easy to consider all participants my extented family rather than clients. Photgraphic Note: Most of the Photos in this publication were taken by me over a 45-year period.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Excursion One: The Magical Mystery Tour Begins
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he first College Excursion was conceived without any idea of how to recruit potential students. I certainly wanted well-behaved individuals, but I also wanted students who would have the academic credentials that could be admitted to the schools we would visit. I knew that a failure would make the program a “One and Done”. August, 1985 Tina Albanese Tina Aldridge Wendy Baldwin Christine Brady Mike Cleary Paul Conner Joe Doyle Ricky Duarte Adriano Fumo Lara Galatz Michelle Halseth Richard Hell Kelly Hoag Lisa Klein Nicole Mathis April Murray Kim Ryan Kim Stafford Tiffany Taule Frank Taylor Christy Thomas Laura Thompson Leann Thornton Steve Wilson Lisa Wright Claudine Yballe
My experience with athletic teams made me lean towards the recruitment of males, but by now, I recognized that as being foolish. I somehow envisioned that getting female moderators would be a problem. I was not wrong. As for students, I decided to invite the top 100 ranked juniors. I was seeking a group of 24-32 for an unproven experience. This seemed like solid methodology until the students ranked 101 to 125 sat down in my office for senior year registration. I made no exceptions, though I did feel badly about saying no. This was a regrettable mistake. I would never use rank again as the only criteria. I had been highly encouraged during the school year to do a trip by the college representatives who visited Bishop Gorman. I originally asked if others high schools were making visit on a regular basis. Except for day visits, none of them could recall any other groups besides pricey national programs that had been visiting for years. These kindly veterans liked my idea and saw it as a chance to bring prospective students to campus. Little did I suspect that this would be of mutual benefit to both the students and the colleges.
Colleges generously offered their dormitories which were mostly vacant after summer sessions. It was this dorm availability, and desire to minimize cost that made this trip the only August departure of the program. I selected to use the bus company that transported Gorman athletic teams. There were not many companies to choose from and most were limited by the number of miles away from Las Vegas. I had been on both football and tennis trips with this company and felt comfortable with the choice. I did not know that there was strife amongst the owners which would lead to an ugly legal court settlement in the end. I had asked for a driver familiar with the California freeways. The driver assigned to us
had never been to California. He was an experienced bus and truck driver from Ohio. His name was Bob, and I was very fortunate to have him. I was very well prepared with detailed maps of the entire route. I had studied these maps all summer. I could direct the bus from memory but could not predict unknown traffic patterns. I would do better in this aspect with each excursion. My skills as a navigator would serve the program throughout the twenty-two trips. I would make several unforeseen mistakes. Fortunately, my moderators were not one of them. I received mental, intellectual, and spiritual strength from Fr. Norbert Bibeault and Fr. Richard Rinn. Our female moderator was Mrs. Kay Thompson a lovely, patient, tolerant, Spanish teacher who had her daughter as one of the participants on board. If not for her, the trip was in peril as my kids were only five and eight years old. I had no back-up plan. The cost of the first trip was $250 which included Dodger Stadium tickets. Meals were the responsibility of the student. I never wanted to charge or be responsible for student meals. This turned out to be a wise choice. The six AM departure set the precedent for all future trips. Two participants never showed. Rumors had it that those students used the trip as a planned deception against their parents. The deception backfired on one of the students as she had her parents believing that Pepperdine was her favorite school on the trip. The joke was on her on her as this party-going socialite did not last her freshman year at the highly restrictive school overlooking the ocean. Day One: The ride to the McDonald’s in Barstow was quiet. The entire way I questioned myself about the concept of the excursion program. I was nervously on edge the entire way. The Monday departure allowed for the initial formal visitation session at the University of Redlands (pictured). Our school rep, a former football player at Redlands named David PrinceOtto took over and made the visit a perfect kick-off four all of our future formal visitations. It left me with a satisfied feeling about the concept of the program. The group performed beyond my expectations which were an unknown factor at the time. By lunch time at the Montclair Mall in Upton, I began to relax and soon gained the confidence that I had a winning “team” aboard. The first night was spent at Claremont McKenna College. They gave us clean rooms that were located throughout one of the empty high-rise dorms. We had plenty of time to settle in and even play a little tennis. I took the bus to a nearby shopping plaza that evening which I visited only a few years one my first “Wine and Dine” counselors trip, to have dinner. With no televisions in the dorm we had only ourselves for entertainment. I was physically and mental tired and could not entertain if I had to. Fortunately, I did not. Room checks were inconsequential as moderator supervision was virtually impossible. Fr. Bibeault did chase down a few of the more rambunctious participants (all girls). High grade point averages meant nothing for this only wild night. For some, it was their first night not under parental supervision. The excitement of the day resulted in very little sleep for many of the newly freed participants. I was exhausted
having worried about a multitude of considerations and slept quite well despite the obvious sounds of activity. For all the new excitement of the first day of a new program, I gave the group a pass or a mulligan for all you golf attics. Day Two: Our formal five-college visit came the next day and was a good match for the highly achieved group. Having seen the profile of the group and knowing I had selected the group from the top 100 rankings, each school came out in force. With no student guides available, each school brought out their senior representatives to guide us around their campuses. Starting at Claremont McKenna, the wide-awake group was impressed by what they saw and I was equally impressive in how the group responded. The very adult-like participants re-affirmed the quality of the group. Claremont McKenna, Pomona, and Harvey Mudd colleges made the strongest impressions. From there it was on to Occidental College a short distance away for another highly informative talk and tour. It was much like the experience at the Claremont schools. Top people took us around campus and presented their talks at various point on the tour. Intelligent questions were asked and answered but the tours were taking a toll on participants who did not get much sleep the first night. We sat in L.A. traffic and some participants were able to catch up on sleep, and arrived at Loyola Marymount around five PM. The second night at Loyola Marymount placed us in a more suitable environment. The dorms were only two-story, and we were given rooms on the first floor. We would not be spending much time in these rooms as it turned out. We had tickets for the Dodger game (Fernando Valenzuela is on the mound). We offered to take our very gracious host to the game. He was a graduate of Brophy Prep in Phoenix. He was expecting a group led by their college counselor to visit later that week. He lived quite a distance from campus, so he respectfully declined the invitation. Fr. Rinn also declined the game as he had dinner with a Jesuit friend. Our tickets were way up near the right field foul pole. Having extra tickets, I was approached by two rough looking men in the parking lot. They in turn sold those tickets to several more pleasing folks who got to sit with our group. They grossly overpaid for the tickets, but after all it was a sell-out. The interesting close game which went to extra-innings. Mrs. Thompson kept telling us how wonderful it was to hear so much Spanish being spoken in the crowd. From my perspective, I was uneasy hearing so little English. I learned a lot about the group that game and realized that it was the first professional baseball game for many of them. It ended with a walk-off outcome for the Dodgers. The behavior of the group was exemplary including one young lady who thought it un-polite to throw peanut shells on the ground. Fr. Bibeault and I teased her through graduation. She was a great sport.
The large crowd heading to the parking lot made me nervous. I stayed behind the group as many chose to head to the rest rooms before our return trip. I checked the male restroom and shepherded them to the bus area. I arrived at the bus to find two jerks who had followed are lovely girls. A few harsh words sent them on their way. The L.A. traffic which had allowed us to arrive on time, extracted its penalty on our return trip. Getting out of the parking lot took time as did finding the 10 freeway. It was approximately 1:30 AM when we returned to the dorm. I was energized by the game and was able to perform all moderator duties. Kay Thompson did the same. There was more sleep to be had that night. Day Three: Our formal visit at Loyola Marymount in the morning went very well. We went on to nearby Pepperdine University for a visit I cannot remember at all. Our next stop was San Diego and the popular school on the hill. The University of San Diego provided the group with the nicest accommodations we would see on the trip. They also charged us a substantial room charge for the opportunity. The meal ticket in the cafeteria was included in the price for the apartments/suites. Fr. Rinn and Fr. Bibeault spent the evening with other Clergy friends. After an early dinner, I took the bus up to La Jolla for a quick informal stop at UCSD. Having been there once before, I could guide the group on a very limited tour of the campus. From there we went to short distance to La Jolla village. We parked the bus in the Safeway parking lot as the store was closed. I gave the entourage a two-hour window of freedom. Most of the group migrated down to the beaches near the cove. When they returned, several people required the services of towels which had been miraculously brought on the bus. Score one for the troops. We returned to USD where campus security served as unofficial moderators. In just a few days I learned that while I could be sure the participants were in their rooms by a designated time, I could not control what took place in those rooms after curfew. I warned everybody about the effects of sleep-deprivation only to see the results of allnighters as participants tried to sleep on the bus. Breakfast in the cafeteria exposed many who had to climb the hill but had not slept very much that night. Day Four: Our Thursday itinerary brought us to the campuses of UCLA, USC, and Whittier College. The size and student congestion at UCLA did not appeal to the group. USC on the other hand, did. It was this last campus where we would spend the night. The visits of were brief and informal, as very few people or services were available on both downtown campuses. Finding a place for the bus near the admissions office at USC was problematic. It was nearly impossible at UCLA. Lunch was at the home of the Trojans. At Whittier we shared dorm facilities that night with an “elder hostel”. Neither group would be crazy about seeing the other. The formal talk and tour went well, but the extra heat made walking less comfortable as we progressed through the day. We had the opportunity to eat in the downtown area. Two year later, an earthquake would
rock the downtown area killing six and injuring scores of people. I took our host, Richard Scaffiti, out to a very fine Mexican restaurant. The highlight of the evening was the display of musical talent on the piano shown by Claudine Yballe, future Stanford graduate and the top valedictorian to be the following spring. This greatly pleased our older dorm partners who complimented our group for their behavior. I don’t remember curfew that night, but I vaguely remember splitting a desert with six young ladies late that evening. They ordered one dessert and seven spoons. It was quite a sight and a long-remembered experience. It had been a hot day, and with no air conditioning and only a few fans in the dorm, it was difficult to sleep and made for a long hot night. Day Five: We left Whittier at dawn’s early light to get through L.A. traffic. It was a weary group that expected to sleep on the trip north on Interstate 5. It took two hours to get out of the Los Angeles traffic which was incredibly heavy on all freeways. The pressure of negotiating further heavy traffic was lifted from my back. A breakfast stop, in Gorman CA, seemed too good to pass up as everyone was hungry. The ride to Santa Clara University was long but somewhat relaxing. Most of the crew slept comfortably, and even the moderators joined in. We arrived in the early afternoon at Santa Clara. The tour led by a great rep, Pat Casey, was the best of the trip. Under pleasantly cool temperatures, the school was an instant hit. The picture at the right of our accommodations was taken on an excursion several years later. On this trip, there was no enclosure around the pool. A group of good-looking Italian airmen (air-force exchange program) were in the pool. I could take the expected cat-calls and whistles. It was when someone placed their hands on the ankles of one of our lovely gals that caused me to go into action. He let go of the leg and reached out to touch another. Before he could do that, my left leg taught him some American manners. It was no accident, but I did offer a hollow apology. Pat came through with very comfortable dormitory accommodations and put forth a special barbecue on our behalf on campus. It was a very special effort on her part and greatly appreciated by the group. It was a very gratifying experience and was certainly an excursion high-point. The evening was scheduled to be a laundry night and a chance to relax. Fr. Bibeault and Father Rinn went out to dinner with some Jesuit priests living on campus. Laundry expertise was very limited. Someone emptied an entire tall box of Tide into one of the machines, and it was “clean-up” time for one of the janitors. It had been suggested that I purchase some “liquid refreshments” for a meeting when my favorite priest moderators returned. This I did masterfully chilling the cold ones in an inexpensive cooler in my room. After the ten PM room check, I waited in my room for our appointed meeting. Having slept only an hour or two the previous night, I quickly faded. By midnight, I panicked. I then made a really bad decision. I drank the six pack of Heinekins in thirty minutes (I was taught to never throw good beer away) and
passed out quickly. When I awoke the next morning to my alarm, I had a head-ache to end all previous ones.
Day Six: Saturday’s recovery was not kind. By lunch at Stanford (pictured), I had sufficiently recovered. It was my first time there and finding a place for the bus was a problem. The University of San Francisco would host our overnight stay. They turned out to be the least organized of our hosts. They were not prepared for us when we arrived on time, and when somebody finally took charge, they really messed up the assignment. The talk, tours and bookstore stop went reasonably well. At 5 PM, and to let the residence people sort out the problem, I took the group to see UC Berkeley and the strange folks who hung-out there. By now, Fr. Bibeault and Fr. Rinn needed a beer. As for me, not so much. We ordered a pitcher and drew a table to sit across from two very rough looking (Hell’s Angeles type) bikers. Mrs. Thompson found it very interesting even if they didn’t speak Spanish. After spending nearly twohours on campus, we returned to the USF campus and was met by a very thick foggy, marine layer. It suddenly became very cold in August. Stupidly, the boy’s rooms were placed on the side with the female bathrooms and the girls on the boy’s side. With no one around to complain to, I took the group on a walk to find suitable eating places. Not having been in that area before we stopped people on the street to get directions to eating establishments. This did not go very well but a long cold walk in heavy fog produced dinner at a multitude of choices. Returning to campus, we rotated the use of the bathrooms. It was a weird feeling, but everyone cooperated. On Sunday morning, the public mass would be held in the big cathedral. It was expected that all students would attend mass. Naturally I waited until the coast was clear to take my shower. I decided to use the girls shower (normally the boy’s bathroom) next to my room because everybody was supposed to be at the mass. I was in the shower when I heard the voices of a few of our lovely young ladies. I heard nothing of their conversation but held my breath until they were
gone. Curiosity did not rule the day. I never found out who they were, and this little tidbit has rarely been discussed. A brief session with USF took place before it was time to plunge into the world of free-time in San Francisco. The moderators took a very cold boat tour of the Golden Gate Bridge. By this time Fr. Bibeault was feeling the full effect of a bad cold or the flu and was very uncomfortable. All of the moderators were cold and uncomfortable as the marine layer was chiefly responsible. We met the bus at our five PM appointed departure for an evening trip to our last host in Stockton California, at the University of the Pacific. It would take us ninety minutes after leaving the East Bay if all went well. It didn’t. We dropped Fr. Rinn off at the airport on our way out of town. He had to be back for business on Monday morning. In an hour, we would be disabled at the side of the 580 freeway. Livermore California was the place. Six in the evening was the time. Silently, our bus blew an engine and our driver Bob, a former truck driver from Ohio, expertly coasted down the hill to a stop in a vacant state weigh-in station. We were a mile from the on-ramp of an exit. The walk there produced a well-worn gas station about to close for the night. We bought out most of the edibles available. The pickings were slim. We walked the mile back to the bus as freeway traffic whizzed by. Without a complaint, the group interacted and entertained themselves for six and a half hours until a relief bus arrived from Reno. They did some very entertaining things and remained calm the entire time. Remember, there were no cell phones in those days. All luggage and belongings had to be transferred to the new bus, and everybody had to pitch in. We arrived at 1:30 AM at a central parking lot on the UOP campus. I called our host on an emergency phone as I had never been to that campus. A very gracious representative came down to escort us to our assigned dorm. The rooms were very nice for those who were awake enough to notice. We settled in for the night, but it was hard to un-wind after all the excitement. Day 7: The next morning was a complete exercise in futility as we all suffered from a lack of sleep. Everyone did their best to be cordial to our UOP hosts. The trip home was a sleepy experience interrupted by lunch in Fresno. Fr. Bibeault was beginning to feel better after we left the Barstow station. We stopped for a break in Baker where I took Fr. Bibeault into a bar for a drink to toast the completion of the trip. I would return home to be a zombie for the rest of the week. Post-Trip Analysis: A group that was accustomed to receiving top grades, certainly earned my highest marks. They earned my everlasting respect for their overall efforts and extreme maturity. Every day was a new and unexpected experience for all of us. They were flexible to the maximum and never questioned why I chose to do something. They were number one in handling adversity. They took a chance on a new program run by a relatively inexperienced college counselor. The group handled themselves with total dignity and class. They were the only group to not have the benefit of motels and room entertainment but found intellectually creative ways to spend idle time. The talent aboard suggested they would be the right people and each day they
proved that assumption to be true. It is very difficult to compare this group to later groups. As travel factors changed over time, accommodations, charter bus services, better itineraries, and personal travel experiences made for different circumstances. That disclaimer being said, excursion one as a group would rank within the top seven groups. Some in the group would rank with the best of my participants. I started the school year enthusiastic about another trip. The photo below was taken at Stanford. I used it for excursion publicity for many years. The caption read something like “Gorman is always well received at Stanford”.
Gorman CA. breakfast stop above and the bottom of the Berkeley parking circle below. This bus would blow an engine 24-hours in the future.
Return to Barn
Glacier National Park
T
Excursion Two: June 1986 California Dreaming Part I
he reaction to the initial excursion was better than I had anticipated. Many of those first-year excursion veterans sat in advanced classes that fall with future candidates. If they had not enjoyed the experience, the program would have surely terminated at the March 1 priority registration deadline. Only those who were serious about visiting colleges came forward. The juniors I worked with that year were highly enthusiastic about the program. Consequently, excursion two attracted a toplevel roster that would perform admirably throughout the trip. Participation was open to all juniors with the criteria of a good conduct record being the main issue. The first sophomore was permitted to participate as well. The fact that she was a high achiever and that her sister was on the roster, helped form my decision. This set the tone for accepting siblings on the same trip. It was popular with parents who were willing to pay the extra expense. Given the circumstances of the first trip, finding moderators was expected to be a difficult task. I was of course correct but given the relatively small number of males signed-up, the female moderator became my priority. With a roster of only eight boys, and twenty-eight exceptional young-ladies, I was the only male moderator needed. Sister Tim (pastoral ministry) and Mrs. Tess Fischer (long time school nurse) generously volunteered to be moderators. They would be total saints throughout the entire experience. Tess Fischer had her daughter on the trip. To improve upon rooming arrangements, motels were selected over dormitories. First year experiences gave me no regrets. I sent out competitive bids to prospective motels. What I received was the best price for this educational experience. Once a motel was selected, I could better plan my budget and figure an eventual price. Some establishments wanted nothing to do with teenagers or high schools and I quickly found out that more inquiries beat fewer letters. Over the years this would evolve to produce better introductory inquiries that helped me keep costs down. Using my AAA resources, I always selected three-star motels and hotels. Only in one would I be let down. Affordability was always an aim of the excursion program. Our bus driver, Bob, was a hold-over from excursion one. This gave me a sense of confidence as he had thoroughly proven his driving skills the previous year. I would direct every move of the bus as the navigator, and participants quickly knew of the importance of my role. They as future groups, never interfered with my navigation duties. My reward as the only male moderator was a group of highly talented, cooperative and personable teenagers.
Sandra Allred Brigette Ames Dusty Armstrong Bridgette Blue Jeanna Curtis Mike Demman Danielle Diadone Lisa Dombrowski Kyla Duckworth Shannon Engle Spiros Filios Madeline Fischer Laura Gerber Patricia Gibson Craig Hall Jennifer Kolesar Robbie Kolesar Tamara Lawson Eva Liang Danielle Lorenzi Jane Miller Mike Miller Nicole Pinkus Bob Poling Patrick Rajsky Joy Ramirez Khristin Speirer Amy Teh Tiffany Tiberti Karen Ursick Patrick Valdez Juliett Vestal Carrie Wiesner Kristina Wildeveld Michelle Wildeveld Micki Winsett
Also, aboard was Theresa Miller, one of my all-time favorite Gorman students. I knew
her well during her four-year education at Gorman. Her willingness to join us as an extra moderator, was a luxury I could easily afford. She was the epitome of what a student could be, she graduated in the spring of 1984 and was attending Georgetown. Her assignment was to help Sr. Tim and Tess Fischer if and when they needed the assistance. She was able to room with former classmates. Theresa also did a stellar job lining up recent Gorman grads of the previous year who were still at their California school in June. The Saturday departure provided more flexibility with the itinerary. The group made the one and only visit of UC Riverside. Having been there a few years before, I was able to provide my own knowledge as I led the group around the campus. It was a very attractive campus but was not the UCSD, UCLA, or the Cal Berkeley everyone was anticipating. Being too far from the coast was another popular criticism. One very prominent member of the group chose to enroll at Riverside making me feel the stop have been truly worthwhile. From there it was on to the university of San Diego campus where Sr. Tim had numerous connections from her pastoral counseling days at the university. The formal visit of UC San Diego was the big success of the day. The formal talk by a representative was not available on the weekends but student tours were. We met our tour guide outside the student union. The tour would clearly be the dominant aspect of our visit. The handsome student who led the tour was an immediate hit with the group, especially the young ladies. He knew his script exceptionally well and had a dynamic personality. His popularity took a hit when he pointed out his dorm room window during the tour. “This is where I live with my girlfriend” he told the entire group. Sr. Tim asked if the dorm was co-ed with men’s and women’s rooms separated by floors or wings. He said neither, “I just kicked out my roommate, and brought in my girlfriend”. He indicated that if caught, he could forfeit his spot-on campus. After the question about where his girlfriend showered, I chose to step in to move the proceedings along more quickly. He offered to show us rooms in the freshman dorm where he knew a few students. How could we refuse such an offer? (UCSD pictured below and taken on the tour) He knocked on the door and a student in shorts, but no shirt came to the door. What we found was hard to express in words. There were multiple bodies on the floor of the dorm and pillows and sheets everywhere. Those who wanted to, were invited to look in and see what a dorm room looked like with hung-over students. The time was two PM and the result of a wild Friday night was one to behold and smell. Sr. Tim was not surprised, but Tess Fischer was aghast. Most mothers would have felt the same. I announced that the tour was over, and it was back to the union for a bathroom break. There was an expected buzz on the journey to Anaheim. The day concluded that evening at the first motel in excursion history in Anaheim. It was on Katella Blvd. and
backed up to Disneyland. It was a Stovall Motel (big chain in Anaheim at the time), and it would not be there in two years. We departed for Pepperdine on Sunday morning to meet a Gorman alum named Paige who would take us on tour. At the motel departure, I proved to the troops that I could leave someone behind who was late. Actually, I knew that the student had received pre-trip permission to visit with family in San Diego. They did not return the student in time for our departure as was the expectation. Despite a false report that he was running after the bus, on we went. He spent a dull day at the motel. We had an excellent tour of Pepperdine courtesy of Gorman alum Paige on behalf of Teresa Miller, before heading on to UCLA for lunch. Within a two-hour frame we parked the bus in Westwood Village and explored on our own. I explored fraternity row and nearly got hit by an empty keg as it fell from the hands of a hungover student. It bounced on the steps in front of the fraternity house and over my head. The neighborhoods were trashed, reflecting the end of the semester only two days before. I managed to speak to sober students preparing to leave for the summer. They gave me valuable insights to the academic and social environments of the school. These were aspects I could not get from a book or brochure. The two-hour visit gave us enough time to see the campus. I took the bus around the outer reaches of the campus before we left. We returned to the motel by 4 PM. with instructions that Disneyland was not an option as a group. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the group left great impressions at the Claremont Colleges, Occidental, Redlands, UC Irvine and Loyola Marymount. At Loyola, Bob took the bus for servicing when he detected a potential problem. He returned with a new coach. For his diligence, he was forced to transfer all the belonging of the group by himself from one bus to the other. It was a petty gesture on the part of a troubled company. He did not want a repeat of the previous year’s breakdown. The extra time at Loyola Marymount was enjoyed and appreciated by all. We were late for our appointments for the remainder of the day. Those colleges made allowances for this necessary tardy. The solid impressions turned out to be mutual judging by how many of these students enrolled at those visited locations the following fall. Loyola Marymount attracted the most with USC and Santa Clara directly behind. Colleges complimented the concept of the Gorman trip. Several pointed out that many high schools had spent a night on their campus or stayed nearby but few if any had gone beyond a single day experience. Very few came from outside the state. The boys from Brophy High in Phoenix the previous year had been one and done. On Thursday, we visited USC before making the trip to the Bay area. It drew strong interest from the group. The tour was more impressive than the one the year before. A stop at Cal Poly: San Luis Obispo provided an informal break. Escaping Las Angeles traffic with it’ smog provided a satisfaction for me experienced during this and all subsequent trips. The pressure was lessened on highway 101. Spending 45 minutes on campus established how nice less population could be. One night in San Jose and two in San Mateo would serve as future overnight accommodations in the less crowded north. The visit at Santa Clara University on Thursday equaled that of the previous year without the barbecue. Pat Fitzgerald would again be our gracious host. It would be
the favorite college of excursion two and equaled that of Loyola Marymount. This would again be a repetitive theme for future trips. Our informal visit to Stanford was pleasant and served as an excellent experience for lunch. While always impressive as a campus, the odds of being admitted there usually reduced its popularity to more of a tourist attraction. We checked into our Best Western motel in San Mateo ( 2014 photo). It was right off an exit ramp of the 101 freeway to San Francisco. At the front desk, the clerk told me to tell my students that the surrounding area was in a relatively safe neighborhood, but that security guards would roam the motel property all night. He also suggested that the students should travel together as groups. He reiterated that we were in a relatively safe area. The key word was relatively, and I asked for a further characterization. There were fast food places near the property, and it seemed secure enough for the participants. I found a small Chinese restaurant and ate by myself. The serenity of the atmosphere provided me with a necessary respite. The Gaels at St. Mary’s College did a nice job on our first visit to the school. The lovely pristine campus had a beautiful setting. It was especially suited for candidates who wanted to be away from an urban environment. They gave us a fine visitation experience, our first one to the school having passed it up the year before. We returned by the high spanning San Mateo bridge.
Friday took us to UC Berkeley and the University of San Francisco. The contrast was outstanding. Berkley produced expected results. Some loved the place while other could not wait to return to the bus. This would also be an excursion theme throughout the duration of the program. Saturday was the free day in San Francisco and was enthusiastically anticipated. The dispersal/pick-up point was the opposite side of the Maritime Museum (pictured). Bob took the bus to be re-fueled and cleaned. The time off was greatly appreciated as small groups made their way down to the crowded wharf areas. I spent a quiet day by myself walking and thinking about the success of the trip. I was quite happy with relaxing day to refect. At five PM, the group was ready for the arrival of the bus. We returned to San Mateo by six and I directed the bus to an area minutes from the motel but on the other side of the freeway. This very safe public area had numerous eating choices. We took a long dinner break before returning to our Best Western motel. Everybody was cautioned to get a good night’s rest, and room checks were routine. It was a very nice quiet evening.
The phone in my room rang at 3:30 AM. The students on the other end were frantic. They indicated that someone had entered their room through a window and that they had locked themselves in the bathroom. I quickly dressed and went out to the courtyard of rooms. Flashing lights indicated police presence as well as motel security. It was immediately obvious that the alleged entry had occurred well prior to the call to my room. In all the commotion, I could see that the three girls from that room were alright though frightened (a fourth roommate had flown home the night before). Their safety and well-being was the most important issue to me at this time. Sister Tim and Tess Fischer tried to settle the girls down as best as they could. The confusion of the moment was immense. Further sleep would be impossible. We were on the road as soon as I coordinated a new departure time. I doubted that anyone could go back to bed, but everybody eventually needed to settle down for a few hours. For the second straight year, our visit to the University of the Pacific was tainted. The group exhibited all the proper manners under trying circumstances. An explanation of what had transpired in San Mateo allowed our hosts to be gracious again. Most participants slept for much of the way home. A routine lunch break, and a few rest areas stops were all that occurred for the rest of the day. We arrived home to meet parents in the Gorman parking lot by 6 PM. Surprisingly to me, there was not a great deal of anguish of the part of the single parent of the girls. What I expected never materialized. Perhaps they knew more than I was aware of. The early morning incident on the last day of the trip attempted to place a blemish on the memory of this journey. It did not and has been erased over time. Post Trip Analysis: This group has easily rated as one of the very best in the history of the excursion program. The roster was an all-star team of very talented exceptional personalities. A look at the names suggests that without setting stingent standards for participation, the second excursion was a continuation of the greatness of the first. They were extremely cooperative and easily could have been the most mature group in the excursion history. The boys were a very solid group. The first group to stay in motels, the cooperation if not just the appreciation of the group was highly gratifying. Interaction between Sr. Tim and the group was priceless. Having wine with her and Tess Fischer in Anaheim on consecutive evenings was truly a precious experience. I became short-term friends with the San Mateo police department for the next calendar year. They wanted to keep me appraised of what their detectives had reasoned out. I never needed to discuss their findings with those involved. Speculation has no important purpose in these writings. There might be those reading this summary who do know the truth. I might be the only one who doesn’t claim to know all the details but even that is unlikely. The San Mateo police kept in touch with me for more than a year before they closed the file. It was only important that the girls were alright and able to travel home. Their property loses were real if not the story of how they were taken. The motel in San Mateo wanted us back offering attractive rates for the following year, but that would not happen. This incident had nothing to do with the Best
Western nor would count against group performance. Excursion two was one of my top groups. A great variety of outstanding personalities made this mostly a fun experience for me. It certainly helped me write the glowing recommendations that following school season.
Photo Locations: The Claremont Colleges and UCSD
Return to Barn
Three Sister Range, Oregon
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Excursion Three: June 1987 The Disaster in Salinas
his trip turned out to be my worst experience of the excursion program. Some of it was my own fault while other aspects were just circumstances that floated beyond anyone’s control. No stranger to adversity, an injury to a participant was always my greatest fear. The nucleus of the group was very good, and without a relative few bad apples, it would have been excellent. The junior class that year was not as good as the previous two years, but I could not see that coming. Culprit #1: The Driver My driver, Bob of the first two years, was expected for departure. Unfortunately, he quit the company somewhat suddenly prior to our departure. The next one up on the assignment board for the bus company was not suitable for a trip of high school students. He lacked the professional integrity of Bob, and had little experience driving California roads. In talking to this new driver prior to our breakfast in Barstow, I felt uneasy about the personal stories he related to me. Recently divorced, bitter towards women and seemingly not a very happy person, the stories he told me got worse from there. It was an unusual hot and sticky day in Los Angeles. Our tours at Redlands and Occidental were difficult for participants considering the unseasonable heat and humidity. Despite this they held up well and behaved very appropriately. Day one was a success. Our motel for that first evening was in Pasadena on Colorado Boulevard, on the path of the famous Rose Bowl Parade. It was only minutes from Occidental. That night, a series of strong thunderstorms hit Los Angeles. The next day the bus had a crack in the windshield on the right side. The explanation that a tree limb over the bus in the parking lot had been struck by lightning was hard to accept considering there was no limb to be seen. Our driver Ken said that the motel had quickly cleaned the debris before we awoke. The bus was moved as well. My inclination was that the driver had taken the bus somewhere during the storm. Culprit #2: Gorman Faculty My memory reminds me that several male and female teachers pulled out of their pledges to participate as moderators in the month of May. These pledges had been made months earlier. This would be a haunting reality throughout the excursion program. I could cover the boy’s rooms, but even thirty-years ago, I would not go into girl’s rooms except in an emergency. Fortunately, Mary Cantwell, a former student of mine and a teacher at Saint Joseph’s grade school came to the rescue. Her boss had a student on the trip. Culprit #3: Me I approved the participation of students who should never have been allowed on a trip. I wasn’t prepared for applications from people I should not have taken. To be fair to myself, none of them had bad discipline records.
While the profile of the group was not close to the first two groups, there were many very fine applicants. I took a gamble on several male athletes…and lost. Some were my own tennis players. I didn’t like the driver but had no viable reason to contact the company and ask for a replacement. I did not cancel the trip when suitable female moderators failed to materialize. The Good: • The composite of the group was actually very good. They obeyed commands and made it easy for me to supervise. They performed well as a group during college visitations. They stood-up for themselves and handled terrible adversity very well. Both myself and Mary were at the hospital for most of the Mike Adams night. Paul Addi • The girls outperformed the boys as per the letters of Ralph Agretto recommendation I was able to write. There were several letters Stephanie Anderson I could not write because the lack of suitable performance. Richard Asson • The maturity and leadership of students who took charge Cary Bilstein during the disaster. There were some great MVP students Joe Bruzzese aboard that persevered throughout the journey. The willingness Carlotta Dickerson of students to take care of my ten-year old son, Doug was Rebecca Dombcik outstanding. Steffanie Dupree • Visits to most colleges were positive experiences. Pio Fidelibus • Medical and first responder personnel in Salinas, CA. The Vayia Filios speed and professional performance were incredible. They Fran Fumo removed the victim through the window allowing for fast Kristi Gamble transfer to the nearby hospital. They received an extensive Brian Hall letter of thank-you the following fall and an update on Ricky’s Meleik Hebert recovery. Lisa Hughes • Our driver who worked hours to clean up the blood in the Bob Jacobi bus. He performed at his best cleaning the bus after the midElizabeth King night hour in the hospital parking lot. Mike Krouse • Stanford University gave Gorman recognition as a special Luis Lichtman high school by having a noted admissions officer speak to the Tom Lowy group. Megan Mackay • My day in San Francisco with Fr. Rinn and my son Doug. Lynette Martin Justin May The Bad: Patrick Miller • The serious pain caused by a tooth abyss in one of the Mary Monazym participants, and a participant who had to be flown home early. Robert Morris It was never determined if the abyss was felt prior to departure. Stephanie Olsen When the student left the bus at the San Francisco airport, a Shannon Rossiter cheer came from within that could be heard as we went into the Liz Schwartz terminal. Jenny Sloan • Bad judgments on the part of the driver before the Julieann Trenkle accident. He did not lock the bus and allowed students to stay Traci Warren on a hot bus while we were at UCSB. Johnson Young • Poor choice of Motel in Hollywood. The Vagabond chain no longer exists. It was in a questionable neighborhood and required considerable courage to do laundry only a few blocks from the motel. Sight unseen did not always work out. • Discovering beer and wine coolers in the possession of students in Pasadena and Santa Clara. As the only faculty member present, it was my duty to turn in those students for their actions, as it was a school-related activity. Since I took no action along these lines, these events never happened, and I was able to write letters on behalf of many of those students involved.
• The failed big party attempt in Santa Clara was one night after the Ricky Asson accident, and the night before the principal of the school, Fr. Rinn, was due to meet us for our free day in San Francisco. • Asking the Stanford representative (who was Jewish) if the school “accepted Jewish Students” by a Jewish student. It was an obvious attempt to gain attention. The Ugly: • Two minutes before six PM when the back hatch of the bus crashed down and seriously injuring Ricky Asson. • Holding Rickey Asson as he bled from a head wound and being covered by his blood. • Telling the surgeon at the hospital that I was not the father of the victim. • Explaining the circumstances of the accident to Ricky’s parents. • Liquor being brought from the home. Some self-confessions were made, including a girl from another school (a close friend of a participant who had a great academic record and attended a public school outside of Las Vegaswho told me on the night of party; “I washed my hair, watched a little tv, had a few beers (packed at home), and went to bed. • Never wanting to do another trip. Post Trip Analysis, Incidents and Confessions: Testifying six years later at a pre-trial hearing between the bus company and the motor coach manufacturer it was determined the back hatch was opened at greater than the angle it was designed for (geometry at work). The hatch should never have been opened at all. The driver had opened it in Santa Barbara where it was hot and did not shut it when we started on the remainder of the journey up the highway. It was propped open with a stick. When we went into the marine layer near Salinas, calls to close the hatch prompted Ricky to climb on the seat and released the stick. The bus was traveling at sixty miles on hour. The force of the hatch closing and striking his head nearly killed him. The bus company settled with the manufacturer. Operation “Moosehead” (beer) in Pasadena resulted in confiscation. The tip came from someone in the group via Mary Cantwell who had no idea about the reference but passed it on to me. I drank two of the beers that night after room checks. The party in Santa Clara was busted because a heavy-set participant kept running up and down the steps to a second-floor room. Unknown to the student, my room was next to the steps on the first floor. I should have been asleep, but the noise woke me up. Getting dressed slowly, I guessed what was happening and sprang into action. I followed him up the steps and after he knocked on the door, I followed him into the room. Most and possibly all the perpetrators had not started to drink. Out of room after room checks was serious enough. The male-only crowd included a number of athletes including some of my tennis players. None of this alcohol had been brought from home. Fake ID’s from California proliferated at Gorman in those days. All contraband was gathered and thrown into the dumpster behind the Denny’s restaurant. It reeked of alcohol the next day as some of the bottles of wine-coolers broke when I threw the contraband into the dumpster, when I ate at the Denny’s. The group had used bad judgment, and I used many bad words that night. In that room were several athletes from different sports including my own. The quote of the night came from one of those young men. He said, “Mr. Gerber has nothing on you when you get mad”. I considered that to be one of my highest compliments.
Our new Principal, Fr. Richard Rinn, was visiting clerics in San Francisco and arranged to meet us the morning after we arrived in Santa Clara. Had the party resulted in specific names mentioned there would have been dire consequences. Since I disposed of any evidence, the party never existed, and no names had to be turned into the school. This was a very quick decision and possibly a “shame on me circumstance” where I did not follow school guidelines. Not having another Gorman teacher as a moderator allowed this exception. Father Rinn, Doug and I had a wonderful day in San Francisco as the world rolled on. We took a cable car ride to the downtown where we observed the depatment stores. From there I selected a restaurant in Chinatown for lunch. I confess that I lied to Fr. Rinn about the soup I ordered in a Chinatown restaurant. It was part of a very authentic meal that used some seafood not normally found in most popular dishes. He asked me if any squid was in our dishes and I said no. That was not true. We all enjoyed the meal thereafter. We walked off lunch by walking back to the wharf are by way of Columbus Avenue. We got two tickets to Sausalito on the ferry and enjoyed two well earned Amstel Lights. Doug settled for a coke. In sausalito we walked the shows before turning into a pub that served steamed clams. An Amstel or two came our way. Doug again settled for cokes. It was back to San Francisco and a few more Amstels and two more cokes. Dinner was at a premier restaurant on the wharf. We ate upstairs and Fr. Rinn chose the wine. After a leisurely paced meal, it was back on the bus for Doug and I. The coast for the day: a substantial amount.
The roommates of the girls with the abscess provided a comical moment at our motel in Hollywood. They knocked on my door shortly before room check. They asked it California had the death penalty for murder. When I said I believed it did, they chimed in that “It might be worth it!” That evening, an aunt in L.A. came to take her for the night. She returned her the next day happy to be done with her. MVP status was earned by Elizabeth King, Fran Fumo, Megan Mackay, and Mary Monazym who took good care of my son Doug during this time of crisis. Their efforts have never been forgotten. Megan Mackay was the true gem of the group and easily earned hall of fame status. After out meeting with the Stanford representative, and after the horror story of the previous day, I mentioned that the girl who asked so many intelligent questions was a future candidate that the school would want. I told him that my letter of recommendation would remind him of this. It did and Megan was admitted that following spring. On the night of the accident, I vaguely remember going to a Denny’s for diner earlier that evening after I had cleaned up the blood from my clothes. I settled the group for the night and left for the hospital. I was there until the doctor told me that Ricky was out of danger. The next morning at 7 AM I phone UC Santa Cruz that we could not make our 9 AM appointment. I told the female receptionist about what had transpired. She sounded highly sympathic resplendent with many “Oh my Goodness”, “You Poor man” and “Oh my God”. I finished my conversation with the fact that we may be in Salinas for some time. Her final words were, would you like to reschedule for 2 PM? Bang went the phone!
Kristi Gamble was an MVP for her gymnastic exhibition for the group as we waited for our bus at Long Beach State University. She went on to an athletic scholarship in gymnastics at UCLA. Brian Hall and his older brother Craig (excursion two) were standout participants and true MVP’s. They had lost their father to a tragic air force accident (he was a Thunderbird). They did their parents proud as great people. Johnson Young earned MVP status for his willingness to go to the office of Admissions at Cal State, San Luis Obispo for material about the school. He was rudely told that out-of-staters could not earn admissions to their school. This was a falsehood.
Return to Barn
This is the only picture taken by me on this trip. This is my son Doug, age 10, at the Univ. of Redlands. Mary Cantwell, the only female moderator, is standing beyond the steps.
Buchart Gardens, British Columbia
Excursion Four: June 1988 Coach Walsh & the Redemption of the Program
M
y five-year experiment for the college excursion program had ended after three. It was painful to talk about the terrible experience of trip #3 around school. I had resolved myself to accept the fact that the group had suffered considerable mental trauma from a variety of circumstances. I harbored no ill will for any of the participants for that next year. Nor did I want another trip. I met Charley Walsh in the fall of 1987. As a new teacher at Gorman, he had heard about the trip disaster experienced during the previous June. Cautiously, he approached me and wanted to volunteer to go on the next trip. “What next trip I asked? “You can put a fork in me because I’m done!” That ended our conversation that day. Obviously, I was not done, and coach Walsh had everything to do with it. His enthusiasm that year re-energized me. Faculty commitments from soon to be Dr. Erbach and Mr. Pat Inch who was a last-minute replacement for Senior Strong, helped substantially. Charlie’s wife (Polly Romeo), a former geometry student of mine, was a great personality and an educator. My son Doug was again with me in hopes that his experience this time would be less traumatic than the previous one. Polly was a last-minute replacement for the fact that no Gorman female teacher had volunteered or wanted to go. I always had commitments from people who pulled out of them at relatively the last minute. What I could not anticipate was the quality of the applicants to come forward during the spring registration process. They formed arguably the very best college excursion group by academic profile in the history of the program. Three of these participants would choose to attend Stanford University, who now looked annually for Gorman’s best. Other private schools in California did the same, and the connection between schools visited and schools attended began to reach new heights. Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, the University of San Diego, and the University of Southern California were equally sold on Gorman talent.
Allison Adams Chris Allmon Maricar Angus Kristin Batdorf Ann Boudreau Leslie Carmena Mathew Dolesh Christopher Faber Joseph Gerber Anna Gonzalez Samantha Guido Monica Harriman Della Harrison Kim Hinkell Aleisha Hogan Melissa Hugh Jennifer Jacobi Nina Jacobi Ron Keter Tricia Kullberg Tishe Leonis Kara Maestro Mercy Malick Ellen Martello Bettina McElmore Mary McKenzie Ryan Mendenhall John Moy Bryan O’Reilly Amaka Ozobia Alan Robertson Julie Schreiber Jan Sherwood Chris Thompson Jill Vestal Julie Wolf
Unlike previous trips, there were no negative incidents to relate. This group displayed it all; leadership, intelligence, character, integrity and personality. It was a collection of young adults that got along very well with each other and required very little adult supervision. They looked out for each other to see that nobody was left out of any meeting or activity. As with groups from excursion one and two, they were the definition of low maintenance.
The experience of the previous year made me a bit jumpy and uneasy during the registration for the trip. I rejected participation for any inappropriate students. Reputations did matter, as I found out the hard way. Those known to drink alcohol were encouraged to visit colleges with their parents. Counselors and administrators knew the position I was in and didn’t withhold valuable information. Throughout the excursion program, they were always an ally I could trust. I would strive not make the same mistakes again if I could help it. Sometimes I was able to avoid pitfalls, and other times, I proved to be fallible like anyone else. Interviews with prospective students and the contents of a group profile, annually sent to all schools visited on the trip reflected the high quality of the group. A change of bus companies and a new driver made all the difference in the world. Bill Hood was a former college basketball player from the DC area. At six feet-nine inches tall, he cut an imposing figure behind the wheel. He was my first African-American driver and perhaps the most skilled driver I ever experienced during my twenty-two trips. He had his rules for the bus and enforced them rigorously throughout all trips. Bill represented the Ray & Ross bus company at annual national competitions for drivers of the highest ability. He knew California freeways and was the exclusive driver for the Lady Rebel basketball team of UNLV. My new-found fortune was quite by chance. The daughter of one of the Ray & Ross owners was an excursion two member and asked at the end of the trip why I hadn’t used her Dad’s company. I simply explained that no one had told me that he owned a bus company. The trip began on a sour note. Our only female moderator was not permitted to miss her last contract day with the Clark County school district. Perhaps it did not help that she asked to miss that day to attend a Bishop Gorman function. Our Sunday departure could not be changed. We would have to do without a female moderator for a night. Polly would fly out after school on Monday and meet us at the John Wayne airport in Irvine. Having the principal on the trip paid immediate dividends as his approval was imperative. Room checks, and behavior were assured. I would check the girl’s rooms while Charlie and Pat took care of the boys. A Special Opportunity My announcement of our upcoming informal Sunday afternoon visit a courtesy I bestowed on schools we would visiting on an informal basis. It put the names and addresses of our participants into the database of each school. Since it didn’t require any allocation of personel, schools always appreciated the effort. At San Diego State University it just happened to find the desk of a Bishop Gorman alumni. This person was not known to me but was graciously willing to set up a special tour and talk for our behalf. A comfortable ride down Interstate 15 brought us to campus at our appointed tour time. Two student guides met us and gave the group a top-notch experience. They were coming in on their own time, and my letter of thanks to the admissions office was deservedly profuse. It was our first time at San Diego State, and it would not be repeated until the last excursion, eighteen trips later. The campus would change immensely in the interim. I never received a follow-up phone call from that Gorman alum, but her efforts was well-appreciated by the group.
We stayed Sunday night near the campus on College Avenue in San Diego where dinner and a movie were the highlights of the evening. I broke a fourteen-year streak of not seeing a movie in a theater by seeing “Stand and Deliver”. A good number of students joined us and saw that same movie as well. We awoke Monday morning for our formal visits of USD and UCSD with lunch in La Jolla. From there we drove up the coast to UC Irvine for an informal visit. Practically next door to the John Wayne airport, we picked up Polly at precisely 4 PM. In less than an hour, we were checking into our best Western Motel in Santa Ana. Our group was now complete. In the next three days, we visited most of the major schools in the Southern California area. It was a brutal grind and took the best a group could give. The first day it was Redlands, the Claremont Colleges and Occidental. By seeing those schools in that order, we traveled in the reverse flow of heavy rush-hour traffic. Once this worked to our advantage it became standard operating procedure for all future trips. We were on time for all our visitations. The second day brought us to Pepperdine, UCLA, and Loyola Marymount. The latter school was the hit of the Southern California circuit. That is reflected by the number of participants who chose to enroll there. Pepperdine had the least appeal for the group, and while the campus setting was appreciated, the strict social restrictions were not. The informal visits to UCLA always followed formal visits to Pepperdine, and the contrast of venues was fascinating as we swapped ultra-conservatism was ultraliberalization. UCLA was a great lunch stop as well. Someone from this group would attend this iconic school. At all stops along the tour, I remember the cooperation and the politeness of the group, and I received numerous compliments for their behavior and intelligent questions. Most importantly, I began to feel good each day when talking to these friendly, good natured, highly intelligent people who were certainly living up to their hype. I was becoming gratified that I had tried another trip and had not retired on a negative basis. The transition day to the north began with an excellent visit to USC. An informal visit of Cal Poly: San Luis Obispo was followed by lunch in town before heading on to Santa Clara. In a careless minute the excursion program nearly came to an end. We were running a bit late after a slow lunch. A decided to run back to the bus from lunch to tell Bill that the moderators would be somewhat late. In a careless minute, I tripped on a curb, fell to the street and was narrowly missed by a speeding pick-up truck. I was embarrassed for the scrapes on my arms but knew it could have been much
worse. A similar incident happened to me in Reno in 1984 at my first state tennis championship. Both times I had all the trip money upon me. It would not happen again. Speaking of disasters, we passed the point in Salinas where tragedy struck the year before and quickly sped on. I became very uneasy as we passed by. Looking back served no useful purpose. A new motel in Santa Clara was comfortable for the next three nights
although we were scarcely seen at the property. [a view from the
Berkeley tower that day]
Visits at Santa Clara and Stanford went particularly well. I took the group around the Stanford campus and apparently did a good job as three students on the trip chose to attend there. Many of us ate the famous “Guerrilla burgers” cooked on charcoal grills set-up in front of the student union. This year, it was the end of a tradition and would not be seen by my groups in the future. It was the experience gained by the first three trips that allowed me to improve my skills as a tour guide. Working with students all year kept me current on campus demographics and the statistics on admissions. I mastered the short concise tours of Stanford and Berkeley. This was the only excursion I would take the elevator up to the top of the Hoover monument with students. The tower at Berkeley became another scenic viewpoint for those who wanted to go up to the top with me as the guide. There were not too many
takers. The students running the elevators at both schools sported familiar calculus text books by their sides. I had never thought of that subject as casual reading. The only formal tours of UC Berkeley (Friday) and Davis (Sunday) took place on this trip. At Berkeley, the long laborious tour was led by a student who stopped literally every few yards to give us a narrative about the history of the campus. A transfer from the University of the Pacific, he had given up the small private school environment to accept large impersonal classes. His largest class at Berkeley was 1,000 students in an economics class. Eventually he answered questions about admissions. I remember him telling the group that as non-residents, they had “no chance” of being admitted. Naturally, he was to be proven wrong by someone in the group as was the case at UCLA. Despite the laborious circumstances, the group was respectful and stayed together. On the other hand, the pleasant tour at Davis (pictured) on a Sunday afternoon was conducted on open air trams that covered the large agricultural campus. The school of veterinary medicine and agriculture stood out the most.
Visitations of Saint Marys, and USF (site of a skateboard accident) on Fridays were routine as everyone anticipated free time in San Francisco. The free day by the bay turned out to be one of the best in all free-day excursion experiences. The sister of one of the participants met us at our dispersal point with her automobile and was totally responsible for this wonderful episode. After a Dim Sum lunch at the Embarcadero, Susie drove Dr. Erbach, Doug and I up to Muir Woods for a delightful tour of the pristine park. We finished the day at a truly great restaurant in downtown San Francisco before returning to our bus pick-up location. The noted steak-house restaurant was an older establishment and had the pictures on the wall of the many celebrities who had eaten there. The restaurant ceased to exist or radically changed its name and venue some years later. A good time was enjoyed by all. Our Sunday night was spent in Stockton CA. It was a nice place downtown near the harbor. Despite what appeared to be a safe location, the motel provided plenty of security guards that evening. The next morning saw our final formal visit of the University of the Pacific. We were all anxious to get home and start the summer, but the excellent behavior continued. An excursion moment occurred on the last day of the trip. This story is dedicated to all the parents who imparted character if not just experience, wisdom, and generous financial support to their children. A very fine participant ran out of money after our free-day in San Francisco. The parent was a tennis partner of mine and a truly exceptional person. Being aware of the depleted resources, I offered to loan her any necessary funds for the remainder of the trip. She called her dad, and he told her to spend her remaining money on a bread and a jar of peanut butter. She did as he suggested, and a lesson in responsibility was learned.
There were others throughout the excursion experience over the years who needed a little help for limited or depleted resources. I was always happy to help. I never lost a solitary penny for my actions. This story became excursion folk-lore and lack of financial resources was never a problem. Post Trip Analysis: Excursion four visited more University of California schools than any other trip. We stopped at San Diego, Irvine, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Berkeley, and Davis. Group performance throughout the trip was exemplary and ranked highly with the very best of all excursions. They were certainly one of the best in all areas of performance. A look at the roster brings back the feeling that there were no names that I wish had been left behind. The maturity of the group was also very pronounced. This wonderful group had enormous personality, character as well as group coherence. They were the redemption for the program and gave me the motivation to continue the experience. It is no surprise that so many of these participants garnered acceptances and enrollments at so many of the visited locations. Many of them went on to graduate work and earned professional degrees. Thirty years later I was able to match most of the names with faces on the first try. The three Stanford graduates were MVP’s on this trip. There were many others. As for Mr. & Mrs. Walsh, they came through for me beyond expectations. Charlie would be my right-hand man for three more trips. This group was so good that it has been next to impossible to name MVP performers. It would be very hard to name those few students who were not. They set a standard that very few groups that followed could reach. Joe Gerber would eventually earn Hall of Fame status for his excellent work with excursion four and excursion ten.
A top Five group
Allison Adams Chris Allmon Maricar Angus Kristin Batdorf Ann Boudreau Leslie Carmena Mathew Dolesh
Christopher Faber Joseph Gerber Anna Gonzalez Samantha Guido Monica Harriman Della Harrison Kim Hinkell
Aleisha Hogan Melissa Hugh Jennifer Jacobi Nina Jacobi Ron Keter Tricia Kullberg Tishe Leonis
Kara Maestro Mercy Malick Ellen Martello Bettina McElmore Mary McKenzie Ryan Mendenhall John Moy
Bryan O’Reilly Amaka Ozobia Alan Robertson Julie Schreiber Jan Sherwood Chris Thompson Jill Vestal Julie Wolf
Return to Barn
Near Lake Louise, Alberta Canada
S
Excursion Five June 1989: Lies, Damn Lies, Statistics, Faculty Lies
ome trips have literally named themselves. Assembling this roster for excursion five was another exciting experience. Four of my tennis players were signed up, without any prompting on my part. My tennis athletes didn’t work out too well on excursion Three. This time I hoped it would be different. Brooke Allmon Cathy Antonello Unlike the previous trip, I did not have to deny participation Erin Berkowitz to anyone. Okay, maybe a few. During the registration period, Chad Fay two applicants had a public fight over a perceived girl-friend Jon Bilstein situation. Not wanting to inherit the problem, I called them in to Richard Blue my office after school and told them that Sallie Becker I was going to deny participation to both. Andrea Brady Stephanie Bruzzese I would not be an arbitrator attempting to sort out the details. They met with Art Cambeiro each other that evening and paid me a Jonathan Charles visit the next day to assure me that their Michael Cicoria conflict had been settled. In fact, they both Jennifer Davison dropped they relationship with that young lady that night. They Katerina Eliades were model performers on the trip and became good friends Stefano Fasano thereafter. In fact, one young man was one of my tennis players Jennifer Fellwock and encouraged the other to try out in the fall. He earned his Alyson Fine way on and was a part of my state-champion team in the fall. Aaron Fust Cheryl Gariti Nina Jacobi Friends had recruited similar type of applicants, much to my Betsy Kummer delight. It soon became obvious that another high-quality group Angel Manos was in the making. Coach Walsh and Coach Inch were back for Sarah Lawyer another spin of the wheel. Bill was back as our driver and he Krissy Luthy recruited a brand-new bus. Kristin Lysgaard Colleen Mackay Sandra Martinez As an annual event, “the female moderator crisis” this year Michelle McGuire was no exception. Last minute faculty cancellations in late Scott Meecham April and May of previous commitments left me in the lurch. Deric Merino Up stepped a pair of angels from the great class of 1989 to Erin Rogich serve as moderators. Jennifer Burns and Angela Haddad had Martina Miller been outstanding seniors planning to attend schools they Danielle Peot had never seen. I had worked with both as seniors and had Tracy Ryan Jennifer as an exceptional student-aid as well. They would go Michael Recuber on to perform strict room checks and everything else I could Lauren Sloan have ever expected from moderators. They added their very Briana Tiberti pleasant personalities and intelligence to the group. They Jennifer Schwartz both had maturity beyond their years. By trip’s end, I foresaw Danielle Sherwood a permanent solution to the female moderator problem. This Nikki Tegano was not to be however, as the school administration demanded Jennifer Yi either teachers or other married school personnel serve as Denae Watkins female moderators.
For the second consecutive year we were staying overnight after the first day in San Diego. Following our usual Sunday departure and breakfast in Barstow we made informal visits of Whittier College and UC San Diego (pictrured) in a casual, relaxed, efficient manner. We stayed the Sunday night in La Mesa, near San Diego, at our first Super-8 motel. The motel was a comfortable accommodation that did not need security. Roving security served as an excellent after hour moderator. It was so good that even when motels didn’t employ these people. I sometimes alluded to the fact that if caught by one of these people, it was game set match for a flight home the next day. Food services were within easy walking distance. Room checks went smoothly, and it had been an excellent rigorous first day. USD was our first order of business on Monday, and Angela got to see her eventual school. Many new facilities had been opened since excursion one, and it was becoming more difficult to gain admissions as it was gaining popularity outside of the state of California. The two-hour visit was handled by an experienced admissions officer who was becoming a good friend of mine as well. The tours were more extensive than in the past. The book store did robust sales that morning. So did the student union where snacks and drinks were always in fashion. This would true on all our future visits. Before leaving San Diego, we made an informal stop at US International University. It had been earning a name for itself by playing an aggressive collegiate basketball schedule. What we found astonished the entire group. The buildings we saw were all on trailers and looked like they could be moved at short notice. A stop at the admissions office was not necessary, and we were quickly back on the road and headed north. A stop at Redlands was made to use our ability to control rush-hour traffic in L.A. It was a rare afternoon visit and following a very spirited extended meeting in San Diego, the small liberal arts college did not appeal as well with the group. Redlands was usually the first stop on excursions to California. As the first school visited, it was more impressive in the eyes of the travelers. The trip to Anaheim was against traffic and went smoothly. Anytime we did not have to sit in bumper to bumper traffic it was some kind of major victory. A fight for a Parking Space Our stay in Anaheim produced an immediate classic moment at our first-time motel. We were staying across from Disneyland on Katella Blvd. In a place that had a small parking lot. When we arrived, a designated parking space was marked off saying “reserved” for bus parking only. Naturally, I thought it was meant for us, so I moved the cone and Bill pulled into the space. I went to the office to register the group. Another tour bus pulled into the motel as I was leaving the office, and a very upset tour guide came running to me, demanding that we move our bus. In his excitement, our discussion did not go well, and the tour guide became
more visibly upset. So, did I. He threatened to use the physical force of his driver until Charlie Walsh uttered. “I don’t know about your driver, but our driver is just getting off our bus”. All six-foot nine inches of Bill appeared, just as their older and much smaller driver made his appearance. That was all it took, and their bus would be parked on the street on the back side of the motel for the next three nights. In all fairness, the reserved space had probably been meant for the other bus. Since we could not move the bus, coaches Walsh, Inch, and Seif took a public bus to see a baseball game between the Angels and the Cleveland Indians. Jennifer and Angela were in full charge without knowing it. We figured to be back by room check which we had set back by an hour to give us time to return. The group took the later room-check as a compliment for their good behavior. They in-fact earned that extra time. The public buses were crowded but we managed to get there on time. We saw the Angels beat the Indians in regulation time. We left the game early to avoid the crowds on Katella Blvd and to get back in time. With no incidents by the group to report, we had returned on time for our room checks. The positive reputation of the group began to grow. The female contingent was perhaps the best of any excursion group and by a large margin. This included our excellent moderators. Tuesday brought us to the Claremont Colleges in the morning. Jennifer got to see her school and the community it was in. As always, the five-college tour was an excellent experience. The highly selective schools always extolled the virtues of small liberal arts colleges established in a New England setting. My moderators became two for two in excellence and satisfaction with their choices. College representatives from each college presented introductory programs about the highlight of their programs as we toured their campus. After this year, a designated representative from the Claremont cluster would conduct the five-college tour and talk. It would never be as good. From Claremont we traveled the short distance to Occidental College before finishing off the day at Pepperdine. It was at the latter stop that gave the trip a new perspective. Our tour and talk were reasonably routine. Our obligatory visit to the book store that day produced unusual compliments from the store manager, who left the store to find me drinking coffee in the Pepperdine Union coffee bar. She praised the girls on my tour for their maturity and good taste. I knew these translated to sales of various products. The total came to more than $1,400, clearly an overwhelming amount. The shopping bags placed on the bus confirmed this first shopping spree. This pattern would continue throughout Southern California until I announced that we were running out of space on the bus and with the luggage down below. As a mildly weak solution, visits to book stores were shortened. “Your parents wanted you to see the schools, not bring them back with you.” It became obvious that premium charge cards had replaced limited cash budgets for a selective few. My pretrip newsletters had suggested only a modest budget for the trip.
Our visits to USC and UCLA went very well but they did not have the impact of the previous year. While the schools had less appeal, the thurst to shop was almost insatiable. Aunt and uncles and all kinds of distant cousins seemed to the reciprients. More shopping bags from their bookstores were the result. By this time our girls could have conducted a fashion show of college clothing. On our trip north we left comfortably for our extended trip on the bus. We finally got to visit UC Santa Cruz. We had been forced to cancel our meeting two years earlier with the unfortunate Ricky Asson injury. The setting overlooking the Pacific Ocean was majestic. We could not take our bus up the hill. We had to leave it at the visitor’s center and take a university vehicle with our guides. The tour and talk were interesting and informative. Everything else suggested it was not a school for Gorman students. In our group was a student who had transferred to Gorman from Beverly Hills and dressed to the image throughout the entire trip. She had no idea what the word casual meant. While walking with me in the last group of three, she asked me where the other horses were kept? I looked up to see only a beautiful deer standing on the road behind me. She wasn’t pulling my leg and freely admitted it was her first time she had been out of Los Angeles to see nature. Many of us take this for granted. I did not ask any more questions. The school would not be a Gorman favorite and was a one and only visit for the excursion program. Our motel for the remaining nights was in Sunnyvale, the next community north of Santa Clara. It was a great location for access to the freeways. Eating choices were abundant and close by the motor hotel. Our morning visit at Santa Clara University was highly productive and was a favorite of the group. Souvenirs were piled on the bus which was really running out of space. The next incident of shopping involved our entrance to Stanford. The sight of a Nordstrom’s drew a large cheer from the bus. It was too far to walk from where the bus disembarked the group, and the motor-coach needed to be cleaned and re-fueled. The normal purchases in San Francisco and at Berkeley would add to the weight of the luggage. All those who loaded and unloaded these bags (Bill and I) were easily aware of the accumulating weight. An Object Lessen In the afternoon, there were several other one-time visits of schools. We visited Dominican College (right), Menlo College(left, and Foothills Junior College. The first two were formal visits. The rep at Menlo blatantly stated that he would accept anyone sitting in the room. That sounded impressive for some but after all, at that time, it was mostly a twoyear college with a business school that was a four-year program. The group’s academic profile sent to all hosted schools would make this a reality at many of these visited institutions.
The junior college visit was the result of some comments made after our visits of Menlo (left) and Dominican colleges. It was an object lesson to not look down upon small private schools who were respectively kind to us. Dominican had provided us with meal tickets and fed the group a healthy lunch in their cafeteria. They put themselves out and had to call in additioal personel to hand a large group such as ours. As we walked the beautiful Foothill College campus (pictured), I spoke of humility. I had been there once before. Foothills had a wonderful reputation for students in the bay area to start their education. It also served as a rest stop. We were done with our visitations for the day and the extra college made the timing right for the return to the motel. That evening I suffered some humility of my own when the coaches were caught carrying our evening refreshments. I had suggested taking a path around the back of the motel where we wouldn’t be seen. Unfortunately, most of the rooms faced the back and we were seen by most of the crew from their balconies. The free time in San Francisco the next day continued to be an excursion high point. Freedom for students and moderators to go their separate ways for a few hours near the end of the journey was not only enjoyable but necessary. It was a rejuvenation. The drop off and pick-up locations were again across the street from the Maritime Museum. On this day, I became a shopper as well, of souvenirs and Ghiradelli candy. By the late afternoon, I found an attractive pub in the famous candy square of shops overlooking the Maritime Museum. I can clearly remember having two Amstel Light beers with Charlie Walsh. I said that indeed he was a lucky charm as the two groups he had escorted had been near perfect. Timing was the key, but on this Saturday, I was relaxed and without worry. I always allowed for late arrivals, and only a few came running to the bus with shopping bags. Everyone was in good spirits and waiting for late-comers was a pleasant experience as participants could exchange their adventures of the day. Never Assume The last night of the trip provided some unusual dramatics. As mentioned, Sunnyvale was the next community north of Santa Clara/San Jose. On this last night of our stay, there was a scheduled San Jose State University (pictured) party to be held in multiple rooms. I was alerted to this fact by the front desk when we checked in. I was in the office discussing our departure time when some of these big good-looking bruisers started to arrive. I thought that some of them could be varsity football players. I braced for the worst and visited with our female moderators to alert them to this circumstance.
I learned an important lesson that night. Things are not always what they seem. It was the boys that needed to be advised. They hung out together in two rooms, and I allowed an exception to excursion rules of staying in your own rooms after room check. Only the boys had been invited to the party. The girls were told to stand-down, and they were not happy about it. Neither the boys nor the girls were in good spirits on the ride home but for vastly different reasons. They took an excursion record number of pillows and blankets from the motel who sent me the bill and suggested that we not come back. We did make a lethargic stop at Fresno State on the way home to use as a lunch break. Post-Trip Analysis: Excursion five was another incredibly mature, talented, fun group to be around. By their actions on the trip, their academic talent, and their athletic abilities, they required many hours that fall to write their letters of recommendations during the next academic year. This was the fourth group in the five trips that I was asked write on behalf of more than a majority of the participants. This would not happen in the future and stands as testimony to the greatness of the students of excursions One, Two Four and Five. Recommendations on behalf of these exceptional young-adults was made more accommodating by the positive encounters on the trip and outstanding performances at school. The additional paragraph or two spoke to character and personality traits. They were real-world experiences and some our college representative would thank me for my detailed evaluations of their candidates. My four tennis players came through with flying colors. Excursion five was one of the very best of the excursion groups and was responsible for my not terminating my five-year college travel program experiment. As with excursion four it was very difficult to designate MVP’s. Based on their performances on this trip and their contribution on future trips and at school, Brook Allmon, Stephanie Bruzzese, Jennifer Fellwock, Deric Merino, Danielle Sherwood, Briana Tiberi, Nina Jacobi, Danielle Peot and Sandra Martinez were granted Hall of Fame status.
Claremont Colleges
Many of my photos came from the back of the pack. It was for security purposes and a vigil to not lose stragglers who need to use restrooms on our way to the bus
USD At the UC Santa Barbara student union for lunch
UC Sant Cruz above Santa Clara University
Brooke Allmon Cathy Antonello Erin Berkowitz Chad Fay Jon Bilstein Richard Blue Sallie Becker
Andrea Brady Stephanie Bruzzese Art Cambeiro Jonathan Charles Michael Cicoria Jennifer Davison Katerina Eliades
Stefano Fasano Jennifer Fellwock Alyson Fine Aaron Fust Cheryl Gariti Nina Jacobi Betsy Kummer
Angel Manos Sarah Lawyer Krissy Luthy Kristin Lysgaard Colleen Mackay Sandra Martinez Michelle McGuire
Scott Meecham Deric Merino Erin Rogich Martina Miller Danielle Peot Tracy Ryan Michael Recuber
Lauren Sloan Briana Tiberti Jennifer Schwartz Danielle Sherwood Nikki Tegano Jennifer Yi Denae Watkins
Return to Barn
Going -to-the-sun highway Glacier National Park
A
Excursion Six June 1990: Too Many Colleges to Visit
fter two very successful excursions, I pushed the program too far. For reasons that made very little practical or tactical sense, I created the first of four excursions to the Pacific Northwest. Perhaps this being the sixth trip of a program originally planned for five, my ego might have gotten the better of me. The decision to take a group to see colleges in Oregon and Washington was helped along by the college representatives who visited Gorman in the fall and saw the group pictures hanging in the Student Services Center, just outside my office. Their desire to be part of the program was compelling and trying to satisfy a growing constituency was impossible. I had an explorer’s mentality seeking to expand opportunities in Oregon and Washington. I had personally visited all the schools I would take students to visit. There was a reality that admissions were easier to obtain in the northwest than the competitive schools of California. In any event, the idea had merit, but the itinerary contained too many colleges in too short a period. For that alone I should have earned time in the penalty box or been locked-up (right). To drop a school from being visited meant facing them the next fall with a weak excuse or with the hard truth that their school was no longer as popular on the trip as it had been in the first five years. My own arrogance perhaps wanted to see just how many schools I could visit. I reasoned that the participants were young and full of energy, and maybe the adults would have to drag themselves around too many campuses. Who knew it would be the other way around on this trip? It would be the only time I would combine both north and south California with Oregon and Washington, and I regretted making that choice almost from the very start. There were some positives already learned through the excursion experience. I booked motels for at least two-day stays. This meant less packing and unpacking and meant fewer bags to toss on and take off the bus. The school insisted that I find non-student moderators as per parent request. I had previously tried to recruit the parents of students I knew from previous trips and some who had students on the current trip but to no avail. The excursion program hit a pronounced high-water mark when the school allowed student service secretaries Eileen Bortoli and Donna Geary to fill the most important role of female moderators. They knew the participants through student services, did not have to teach them, and had children of their own. All this came with individuals who were highly efficient, professional, capable, friendly and personable. My frustration over female moderators was enough currently to cancel the trip and complete my five-year experience.
College representatives had begun to ask me openly; “Seriously, how do recruit for this trip”? It was a male response to the many attractive female students and moderators participating in the school’s excursion program. I assured them for the second consecutive trip that I did not recruit students. They either registered, or they didn’t. It was not within my control. No one believed me no matter how serious I made my answer. My new two lovely adult moderators only encouraged their inquiries. I finally admitted that our entire student body had that same attractive look so I could never be accused of any form of recruitment. There was no sale on that explanation. Fr. Hall’s Good Faith: During registration for this trip, I had denied participation for three boys who sported very poor disciplinary records. On the two-previous trips, I had seen these denials work effectively. Fr. Hall was a counselor that year and at one of our meetings spoke on behalf of the boys. He said, “these are basically good boys, and if you chose to take them, they won’t hurt you”. He was wrong! The return presence of coach Walsh and coach Inch put numerous cross-country and track members on the roster. This turned out to be a totally positive aspect as these runners were typically very fine highly achieved individuals. This would turn out to be a totally correct assumption. With Bill Hood back as our driver with another brand-new motor-coach, we were the 1927 Yankees on the road. My son Doug was also aboard. At thirteen years of age, it would be his third trip in six years. He would now be my personal assistant, an important job he would continue to do well into the future. This ten-day trip departed on a Friday. The routine of first day visits of Redlands and USD went well. We stayed the night in San Diego at a place not far from our motel two years before. This year I took the group to see the San Diego Padres play the St. Louis Cardinals. The location of the comfortable motor lodge was not in a great neighborhood. I did not want participants to walk around by themselves. I looked at the ball game as a safer option. The ladies stayed in the motel with those who did not want to go to the game. We were not far from the stadium which in those days was three exits west on I-8. The general admissions tickets paid for by the kids were not expensive and eating in the ball park was always fun. We left the game after the seventh inning to avoid most of traffic. We returned to motel well in advance of the room check hour, and a successful first day ended. Two colleges, a ball game, and the long drive from Las Vegas spoke well of the group. That night, the three male moderators and an un-named female moderator took a walk to get a six pack of beer and some wine. It was a stupid unnecessary act in a rough area. It was a longer than expect walk to find a convenience store. We were fortunate to not get stopped by a very unsavory group that night. Place that mistake on my tab.
The visits of schools in San Diego and the Los Angeles area went without incident. The bus rolled from campus to campus using our trusty base of operations in Anaheim as a hub. We stopped at colleges and universities for visits that lasted less than two hours. At Occidental, I led an informal tour of the campus. I took the group to the football field and track. In a whim, one of the track stars teased Doug that he couldn’t beat him in a race around the track. Doug too the challenge and came remarkably close earning him instant respect from the boys. Later in the trip he would earn the respect of the moderators by carry beverages up a hill in Portland. I quickly knew that we were visiting too many places, but the itinerary had been set and could not be changed. The best I could do at short notice was to end our visits before their usual two-hour duration. To their credit, there were few complaints, and group performance was excellent at every stop. Following a highly productive visit of Loyola Marymount on Tuesday morning, I directed the bus to Marina Del Rey (pictured). An advertised lunch special in the L.A. times that morning brought several of us in the group to a restaurant that served a fantastic full Lobster lunch special for $9. Our driver ate two of them. If it was a loss-leader then they lost money on our group. Those not joining the adults had many other options. Visits to USC, and Pepperdine went efficiently. Students seemed to be having a good time, but that was always hard to judge. Complaints were easier to access but I was not getting any of those. We stayed that night in the San Fernando Valley at a motel on Van Nuys Blvd. The desk clerk at the place told us to caution our students that the neighborhood was best traveled in groups. The danger of selecting a motel for the first time on a trip could accurately describe rooms and facilities but not the neighborhood area. Three-star ratings did not access the area. Armed security Guards on the property reinforced the warning of the night-clerk. That evening while walking back from diner, coach Inch thought he saw a group of Gorman track/cross country students in the distance and on the other side of the street. Before I could respond, He yelled, “Hey, get your asses back here.” They were not our boys but after that invitation, came running down the block just as well. We ducked into the motel, being let in by security. News of the encounter spread quickly through the group. It was a quiet night in very comfortable rooms. An important reason for my ever denying a student participation to the excursion program involved the outcomes of admissions. Those with lower than 3.0 grades would quickly realize that most colleges visited sought students above that achievement. Some individuals could take this disappointing truth, while other could not. On the previous trip I had visited some smaller schools including a very attractive two-year school in the Bay area that had more liberal admissions. They were not well reviewed by the highly achieved crowd. Consequently, excursion six visited more selective schools. The group was made up of mostly high achievers with several students at the very high end. This worked to the delight of the colleges we visited who marveled at the group’s profile. The students on the lower-end of grades suffered for their lack of performance, and it was very discouraging for them despite
my pre-trip warning that this would occur over and over again. Signs of a lack of sleep and general fatigue were present that day as they were on every trip. I could put students in their rooms, but I could not force them to turn out the lights. Maybe I should have added that to the rules, but the trip was about freedom to make choices. Wednesday allowed for a short ride with numerous stops along the way. Breakfast at a Denny’s outside of Santa Barbara in the marine layer became etched on my memory to this very day. The entire group had breakfast in that Denny’s and earned their first public compliment. I can envision the scene and the location, but this could have been excursion four or five as well. I just can’t remember. A nice informal visit to UC Santa Barbara eased the bad annual memory of excursion 3. As we parked the bus at Santa Barbara, an excursion moment occurred. We had been watching the original “Die-Hard” movie on the trip up from L.A. It should have been over by the time we reached Santa Barbara. Bill of course was only watching the road. He beat the expected two-hour drive by fifteen minutes. When we arrived, everyone was affixed on the movie and I told Bill to keep the bus running, so they could watch the ending. People in the parking lot gawked at the bus in disbelief. Since the visit was informal, we had no time constraints. The movie ended, and it was “follow me” to the student union. We stayed at a Super-Eight motel in San Luis Obispo. I found a listing in my AAA book for a lovely Italian restaurant within walking distance from our location. The moderators walked more than a mile to this eatery where we were able to dine outdoors in a garden. It was a wonderful experience. We would need it. During the routine room checks that night, Coach Walsh and I walked into a room where the shine of Coors “Silver Bullets” caught our eyes if not blinded us. They were poorly concealed, and it was much too obvious. In fact, they could have invited us in for a few beers and been less obvious. My question to the other moderators was whether they got busted intentionally thinking we would send them home from San Francisco at the first opportunity. They were not distressed by being caught which added to my theory. They would have been the first excursion participants to be sent home, and it was an attractive alternative I chose not to take. I would regret that decision sooner than I thought. I do not recall what happened to those Silver Bullets. We awoke to a clear beautiful morning and faced an easy ride to Santa Clara for another wonderful visit at the university. By now I could direct the bus in my sleep. Only construction could stand in my way. By now the road that cut the great university in half was re-routed around the campus improving the campus setting. No longer did I have to worry about my group crossing the main
thoroughfare. It was on to Stanford for a leisurely informal visit and lunch. By now I knew where the excellent sandwich shop was on the back side of the union. They always served great burgers and sandwiches. I met Joe Gerber for lunch [class of 89 and exc.4] and we compared stories. Things couldn’t have been better for the next hour or so. I was punished for my expulsion decision that afternoon when participants found me in the front of the union. One of these boys that “couldn’t hurt me” got busted in the Stanford bookstore for the theft of a sixteen-dollar baseball cap. He was held in a room near the front of the store surrounded by a security guard who thought he was Clint Eastwood playing “Dirty Harry”. I was quickly found and summoned from the union to see justice at its lowest point. The rude wannabe read the young man and me the riot act. I could not defend the perpetrator, so I went on the offensive on the person with the large mouth. I slapped down $16 down in front of him, “Either book him or get out of my way, our bus is waiting.” I could do a version of Clint Eastwood as well. I walked out of the office wondering if I had made the right decision to defend this student and not just call his parents. It was a long ride to our Bay area accommodations in Concord (40 miles from the Bay Bridge). The Best Western I had also selected from my AAA tour book would turn out to be an excursion favorite for years. The bus badly needed a cleaning and would get it in San Francisco during our free time. Despite having our rooms on all ends of the large motel, the night was peaceful and without incident. Friday dawned on another beautiful day as we took an odd route to Stockton, CA and the University of the Pacific for a formal visit. It was one of the schools that most of the students on the tour could be admitted, so interest was pretty good among the less achieved students. From there we came back via the freeway to visit UC Berkeley and Saint Marys before completing the circular route. Berkeley was again the freak show that could entertain almost everyone. Finding a parking place for the bus was hit or miss and this time we hit. On the other side of the mountains, Saint Marys was rural with no parking problems. The formal tour there was conducted by a priest who did not like to hear the comments coming from the crowd. Guess who? At the end of a long three college day with three hours of travel time, everybody was seeking to just get back to the motel, so I cut the group some slack. It was a tiring day for the entire contingent including the moderators. When we returned to the motel, materials given to us by colleges were strewn about the motor-coach. Despite my consistent reminders to keep the bus clean, it was rarely kept that way. I spent many hours over the life of the program picking up literature or material that could have been placed in the two hefty bags that were provided. Such was the cost of running the excursion program. Our driver Bill indicated that
the bus would be cleaned the next day and that he expected the group to keep it that way for the remainder of the trip. The teenagers did not like the tone of authority or the message. They were clearly fatigued and just wanted to get to their rooms. The area around the Best Western had some great eating choices. While the adults took advantage of this, the McDonald’s next to the motel was the popular choice among students. The remainder of the night was peaceful and without incident. The next day would not. The day started early for coach Inch and members of the cross-country team. It was the second straight day they began a 6 AM run through the nearby hills. Enthusiasm ran high within the group for our free-time. The group needed it after trudging through one campus after another. A visit to USF was a superficial walk around campus with me as the guide. It was a very short tour on a very small campus. Freetime thoughts were dominant. At the release point, I reminded everyone to be back by seven PM. Coach Walsh was meeting friends and would receive a ride back to the motel. Coach Inch was to meet with his brother and would take a few members of
his cross-country team on a tour of the Livermore Laboratories in Berkeley. They also would not be back for pick-up. [The Livermore Laboratories were up the hill in Berkeley]
Doug and I spent a pleasant day in San Francisco. We did some tourist attractions that I had previously by-passed. A nice day turned to despair when fewer students than expected showed-up for departure at the end of the day. It would turn out to be the least of my worries. I was told that some of the boys had returned to the motel using Bart which terminated in Concord. It was a good distance to the motel from there, and my mind envisioned only the bad things that could have happened to them on the way. For several reasons, Bill didn’t like how the bus was left prior to the cleaning in San Francisco. He told me that he was chewed-out by his company’s dispatch officer who
had received a complaint from the company who cleaned the bus. It was a bad time to voice his displeasure and a warning for the second time in two days. The trip back to the motel was one of uncertainty and distress. My anxiety lessened as I accounted for the missing boys not with coach Inch. They claimed to not be interested in the San Francisco sights and wanted to return to the motel to sleep. They would have been excused for the day had they approached me before departure. Then again, maybe not? Could I have trusted them at the motel? Room checks came and went and no return of coaches Walsh and Inch. No messages were left (remember, there were no cell phones in those days) which again made me very nervous. Coach Walsh returned by eleven and promptly went to bed. He was in no shape to listen to my tales of woe. At midnight, I began to fear that an automobile accident might have befallen coach Inch and the boys. It was a very scary situation as time went on. My son reminded me that a parental call to one of the missing students would be devastating since a follow-up call to me would only produce fewer answers and more anguish. I had no news to tell them. While I was in panic mode, I had to consider when I should call those parents and ask if they had spoken to their sons? I began to pace the parking lot hoping to see a car pull up. At 12:30 AM, I began to make plans to return to Las Vegas the following day rather than head north. I was at my breaking point and a return home seemed to be my only logical decision. Thirty minutes later I ran out the door as I heard a car pull up. It was the boys with coach Inch. I took a deep breath, let the boys say good-night to each other and prompted them to get to bed. Coach Inch told me a story that my tired brain would not accept. With the boys finally in their rooms, I expressed myself clearly using language that could not be misunderstood! On to the Northwest as some Angels Rise and others Fall. It was on to Oregon the next morning. The group was somewhat quiet and subdued. I informed Eileen and Donna about what had transpired. They were surprised that I let coach Inch on the bus. So was I. Breakfast in Williams CA, brought forth more bad news. Our driver had been awakened at 3:00 AM and not permitted to return to sleep. He knew they were the voices of girls on the other end but nothing more. How nice! Punish the driver responsible for the safety of all on board. It was the last time a driver’s room would be placed on my clipboard or reported to the front desk. Bill said he was okay to drive when I suggested that we turn for home. Erin Kohlmeyer and Corrina Young came to the rescue shortly after breakfast and earned MVP status by providing excellent movies for the VCR. So enthralled was the group watching Mel Brooks’ History of the World: Part One, that few people recognized our Oregon entrance.
The timing could not have been more perfect. Bill was fine, but I took a few extra breaks to make sure. Rest areas in Oregon offer free coffee for all travelers. He didn’t drink coffee. We arrived in Eugene, at the Best Western Greentree Inn (pictured) somewhat later than planned but in very good spirits. We had another very comfortable motel for the next two days. This one was across the street from the University of Oregon. It was the discovery of the House of Chen next door that made my highlight reel. The cool, clean Oregon air made the visits of Oregon State in the morning and the University of Oregon in the afternoon distinctively pleasant. We again returned to the House of Chen for house specialties that were incredible. A relaxing evening and a peaceful night were in sharp contrast to the previous night. By late evening, I even began to speak to coach Inch. I never questioned the boys about their late arrival. Never would our friendship ever be the same or would he be a moderator.
The next day’s poor judgment in planning would be all on me. On paper, it had looked quite feasible. Visit schools in the Willamette river valley and end the night in Portland. These small private colleges had visited Gorman each year since 1982. They knew of the excursion program and encouraged me to visit. They were excited and prepared for our arrivals. Each one kept us longer than I had planned, making us late everywhere we went. After visiting Willamette University (pictured above) in Salem, we ate lunch downtown in a mall, before arriving late at Linfield College. An incident at Linfield with the boys who “could not hurt me” resulted in more bad language from my mouth. I was clearly understood after that for the rest of the day. The people at Pacific University in Forest Grove waited an hour for us to arrive at 5:30. Not to be cheated, they gave us a long tour and talk and by now the faces of the group showed sincere fatigue. It was too much to ask from any group, and we had three more college visitations the next day. Our Portland hotel was a multiple story building. Fortunately, they put the group on one floor making room checks easy to
do. The group by now had showed a few faults but remained very good within our accommodations.
Room checks that night was uneventful. The schools we had visited offered little interest for many of those we sampled. The next day went better. A morning appointment at the University of Portland (left) went well, as we were precisely on time. Lewis & Clark College (middle) was a pleasant surprise for many in the group. Both schools have incredibly beautiful campuses and chances for admission was encouraging. After a lunch in downtown Portland, we visited Reed College, a highly selective liberal institution that disdained inter-collegiate sports. The four tour guides indicated the very liberal nature of the college, as we couldn’t tell the guys from the girls aside from the name tags. For some, the school was a shock, and for others it ranked as one of their top schools visited. A tour of their science facilities and an interesting demonstration was well received. The current student newspaper was provocative and ultra-liberal and was quite entertaining. We returned to our Portland motel for another night. For the second straight night the adults ate dinner after nine PM. I noticed that as we traveled north the daylight was extended greatly. It was an important observation. At room check that night I made an executive decision. We had only the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma to visit the next day. Those who wanted to go would meet at the bus the next morning. Those who wanted to sleep-in could stay behind under the guidance of coach Inch. Lightning doesn’t usually strike twice in the same place. Twenty-nine participants boarded the bus. The sub-group was comprised of mostly female participants. I knew immediately that I had made the correct decision. The two-and-a-half-hour trip brought us to another very attractive campus. I now felt somewhat satisfied that exposure to the northwest had been worthwhile. The tour and talk were very pleasant and put everyone in a good mood. I now made another executive decision. We would go the thirty miles to Seattle and enjoy some bonus free time. I knew there would be extended daylight to eventually return to Portland. Those on the bus were highly trustworthy and reliable. I guided the bus to the Seattle Center (Space Needle). I gave the group three hours to explore and ride the monorail which proved to be a major success. Everyone returned to our meeting point on time and we made the three-hour trip to Portland in two and a half. There had been conflict amongst the a few boys at the motel that day and I was informed that all had been peacefully resolved. What the heck, we were on our way home. The ride to Reno was long but interesting. We took numerous breaks and took an hour for lunch in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Bill, Doug and I took two girls to Girl’s
State in Carson City. Their ride had already left Reno. Bill had to drive off the main highway onto a dirt road to get us there. This was done in the dark of night. We had gone from the ultra-liberal atmosphere at Reed to the Ultra-Conservative Girl’s State (Think Daughters of the American Revolution). We returned to Reno to have our third consecutive 9 PM diner. We had dinner at coach Walsh’s notorious “The Wall”. The two girls not in the group picture were lucky enough to be selected for Girl’s State. I can only imagine the stories they would tell their group that week. On the final day, Coach Walsh, a proud “Wolf-pack” graduate, led a tour of the campus. It was done with great pride. Post Trip Analysis: I created a trip that visited too many schools. It was a bad idea to stop at 32 colleges and universities in a two-week period. It would have challenged the best of any group of participants. I did not deny the trip to students where it was warranted. Those three were the only blemishes on a really great group of young adults. As a note, I did have permission slips for those students who went with coach Inch. The mistakes I made would modify excursions in the future. The program was still a work-in-process. On the plus side, and with just a few exceptions, this was my third great student group in succession. The sophomores on the trip would form the nucleus of the class of 1992 which set records for where students enrolled and their success in gaining admissions all across the nation. I had another good year in writing recommendations. The selection of motels in the Northwest was excellent. The attractiveness of the schools in the region brought more Gorman students to meetings in the fall. It would be the last trip for Bill my legendary driver, and coach Inch who shortly left Gorman. I had nothing to do with his leaving. There were quite a few MVP participants on this trip. They stood out for general performance and concern for others. Included in this group was Melissa Beuchat, Chis Fain (my tennis player), Shayna Hollingsworth, Patrick Grady, Erin Kohlmeyer, Jenne O’Brien, Donna Pezzullo, Corrina Young, and Julie Wong. Addie Moran also earned this honor and left the group on the weekend to perform with a dance group back in Las Vegas. She returned without incident before we left for Oregon. She was a class act all the way. Jennifer Jacobi, Erin Kohlmeyer, and Corrina Young earned Hall of Fame status.
Melissa Beuchat Christian Brebbia Cherin Brown Dave Charles Edward Crawford John Dermody Cynthia Edmonds Jennifer Elks Chris Fain
Jennifer Fleischman April Evangelista Neil Evans Doug Fallon Michael Fleming Eric Freeman Brian Hinkell Patrick Grady
Shayna Hollingsworth Kelly Houssels Jennifer Jacobi Michael Hefner Quinn Johnson Melissa Juardines Sarah King Erin Kohlmeyer David Maffey
Kathryne Maffey Bryan Madrigal Veronica Melamed Addie Moran Jenne O’Brien John Ohriner Donna Pezzullo Vittal Ram David Mullins
Chris Plutte Brett Thomas Michael Thrower Sean Toman Danny Yi Corinna Young Julie Wong
Return to Barn
Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
A
Excursion # 7: June 1991: A Christmas Present in June
s much as excursion six possessed participant challenges, the excursion seven group was totally the opposite. They were simply a joy to be around. They were perhaps the nicest group of teenagers that I had the pleasure of traveling with. They were also the smallest group to date by number. They were so good that I would have paid for the privilege of being a moderator on this trip. Instead I went for free. An attempt to return to the Northwest failed badly. My original itinerary reflected what I had learned the hard-way from the previous trip. It included only northern California, Oregon and Washington. Perhaps the damage had been done with the excursion six, and/or the lack of interest was just the reality. Before excursion seven was announced it contained a placid itinerary to only California. Even at that, it barely survived the registration process. My driver changed from big Bill to the much shorter Larry who drove the bus on my last tennis state championship team to Reno in the fall of 1990. My moderators were again Eileen Bortoli, Donna Geary, and an injured coach Walsh (non-drinking hand). Coach Walsh had injured his shoulder two days before our departure. The freak injury took place at Gorman on the last day of school. I was on the scene that day but was not the cause of the accident. It was severe enough that his participation was doubtful and his performance on the trip was a profile of courage. Fr. Bibeault made his second trip and was joined by Fr. Dan Nolan my counseling colleague. Dr. Erbach went along to provide quality control. It was likely that this impressive array of students was responsible for the great adult support. It was a winwin situation. This group was so reliable and trustworthy that moderators were hardly needed. Perhaps, the presence of so many great adults may have had some impact on that situation. In any event, they were a highly personable collection of congenial fun-to-be-around teens who would receive accolades for their general demeanor and maturity. Within this group, we had a legitimate stand-up comic who had performed on stage. Other members were equally provocative if not as talented. Compliments for group behavior came directly from the college reps who provided the information sessions at the visited schools. This was the only group picture that I could put faces with all the roster names on the first try. Future letters of recommendations for these exceptional people were easy to write when the time came to produce them.
The group made a splash in Southern California with the representatives who hosted our visits. The men had formerly wanted to know on previous trips how I recruited these excursions, now wanted to know how to sign up to be a moderator with one. It was taken as a nice compliment in a slightly male chauvinistic sort of a way. Political correctness was certainly less of an issue in those days. The reps found it curious that I was traveling with two Priests and the principal of the school. I told them that my job was “on the line” if I didn’t show that the excursion program was more than a “rolling beer blast” up the coast. Since I was attempting to fabricate a false scenario to so many male admissions people, I took advantage of the one-armed coach Walsh. I explained that he was my moderator who usually had our beers and coctails on ice by the time the other adults had settled into their rooms. There was some truth to that statement, but on this trip he was on the disabled list . The reps also appreciated the male contingent of the group as their behavior and maturity were exemplary as well. If the ensemble had any shortcomings, they needed to smile more in the group picture. Having worked on excursion files that indicated where these students applied and where they were accepted, the overall success rate was very high for these wonderful participants. The group was so cooperative that Fr. Bibeault and I engaged in two rigorous tennis matches. The first was at the Claremont Colleges. I won that that first round. It was a different story at Saint Marys where I was soundly beaten by my extraordinary tennis partner of so many delightful years. Because of a harmonious group, there are no unusual stories to tell about our formal visitations. Everybody acted appropriately at all times. The incidents of the previous year were a distant memory. I had wanted to take excursion seven back to the friendly Northwest, but again, a lack of enrollment forced me to accept a California alternative. Our visit to Santa Clara was noteworthy. It was conducted by our long-time representative Pat Casey, who spoke to the groups outside of the admissions office on the grass. She had just taken another job within the field of college education and was leaving Santa Clara. She was an excursion treasure and is currently working for a prestigious educational consulting firm. Pat had made Santa Clara University the premier stop for the excursion since its beginning. During a lunch stop at a Burger King in Moraga CA, following our formal visit of Saint Marys, a student approached me to thank me for taking him on the trip. I reminded him that it really was the other way around, that I should thank him for participating. He lamented that his grades and test scores could have and should have been better. The reality of what schools expected weighed heavily on his mind. He didn’t
think those measures could not be improved in time to help his chances for admissions. I told him that a good fall semester could go a long way since his actions on the trip had spoken louder than less important test scores. He produced a 3.5 that fall while taking as demanding a schedule as he could, and while his test scores did not improve drastically, his attempt to do so was duly noted. Call it the power of the excursion or help from my letter, but he was accepted at two of his California choices which came as somewhat of surprise to me and his family. He went on to be a four-year college graduate. One non-Gorman member of the group was a Western High School student. He had lost his father (a first responder) the previous year and was recommended to me by one of our clergy. He was a fine young man who fit in very well with an understanding group that made him feel welcomed. These intangibles greatly established the fine reputation and the character of the group. An excursion moment occurred on this trip. It was my desire to take this group up to Muir Woods National Monument north of San Francisco. I had been there twice in recent years. I contacted the Bus Company and they assured me there was no problem. Wrong! The company failed to tell our driver about the only entrance open to tour buses. Larry followed the signs after the Golden Gate Bridge. He failed to see the sign that told buses how to enter the National Monument or the sign warning that buses were not permitted to enter the monument with the cars. I missed the sign as well. A Downhill to Remember We motored up to the top of the coastal mountains before Larry realized his mistake. We stood for a minute able to read all the signs of warning. I remember saying that our best option was to turn around return the way we came. Bill Hood, our previous driver would have followed my choice. Larry did not. Rather than turn the bus around and proceed as we came he chose to follow a sign that said Sausalito. It was a bad decision. The steep downhill road took us through a rather exclusive residential neighborhood that prohibited buses. We probably weren’t the first or last motor coach to make that mistake. On that day, residents on that street came out to greet us shaking their fists to indicate we were not welcome there. As we continued to
plow through overhanging limbs of many fine trees, some residents gave us the sign that we were indeed # 1 that day. Post-Trip Analysis: The benefit of a small group, large in personal attributes was all I could have asked for. They were fun to around from day one and it never stopped. Unlike the previous trip, there were no discipline issues to relate or social issues to explore. They were just great teenagers who knew how to have fun and contribute to a healthy group environment. The moderating crew was perhaps the best in excursion history. They were the pleasant memories and stories of the moderators during the fall semester. The actions of this group gave me pleasure to write and review. The personalities were something special, and everybody was assimilated into the group. It would be meaningless to select MVP candidates as virtually everybody stood out in a similar manner. Stacy Evert and Elizabeth Beckwith would earn hall of fame status.
Elizabeth Beckwith Melanie Evangelista Stacy Evert Gina Falba Josalene Ginn Ken Grigsby
Michael Hugh Christine Jablon Jennifer Jablon Mary Keating Alissa Keller Jennifer Larkin
Daniel Lorenzo Jennifer McAndrews Anthony Miles Angela Mullins Jason Potter Dan Sullivan
Tarissa Tiberti J.J. Vasconcellos Brian Vicuna Jennifer Warren Kenneth Westfeld
Return to Barn
Western Colorado
Excursion # 8: June 1993 Kevin and the Case of the Disappearing Bus
T
here is sometimes a fine line between the sectors of being persistent, being stubborn, and being stupid. I have crossed into each of those borders many times.
In 1992, it was obvious that interest in the excursion program was at an all-time low. It was the right time to end the program. I offered a return to the Pacific Northwest with the goal of seeing fewer colleges and more beautiful scenery. With only fourteen female students signed up. I rented two vans and secured another male faculty (Rob Goodrich) to drive the other van. Eileen Bortoli the ultimate loyal angel, was willing to go. This modification ended abruptly in early May when two consecutive sleeping nightmares shook my world. In them, I witnessed two separate head-on collisions. After the second dream, I canceled the trip at the end of the school day and never looked back. In 1993, chance circumstances revived the program after I had officially retired from it. My son Doug was a sophomore at Gorman. A poor math student, I volunteered to come out of my college office to teach my first geometry class in more than ten years. I had taught the subject for twelve years and was known to be somewhat patient as a math instructor. I would need to be. Before long, my class became stocked with students who needed all the patience I could muster. This included two students who told me they hated Gorman and would flunk my class just to hasten their departure. They did just that. I also had a student who disliked my tests so much, he tore them up in front of me and the entire class. The gem of the football team, he would work hard to pass my class, and is the only Gorman student to earn a super-bowl ring. Other students just did not like math at all. Mixed in that second period class were some excellent students who wondered how they got there. I really enjoyed the class and the challenge to make it a positive experience for both the motivated and less motivated. I used some unusual tactics to improve individual performance, and when F’s turned to C’s, I proved that teachers can improve performance with more than traditional instruction. Motivated counseling and athletic coaching techniques proved to be successful tactics. The spring semester showed considerably better overall effort by many of the less-motivated and resulted in better performance. This in turn, resulted in higher overall achievement. Those who flunked the class departed. After the super-bowl in the second semester, students in the class began asking me about the upcoming college excursion. When I told them that none was planned or anticipated, they seemed genuinely disappointed.
Looking at the excursion pictures in student services, students had assumed that a trip would be offered after taking a year off. Not planning one seem to produce more of a response than the promotional efforts of the previous two years. Naturally, there was heavy interest in California. A trip without USD, LMU and USC seemed sacreligious. Two Trips Can be Better Than One With the memory of the good people of excursion seven, and armed with an “I really have nothing to lose attitude”, I created a unique plan. I would offer two trips. The June trip would go to Northern California and the Pacific Northwest coming back to visit Boise State and the University of Utah. The second trip would go in the fall while schools in Southern California were in session. The missing of school-time trip was hard to sell to Dr. Erbach, but again, I had nothing to lose. Excursion eight was unique in that it could have had a small mystery book written about it. It would be openly questioned as fiction, but sometimes the truth is more bizarre. The composite of the group was mixed in every sense. I could ill-afford to deny participation for fear of insufficient numbers. A few of the boys were borderline, yet it would be the girls that would require more scrutiny and perhaps some unexpected additional guidance. A new driver and a new bus company awaited our Friday departure. Fr. Dan Nolan was back, and my two most trusted associates, Eileen Bortoli and Donna Geary were aboard. Charlie Walsh and other fine teachers had left for the public schools. No new teachers had expressed interest in a moderating post, but with my trusted companions aboard, I had an added confidence that things would work out. Weather or Not An unusual June weather pattern known as a “Cut-off Low Pressure System” provided unseasonable cool temperature on our Friday ride to San Jose (Milpitas, CA). For the first time on an excursion, cloudy skies hung over the central California valley. Breakfast in Barstow was in the bright sun but approaching clouds on our way to Bakersfield suggested that something not expected in the weather was about to happen. Mid-afternoon sprinkles and a sad Forrest Gump video kept the troops occupied. We arrived for a late afternoon visit of Santa Clara University that went very well under cooler temperatures. We were able to check into our motel about 6 PM. It lass than thirty-minute away and was in an area of motels and eating establishments giving everybody a variety of choices. A tired group of teenagers would sleep well that night but only if they chose to. Saturday was again cloudy and even cooler. We accomplished rather brief visits at Stanford and UC Berkeley before starting our free time in San Francisco. The four moderators hung together as Eileen took us to a favorite Italian restaurant of her and her wonderful husband Joe on Columbus Avenue. It was an excellent authentic place serving fabulous food. We returned to Milpitas by seven PM. Room checks were fine,
and that evening I received a visit from a former Gorman and Stanford graduate living in the Bay area. This would be the calm before the storm. The storm struck at 3:30 AM Sunday morning when a frantic call from one of the female rooms woke me up. A broken toilet (a cracked bowl) and a sick youngster were the headline news. I quickly dressed and walked down the outside corridor to the room. There I found what had been reported. I went down the stairs to the office which was situated in the front of the motel in a separate building. A night clerk was on duty and indicated that there were no rooms available where the girls could be moved. This would turn out to be untrue. I returned to the afflicted room and directed the girls to use the bathroom in my room. After doing this, they returned to their room until morning. I told them to wait until 7:00 AM, and they could each shower in my room. I would leave the door unlocked. By that time, I was up, out, and sitting with Fr. Dan in the motel office having coffee. He had promised to hold a private mass that Sunday morning, and we awaited the arrival of any invitees. Father Dan and I sat in a room next to the office where we were able to watch each of the four girls enter my room. One modern cell phone could have doomed the rest of my professional career, but remember, this preceded the tell-all communicator. By the departure time of nine AM, the troops had assembled near the bus. It was more cloudy and cooler than the day before. We had no formal college appointments that day just a leisurely drive to Reno where I would give them an afternoon tour of the campus. Coach Walsh had taught me well. After this early morning incident, I hoped it would be smooth sailing for the rest of the trip. It was anything but. As I was loading bags with our new driver Kevin, it suddenly occurred to me that I knew him from somewhere but could not put my finger on the place. As we headed north on the freeway past the Oakland Coliseum (home of the Raiders), Kevin told me we had a problem with the bus and exited the roadway. He pulled all the way around the stadium and stopped the bus in a very poor location under the BART tracks. He indicated that the warning lights on his dashboard were flashing, and he didn’t know why. That wasn’t all he didn’t know. I expressed concern about crossing I-80 on a bus with a mechanical problem. I suggested a trip to the bus yard for possible repairs or better still, a replacement of the bus. He agreed and checked with his manual. He asked, “How far is it to Long Beach”. “Are you (expletive deleted) kidding me” was my response. Another driver with little talent for geography. I decided that until something actually happened, we would continue onward. The drive along I-80 indicated no performance failures. A short in the circuits was a real possibility. As we began our climb on I-90 on our way up to the Donner Summit, the clouds thickened, and rain changed to sleet and then snow. My main concern was still the dashboard of the motor coach which remained normal. We stopped at the 4000-foot level to get out and see the snow as a group. Many in the group were in shorts. It was beginning to accumulate by the sides of the road.
As we continued our journey to Reno, the road was clear, and the traffic was light. The snow became thicker but was no factor until after we reached the summit. The interstate was beginning to be covered and would be shut down a few hours later as the snow steadily increased. It decreased and came to a halt as we passed the Donner Summit and headed downward to our destination. The bus was performing properly with no lights flashing on the dashboard. We had no difficulty reaching Reno. Maybe it had been a short circuit after all. There was no snow in Reno (hotel was in Sparks NV). The temperature was just slightly above freezing and walking around UNR in shorts and tee-shirts would have been stupid. The rooms in the high-rise hotel were good and there were eating establishment around the property. It was a quiet night. We experienced no further problems the next two days, as a sub 32-degree Reno departure allowed us to head north with snow on the ground. Several hundred miles later we experienced beautiful summer weather in Oregon. I finally solved part of the Kevin mystery when asking him about his driving experience. I always discussed the background of all my drivers as a routine procedure. I always wanted to know who was behind the wheel at the risk of a problematic answer. Less than two years previously, Kevin had sold me tires at the Big O store at Jones and Desert Inn. That was not what I had hoped for.
We had two enjoyable nights at our Best Western Green Tree Inn of Eugene. At 8:00 AM on the second day, we headed out for Oregon State in Corvallis, less than an hour away. The dash board lit up like a Roman Candle. More concerned than ever, Kevin gave me a manual, listing places that had service agreements with his company. The closest place was Albany, about an hour away from Corvallis. I told him to call his company and request a replacement bus. Our remaining schedule for the day included only Linfield College a short distance away from Corvallis. We had a twohour visit scheduled at Oregon State, a generous lunch break to follow, and a 2 PM appointment at Linfield. I thought that four hours for the bus to be fixed or replaced should be sufficient. I was wrong. The tour and extended lunch went off well. The sunny 75-degree temperature was
ideal, but still there was no bus. My instructions to Kevin were simple. Call this number (Oregon State Admissions) if you run into problems. I told our host about our bus problems and he agreed to find me in the student union if and when a call came through. One never did. The bus returned at two PM. Following a few more expletives deleted from me, Kevin said the mechanics totally tested the bus and found no abnormalities. Of course, I had no proof of any of this. Gathering the troops was hard but confined to the student union area it was possible. I led them to the bus where we discovered three people were missing. I literally ran back to the union and searched every inch of the facility. No missing students were found. I ran to the football stadium and the grounds surrounding it but to no avail. It was rumored that the missing students had gone to see horses near the school of Agriculture north of the main campus. I walked around the big quad just north of the union but again came up empty. I was visibly worried. I returned to the bus in hopes that they had found their way back to the vehicle. Fr. Dan was as agitated as I had become, getting worse by the minute. This was becoming excursion six all over again. It was time to act. I went to the campus security office, something I should have done first, and reported these visitors as missing and probably lost. They put Fr. Dan and me in vehicles with officers. As we headed out to the School of Veterinary Medicine, the three missing students came running up the hill to us. I got out of the car and wanted to either hug them or beat them. I did neither and we walked back to the bus where very patient students had been waiting. The missing students walked on to a hostile welcoming. I knew we missed out on our visit to Linfield pictured below, and had not called them to advise them of our circumstances. This mistake was all mine, but given the events of the day, I had other things on my mind at that moment. Everyone was finally accounted for, and I could breathe normally again. It was an hour to our motel for the night. We checked into our Holiday Inn of Beaverton (Home of Nike, suburb of Portland). I checked the group in, just in front of a grumpy salesman who muttered “great, I have to stay with a group of (blank-blank) teenagers.” Unfortunately for him, he was on the same floor as the group, and for his further muttering, the boys made him pay dearly for his comments!
I had selected the motel because it was close to a large shopping plaza with several restaurants. I had previously eaten at this location with my family. We took the bus over to the plaza by seven. The restaurant of choice was Saylors, a nationally known steak house that featured a 72-ounce steak. If you could eat it, it was free. Fail and you paid the full price per pound. Fr. Dan and I discussed with Eileen and Donna the near disaster and ongoing bus problems. All but three followed our instructions to stay around the uniion. Should we have contacted campus security much earlier than we did? Probably so was our conclusion but that was hindsight. Satisfied by a great dinner, we went into the Safeway food store in the center near the bus. We emerged with an obvious array of beer not caring that the world would see us, not as calm educators, but as highly frustrated moderators. Eileen Bortoli became the MVP of the moderators on this trip for checking all the rooms that night. Fr. Dan, Donna and I would be in no shape to be seen by students. I awoke to the terrible feeling of a badly beaten fighter. Fr. Dan and Donna did not feel really well either. The weather was miserable. We were able to depart on time. We arrived to find a frigid reception in a cold rain at the University of Portland. It seems the rep at Linfield was a friend of the rep at Portland and she had already conveyed the atrocity we committed by not calling to cancel. An explanation in the rain set things right, and we were good to finish our talk and tour. It was on to University of Puget Sound where they were always happy to host us. A two-hour visit amongst the tall trees settled everybody down. I was only beginning to recover from the night before as were Donna and Fr. Dan as well. From there we went on to Lynnwood, just north of Seattle. The Silver Cloud Inn located there would be another top excursion favorite. There were great restaurant choices nearby, the motel had a heated pool, and offered a very good continental breakfast. There was a movie theater in back of the property. Besides all that, they for some mysterious reasons, liked having the excursion groups. We would stay there on all four Northwest trips. Scheduled for the next morning was the only formal excursion tour of the University of Washington. It was longer and more boring than expected, and for the most part, not unlike our experience at Berkeley. The day got better from there, as free time in Seattle began at the Space Needle. Those who followed me were guided to the monorail, a pathway to Pike’s Market, and down the metal steps to the famous wharf area below. The group had proven itself to be reliable and trustworthy if you didn’t hold the entire group responsible for the lost three rookies during the Oregon State episode. Two were freshman girls and a sophomore boy.
Mid-Trip Counseling Required It was the freshman girls who required my attention that night. Rumors are a terrible outcome of teenagers sitting on a bus with too much time on their hands. One of the missing girls was a rather street-smart individual who attracted male campus onlookers at an alarming rate. My ladies noticed this and passed on their concerns to me. At Berkeley, I had to escort off the bus a college chap who was far too cozy with this sharp looking coed. The rumor that she had gone to fraternity row became too graphic and I knew I had to speak to her one on one. This was a moderator’s duty and I was the moderator designated for that for that responsibility. I spoke to her in her room without her roommates present. I explained how reputation was a serious matter. She accepted what I said and assured me that all was well. She also related to me that the message was understood. The other young lady was on the opposite end of maturity. She had connected with the sophomore boy on the trip. Living in a very restrictive household, it was her first freedom and her first boy-friend. I spoke to her immediately after my other counseling session. The freshman girls were roommates. She didn’t appreciate what I had to say but understood my thoughts about what her reputation would be during the fall semester. She and the sophomore boy respected my concerns and “cooled it” for the rest of the trip. At the end of the night I did what needed to be done but somehow felt bad about doing it. The street-wise girl left Gorman in the summer to attend public school. Her mother called to see if she could still go on the fall trip. The other girl graduated from Gorman with high achievement. She saw me very infrequently and didn’t seek a recommendation. Room checks were nearly perfect all throughout the trip. On Getaway day in Seattle, we had a formal tour conducted by the nice people at Seattle University. With that accomplished, I brought the bus back to the Seattle Center. We had our “charter bus only” parking space still available. There were numerous restaurants in the center. Many chose to take the monorail to the downtown Seattle mall where other eating choices were available. I was in charge of that contingent. We would be heading for home after lunch, stopping for the night in the Tri-Cities of Washington. The distance involved was comfortable if all went right. Naturally, it did not. Somehow Kevin got sick supposedly from eating seafood. This delayed our departure and was cause for a slow ride across the Snoqualmie Pass on I-80. We stopped at Central Washington University in Ellensburg to give Kevin, more time to recover. He was feeling somewhat better as we headed southeast on Interstate 82 when the dashboard lights began to flash again just outside of Yakima. The time was 7 PM and I instructed him to pull into a shopping center I spotted. I knew we had to stop when he reported diminished performance in the engine.
Kevin dropped us off in the shopping plaza which included several fast food restaurant choices and a very nice seafood restaurant. I had eaten at a Sea Galley restaurant in Spokane WA, the year before with an excellent result. I wrote down the name of the place and phone number for Kevin and told him to call me there when he found a garage that might once and for all, help us. The chance to replace the bus was now a real set of fighting words for me, but chances of this happening were remote. Kevin never called and never returned in the two-hour window I gave him. The restaurant owner heard of our plight and gave me his office, so I could call Las Vegas and the dispatch office executive in charge. I exploded the entire story of the bus and Kevin’s poor performance. I used the “Gorman card” of saying I had many notables aboard including the children of numerous high-powered attorneys. The bluff apparently worked for in fifteen minutes he called me back, promising to have the bus back in an hour. In the meanwhile, Fr. Dan and the ladies took the group to a bowling facility near the restaurant where they bowled courtesy of the establishment. I did a hot burn while I waited for Kevin. In that time, I witnessed a crime in the making. Two men had words outside the restaurant. It was a husband vs. brotherin-law situation with threats of “I will kill you” were openly made in front of people gathered outside the restaurant waiting to be seated. In fact, he did “kill” the husband, over wife brutality as reported on the local television broadcast the next morning. I knew immediately that I was possibly a material witness about to keep his mouth shut. There were plenty other witnesses. The bus came back, and Kevin got another sharp dose of my mind. There was no reason to be nice. His excuse this time was their attempt to fix the loss of power in the engine. He didn’t know if they engine had been fixed, but he did know that we would have no air conditioning for the remainder of the trip. We were not done with excitement for the night. We were headed in the dark for a location I had never seen. I read from written instructions on how to get to the hotel, but Kevin took a left when I instructed him to turn right. As the lights of our destination began to fade, I commanded him to turn around before we were totally lost. The mid-night hour had come and gone, and we found ourselves at the entrance of the Hanford government reserve. He turned the bus around and we headed for Kennewick, WA. We arrived at our high-rise hotel after one AM and checked-in seven hours late. With everything that had transpired, I still felt lucky having arrived. The room checks were done very close to 2:00 AM. The adults needed a nightcap in a lounge at the top of the hotel. I placed a late wake-up call. It was the only time I would see Sportscenter on ESPN at 3:30 AM. For breakfast, we stopped at a shopping plaza that had a variety of restaurants and didn’t hit the road until 10 AM. I mentally canceled our visits to Boise State because of transportation difficulties. I never called Boise State but, in the fall, they thanked me by letter for a visit we never made.
Abnormally cool temperatures made the AC problem a moot point. I was concerned about our Monday ride home from Salt Lake City. It was no longer cool in the Great Basin. Our last night stay at the airport in Salt Lake City was comfortable. Everybody was edgy and eager to end this experience. The departure the next morning started on a positive note. Kevin had been told to get a replacement bus for the trip home, and when he pulled up with it in front of our motel, a cheer rang-up from the crowd. I led the bus to the University of Utah where a talk and tour awaited. I called to cancel. We drove there for breakfast and enjoyed some free time to see the campus. Two students were late for departure after the free bookstore time. For fun, I drove around the upper level of this beautiful campus. My son Doug and an innocent friend were seeking the football stadium and got lost on their way back. The boys were embarrassed and heard it from the group. If it hadn’t been my own son, this stunt would not have been done. Doug was not a model student participant on the trip and heard about from me during the experience. He would go on to be a great moderator only a few years later. There were no further incidents along the way. We stopped in Cedar City, and when I suggested that we still had time to see Southern Utah State University, very few found it humorous. Post-Trip Analysis: A postscript to the trip for three circumstances needs to be clarified. The new President of the school, Fr. Tom von Behren (pictured) was with Dr. Erbach when I walked into school the day after we returned. He knew very little about the excursion program nor the idiot running it. He did know that he had received a bill for $125 to repair a toilet in Milpitas CA. He also got a letter from an admissions officer at Linfield College asking for my immediate firing. What a way to make a first impression. I asked for the letters and told him that I would take care of both matters. I wrote the motel owners to tell them how their night clerk would not give the girls a new room. Many rooms were available which was another bluff on my part, but which turned out to be true. My next letter would be to the better business bureau of the region and the triple A regional office. The night clerk did violate some little-known ordinance, so my bluff was better that I had anticipated. They wrote back that all was resolved. My post-trip analysis indicated that alcohol was responsible for illnesses that night. It had been brought from home. As for my “girl-friend” at Linfield, I wrote her boss about what we went through and why the cancellation of our visit was down my priority list at that moment of crisis. I
dramatically spoke of the safety of my students being my highest priority. I asked that she not be sent to Gorman in the future as she thought so little of my actions and asked my boss for my firing. I received apologies from the President of the school and said that all was behind us. I never saw her or heard from her again. Excursion eight had a good group of interesting characters who were forced to cope with great adversity. I was seemingly earning my advanced degree in it as well. It was a highly personable goup of younger participants with more sophomores and freshman than previous rosters. I was fortunate to have a good number of quality athletes whose discipline and leadership were very valuable in the times of extreme stress. They were MVPs in helping me keep things together. Bethany Dolesh, Katie Fink, and Isabela Kuo also were MVPs. Others acted responsibly throughout and added to the quality of a very good team. Booze from home was a regrettable reality that I would have address on future trips. The group was friendly, cooperative and forgiving of the antics of Fr. Dan and myself. Bad weather, a bad motor coach, and an ill-prepared driver literally drove adults to drink at least once. It also led to bad language directed at Kevin from my mouth.
Overall, this trip was one of the most interesting trips in the history of the program and has been fun to relate. As Maxwell Smart would say, “I was facing imminent danger at all times, and loving it.”
Mike Becker Kelly Campbell Bethany Dolesh Claudia Estrella Stephanie Estrella
Katie Fink Jennifer Giger John Henry Olivia Hertsted Dionne Hubbard
Melissa Kolesar Milo Kostelecy Isabella Kuo Karolina Kurkowski Andrew Mackay
Richard McKnight Skye Myers Tim O’Reilly Andrea Parente Giovanni Pastorella
Tiffany Sanderson Nicole Sarret Doug Seif Heather Steel Nick Tanno
Elizabeth Trent Nate Wadhams Charles Wenzel Jennifer Williams Christian Young
Return to Barn
Many Glacier Hotel Glacier National Park
Excursion # 9: October, 1993 The Great Malibu Fire
M
y proposed fall excursion was approved when I returned to school in August. In a surprising development, I became a junior varsity assistant basketball coach for the 93-94 and the 94-95 seasons. The coach on the left was Robert Smith, one the greatest point guards in the proud history of UNLV. Since my son Doug (#50) made the team, and I would be his only transportation, I became a first-time basketball coach. I was truly blessed to have such an enjoyable experience, and in fact, my counseling skills were helpful. The team was so dynamically diverse, it took
two team photos to get us all in! Number 12 in front played in the NBA for several yearss as a point guard. That extra responsibility forced me to plan excursion nine as soon as classes began. The failure to attract enough students would not have been a disaster from my perspective, and while I knew it, I could not whisper a word to anyone. Registration for the trip would decide the issue. Despite the nightmarish stories of the bus problems on excursion eight, the trip became quite popular. I limited participation to those who could afford to miss school time. I denied participation to any questionable characters. Athletes currently in their sport could not participate. The result was a superior group of excellent students. Again, I was joined by Eileen Bortoli, and Donna Geary and Dr. David Erbach. Allowing secretaries from student services to be moderators for my program was a brilliant stroke of administration. Always calm, personable and efficient, the program would have collapsed after excursion five. (with my daughter Randi on her first trip I could be the necessary disciplinarian and could check all the boy’s rooms by myself. The ladies provided enormous peace of mind for me and the assembly in general. To minimize the amount of school time missed, I selected the last weekend in October. This gave us the Monday following Halloween for Nevada Day. We departed on a Saturday and stayed the night on Hotel Circle in San Diego. There would be no issues with the bus or the driver on this trip who was an experienced professional. Our visitation of the University of San Diego was leisurely pleasant and mostly informal. I led the tour, my first and only experience as a designated guide at this popular school. There was a 7 PM mass that night on the hill at USD. Dr. Erbach and I extended the opportunity to attend church services to the group. At the departure time for mass, only Mr. Erbach was standing by the bus. Seeing this from my window, I wanted to prevent an early embarrassment. I went a few doors down to the first female room with its door open. I said it would be nice if Dr. Erbach had some company at a very popular major Catholic University. No one moved until I said it would not hurt future admissions and my future letters of recommendation. They agreed, recruited other female participants and off they went. I would have gone, but USC was playing Arizona in an important college football game. Their sacrifice made for interesting comments in their recommendations. We ate in the “Tickled Trout” restaurant that evening. Sunday morning was a sleep-in experience before departing for nearby UC San Diego. We were met there by two former Gorman students who on their own time generously gave us a great talk and tour. They were veteran students at the school and made it clear they were not representing the university. Matt Talpis, (1990) and Corrina Young from (excursion 6 and class of 1991) were totally outstanding as
guides, in the same top-notch manner they had always been as students. Corrina and her older brother were both MVP performers on their respective trips. For her efforts Corrina has been added to Hall of Fame status. We took an extended lunch in the La Jolla village. We were able to find a parking space for the bus several blocks away from the downtown location which provided a variety of eating choices including a fancy McDonald’s. The adults went to the “Spot” an excursion favorite. Everyone made it back to the bus on time. We headed north at a relaxed pace for Anaheim. I was for once openly enjoying the experience. There was never an intention of visiting Disneyland despite staying near the park on multiple occasions. Participants knew this when they signed up. On this day, we were within walking distance from the park at 3:30 in the afternoon. Some students went swimming while others were happy just hanging loose. Dr. Erbach asked me to consider hockey tickets for that night. The good news was that there was a game. The bad news was that available tickets would cost $100 a piece for a nose-bleed location. The decision became easy, and at that point I offered to take the bus to Disneyland. Everyone was up for it and at 6 PM we left for the park. Sunday nights offered a discounted admission, and we had an enjoyable uncrowded six-hour experience (special hours for Halloween). The crowds were small so getting on the rides was easy. Midnight was the meeting time for the bus, and everybody was there. The moderators and my daughter had a spectacular night. The group did as well and was highly appreciative of the opportunity. I was very happy to oblige. On Monday, the long trip to Pepperdine started a series of formal visitations. A purpose of the fall trip was to talk with Gorman alums who were currently attending these schools. We found some at Pepperdine or should I say they found us on tour. We got a chance to see dorm rooms up close but not too personal. From there we
headed up Sunset Boulevard to UCLA for an informal visit and lunch. The typical 45-minute ride on the Sunset Strip was always interesting. It was a good opportunity to tour the campus at leisure, eat when all the food courts were open, and spend big bucks in the bookstore. We returned to Anaheim satisfied with our days’ work. It was Monday night football in my room. Tuesday was to be an epic day. Our morning visit at Loyola Marymount was perfect. The school did its usual excellent job with a tour followed by a talk about college life in general before focusing on Loyola Marymount. Perhaps because they knew I had my principal with me, they emphasized the academic and religious community a bit more as well as standards for admissions. A long line of Loyola reps throughout the history of the excursion program always created interesting programs for my groups. These same people attracted large groups when they appeared at the high school in
the fall. On this day, we were then treated to a forum of former Gorman students who currently worked for Loyola Marymount. Each had been a superior excursion participant. Top-notch students both at Gorman and Loyola Marymount, their honesty, sincerity, and general openness were appreciated by the entire group. After each person spoke, the panel answered questions from the gathering. Dr. Erbach and I participated as well but in a limited capacity. The panel handled themselves expertly. It was personally an inspiring moment. Each one had earned MVP status on their excursion. From right to left: Elizabeth Beckwith excursion 7; Danielle Peot excursion 5;Joe Bruzzese excursion 3; Sandra Martinez excursion 5; Erin Kohlmeyer excursion 6; and a player to be named later. For their contributions, Elizabeth, Danielle, Sandra and Erin have earned Hall of Fame status. Dr. Erbach and I both ran into other former Gorman students. What they had to say was encouraging, honest, and sincere. Some criticisms were surprising, and many were on the money. It was good just to see so many former students. The bookstore did brisk sales this day from our ensemble and it was only the impending visit of USC
for lunch that moved us along. It was about noon when we both spotted smoke to the northwest. It had the terrible look of an explosion or bomb detonation. The Malibu fire of 1993 was now ablaze, and the Santa Ana winds were the invading army.
(The 2019 Woolsey Fire) Terrible Similarity of the 1993 Fire to the 2018 Fire The enormity of the fire was overwhelming, and so was the live continuous coverage. At USC, the moderators ate at a noted off-campus eating spot (no longer in existence). We watched scenes of the natural disaster unfold. After lunch, the USC school representative was complete with praise for the school and the excursion program. It was the “principal effect” all over again. Expectedly, the tour was overshadowed by the amount of smoke in the sky. It was impossible to take one’s eyes from the northwest sky. As USC was our last visit for the day we settled in for the long ride to Riverside. Our motel in Riverside for the next two days was comfortable and located in a safe area. Reality kicked in that night when they showed firemen fighting the fire from the Pepperdine campus. The command post had been set up on the spot we had been picked up by our bus the previous day. The coverage was captivating and continuous and kept me tuned in well past one AM that night.
It was back to business the next day with extensive visits of the Claremont Colleges (pictured) and Occidental. Their representatives were again profuse in their praise of Gorman and the unique college visitation program. It was good to have the boss along to hear all of it. After a long day of tours and talks, we returned to our Riverside motel. The location was endowed with some fine eating options. The next day we returned to the world where you had to go to school the following day. Mostly everyone did. Post Trip Analysis: The excursion nine group was exceptional in performance and cooperation. I could trust them completely and they were a delight for the moderators. I had only one room of boys to check each night. Eileen and Donna were again MVPs. The group displayed maturity and intelligence during all phases of the trip. Two of the participants were on the summer trip and imparted their experiences which by then was an exciting adventure. The group displayed that coveted attribute of looking out for each other. They were a great group, and the moderators had a really good time being around them. They asked excellent questions at the informational sessions. Despite the obvious success of the trip, it would the only fall venture in excursion history. Future fall trips might have attracted too many candidates was the story-line I was given. It could have resulted in resentment of students who were not permitted to go. It was the only other trip besides the first excursion where only seniors were permitted to go. Since I was on the job, I set the trip to have a zero-profit margin. (picture below UCSD and at Loyola Marymount) Every time I look at this roster and of the pictures of the group, their overall performance rating goes up. There were no individual MVP’s because they were all most valuable performers and like the crew of excursion seven, they were a joy for me to be around. Veterans of excursion eight and nine, Jennifer Giger and Elizabeth Trent earned Hall of Fame status.
Lorena Acosta Courtney Anderson Mark Bassett Denise Bond Heather Bush Susan Carrasco Melissa Chavez Monique Devries Jen Giger Brina Hirkala Hilary Kalb Justin Kalb Shawna Kneesel Melissa Kolesar Heather Maclaren Alisa Marnell Belinda Montoya Michael Perer Julie Reyes Marisa Rokovitz Christina Russo Daniel Tetreault Verity Tiberti Elizabeth Trent Marieugen Vasquez
Return to Barn
Haceta Lighthouse, Oregon
Excursion # 10: “A family vacation within a college exploration purpose.”
S
tanley Cup hockey is played in the months of April, May and June. As a lifelong New York Ranger fan, I had never seen them win a Stanley Cup. Their last championship had been won in 1940. The Rangers had a good chance to win it all in 1994, and I had no intention of missing any part of it (They won it!). It was difficult to explain these circumstances to parents wishing to send their kids on an excursion. It was more difficult explaining these realities to their kids. Two trips in 1993 and the basketball coaching responsibilities for two seasons had depleted my patience and perhaps my overall mental abilities. If nothing else, it greatly reduced any extra ambitions. Multiple trips in 1993 was more than enough by any standard, and with the most recent trip a personal success, retirement from the excursion program seemed right. I was indeed burned-out from the 1993 escapades and I cringed every time I saw a tour bus on the Las Vegas strip. Unforeseen Circumstances My daughter Randi started Gorman as a freshman in the fall of 1994 and played golf and softball. During this time, my son Doug played basketball. Coaching your own kids in two sports kept me occupied. In 1995, Randi’s classmates and teammates put me on the bus against my better judgment. I couldn’t fight, “Dad, you did a trip for Doug’s class how could you not do one for mine.” It was a bad time to have parental weakness or should I say guilt. I knew that I had to kill the program before it got to me, and what could do it better than another trip to the Northwest. The 1992 venture failed badly, 1993 was long and complex, so another attempt would just about silence it. To further assure failure, I billed the trip as “A family vacation within a college purpose.” Furthermore, I invited parents to participate. Deviously, I knew that students did not want their parents looking over them at their chance to be independent. As applications increased in March, I knew that I, and not the program had failed. Sophomores began the parade. When we had enough approved applicants, and the trip was a go, additional juniors signed up. While the total number was not excessive, the qualities of the participants were obviously very good from the start as I interviewed students for the trip.
Two parents of participants got permission from their students and took me up on my offer to go along. They were great people and added immensely to the personality of the trip. Now the concept of a family vacation within an excursion would be put to the test. With Eileen and Donna making their fifth consecutive journey, I became cautiously happy for the non-failure of the trip. The the first-day journey to the bay area was routinely satisfying. There were good vibes on the bus from the start. The visit to Santa Clara was interesting as we ran into another touring high school group in the dorms. I conversed with the moderators in the lobby as the group was taken upstairs to see the rooms. When I asked where they were from, a town just north of San Francisco was their answer. When their moderators asked in return where we were from, Las Vegas drew a positive response. When asked how long we were on our tour, the fact that we were in our first day that began at 6 AM astounded them. I blew them away with our itinerary to Oregon and Washington. Our two-night motel was close by the university in Santa Clara at the Mariani’s Inn. That evening, I received a surprise visit to my room from several members of the group. They expressed concern that our driver was on the balcony drinking a beer. I explained that when off-duty, he had the same right to do as he pleased as any other worker. Satisfied with my explanation, all was well. As an incidental note, I had a single beer in my mini-fridge as we spoke. My work-day ended after room checks. The next day brought us to our most interesting and productive tour of Stanford. It was courtesy of Joseph Gerber pictured), a Gorman alum and a Stanford graduate who was headed for his doctoral work at Harvard. An excursion veteran, (exc. 4, 1988) he gave us a high-quality tour and talk. With his brother as a member of the group, it was inspirational and truly a Dr. Joseph Gerber masterpiece. He was awarded Hall of Fame honors San Francisco With My Children The remainder of the college visits in the Bay region went off well as did the free time in San Francisco, where another humorous encounter took place. In a large souvenir shop on the wharf, I made conversation with a very pleasant mother of five visiting the Bay area for the first time. Her well-mannered children were by her side as we spoke. She naturally asked me what I was doing, so I told her that I was visiting colleges with my children. When she asked how many I had, the answer of “31” drew an astonished look. Many were in the store at that time and were also extremely well-mannered. I was very proud, and it became obvious that moderating this group would be fun.
The trip north through northern California and the Oregon border was highly pleasing. The unfortunate fires of 2018 are along this route which I remember well. We stopped at Southern Oregon University, an attractive campus in Ashland, OR. Many were surprised at how nice-looking the campus was, and the excellent modern facilities they found. I told them that all onboard would qualify for admissions, I had been there before and knew the coffee bar in the union would service our needs. It certainly did and everybody departed in a very good mood. The next two nights were spent in Eugene at our familiar Best Western. This was the excursion’s third visit to the Green Tree Inn which was across the street from the University of Oregon. The rooms were large and very comfortable. The inside corridors made it easy to check rooms. Fast food and snacks were within easy walking distance. The pool was used by participants. The terraces were useful for those on the right side of building. The property backed up to the Willamette River which could be heard from the back rooms. The House of Chen was next door, and by now the owner’s wife knew me, and came out to greet us. I had been there twice in 1994. The food was wonderful as always. The next day, a visit and lunch at Oregon State (pictured) went as smoothly as it could. Stories of the missing bus of two years previous were the topic of conversation at lunch. The thirty-four mile separation of schools brought us back in time to visit with the Oregon Ducks. Following our 2 PM tour and talk, the group could spend as much time on campus as they wanted. An active summer school program had most services and facilities open. Students enjoyed finding classes in session. The cool comfortable conditions made summer sessions at both campuses very attractive. Following the tour, I went back to the admissions office to wage war over the rejection of a graduated senior. This student and the family had visited with the disability learning center. Administrators in the program had literally promised acceptance to their on-campus program. That spring he received a rejection letter with no explanation. My meeting lasted 30-minutes and I made my case in a calm relaxed manner. They promised to look it the matter and sent me on my way. When I returned home, I received a phone call from the student’s mother. She thanked me for all I had done. Oregon reversed the decision and issued an acceptance. By that time, the student had settled on another Northwest school that had accepted him in the first place. For Randi and me, nighttime brought us back to the House of Chen. The menu was so complete I could have had a different dinner for each day in a month. The egg-rolls and the Wor Wonton soups were uniquely incredible. The youngest member of their family was now a junior at the University of Oregon.
Heading West to the Ocean At 8 AM and for the first time, I directed the bus to the Oregon coast. The scenic ride was not lost on any of the participants. Withe sun in back of us we traveled the 60 miles through beautiful forests as we headed for Florence, Oregon. The bus was quiet as we swayed from side to side. The morning shadows added to nature’s show.
Seeing the ocean drew a uphoric reaction within the bus. It was pleasant sound and was an exciting approval of the path I was taking. We stopped at the Cape Perpetua visitors center where exhibits, views, and restrooms would await. It met with further approval and began to place participants in the vacation mode. A ride up the Oregon coast with several sightseeing stops along the way was the feature of the day. No colleges were visited as none were scheduled. Lunch was in Newport on the ocean. We continued past an array of lovely state beaches enjoying the view of the ocean until we reached Lincoln City where we headed inland. It was a stretch of miles that would be enjoyed by all four remaining Northwest excursions. The night was spent across the Columbia River from Portland in Vancouver, Washington. Our only visit the next day was at the University of Portland (pictured) in the morning. I received a warm, friendly reception from the same staff that was unaware of our missing bus and student issue. They proudly showed their attractive campus dividing the group into smaller entities. The itinerary gave us a chance to spend a relaxing lunch and considerable time in the Columbia Gorge. We ate at a truck stop whose large restaurant could serve the entire bus. From there we headed east up the gorge. It was the first time I had been able to bring a group to this must-see visitor’s center. It would be a fixture to visit on remaining trips. We had seen fewer colleges, but the group seemed fine with it.
The next day brought us to the Mount St. Helen’s National Monument. The visitors center gave the story of the volcanic region and famous eruption. The center had the similar feel of a family vacation as it had the day before. There were many exhibits concerning the geography of the entire region. Everybody acted in an appropriate manner. Some took advantage of the outdoor exhibits while others were content with the restroom facilities. It was a very worthwhile expenditure of time. We proceeded onward to the always attractive University of Puget Sound (pictured) for our formal visitation. Their presentation and campus tour always had a calming effect on my groups. Lunch tickets were provided by the university as a thank-you for our visitation. The cafeteria had summer school students as well. We spent the first of two nights in Lynnwood, north of Seattle, at the Silver Cloud Inn. It would be a sleepin morning and a very good continental breakfast that would greet participants in the lobby. Wonderfully clear weather and my AAA tour book brought us to the Hiram Chittenden Locks in Seattle (pictured below). A popular location, it combines the Locks, exhibitions, and a rose garden. I thought the group would enjoy this attraction and it turned out as hoped. Boats were both raised and lowered to afford passage from the bay to the lake. It took time to complete but was fascinating for those who took the time to see it.
From there it was on to Seattle University where our generous hosts treated the group to refreshments during their talk, and ice-cream tickets after the campus tour. It was back on the bus where in just a few minutes up the I-5 corridor brought us
an informal visit of the University of Washington where a trip to the bookstore was just about all we had time for. We were able to beat the traffic in getting back to Lynnwood. Rush hour express lanes were the key. I became proficient in using them to our advantage and stayed away from heavy L.A.-like traffic. Out driver Larry, a veteran of the previous excursion trusted my judgments and followed my directions very well.
The next day would involve free-time in Seattle once we parked the bus behind the Seattle Center (Think Space Needle) as free-parking is allocated for tour buses. The students, moderators, and parents could do as they wished for several hours. Tour bus parking behind the center made it easy for students to return to the spot where they knew the motor-coach would be. They now had choices to make on their own. They could follow me to the monorail, downtown Seattle, to the wharf area, or simply stay in the park-like Seattle Center where exhibits and food services were available. It was always enjoyable to go to a lively downtown city environment. Shopping in Nordstroms or other notable stores was minimal for this younger group. The freedom to do what you wanted in a big city was a challenge for some and a conquest for others. In any event, the buzz on the bus indicated a good time was had by all. Everyone returned to the bus location on time or at least close to it. Using the express lanes on interstate five, we returned to Lynnwood in about thirty minutes. The next day would be the main test as a long ride to Susanville (75 miles north of Reno) would have only a few on-board movies for entertainment. The following morning, the use of the aforementioned express lanes, (pictured) moved us along through the length of Seattle at a good pace. We traveled I-5 through Portland and Eugene before turning east across the Cascades. We had made very good time on our way to Reno and allowed me to play my final card. I had kept a secret from the group. I was going to take the group to Crater Lake if the northern road entrance was open. Unfortunately, the road turned out to be closed by snow. We stopped the bus right off the road near the closure sign. It said that there was snow at the high elevation “Use the Main Entrance”. Unfortunately, time would not permit or, so I first thought. As we drove on, despite the rational explanation of conditions and travel times, the group seemed deflated. Watching the original Jurassic Park did little for the mood on the bus. Our driver by law could only operate a bus for a limited number of hours each day, but Larry was willing to risk the federal regulations if I wanted to take the group the extra miles. I had taken his son as a
courtesy to his service for me, and he wanted to return the favor. The Southern entrance required a two-hour block of additional time. We would get to Susanville much later than planned. The climb to the lake and the tourist facilities brought us into June snow and piled snowbanks. The temperature was in the low thirties and those who purchased sweatshirts earlier in the trip were happy for the timely investments. We ate in the cafeteria and most participants ate the hot beef stew. In fact, we ate the place out of the beef stew. The pictures show the conditions we found ourselves in. A ninety-minute stop was enough before we headed on to Susanville. It was a quiet, long journey with only one place available for a rest stop.
The Best Western in Susanville offered numerous eating choices within a short walking distance. There was an excellent Mexican restaurant next to the motel and the adults and others in the group had a fine authentic meal. On the last day, we arrived in Reno early enough to comfortably have breakfast in the student union. The trip had been successful and it was time to sum up the experience and talk about the upcoming summer. The last talk and tour of the trip seemed to move very quickly and effectively. Everybody was keen on getting home to begin their summer vacation. No one was late as the bus departed at 11 AM. The trip home was highlighted by a movie fest. We made a long rest stop in Tonapah and many students called home to arrange for an accurate pick-up from the Gorman parking lot.
Post-Trip Analysis: Excursion ten earned the reputation of a very fine, cooperative, disciplined group and rates very well within the ranks of all excursion groups. The vacation experience had worked well. Fewer colleges and more enjoyable free-time was a winner. The attempt to scuttle the program failed. The personality of the group was truly outstanding. Looking through the roster, the dominance of highly achieved, friendly and polite participants made the experience that much better. They were an extremely quiet, respectful group, and allowed me to not only be the one male moderator but a tour guide as well. Earning special recognition on this trip and MVP status was Erica Johnson and Nenna Ozobia. They went out of their way to ask about not seeing many minorities during their visits. Their inquiries were done in a sincere, sensitive, inquisitive, intelligent manner. I was there to observe the answers and their interactions with the representatives. I would later discuss these answers with these wonderfully talented girls. They gave the group a special rating. One would go on to Stanford while the other distinguished herself at a traditional all-black college in Atlanta. Also earning a shout-out was Jacklyn Hass, an outstanding varsity tennis player. She was able to go despite missing Nevada State tennis finals that month. Several of my best tennis plays eschewed the excursion to play in those late June state tournaments. Jackie earned MVP status for outstanding personality which she shared with the group. On her own, she looked out for individuals who appeared to not have many friends during the trip. She made a recognizable difference for many participants. Her letter of recommendation for colleges was a pleasure to write. Another Hall of Fame treasure on the trip was Verity Tiberti. She was on excursion nine as well and quietly brought welcome attributes to both trips. Patrick Davis and Nicole Gagnon also earned MVP status for their outstanding performances.
Carmen Anderson Melissa Cox Patrick Davis Patrick Del Veccio Monique Derenia
Megan Edwards Nicole Gagnon Ben Gerber Jaclyn Haas Greg Hartman
Brian Horn Erica Johnson Tyler Jones Joe Kesgomol Michelle Llaguno
Melissa Mckinley John F. Miller Elizabeth Munch Abigail Nogueira Nenna Ozobia
Demetrius Pandelis Robyn Powers Toni Pusateri Tasha Ranieri Randi Seif
Andrew Smith Tamara Sto. Domingo Verity Tiberti Erik Tyndall Alison Woodward
Return to Barn
Sun Valley Area, Idaho
Excursion # 11: Offer the Students What They Want
V
isiting fewer college somehow made for a better overall excursion experience for Excursion Ten. Giving students what they wanted would become the theme of the 1996 trip. The chance to be responsible young adults was always been implied but never articulated. The attempt to kill the excursion program failed with a successful trip in 1995. The following spring, it appeared that enough students liked the vacation-like concept and were interested in a possible 1996 version. I promised to repeat the previous college itinerary with some variations. For those interested in Southern California, I told them to wait until the following year. An increase of student applicants in the spring affirmed a positive outlook as I began interviewing students for the trip. Unlike the previous year, I had to deny participation for a few students for disciplinary reasons. This move was made more difficult and questionable as I also granted enrollment to a few students who were perhaps a bit dubious. It was never just a cut and dry call. It was also never a good sign when teachers came to me suggesting that I not take individuals for cause. I did appreciate the information as high need students rarely enjoyed the trip. The larger senior-to-be group included additional friends of my daughter. Ironically, a few of these students would give her some uncomfortable moments during the trip. Part of this was my fault as I asked her to room with students not endowed with a lot of friends. It was a sacrifice on her part and a mistake on mine. Marian Burford replaced Donna Geary, and my son Doug joined the group as a moderator after his first year at college. It was the first of two consecutive trips that I would travel with both of my children. Our driver Larry, was a veteran of four trips and was an excellent professional. We left on a Saturday for Susanville CA by way of Reno. The mature group quickly settled in for the two-hundred mile drive to Tonapah. The route of the previous trip had worked out well but doing the exact same thing as the previous year was something I always wanted to avoid. The stop in Tonapah at places often frequented on my state championship tennis trips was somewhat nostalgic for me. My last championship trip had been in 1990. After lunch in Fernley NV, we met Stacy Evert (exc. 7, class of 1993) on the UNR campus at two PM. She gave us a truly insightful tour and talk. It was everything you could want and it came as no surprise. Excursion alums knew exactly what participants wanted to know and were always a great asset to the program. Stacy, for efforts on her own excursion, her tour of UNR and visits to the group in the Portland, Oregon area clearly earned Hall of Fame status.
From there we drove on to Susanville, 90 miles up the road. Staying at the same motel as the previous year, I knew where all the services were and what to expect. We ate at the same fine Mexican restaurant next to the motel. Several of our students also chose this restaurant. Sunday morning was quiet, and the two-lane road had very little traffic. We stopped for lunch in Klamath Falls OR, before heading up past the Crater Lake entrances that had been so important to me twelve months before. Both entrances were open this time, but time would not permit a visit. By two PM, we reached our first destination, the High Desert Museum, just south of Bend, OR. I had been to the Museum twice before and wrote them about the excursion program. They generously sent me school discount tickets. With our accommodations in Eugene about two hours away, we could enjoy the vast outdoor facility. From animals, animal shows and indoor exhibits, we spent an enjoyable two plus hours. On the ride to Eugene, we stopped in Sisters OR, a quaint tourist stop for the sole purpose of ice cream and refreshments. The beautiful town was surrounded by lush meadows, Llama farms and large horse ranches. The remaining ride through the Cascades was truly beautiful and we arrived at my familiar Best Western location across from the University of Oregon campus. Dinner was naturally at the House of Chen(pictured). We were joined again by several of our students. The next day was a repeat of the previous year. A great visit of Oregon State saw me take the bus and two students to Western Oregon State College just up the road. They had indicated an interest in police science. We were back in an hour in time for lunch.A speedy trip back to Eugene allowed us to return to the motel, and walk across the street for our 2 PM talk and tour at the University of Oregon. It was again a very pleasant and enjoyable day. Both campuses were vibrant with students about to take quarter exams. The motel swimming pool became busy with mostly our students behaving very appropriately. Two doors away, we ate dinner at The House of Chen. Doug, Randi, and I took a long post-diner walk around Eugene as sunset occurred well after 9:00 PM. We were attempting to walk off another fine meal. We were joined for dinner again by more participants on this particular night.
The next day began with sunny skies. As we headed for the coast, the marine layer was met, and the clear skies vanished. We stopped at the viewpoint for the famous
Haceta Lighthouse and later utilized the Cape Perpetua visitor center. We all viewed an informative video, filling up the auditorium to capacity. This felt like a special excursion day, and I was motivated to make it as good as I could. With no college appointments for that day, I had another family vacation in progress. As we headed for lunch in Newport, I instructed the driver to stop at an unfamiliar pull-off. From there, I took a risk by letting the group climb on rock formations on the beach. The group had fun, and I took pictures of them having fun. The group picture was taken at this location by their request. With no injuries reported, we headed on for lunch in Newport. As we approached the outskirts of the city, another wild thought entered my mind. I would take the group to the very popular and busy wharf area. It had always been hard to find car parking on my previous visits let alone find a space for a large bus. This was my day however, and we found a large parking space on the hill leading down to the famous tourist section. With an abundance of places to eat and shop, I took the moderators to Mo’s, a nationally renowned hole-inthe-wall chowder and clam shop. Allowing an hour for lunch we needed every bit of it to finish our specialty. This highly reliable group returned to the bus on time, giving me additional confidence to alter any future opportunities that might come our way. I chose an ambitious route to our Best Western motel in Vancouver WA, by way of the Columbia River gorge. The previous year allowed us considerably more time to partake the surroundings after a University of Portland visitation. This year this enjoyable stop was not in the itinerary. I chose to use the extra-daylight to visit the Multnomah Falls visitor’s center nearer sunset. Fewer cars were in the large parking area that served the well-viewed landmark. An hour was all we could spend before returning towards Portland and Vancouver WA on the other side of the wide Columbia River. Our driver was running out of hours for the day and I did not want him to take risks even though he admitted having a good time himself.
Pathway to the coast Excursion 10,11,14 and sixteen folloed to arrow to the Portland area.
The three Seif’s climbed up the trail to the very top. Randi had felt ill at lunch, and her efforts have been named, The “Immaculate Recovery”. The photos below show the three stages of our climb. It would be the only trip where I would take that ambitious hike within the hour I gave to the group. The ride back to our motel was relaxing as we drove aside the mighty Columbia River. We arrived at the same Best Western we stayed at in Vancouver Washington. It was across the River on Interstate Five. We arrived on location by 7:30. Dinner was across the street at another AAA restaurant which we had found the previous year. During dinner we looked up to see the hostess seating several of our kids. Was it coincidence? There were fast food choices within easy walking distance, and it was unusual to see so many participants eating in the same restaurant as the moderators. It was good for business and the well-manner young adults made the moderators feel proud. The menu and the food was great! On another positive note, this year the Vancouver motel would have plenty of hot water during our stay. A hot water heater went out of service last year suddenly and without warning. The female rooms suffered the loss of the hot water. There was no time to offer my room for the purpose of showers as I had during excursion eight. It was a new year and there was plenty of hot water for all.
Our friendly folks at Puget Sound (pictured) did the tours while I went on my way to explore their athletic facilities. I brought my two children (moderator and participant) with me, who in turn brought their baseball gloves with them. A spirited long-toss ensued. (pictured left) There were fire-sale values in the bookstore for old text books. I couldn’t convince the troops that any Psychology book for 50 cents was a steal. I myself purchased newly released college football annual magazines at full cost in a do as I say moment not as I do moment. Doug did take advantage of the sale and actually used a few of the 50 cent books at his college.
The art of moving a tour bus through traffic suggests understanding how it flows and not trying to fight it. This strategy worked moderately well in California using diamond lanes but moved us expertly well in Seattle. Extra lanes called express lanes would open and reverse direction to handle rush hour flow. Once my drivers understood what I told them, we were good to go. These diamond lanes kept us out of bumper to bumper traffic except for exits. It was this experience that allowed us to visit three major schools that day and still travel 180 miles. We arrived at Seattle University (pictured) for our appointment on time. After a talk and tour from the director of admissions, he treated the entire group to lunch in the cafeteria. He had been generous the year before with vouchers for the ice cream shop, but this took me by surprise. He bid us goodbye as he had a plane to catch and had to call a taxi cab. I said I had a bus parked outside illegally on the street, and I wanted to thank him for his kindness. In the thirty minute ride to the airport, we engaged in very meaningful but pleasant conversation. It was a privilege to receive such insightful information from a highly intelligent professional. He would make it a point to come to Las Vegas for the college fair in the fall. Doug and I missed lunch that day but did demolish a sour-dough bread from a great bakery belonging to Eileen. Our next stop was the University of Washington where time permitted a chance to see the school on one’s own or get to the book store. We went to the bookstore which was being remodeled. We returned to the bus parked in a familiar place past the forty-fifth street entrance. From there we beat the rush hour on our trip back to the Silver Cloud Inn of Lynnwood. This was an exact duplication of the previous year. It was our third visit there in the past four excursions with its heated pool and excellent continental breakfast. It was the favorite motel of the past trips to the Northwest. There were great dining choices within easy walking distance. With a mini-fridge and solid cable choices, everyone seemed happy after a rigorous day. The free day in Seattle would add to the good feelings. We awoke the next day to overcast skies and cool temperatures. My plans for the morning were simple; take the group to the Seattle ferry terminal for a round trip ferry to Bremerton on the other side of Puget Sound. We arrived early for the 9 AM trip. When I went to pay for my “extended family” the clerk generously gave us local school rates.
The bus driver knew when and where to pick us up, so It was possible to enjoy the cool invigorating morning and the good Starbuck’s coffee served aboard. The group interacted very well, and no one was seen to be by themselves. Twosomes and larger combinations were seen all about the ferry. Everyone was as they should be and they
had been all trip, and all went off as planned. It was very interesting to see the group interact on the ferry. It was a trip to Bremerton and back with-out leaving the ferry. The bus was waiting for us when left the ferry terminal and took us to the Seattle Center and our designated bus parking space. I gave the group time to exit the bus with the knowledge of when to reassemble. The 7 PM time was a reward for good behavior. No group received more free time on a trip than excursion eleven. I gave them some suggestions on what was open to them and cautioned them about possible dangers. I also alerted them about the many different city types they might find. Coming from Las Vegas, this was a silly thing to do as I think of that now. My daughter and another participant did in fact experience a confirmed “flasher” in downtown Seattle. I guess it was just another day in the big city. I led the group to the Monorail. They could follow me from there to Pike’s Market. I cautioned them not to lag behind, for to do so would make it more challenging to
keep up with Doug and I back to the popular wharf area. This would take them to the Seattle Aquarium, shops and eating places, boat tours and would take them less than a mile from where we had taken the ferry. As usual, I led the troops to Pike Market where I had discovered a second story exit to a long series of steps to the wharf area. Most participants never made in past Pike Market and if they did they were repelled back by the stairs. My original reason to persevere the strenuous journey was the opportunity to purchase cups of clams. In so doing I was led to the FishCatcher a restaurant on the wharf with outdoor seating. Tour boats and ferries could be easily seen as we sat in the outdoor garden. You could see Mount Rainier to the Southwest on a clear day. In 1993, during the bus fiasco tour, Fr. Dan and I had a six-course clam-bake at that very restaurant. It took us longer than we expected to eat that meal and thus, Eileen and Donna went back to advise the group that we would be late. We took a taxi to the Seattle Center to avoid the dreaded tardy. On this day three years later, the restaurant was a rejuvenizer for Doug and I. The walk back up the multitude of stairs was a test for most people at any age. It had been a pleasant day for all. There was excitement on the bus when we met back at Seattle Center and walked back to where we had parked the coach. Participants would wait patiently upon occasions when the driver was a bit late. They never got lost during the four excursions that visited the Northwest. The mood on the bus was totally positive and everyone had a good word to say. A spokesperson for the group asked me if they could see a movie at the theater behind the Silver Cloud Inn. A wiser man would have said no, but I chose to reward their good behavior throughout the trip and said yes. Doug and Randi would keep their eyes on those who went. Eileen and Marion
remained behind to check on those who did not go. I sat in my room eating too many freshly picked Ranier Cherries purchased from Pike’s Market. I watched the original Rambo movie for the very first time. The group returned on time and a later than usual curfew room check was made. All was well that evening until I received a call from the front desk at midnight informing me that a few of my students were smoking outside the motel. I got dressed and rushed out from my second-floor room and was outside in a flash. It was after midnight and nothing was happening. I checked the back of the property near the pool and the side where our rooms faced. I sniffed for smoke or any other distinctive aroma and came up empty. As I went to the front desk, I heard the sound of water hitting the walkway. I also felt water on my arm. When I looked up it was three of our girls looking at me with astonishment from the third floor. I went to the desk and thanked the young lady for her misinformation. She apologized, and I called it a night. With last year’s trip reversed, we headed for California. We had college visitations at the University of Portland and Lewis & Clark College (Eileen and Marion pictured). Our swift journey through Seattle guaranteed that we would be on time for our appointments. The group was quiet and reflected the active nature of the previous day. The late-night bed-check didn’t help as room checks and sleep were often hours apart on all excursions. The visits went fine as both campuses are highly attractive. We stopped for lunch at a shopping plaza south of Portland. Everyone was now awake, and the hour lunch break went well. Apologies from the water incident of the night before, began to pour in. I could not tell them that the water was fine, not finding any of our participants out and about was far more important. Despite my logic, the apologies continued to pour in. The long ride through Oregon was pleasant. We stopped at several rest areas. Oregon and Washington in my travels, has offered the best rest areas of any state that I have traveled through. Using these extra rest stops proved to be a wise move, and at a cost of 15-30 minutes per stop, kept everybody happy. Though equipped with DVDs, I was reluctant to use them. Several had turned out to be somewhat questionable to offensive for the ladies. We arrived at our motel in Medford Oregon, by six PM. This Best Western had surveillance cameras in the hallway. Recently installed, they were not yet operational. We found that out when we arranged for our wake-up call. We failed to mention that fact to the group. Doug had an excursion moment in the front office which was manned by two young attractive girls both wearing name tags saying Lisa. Trying to be socially pleasant was good. Asking them if they were sisters was not so good. In all
fairness, had they not been wearing name tags, he might have been right. It was a peaceful night. The ride to the Bay area went well. The heat along I-5 reminded us that we would be back to summer Las Vegas heat soon. The Northwest weather had been delightfully cool and was appreciated by almost everyone. A few complained that it was too cold. We had an informal visit of St. Mary’s College where the temperature was much warmer. I led the group around the campus. By now I could give a good talk as well. I worked hard on being competent in this area. This would be useful on future visits to many schools where we didn’t need or want as many formal visits. Representative locked us into a pre-arranged time period. A relative quick stop at Berkeley proved not to be a crowd favorite. It would be true at Stanford as well. We stayed in Santa Clara at the Mariani Motel from the previous year. The two nights there was a good investment at a higher price from the previous year. The exception was the lack of hot water in some of the rooms. By coincidence that problem happened several times and most often to the female rooms. The free day in San Francisco followed quick tours of Stanford and USF. It was Seattle all over again. With no incidents and continued group sensibility and cooperation, another pleasant experience took place. Eileen and Marion spent the day away from Doug and me. They needed that. We were in no need of a cruise on the bay or the ferry to Sausalito. We just hung out near pier 39. We all returned to the motel, tired but happy. We were ready for our final visit at Santa Clara, and the long ride home. It was Monday morning, and everyone was eager to get going. We arrived at Santa Clara to find that our school representative responsible for our visit had been hired at Stanford. She failed to arrange for someone else to take her assignment so there was no talk or tour for our group. I was not happy and could not contain my frustration and disappointment for the group. This was a tour I was not prepared to do. My open displeasure brought out a well-dressed administrator to the rescue. He was truly a gentleman and an excellent team player and asked that we give him a few moments to organize himself. He saved the day with an exceptional personal tour and talk at different locations along the way. Everybody kept up with our guide and showed appreciation for his efforts. As a direct consequence of the visit many of the seniors-to-be participants made Santa Clara their number one school on the trip and chose to attend the following fall.
It was the best talk and tour that I could remember. I made sure the school was aware of his above and beyond service. Our rep who left us dry, did not last for very long at Stanford. The ride home was long but pleasant. It was easy to refect upon our good fortune. Along the way we had been exposed to a few questionable videos. Not having seen many of the movies placed into the DVR created a vulnerability I could not anticipate or do much about. I ate my first In-n-Out burger at lunch in Kettleman City, another favorite excursion lunch stop. My lunch and dinner choices were off the wall on this trip. Post-Trip Analysis: All goals had been accomplished and having a good time fulfilled my goal for seeing colleges while on a vacation-like setting for the second consecutive trip. The group performed above my expectations but ranked below previous top groups. While there were many top performers, there were a few individuals who subtracted from the civility of the group. Minus those relative few, the group proved to be extremely mature, reliable, cooperative, and pleasant. Many solid letters of recommendations would be written on behalf of these participants because they had shown the traits I personally respect. Santa Clara was the school of choice for this group. I was happy for my persistence and rudeness which brought out a great school representative. Steven Burford and friends earned the “smart” award for the trip. They knew to follow the moderators for meals when possible. A very smart mother on the trip really helped. Others showed equal smarts. It was unique as excursions went. Since I took meticulous care in my choices of proven eating establishments, they ate well while acting like the mature young adults they were. They earned a special shout out! MVP status was awarded to Angelo Gonzalez, Jenna Giannosa, Kate Hayes, Amber Mauer, Catie Miller, and J.P. Villai. Andrea Augustine Dawn Barry Nicole Bonanne Jamie Borders Robert Buckley Steven Burford Jessica Canada Mike Casey Brian Cass Shaun Chemplavil Stephani Christensen John Cornthwaite Jessica Desantis Ashley Ecker Greg Evert Jennifer Fasulo
Angelo Fernandez Ashley Flatt Jenna Giannosa Nicole Gilliam Yvette Gonzalez Laura Greenman Rebecca Haidey Kate Hayes Ryan Hauret Kristalle Herda Scott Kerestesi Erin Kneesel Branden Ledesma Amber Mauer Virginia McKee Catie Miller
Danielle Miller Zane Nguyen Elissa Perry Rebecca Pettit Liz Pitterle Tony Rose Stephanie Schillinger Randi Seif J.P. Vilai Barbara Whitesides
Return to Barn
Grand Tetons National Park
A
Excursion # 12: June 1997: The Sausalito Rebellion
fter two highly successful trips to the Pacific Northwest, it was time to return to the popular itinerary of colleges in California. I had done what I wanted to do in creating a family-style vacation environment, now it was back to the basic business of visiting colleges in California exclusively. My long-range planning since 1996 had given Gorman families the expectation that I would stay within the California borders in 1997. I was a man of my own words and the excursion program would start and end in the “Golden State” Registration was active, and the interest in Southern California was again dominant during my student interviews. Since all schools visited were selective to highly competitive, I chose to deny participation to students significantly lacking the credentials for admissions. It would not be a vacation-like experience, and I would not be doing them a favor by including them.
competitive choices.
In retrospect, the schools visited in the previous trips to the Northwest offered opportunity if not just hope. Few if any excursion participants faced rejection at schools with available dormitory and/ or general enrollment spaces. This was all verified by statistics from my personal database files. These files listed outcomes of students at all colleges and universities listed against grade point averages and test scores. It wasn’t a perfect system but reliably close. It was different in the Golden State, as told by other “cold hard facts”. Competitive conditions implied that higher grades and test scores were needed. There were few exceptions at the popular
The largest group in the excursion program up to that point provided for a balance of six female rooms to supervise against five for the males. With a well-achieved crowd aboard, we started out on the traditional Sunday. A change in moderators involved the addition of secretary Margie Sanchez. She joined Eileen Bortoli with Donna Geary replacing Marian Burford. Without our secretaries, the program would have been stopped in its tracks after excursion five. I have said this a number of times to emphasize how important this administrative decision was. Joining the moderating team was Mr. Clifford Klinkhammer (Dr. K), renowned as a teacher, counselor, coach, athletic trainer, and a future administrator. Doug and Randi were both aboard as was our driver Larry from the past two excursions. We
now had a transportation relationship with Coach USA. The itinerary called for only an informal visit of UCLA. Lighter weekend traffic allowed me a chance to find a place where the group could be disembarked. The new pickup and drop off point became the public bus depot near the student union. It would be the choice location for many years. The lively campus displayed students about to prepare for their final exams. There were scenes of students studying notes or reading books while sitting on the vast lawns. The student union had students occupying tables in a noisy food court attempting to study and read. I always thought that some students were just hanging out with their friends. Those with calculus, engineering or medical texts were likely to be legit. Participants asked me why these students were studying in the union. I indicated that they did not serve food and drinks in the library or vacant classrooms, and they could not visit with their friends. The Gorman kids seemed confused by my answer. Many in our group found out what I already knew. There are very few restrooms in the union. When found they seemed to be meeting of many nations. I knew where two were and shared this knowledge with anyone who needed directions. It was no problem finding the basement bookstore. They did great business with our troops. From Westwood, it was a complex path to get to get to Anaheim, our Southern California home base. On most trips it would take nearly 45 minutes to go through Westwood and head south on the 405. On this day, it was 20 minutes to go a distance of three miles. Monday’s itinerary included Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, and USC. Coming from Pepperdine we even had enough time to stop the bus along the Pacific Coast Highway. The purpose of doing this a chance to get to the ocean. There had always been a desire for participants to do this but never a convenient time or parking space. Larry found a place along the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) and a thirty-minute concession was granted. This turned out primarily to be a female event. Most of the boys chose to pass on this opportunity. My photo ops were worth the stop.
From sun on the Pacific Ocean we hit the marine layer near Marina Del Ray on our way to Loyola Marymount. It did not disturb another exceptional visit to a perennial excursion favorite. It were visits such as this this explained why I pledged a return
to Southern California. Following our appointment at Loyola Marymount(pictured), we planned to have lunch in the union of USC. It had become standard operating procedure. Summer school sessions and all facilities were crowded with students who were not taking exams. Our talk and tours brought us back to the bus in time to beat the worst of the Los Angeles traffic as we made our way back to Anaheim. The combination of the 405,110,605,91, and 5 freeways worked like a charm on this day. One Less Day Quandary The administrative decision to allow our secretaries to become moderators was highly beneficial to the success of the program. The request to return before summer school was a huge detriment. Unlike the Northwest trips where I could effectively use weekends to visit non-college venues, my California itineraries needed offices to be open. Visiting California schools with one less day became a big problem. It consequently resulted in longer walking tours as attractive colleges sought to show their facilities. The free time earned in San Francisco was of course, a non-negotiable aspect of the trip. On this day the troops had a good reason to be tired after marching around three campuses. Disneyland was not an option, and if it had been, most participants were too tire to care. A long buffet dinner line at the famous Swedish House on Katella and Harbor was my second biggest accomplishment of the day. Beating rush-hour traffic was my first. Tuesday began with a speedy informal visit at UC Irvine. From there we headed for San Diego nearly 90 minutes away. The extended lunch break at Seaport Village was never less than two hours in deference to the availability of things to do. With everyone on time after lunch, arrived at USD at 2 PM. Following an informative talk in the new student union, we walked off lunch on a long but thorough tour of campus. USD did a fine job as our host, and led the group to the bookstae to conclude the program. From there we headed for a late afternoon tour of UCSD in La Jolla. I led the tour and made it as short as I could. After a refreshment and restroom break on campus, we hit traffic on I-5 leaving the San Diego area. At this point I made an error in judgment. I put the movie, “Long Kiss Goodbye” in the bus DVR. I knew nothing about the movie, but it did star Samuel L. Jackson and it was said to be a high action film. While many students slept on the way back to Anaheim, the coarse language may have apparently made a poor impression on others. Future videos after this trip would require approval prior to showing. This directive would come directly from the Diocese of Las Vegas, and it was likely that the timing was not coincidental. Excursion eleven did show some poor choices that were nor reviewed prior to departure. Nobody brought along any G-rated movies . A “Market” Economy on Board As each day began with free coffee, juice and pastries in the motel office, a pattern
began to appear. Three entrepreneurial members of the group began to corner the pastry market as each person collected and wrapped individual items in napkins. When those late-running individuals scrambled to reach the bus at bordering time, they were offered those same free items from the motel office. It was a brilliant observational move as many students missed their initial chance at some form of free breakfast. They were provided a second opportunity for whatever price was requested. It was a service that neither the motel nor anyone else seemed to mind, so I allowed this ongoing industry to exist. It should be noted that our motels often provided continental breakfast based on the size of our group. Little did they expect that healthy teenagers would forgo food for additional sleep. Wednesday provided a chance to see and hear from Redlands and the Claremont Colleges. Paul Driscoll (pictured), the noted head of admissions at Redlands spoke to the group offering his expertise and encouragement. This was followed by our lunch at the popular food court of the Montclair Mall, before getting to Claremont. Paul was instrumental on many of my visits. He usually got my excursions off to a strong rewarding start.
At the Claremont College, the group was spoken to by several highly knowledgeable veteran admission people throughout the afternoon visits. Participants stayed attentive throughout the talks which covered the five colleges in the Claremont cluster of schools. As an after-lunch stop, the use of restroom facilities became more important. I was obliged to wait for these detached-users as often the group had moved out of visual range. It was all part of the experience for me and the students. We returned for our last night in Anaheim. It was an NBA playoff game that night for my two kids and Dr. K. Our over-sized suite served as basketball central. The game was dull, but the snacks and refreshments made up for it. The trip north stopped only at UC Santa Barbara, and only for an informal visit. Lunch in the student cafeteria and restroom visits were the main reason for the stop. Naturally a visit to the book store was included. It was a long ride devoid of movies, but we arrived at our Best Western motel in Concord nearly as planned. As usual, we would be there for three nights.
Thursday was expected to be very demanding as to have free time on Saturday we had three more schools with formal appointments to visit. The Best Western had perks including a large heated pool, and two choice restaurants across the street. A McDonald’s was next door, and other choices were within walking distance. The day began with an hour commute to Santa Clara University (pictured). Our school rep was there to meet us and offer a program that everyone liked. Circumstances from the previous year no longer mattered, and a more atypical visit took place. I stopped in to say hello to our savior from a year ago, but he has out of town. The talk was fine, and the tours were a bit more extensive than the previous year. The dispersal point as usual was the student union crowded with students. We had time in the bookstore before meeting at the bus. Everybody was on time. As always we ran into former Gorman graduates in the student union area. We headed off to Stanford for our annual informal visit. It was the usual chance to eat lunch, see what you wanted, visit the bookstore and be back to the bus by a designated time. Food services in the Union had been stopped for some strange reason. We were directed to an area far from the union where food would be served. I led those who wanted to eat to that location where a dorm service offered its cafeteria menu. It was a long distance to walk for a mediocre meal. The grumbling was well-deserved, and I led the displeasure of the food experience. Doug and Randi concurred. Our last visit was a late-afternoon stop at the University of San Francisco. Fatigue was setting in, and in some cases had claimed their victims. Enthusiasm for visiting colleges was diminishing rapidly. To avoid heavy Friday afternoon traffic, I had devised a game plan to take the bus across the Golden Gate bridge, spend an hour in beautiful Sausalito, allowing the heavy traffic to dissipate. We would depart for Concord after 7 PM when traffic out of the city was lighter. It looked like a good plan even if it did backfire. We stopped across the bridge at the famous overlook of San Francisco Bay. This was okay. We then found a tour-bus space in Sausalito that was good for one-hour only. The moderators quickly got off the bus. Very few others moved to disembark the motor coach. The troops by their lack of movement had said they had sustained enough for the day and wanted to know why we were stopping. They simply wanted to go back to the motel. I could think of no reason not to comply with their request.
My traffic plan did work to perfection, and we made it back in record time because of the predictable route. Moderators not named Seif were less thrilled by the actions of the students. The incident would become known in excursion history as the “Sausalito Rebellion”. Was the group insubordinate? Not at all within my eyes. Had someone mentioned fatigue to me under any aspect that day, I would not have stopped in Sausalito if the first place. I had attempted to visit too many key colleges on that day, and my moderators had more stamina than the students. They also got more sleep at night. My traffic plan was not anticipated or explained at an earlier time. It was not on the itinerary. Getting back to the motel early assured the moderators of a wonderful meal at a restaurant across the street from the motel. Saturday was an easy day. We had a sleep-in followed by informal visits to Saint Marys and UC Berkeley in that order. Being at both UCLA and Berkeley was always a cultural experience of high proportion. A lunch on campus and a visit to the landmark campus tower satisfied our needs. From there it was a ride into San Francisco and freedom. The free-day in Francisco began with a drop-off at pier 39. Everyone scattered to find their own entertainment. I climbed up to Coit tower with Dr. K and Doug. It took some doing and we were tired from the climb. The three of us made the most of our time together, stopping for some refreshing beverages at one pub or another. A
choice meal near the wharf made me forget that we had a long drive home ahead of us. Group dynamics indicated a satisfaction with the day. Saturday night traffic was light back to the motel. The Sunday return just didn’t start right. The lack of sleep did not help, and many chose to catch-up on the ride home the best they could. A dreadfully messy bus along the way did not make it much better. I was reluctant to put an unknown video into the DVR. The Long Kiss Good-Bye had the desired action but was R-Rated and contained course language. It wasn’t the first R-Rated movie and wouldn’t be the last one shown during a trip. We made our stops, but a somber mood persisted throughout the day. We all rejoiced when we arrived home for the summer. Post-Trip Analysis: One less day turned out to be problematic. In hindsight, I should have chosen to visit fewer schools. I did not follow my concept of the two previous trips. It would have improved the trip and would have made it less rigorous. The roster was loaded with many quiet super-star students. Senior leadership was also lacking a bit in comparison with excursions 10 & 11. While it was never expected that anyone would assume that status, it was devastatingly helpful when it occurred. The very large group was composed of many smaller sub-groups of friends. Some individuals were left to be on their own. There was no suitable baseball game to attend, and no time for another non-college event. The bus should have been kept cleaner. We had the father of a participant on the trip. The group was very cooperative at the motels and was highly punctual. Bed checks were always pleasant for the moderators. This was very much an excellent group with many highly intelligent, personable, friendly participants. Their performance encouraged my enthusiasm for planning a future trip. MVP status was earned by Jillian Allen, Anthony DiVento, Stav Fischer, Erin Giblin (and her marvelous ability to take notes), Emily Methangkool, Jim Norwood, Christy Simons, Alison Woodward, and Kate Young. Shaun Chemplavil, Amber Mauer and J.P. Vilai earned Hall of Fame status for their exemplary performances on excursions 11 and 12.
Jillian Allen Molly Allord Shannon Boyle Jack Burns Trisha Champaneri Shaun Chemplavil Angela Coury Anthony DiVento Stav Fischer
Erin Frisby Erin Giblin Damian Gomez Jeff Greenman Ramey Hito Bryan Human Michael Iglinski Nicole Lea Charlie Lee
Rick Linton Angel Lomboy Jillian Mathias Amber Mauer Emily Methangkool Andrew Murphy Mathew Newman Jim Norwood Megan Olsen
Kristie Parker Patricia Quinto Kelly Rozinski Tanya Samerthai Monica Sanchez Joan Sberna Catherine Schell Jay Schuminsky Scott Scoble
Randi Seif Thomas Shubbuck Christy Simons Kayee Tam Heather Thompson J.P. Vilai Laura Wade Jimmy Wattoo
Alison Woodward Kate Young
Return to Barn
Rogers National Park, British Columbia
I
Excursion Thirteen: Personal Foul: Driver’s Interference
n 1998, for some forgotten reasons, I chose to offer two trips to the Gorman student community. I had done this in 1993 with the June and October trips. This time around, I would offer the trips back to back. Excursion 13 would be for those who had interest in mostly the colleges in Southern California. It was to be a four-day affair that would leave on a Sunday and return Wednesday evening. Excursion 14 would leave the next day and travel to Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. It would be a twelve-day adventure leaving on Thursday and coming back on a Monday. Included were first time visits to Gonzaga University, Washington State University, University of Idaho, University of Montana, and the University of Utah. Trips to the Northwest had been fun for me to plan, secure accommodations, and execute. This Northwest trip would go where no excursion had ever been before, but only if enough students signed-up for it. Plans for these trips centered around a few co-factors. My daughter Randi was graduating from Gorman that year and was planning to attend the University of Idaho. As a Gorman junior, I had taken her to see the Universities of Idaho, Montana, and Utah. In so doing, I stayed at suitable excursion-type motels near each school. It is a fact that since 1985 I looked at every hotel or motel on my vacations for excursion suitability. Each school had a highly attractive campus. Since each state participated in the WUE tuition reduction program, saving money sounded good, and admissions were almost a sure bet. When visiting their offices of admissions, I somehow talked of the excursion program. Each school enthusiastically wanted in be on the schedule of our next trip if there was such an adventure. Carroll College of Helena wanted us to come so badly that they offered tremendous incentives for the group to stay. It would have required an extra day, and I could not justify the additional expense. Registration began on the traditional March 1 date and filled slowly. There seemed to be a good chance that I would go nowhere. I offered very reasonable prices including a discount for those who signed up for both trips. This turned out to be a smart move. It substantiated the enrollments for both trips and added the right kind of participants. I recruited John Goertemiller, and Stacy DiVento to be moderators for the first trip. John was an exceptional teacher and a good friend. I always respected Stacy for her pleasant personality and her professional dedication. Her brother had been on the previous trip, and was and had been an outstanding participant.
Newly graduated Randi accepted her first role as a moderator on this trip after three consecutive trips as a student. She would be headed off to a summer pre-college program at the University of Idaho. The longer trip was a total faculty rejection. Even my favorite janitor turned me down. I had to replace perennial MVP’s Eileen and Donna. Mrs. Kathy Speight and Margie Sanchez picked up their responsibilities. My son Doug, a crafty excursion veteran, would make my job easier, and his ability to handle the rigors of long tips was well established. Since I put out bids for transportation each year, I changed bus companies frequently. The lowest price was more important than loyalty. Of greater significance, my previous driver of three years was not available for either trip. Our driver for the first trip was Frank, a company favorite and a seasoned veteran. He was accustomed to clients who relied on his guidance or at the very least, did not reject it. It was destined to be the fighting point between us all throughout this trip. Day One: Let’s Hit the Road All went well for our Sunday departure, breakfast in Barstow, and the informal visits of Redlands and the Claremont Colleges. I led the group around all campuses. While Redland appealed to some, the Claremont schools were appreciated for it’s setting. The small liberal arts nature of the schools did not wow many in the group. They were attententive cooperative and stayed together while I conducted the tours. Their performance was impressive. I knew by then that I had a good, mature, cooperative group to lead and work with. This was very comforting and would allow me complete flexibility on visits. Several of the participants were members of my girl’s golf team including fouryear veteran Randi. They were all fine academic students and the type of students I was delighted to spend my time with. With Randi graduating, I was resigning from the program as soon as I returned from the second trip, so to ease my guilt, I paid for these worthy participants myself. Many could not have afforded the expense otherwise. As a note, I took over the golf program when the head coach moved away from Las Vegas. I took over because I knew the girls during Randi’s freshman year. Our Anaheim location was the same one from the previous year, and the one stayed at on the fall excursion in 1993. It was a comfortable place on Harbor Boulevard, and by now I knew where everything in the surrounding area was located. Day 2: The Long Day The war heated up between Frank and I on the trip to Loyola Marymount (left). I instructed him to use the 105 freeway to LAX. He said that the road wasn’t finished. I said I had my driver had used it on the previous trip. I had to fight Frank on where to disembark the group and where the university wanted the bus to parked. He reluctantly followed my instructions. The neutral ground of day one was replaced by
a mild hostile environment for day two. Round one went to me, and hostilities for the day ceased. From an enjoyable visit at Loyola Marymount, we traveled to the University of Southern California. Frank did not like the location of bus parking off Exposition Blvd. but followed my instructions. We had our traditional lunch in the student union. The visit at USC was coordinated to the Dodger game tickets I had purchased for the group. Our talk, tour and visit to the bookstore finished by 4:30 and by 5 we were entering the freeway. Accounting for heavy traffic to be encountered during rush hour on the 110 freeway, we negotiated the six-mile bumper to bumper journey patiently, and arrived at the ball park by 6 PM. We had plenty of time to eat before seeing a good competitive game. I sat next to the student (no disclosed names) who was highly allergic to peanuts. He was a personable guy and knowledgeable baseball fan. Many of the particpants were not big baseball fans but enjoyed this experience. Even Frank enjoyed the game. He had taken other groups to ball games, but rarely was given a ticket to be with the group. He appreciated the gesture. The game went extra innings which meant it would be a long ride back to Anaheim. The I-5 freeway was under heavy construction, and delays and detours brought us back to the motel around one AM. All was well with the group. They had performed very well in all aspects throughout the day, and my Southern California venture was looking pretty smart. Day 3: San Diego and Back The routine informal visits of UC Irvine, and UC San Diego were sandwiched around a great visit at the Univ. of San Diego. From a straight forward entertaining talk to an extensive tour, this was one of my best formal visits to the school. Added to it was my meeting with director of admissions. At that private session, he told me the reasons why certain students had been rejected by his school. For that information, I gave him the destinations of Gorman seniors who had been accepted but choose not to attend the San Diego school. I had done this with other Catholic universities before, but not with USD. This practice greatly enhanced by database of student outcomes allowing it to be a more valuable counseling tool. The day had gone well after I let Frank choose his route against my directions to Irvine. He chose his routes for the remainder of the day minus my parking instructions in San Diego. Round two went to Frank. Day 4: The final Battle Our final day was productive with visits to Pepperdine, UCLA, and Occidental before heading home. I had a great group, one of the most cooperative, but the reality of having a second trip became less appealing than before we left. I was somewhat tired from the three previous days. This was true for the group as well, and formal visits to Pepperdine and Occidental were less interesting for the group than Loyola Marymount and USD. UCLA was a convenient lunch break.
Following our formal visit at Occidental, the group settled in for our return home. At our final stop at the MacDonalds in Barstow, Frank informed me that he would be our driver on the Northwest trip, and when I said that would not happen, the final battle took place. Twelve days with Frank would not have worked out, considering the unusual itinerary, and short-cut routes that I would want to take. We returned to the Gorman parking lot by 6 PM. Less than an hour later I would be on the phone to company’s dispatch officer about changing drivers. “Frank is one of our best drivers……” I was told. I said that while that might be true, “I have your phone number, and that of the corporate office” (a bluff), and I would call every time we clashed. Within a half-hour, I had a crusty ex-naval man named Bob as my driver for the second trip. Post-Trip Analysis: The group responded positively from the very start to the finish. They were well-behaved, cooperative and sensible. Unlike previous groups they actually went to sleep within a reasonable time after room checks. They were friendly, mature, and highly responsible. Ten participants of excursion thirteen would make both trips. I was careful to spend more time getting to know those making the shorter adventure. I was greatly rewarded for my efforts. With my driver being my only concern, and that being of a minor nature, I enjoyed being around this group. For each letter of recommendation that I wrote for members of lucky number thirteen, I was able to point to a specific encounter or observation. As I got to know these participants at school, few schools could determine if a student had been on a short trip or the longer entity. I always felt good about doing that. The group earned very high marks for their efforts. The profile suggested that most of these participants were accustomed to producing top performances. My golfers turned in exemplary efforts, and excursion thirteen was a major success. Excursions 7 and 13 compared favorably as teenagers you could almost take anywhere at any time.
Allison Barry Leslie Anne Bracken Kate Brignone Nicole Carpenter Betty Casey Neal Chemplavil Michelle Cobeaga Ashley Costello Ariana Davis Rana Faranesh Cari-Anne Fitzhugh Casey Galindo Jennifer Gilroy Guinevere Gomez Heather Hinchman Parviz Heshmati Brian Higgins Laura LoPiccolo Armina Lockett Bradley Mayer Nicholas McDaniels Rewadee Meevasin Matt Mercer Jim Norwood Carolyn O’Callaghan Jimmy Parker Tricia Parker Allison Potter Danny Roberts Paddy Sandino Amanda Schmidt Tanya Spurbeck Katie Tyndall Wayne Webb Laura Wade Kate Young
Return to Barn
Lake Louise, Alberta Canada
Excursion # 14: June 1998 The Longest Trip was One of the Best
A
t the 6 AM Thursday departure, Bob was the answer to my wishes. He was a no nonsense 25-year Navy veteran and an experienced driver. He knew Frank, liked and respected him, but understood my perceptions of him and why we clashed. Bob had served around the world but had never been to the Northwest. The drive through central California after our usual stop in Barstow gave me the immediate confidence that Bob was the man for the job. He followed my requests without explanation and accepted that I was using previous experience to my advantage and for that of the group. I knew breakfast and lunch stops, rest areas and mileages by memory. He would like my motel choice in Concord that evening, and most important, he would like the behavior of the group. I was enthralled by Bob’s service stories about life aboard naval fighting ships. Speaking of the group, I didn’t think it was possible to attract so many great young people as I did for these two excursions. Ten participants from the first trip made the second one. Two people on the second trip had been with me on a previous trip (11 and 12). Then there was Jim Norwood who was on excursions 12,13,14). He would hold the all-time excursion record for most days spent with the program as a student
not named Seif. Jim was highly respected by his classmates throughout his high school career which was very evident during his time as a participant of the program. He was a pure delight to be around; quiet, reserved, always pleasant, and always in control. He was extremely intelligent but kept his brilliance at a distance from other students. With Jim and other experienced participants, I knew the trip had a chance to be special. We made our traditional stop for breakfast in Barstow.It was a quick clean stop meaning everyone was back to the bus on time. Traffic was light and we stopped for an early lunch north of Bakersfield. The ride up I-5 followed. It was a long session on the bus with frequent stops at rest areas where we could move our legs and walk. The stops were fifteen minutes and no one was late. It was a good introduction to what would lie ahead. We arrived at Saint Marys right on my itinerary time, which spoke well of Bob’s ability as a driver. The group responded very well for their first formal visit. Leaving at 6AM and being this sharp after a 525-mile trip is harder than it might seem. It was one of our best visits of Saint Marys throughout the excursion program. A short ride to Concord brought us to the Heritage Inn an excursion favorite among motels. Dinner for Doug and I was at another of our favorite Chinese Restaurants. The only negative on the night was Doug and I being caught Jay-Walking. Fortunately, we received only a warning.
On Friday, the day began with a talk from Bob about not using the bathroom in the bus while it was parked at the motel. For those sitting in the back of a bus, this was no small rule of the road. Our itinerary for the day included visits of Santa Clara, Stanford, and USF. The two Catholic schools provided formal visits. There was always been a natural connection between Santa Clara and the excursion program. Each trip has been something special in a similar manner to our visits at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. Stanford has the large campus referred to as “the farm”. It is large and impressive but never as intimate as the other two. The school in San Francisco proudly displayed their new recreation complex which required walking up and down a seemingly endless number of steps. It was a major upgrade for a mostly traditional older campus. Our long-time host at USF was Chris Kryzk. He was a great college representative who visited Gorman for many years and became a highly trusted professional contact. During several previous excursions, he came in on several Saturdays and on one occasion provided pizza and beverages for the troops. He would be leaving his position after this trip to become an admissions director at another school in the Bay area. I was very happy for him as he deserved this advancement.
Beating the rush-hour traffic again, we returned to Concord for another comfortable night. While our rooms were in different locations throughout the motel, this highly reliable, sensible ensemble was easy to moderate. Veterans of the first trip knew the value of sleep and had an influence on their new roommates. While the Best Western accommodations were very nice, participants often wondered why we stayed so far from San Francisco given that we went into the city twice. The answer was cost. We received highly favorable rates from this motel and others
frequented by other trips. If not for for those breaks, the costs would have been considerably more. One of my excursion goals was to provide an affordable price. I was very thankful to the Heritage Inn, the GreenTree Inn of Eugene, and the SilverCloud Inn of Lynnwood near Seattle for what they meant to the program. The next day was the much anticipated free-time in San Francisco after a quick informal visit of Berkeley. I was feeling some fatigue from the long week and especially the stairs at USF, so Doug and I hung close to the wharf. Everybody returned to the bus on time excited about their experiences for the day, and I knew we were ready for our journey north.
The trip through Northern California and Southern Oregon went routinely well. We had the time to stop at the numerous rest areas and have lunch in Medford, Oregon. We arrived at the Best Western Green Tree Inn of Eugene by 5 PM. Many of the participants walked across the street to stroll on the University of Oregon campus both before and after diner. Another visit to the House of Chen produced good and bad results. The good news was the magnificent food. The bad news came from the wife of the owner who informed Doug and I that she and her husband (the chef) were going to retire in ……Las Vegas! The traditional day of Oregon State in the morning and the University of Oregon in the afternoon remained intact. The weather was good, and both campuses were actively into their summer sessions. From experience, we asked our tour guides to take us to places such as fraternity and sorority houses at the U of O. We used the bus to see a larger Greek row at Oregon State. It was rare that students saw Oregon and Oregon State the same. Liking one usually meant hating the other. The schools catered to different students and the distance of thirty-four miles created a bitter sports rivalry. The University of Oregon appealed to the more liberal crowd. Oregon State sported more students with beards. A more rugged outdoor student might be a better description. Another evening at the House of Chen was somewhat bittersweet. It would be the last time I could compliment the original owners.
From Ocean to Waterfall Another bright sunny day greeted our Wednesday departure. As we drove to the coast, the marine layer once again took over. It felt more like the Oregon that participants had anticipated and packed their bags for. We stopped for our usual look
The group explored the formations at the end of the trail. I was nervous but confident that all would be well. The visitor’s center could be seen on the cliff above,
at the famous Haceta Lighthouse. Just up the road we again used the facilities of The Cape Perpetua visitors center. While the exhibits were always highly worthwhile the clean restrooms were essential. While looking down on the ocean below from the center, I decided to take the group for a walk on the trails below. It was an impulsive decision, but a good one. We spent a worthwhile hour enjoying the location. With no colleges to see, we had the freedom to do as I wanted. Building up our appetites, we spent another hour for lunch in Newport. Unlike our last trip to the city, we ate at a more conventional location. Finding a quaint restaurant across the main highway, we found great food but with the slowest service in the history of mankind. I had to literally beg our waitress for our check. The moderators and other members of the group were late for departure. We all earned traditional “tardies” from a taunting crowd. As the group settled into the ride to the Columbia Gorge, a movie was requested. Saying yes was probably a mistake but asking the group what they wanted to see was just plain stupid. It displayed one weakness of a democracy. The group chose My Best Friend’s Wedding to be followed by Billy Madison. I said, “no DVR could stand up to such abuse”, but in they went. Having seen both movies before, I concentrated on telling Bob exact directions for negotiating Portland traffic. Both movies played fine, but when I took Billy Madison out of the machine, it would play no more. I had inadvertently been right. We arrived at Multnomah falls with plenty of daylight and time to enjoy the scene. For the first time, most of the group followed me up the mildly-steep trail to the top bridge viewpoint. It was there that I could take multiple pictures of them as a group. It was the only visit of the falls that I could get pictures of a large portion of the group. The photos below show the group and the crossover bridge they were on. It was then time to head back to our Best Western motel in Vancouver WA. It was an hour ride. That evening, the moderators had dinner with Stacy Evert (exc. 7, tour guide on exc.11). She is a health care provider living in the Portland area. In addition, Stacy was a wonderful student aid for me. Since most of my aides were college excursion veterans, I had a valuable stake of greatness in this category. With no problems at bed check it had been a another very good day. We woke up to a steady cold rain. The forecast had predicted a fast-moving front coming through our area. I thought about bagging our visit to the University of Portland but decided against it. We arrived there on time and were met by our hosts with plenty of rain gear. They wanted to show the group how the rain would not stop them from a normal routine in the winter. I gave them complete control, as Bob, Doug, and I, found a choice breakfast in an almost empty student union. Through a bizarre set of circumstances, we were forced to leave the ladies back at the hotel. The story centered around a 24-hour photo processing location near our motel. I strongly advised against such a decision but the moderator did not take my warning seriously. As a consequence both ladies had to wait until 10:00 AM. The other moderator was a good sport but a victim of circumstances. Since out visit to UPS (Puget Sound) brought us back past our motel on our way north, it was no problem to go back for them. We
The Seattle Free-day Experience
used the opportunity to check out of our rooms officially and use them, rather than a rest area. Those wishing further details must send me an e-mail to find out. Following the visit, we headed north to the Puget Sound and the university that claims its name. The rain intensified, and I worried that bad weather would influence our Seattle activities. I had much too much coffee and was showing obvious signs of it. A very perceptive young lady also spotted those signs and at a rest area told me to “knock off the caffeine”. It was a good call.
About ten minutes from the school, the rain suddenly stopped, and it began to clear. The Puget Sound visit went smoothly and on time. We headed to Seattle and the University of Washington for lunch. Food, the bookstore and a chance to walk around the large campus awaited before we beat the rush hour traffic to Lynnwood. We were again welcomed by the Silver Cloud Inn management who loved the concept of the program and offered great rates to prove it. The heated pool and spa were popular
with the participants. While Doug stayed with the group, I escorted Bob as he took the bus to be fueled and cleaned. It was the only time I saw this complete operation. The service building was in a remote section of West Seattle just south of the Kingdome. I had to navigate us there by unfamiliar maps that did not show the location accurately. I invested three hours to get us there and back but gained the respect of my driver. That made the
experience very worthwhile. A benefit of having great moderators was my not having to do room checks every night. After a peaceful first night, my luck slightly changed that second night. A 2 AM phone call woke me up suddenly. The desk clerk in a panicked voice told me that there was commotion coming from room 428, and that guests were complaining about the disturbance. Only a few hours before I had identified myself to this same young lady as the group leader, ending our pleasant conversation by saying, “If anything comes up during the night, call me and not the other moderators.” In my mind, nothing sinister was going to happen because on this trip as on most of the trips, I had a great group of kids! Half-awake and angry for being awakened in the first place, I quickly dressed and bolted for the stairway. Arriving at room 428, the door was slightly open, and the room was dark. I listened for voices, and when I heard the clear tones of both males and females, I made my move. Years of experience have taught me to be decisive and nasty for maximum impact. My words were loud and robust. Paraphrased, I said “What the (heck) is going on in here!” After a few seconds of stunned silence, a light by a bed went on. It wasn’t bright, but it clearly revealed a room of twenty-something adults (a guess). The males
were not small. The room had numerous empty containers of alcoholic beverages, and the occupants were “well-oiled” (had plenty to drink already). Fortunately for me, they seemed to be stunned by my appearance and tough language.
I was initially embarrassed but then very relieved to not find any of my kids in the room. I quickly explained my mistake, explaining how I was sent to their room from the front desk. At this point I was offered a beer but declined. I suggested that they tone down the noise as the office was receiving complaints, apologized for my intrusion, and closed the door as I left the room. I somehow knew to disdain the use of the elevator and allow the four flights of stairs to reduce my hostilities. The young gal at the desk saw my face, and reluctantly asked, “Is everything alright.” I calmly replied, “Those weren’t my kids in room 428.” She carefully replied, “Did I say 428, I’m sorry, I meant 328.” There were no further words exchanged. For the record, there were no Gorman students in room 328, and fortunately, I did not check the room to find that out. In my haste, and only half-awake at the time, I had failed to check my own room list which was traditionally positioned under my phone. All our rooms were on the two lower floors. After the fact, this has been a great story to re-tell as it made the rounds through the halls of Gorman. I went back to sleep quickly that night. Our day-off in Seattle started with an extensive tour and talk at Seattle University. It was followed by free time after Bob found his parking space in a spot reserved behind the Seattle Center for tour buses. This location had been moved from previous trips. Doug and I led the group to the monorail which took us to the Westlake Center, the only stop on the monorail. From there it was past the original Nordstrom’s to Pikes market. Through the length of the market was an exit to the long set of stairs that would lead down to the wharf area and the large Seattle Aquarium. Few could keep up with Doug and I, and many had no real desire to do so. Those who
did could testify that the return trip up the stairs was a hardship even for young study legs. The group enjoyed being on their own for the day. We somehow lost our lady moderators as they could not keep up. It was a “no-brainer” to enjoy the free-time. Doug and I had had seafood on the wharf at our favorite outdoor fish restaurant (two left photos). We discussed the trip thus far and our future visits of first-time schools. Everyone made it back to the bus on time and seemed to have a great time. It was back to the Silver Cloud Inn. There were no incidents that night as a different girl was on duty. So was Doug, and he alone checked all the male rooms. It was Friday as we headed west on I-90 to Spokane. The loss of the DVR was a disappointment. Even Jim Norwood gave a look to fix the machine. When he ruled the device terminal all questions about it stopped. Liberal breaks at rest areas and the new big sky landscapes entertained the group for a while. So did the two-lane roads among vast and vividly colored wheat fields between Ritzville and Pullman. We arrived somewhat later than planned at Washington State University in Pullman (pictured), with a decision to make. We had a formal tour planned but it was either that or lunch but not both. I decided on lunch on campus which allowed for a chance to see part of the campus if desired. The student union overlooks the football stadium. Bob had to take the bus to a suitable location a good distance from the union. I jogged over to the admissions office to explain our choice of lunch. They understood. I would later take the bus around the large campus. Our two PM visit to the University of Idaho (pictured below) in Moscow was just ten miles down the road. The border of Washington and Idaho was between the two major universities. We arrived on time to be greeted by a representative I had never met or spoken with. We held the talk first in a second-floor auditorium and proceeded to tour a mostly empty campus about to begin their summer program. The girls enjoyed seeing football players doing an informal workout. Our non-obtrusive rep had volunteered his own time to host our visit. He did what he could to keep the attention of the entire group as we marched around the campus. I had to step in to mildly remind a few in the group about manners, patience, and respect for our host despite many bus miles with no DVR. A few tough words, and we were good to go after that. Our Best Western University Inn of Moscow (pictured) was the perfect place for any excursion. It had a large indoor pool and spa. It was located next to a shopping mall and in front of a modern movie complex. There was a laundry nearby that washed, dried and folded laundry for a reasonable cost. It was open to ten PM. and my clothes were ready by nine. The attendant was fascinated by the concept of the trip, prioritized my laundry, and would have joined us if she could. It was something to tell her high school classmates she said. Doug was anticipating a transfer from junior college to Idaho to join his sister. He met with representatives of a fraternity who wanted to show him their frat house. Large Fraternities and Sororities were prominent on both campuses in the Palouse. I took care of the laundry and then spent a relaxing time having dinner by myself in
Andrea Acosta Greg Boone Erin Burns Robert Buckley John Cannella Betty Casey Neal Chemplavil Briana Coons Ariana Davis Stav Fischer Brad Hughes Parviz Heshmati Christine Hentzner David Kerzetski Bradley Mayer Meredith Mays Molly Moore Jim Norwood Justin Ohriner Jessica L. Ruiz Anne Rivera
Allison Potter Kristen Russell Paddy Sandino Ralph E. Sibley Mike Shubbuck
Evan Speight Sharon Tulak Katie Tyndall Caroline Van der Harten
This Group Photo was Taken at the University of Utah on the last day of the trip.
Multnomah Falls
At the University of Utah
Return to Barn
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
E
Excursion # 15: June 1999 Mr. Seif faces adversity
ven on somewhat bad trips there has always been some excellent participants. This rationale was seriously put to the test for this travel experience. Registration did not leave me with the positive outlook that previous excursions had provided me. A look at the group profile showed fewer familiar faces and names than usual. The trip to visit exclusively California locations was popular with the students as the roster number might suggest. The success of the previous trip to the Northwest complicated my outlook on this Golden State only itinerary. Known factors did not include negative words from teachers, counselors, or administrators. I would not be as lucky as in previous years. Questionable participants did not mesh
with the more achieved students. Leadership was at a minimum. Some very fine students made positive impressions on myself and my moderators. If excursion 14 was perhaps one of my best groups, excursion 15 certainly was not. Expectations can cause problems, and I was not exempt. Two very excellent groups in 1998 gave way to a few students who should have never stepped onto the motor coach. This was again only my fault and since my crystal ball was apparently on the fritz, no one else was to blame. As was typical of these trips, all would be forgiven by the time school began in August. No one went over the provebial line. Looking at the group picture still causes me to smile more than cringe.
Ms. Virginia Cunningham began her reign as my chief female moderator/ administrator. She had been a long-time distinguished instructor, and a good friend for many years. My daughter Randi, back from her first year of college joined Ms. Cunningham for duty. Simon Lei, science instructor at Gorman made his first trip. Bob was back with a different bus company, Coach USA. A late departure caused by tardy participants on Sunday morning started the trip off on a slightly sour note. Bleached hair upon a few boys (an excursion first and only) didn’t start things on the best terms. It got worse after we stopped for breakfast at the Burger King in Barstow. Some poor Judgement While most of the participants ate at the BK, a few chose to walk down the street to the McDonald’s. This was perfectly fine as long as they were back to the bus on time. All would have been fine if three boys had not been picked up the local police for throwing jelly-bellies onto I-15 striking the windshield of a car below. In California, any object thrown from an overpass is a possible felony act. The car hit was an old junk car bearing two people who must have been living far under a dirty rock. The police wanted to scare the youths, and the boys were indeed scared. As I spoke with the officers, one of the accusers took offense to something I said. He charged at me but stopped when intercepted by an officer. It gave me the chance to have Miss Cunningham escort the boys to the bus. Everybody else was already onboard. I did not want the incident/accident to spoil the travel experience of everyone aboard. I told the officers that we would be late for a “special” Sunday appointment at the University of Redlands. I did not lie for one call to the University would confirm or deny my story. The police were highly considerate and let us go on our way. Further action from the district attorney of Barstow was to be pending at a later time. Best to my knowledge, none ever came. Our first visit at the University of Redlands went very well. Paul Driscoll had his entire staff available for a special Sunday talk and tours in smaller groups. I made name tags for the group at home and distributed them on the bus before arrival. They were expected to be worn only on the first day. The group complied with that request. Our next stop was the Montclair Mall in Uplands, a group favorite from previous trips. From a vast variety of California chains, everything from food to videos were bought at this locale. It had been a traditional excursion lunch stop just one exit from the Claremont Colleges. There had been participants on previous trips who were late for departure. They usually apologized for their tadiness as they stepped on the bus. Occasionally I had to move th bus to indicate the importance of being on time. Tight itineraries demanded leaving places on time. On this particular day, I moved the bus to prompt a late participant to run for it. This individual did not run for the bus or say the appropriate thing when I had the driver open the door. I knew he did not get it, or was very immature, and hoped that a bad
Our University of Redlands Visit
day with him did not necessarily foreshadow a bad trip. High maintenance students did not enjoy excursions. Those I could identify pre-trip were left behind. In any event, the show had to go on, and we sped on the Claremont exit. At the Claremont schools, my talk and combined tours of the five campuses went well as I stopped at logical stops to discuss the particulars of each small liberal arts college. It was immediately clear that the group was split between high above and well below average achievers. The best students immediately began to hang together. Interest waned as the tours went on as many in the group knew they could not possibly compete for admission. Some in the group would respond better at the more popular college visitations.
Only when we returned to the bus did I realize by head count that a student had slipped away from the group. He made us wait on the bus while he shot baskets with other similar age boys he had run into at Claremont McKenna. The same student had been late for the bus at lunch, and this was twice that I had to show my displeasure. It was time to head to our accommodations in Anaheim. I knew I had at least one or two PITA’ s onboard. I would not be wrong. Only the number would change. Monday was bright and sunny indicating hope for a better day. We were head for San Diego. The informal stops at UC Irvine and UC San Diego went well as did our usual lunch break at Seaport Village. This location always appealed to students for a variety of reasons. There were multiple quality restaurants, a few fast-food places and interesting novelty shops. Two students were late for departure from the main parking lot, causing Randi and I to search for them. They apparently became disoriented and lost as a result. I accepted these circumstances as valid. This made us late for our 2 PM appointment at USD. Fortunately, we had enough time to spend as the rest of the afternoon was available. The University of San Diego really delivered an excellent presentation and equally fine tours. They were easily the favorite school on the trip. Everybody acted as if they cared because they did. It being California, the bleached hair did not stand out. It was my best opportunity to take photos of the groups while on tour. In fairness, the USD visit was a highlight of the trip and probably the best visit of the school in excursion history. The ride back to Anaheim reflected the positive experience. Day two was a
total reversal of the day one disaster. There were positive experiences when visiting colleges that were of special interest to the group. Visits to USD, Loyola Marymount, USC, and Santa Clara indicated the healthy standards by which these schools could seek their candidates. Participants paid close attention to these presentation sessions. This was basically true for all excursions. The visit to Pepperdine was of little interest to the group. The restrictive social conditions did not impress. Under cloudy marine layer conditions, the visits to Loyola Marymount and USC were considerably more interesting to the group. Lunch at 1 PM was at USC with everyone expected to show up on time for our 2 PM visit. The timing for the student tours were set to finish at the student union by fourthirty. We would head back to the bus by five for an hour trip to Dodger stadium just ten miles away. The mood on the bus was good. The Dodger game that year was without incident. The visit to USC just prior to the game had paid traffic dividends. In this case we arrived a bit earlier than anticipated which allowed for the opportunity to eat at food concessions that were not overflowing with the late-arriving crowd. Early arrival gave us a prime bus parking space closer to the stadium. The game was non-descriptive, but the group behaved admirably. I had accepted a few students for participation on the trip after telling them hard facts during pre-trip interviews. As with many other trips, I had to tell students that their chances for admissions at any of the schools to be visited would be very limited and unlikely. Admissions was more liberal at UNR and in the Pacific Northwest. We were seeing either location so admissions was a factor. Since there had been no red flags for discipline, I allowed these maginal students the chance to come and hear these representatives for themselves. I believed it was important that these students relay this message to their parents and other similar classmates. After speakers repeatedly told the group what they looked for in admissions, they knew I had spoken the truth. I had encouraged them to ask about standards for those who might transfer from a two-year school. A few did and received sincere encouragement along with valuable information at Loyola Marymount. This group was very good after dark, and my phone never rang for any problems at our motels. Punctuality was not a virtue, and late departures at Seaport Village in San Diego and at Stanford were notable. Two of the boys involved in the Barstow incident were model citizens for the rest of the trip in all phases. They easily earned my respect for their actions throughout the trip. The third student was a constant pain throughout, and never expressed remorse.
The trip north and our first night in Concord went extremely well. The Santa Clara visit the next day was greatly enhanced by Melissa Kolesar (pictured) who guided a tour and spoke seriously about the challenges of college life. Melissa with her dynamic outgoing personality was a participant of excursions 8 & 9. She was easily one of the best of the students on both trips. She was one of four Kolesars to be excursion participants over the years. Her sister Maggie was on this trip. Ms. Cunningham was in charge of selecting the movies we could watch on the bus. While I chastised the Diocese for their restrictions, I did not attempt to override them. A late student for the Stanford departure cut into free-time in San Francisco that Saturday afternoon. Those waiting on the bus were not happy (think lynch mob). I made up for some of the lost time with an early exit of the freeway which was bumper to bumper. I had purchased non-refundable tickets for the Alcatraz tour. My local street choice got us to pier 39 just on time. The free-time in San Francisco went well, as indicated by individuals as they returned close to our stated meeting time. We returned to our Concord base of operations shortly after sundown. On that last Saturday night, bad feelings and accusations of roommates against each other caused me to relocate one participant out of her assigned room. It was an excursion first and only. There were claims and counter-claims. The moderators met and could not arbitrate a solution. The accused student did not return to Gorman in the fall, and only someone reading this would know who that was. The group was edgy on the last night, and it was dicey for the moderators to interact with many troubled teens to say the very least. Surprisingly, this incident was only amongst the girls who had behaved very well the entire trip. Departure on the last day was delayed by two girls who claimed to oversleep the room wake-up call. I sent my daughter to their room to relay a direct quote that I was not particularly proud and showed my frustration at the time. Randi delivered my message for I could stand it no more. The long trip home was uneasy with the few movies we had left. When we arrived in Las Vegas in the Gorman parking lot, I gave the group my final words. I said,
Christina Afentoulis Ashley Anttonelli Somer Athari Michele Beckwith Rafal Brzeska Danielle Campanella Maggie Cashman Charles Chaney Bradley Daseler Kyle Daseler Diane Del Rosario Catherine Dickinson Dominic Fabrizio Melissa Gross Ashley Hamilton Adel Hanash Brian Hanrahan Michael Holmes Kai Kadoich Maggie Kolesar Shaun Lea Megan Linihan Matthew Lisowski Mary Mai Nick Mangum Melanie Mark Brittany Morse Anna Norquist Jimmy O’Dea Nick Pizzariello Lara Pizzoferrato C.J. Potter Megan Ramos Andrew Sauter James Solomon Joanna Vogt Garrett Weir Justin Yu Jennifer Zewin
“As a group you have done something no other group has accomplished, you’ve made me feel that I don’t want to do another trip.” Seconds later, I was taking bags off the bus and thanking individuals for their cooperation and wishing everyone a good summer. I said what I meant and there was no trip in June of 2000. It was interesting that one the best participants on the trip did not attend Bishop Gorman. Post-Trip Analysis: Several lower achieving students claimed inspiration from the experience of the trip and produced vastly improved grades during their entire senior year. Two of these students continued their high achievement in their first and second year at junior colleges and transferred to schools visited on this trip. The trip turned around a few of the boys who had not endeared themselves to me. These turnarounds in behavior and character made a strong impression on me as well as other faculty. They gave me unnecessary credit for their improved overall attitude and performance. I did not want to take total credit for their actions, but the reality learned on the excursion had helped. The girl who conflicted with her roommates did not return to school in the fall. The circumstances of not having a trip the following spring, did affect juniors who had wished to have their own experience. I would tell them that my decision to not have a trip went beyond the poor performance of excursion 15. While I could not sell that point, I never regretted taking a year off. I needed the break. I wrote more letters than I imagined for this group. I got to know the sophomores from the trip much better, and in time, many became future outstanding seniors by the time I wrote on behalf of them. Those juniors who acted poorly never approached me during their senior year. In retrospect, take away the unusual first day, and the group performed very well. Many were highly personable, friendly, reliable, and cooperative participants. Below, is the only group picture taken at Santa Clara.
Maggie Cashman, Brad and Kyle Daseler, Adel Hanash, Maggie Kolesar, Mary Mai, Melanie Mark, Nick Pizzoariello, Lara Pizzoferrato, C.J. Potter, and Jenifer Zewin earned MVP honors for their steady performance during the trip. Jimmy O’Dea, the student not from Gorman was the best member within the group and clearly earned hall-of-fame status for what he added to the group.
Return to Barn
Glacier National Park
Excursion # 16: June 2001 The Last Northwest Passage
T
rue to my word there was no planning or real desire to have another trip. I had nothing to prove, and my excursion fifteen declaration gave me an official out. I was happy to help families plan their own college trips, but do nothing more. I could for a change concentrate on my own family trips. It somehow changed after the superbowl of 2001, when I suddenly changed my mind. I do not remember why this happened. This was the traditional time I would think about another trip. My sudden withdrawl from the football season always caused me a problem and planning a trip somehow always helped. It took two entire football seasons and a baseball season to wipe clean the memories, responsibilities, and liabilities of the previous trip. The verbal requests from the students that I worked within my office had something to do with it as well. I was resolute in June of 2000, but it faded fast after the fall of that year. I chose to offer another trip to the Northwest. I reasoned it was better to end the excursion program with another failure to recruit enough students, than quit because of a few bad experiences from the previous trip. Sentiment for another trip from the student perspective centered around staying in California. I preferred the scenario that brought me back to the Northwest. I had no problem working with the seniors from excursion 15. A few participants did dramatically improve their grades, citing motivation gained from the encouraging, honest talks of the college representatives. This was usually an outcome for rational students who needed to open their eyes to the world of admissions at selective schools. Admission to the public schools in the northwest was almost a sure bet. State standards at all but the University of Washington favored the participants of the trips taken north of California. Private schools with the exception of Reed College coveted candidates with excursion backgrounds. In any event, Simon Lei and Miss Virginia Cunningham were enthusiastic to make another commitment. They were joined by Laura Tuttle always maintained a structured, orderly classroom. It was always a pleasure to go into her classes to speak about college-oriented topics. Asked at a late date, she was somewhat apprehensive about going, but willing to give it a try. My son Doug was available again and was a personal friend of Simon Lei. My driver Bob honored my request for his services with his bus company.
Recruitment was slow and uncertain. Numerous calls came to my office asking me why I was not going back to Southern California. I reiterated in most cases the opportunities to be admitted were important. The chance to better afford the schools in the northwest were also an important factor. Impossible Acts An excursion moment came when an upset mother told me that her son was interested in only the Ivy League. She said, “Have you ever considered taking a small group to see these prestigious schools”. I replied, “Mrs.…., do you know how tough it is to get a bus off the ground”. The immediate click on the other end told me she had not taken my humor well. I didn’t care. The family never contacted me again and left Gorman for reasons unknown soon after. I have been asked to perform two noteable impossible acts in regards to the excursion program. Putting a bus in the air was one of them. Recruitment reached a sufficient number just before the cancellation date. To get that number, I said yes to a few marginal late applicants. The girls were the incentive of the group and the boys would be the challenge. Most of the group was composed of highly personable and solidly good kids. I followed in part, the itinerary of the 1995 trip. The return trip would come back through Reno. It was not a “family vacation” as parents were not invited to participate. Our Friday departure went well and the ride to Concord was uneventful. Mrs. Tuttle proved on the first day that she would not tolerate bad language, and that she could clearly identify voices from a long distance away. Once this was understood, the participants treated her with proper respect the entire trip. I appreciated their desire to have civil trip behavior and integrity. So did Laura who was extremely pleasant to be around. Her former students saw her in a totally different light. It became immediately apparent that the girls were indeed the treasure of the group. They did not disappoint me in any phase of the trip. On the other hand, the boys would be the source of minor anxiety. Most turned out to be fine participants leaving Doug, Simon and I with only a few harmless “jokers” to deal with. This would turn out to be acceptable. As an additional factor, Mrs. Gerber requested that we seek a chance for the group to attend church on Sunday. Since that might cut into the free day in San Francisco, I sought an alternate solution. I found a 7 PM Saturday night mass at the University of San Francisco. Since we would not have Saturday appointments, I hoped my solution might work.
Our Friday afternoon visit of Santa Clara was formal. Following a 6 AM departure and a long ride, we were on-time and ready to go. As this stop was always a trip favorite, we spent extra time there after the talk and tour. A late arrival at our Best Western in Concord was an excursion favorite that always received high participant approval.
Saturday posed more of a serious challenge. We had several informal visits to make but timing was the key. Informal visits of St. Marys College and UC Berkeley were done quickly. This was not a Berkeley crowd. Our lunch break at Stanford was extended as part of the day’s strategy. We had enough time to allow the Stanford book store a chance to earn their profits on clothes and other items. With no further obligations, we had time for an informal brief visit of the campus. There was little interest in the school on this trip. I knew we had to get to mass by seven, so naturally University of San Francisco would be visited last. In my moment of need, my driver came to the rescue. Bob suggested taking the group up to Twin Peaks, a popular tourist stop. He had taken several of his charters there, so I gave him complete charge to do as he could.
The bus tour took care of the time we needed to entertain the troops. A trip through Golden Gate Park brought us to the Pacific Ocean. From there we went across the Golden State Bridge to the popular San Francisco Bay vista point (pictured) on the other side. We arrived at the USF campus around five-thirty. The group could use the student union, see the campus or play on the grass. Those wishing to attend church would meet me at 6:45. Doug and Simon watched the NBA playoff, while I found a quiet place to watch Stanley Cup hockey.
At the appointed time, I met with a vast majority of the group. I led them to the side entrance of the church. There was a large gathering of people already inside the beautiful cathedral. Ms. Cunningham and Mrs. Tuttle were the last of the group to enter. Feeling good about myself, I walked back to the union to get a snack and a drink. It was then back to the game, as I did not expect the group to appear before our expected 8:30 departure. I was with the bus when the cherubs began to appear with their halos shining. I was so proud of them for making my mass solution look good. Ms. Cunningham and Laura Tuttle got on the bus and broke my fantasy. I asked about how many students were at mass. Two or three was the response. The large group had walked past me into the church, turned right in the main aisle, and right out the front or main doors. Most went a few blocks to the iconic Haight-Asbury district. Most did not know the heritage of the neighborhood. The long ride to the motel was quiet in the dark. We arrived and set up a time for the room checks. Sunday opened with a late wake-up call. The McDonald’s next to the motel was hopping. On every trip it was always the most popular choice for those who wanted breakfast. Randi and I chose to have coffee and Danish in the office of the Heritage Inn. Over the many years it was rare to have a full breakfast that might slow me down. I was lucky never to have a meal that would cause me distress or illness. Since it was the free-time day in San Francisco, I had no urgent rush to get started. I was more lenient on late-comers. The day went traditionally well, and everybody was on-time for pick-up at the end of the day.
It usually took me three days before I could rationally evaluate a group. There had been no incidents of note, the group was responsible and seemed reliable. The mass incident wasn’t a negative because I did say it was a chance to worship and a not mandatory requirement. The ride to Eugene the next day was pleasant as we stopped frequently at the large rest areas. The rest stop in the Lake Shasta area posed a serious challenge. A prison bus stopped to use the facilities as we were there. I sent Doug and Simon to the rescue, but they could not convince our boys to be anywhere near the scene. With guards and guns on the ready, our extended stop was suddenly over as the group
headed for the safety of the bus. The remainder of the trip to Eugene was pleasant and uneventful. Because of the NCAA track and field finals, we could not stay across the street from the University of Oregon at our normal Best Western location. I was disappointed but found a motel in Springfield, ten miles north on I-5. There were plenty of places to eat, and while the rooms were not as nice as the Green Tree Inn of Eugene, they were fine. Our standard practice of a visit to Oregon State (pictured)in the morning and the University of Oregon in the afternoon went well. The morning was profitable for Bob. While we were on tour, talk and lunch, he found his way to the Oregon State student union. Furthermore, he located the recreation room and an empty pool table. It was here that I spotted him as I walked through the building. He was engaged in a match with a college student as a large group of others watched. Bob was an expert pool and billiards player in the service having played exhibitions for his naval unit many times. He still had the skill, and many that day found out how good he still was. He cleaned house for small stakes. Each “Beaver” wanted a chance, and they got it! The small purse challenge had been initiation by the students. While this was going on, I ran into administrators that I knew from my previous trips. It was nice to touch base with them and see their surprise that I was still doing the program. I also connected with two excursion alums who were doing graduate work in Corvalis. Katie Fink (excursio 8) and Catie Miller (excursion 11) were reasons for sitting on a bus for endless hours. Katie had a bad freshman year. She lacked motivation. She interviewed well with me, and her interest in the Pacific Northwest put her on the trip. She loved Oregon State and became a highly motivated student thereafter. Catie Miller was a very highly achieved student (4.0) who also fell in love with the school on her trip. They both found out that the excursion was headed their way and sought me out. It was a proud and enjoyable reunion. Both talented and personable students were doing advanced work and enjoying life. Our afternoon visits in Eugene also went well. It was coordinated to end around 5:30 with additional time to spend on campus. I took the moderators to the House of Chen across the street. It was an excursion tradition at this stage. Under different ownership the menu was still the same. Was it still as good? It was hard to say.
There had been some minor issues to resolve when we returned to our motel. A few of the boys were tossing coins at each other while we toured the two Oregon schools. I asked the moderators to exit the bus as I spoke to the group. There was too much noise to be heard so I dropped an “F” bomb to catch their attention. Taken by surprise (my first of the trip), I delivered my message. I used this approach occasionally to indicate I was not such a nice guy. They had never heard me use that language, so it generally had an impact. I never used it more than once on a trip. We were now good to go. That night a strong weather front moved in and we awoke to a cloudy day. We departed that morning in a light rain only to return to the motel a short time later for a forgotten bag. We had already lost a case of cd’s the previous day. Lost items would be a theme throughout the journey. As we drove to the coast, the weather got worse. With our normal stops at the Haceta lighthouse lookout and the Cape Perpetua visitor’s center, the windy conditions turned noticeably colder. This didn’t stop us from stopping at a state park that had access to the ocean. With the wind whipping the group at 40 miles an hour or more, we walked onto the beach. The group wanted to take a group picture and I obliged. Everybody huddled together, and it was easy to get them all in the lens. I quickly took several pictures as the participants froze. It was then back on the bus and on to the Newport aquarium where I had obtained discount tickets for admission. I had never been to the aquarium but felt it would be a worthwhile experience. Ms. Cunningham was our resident expert on Marine Biology. Those who wanted to learn about what we were viewing stayed with the moderators and Ms. Cunningham. Those who did not, viewed the displays outside now that the weather had cleared, and the wind had stopped. It was a fascinating place with great exhibits. We stayed on premise for about two hours before heading out for lunch.
With lunch in Newport, we headed north to a new motel location in Vancouver Washington. It was a new place that I had stayed in the previous summer when I didn’t have a trip and could travel with the family. The Phoenix Inn would be our home base for the next two nights. The fully cooked hot breakfasts offered by the Phoenix Inn were a welcome change from the light continental breakfasts we had recently experienced. For this reason, I had set a later wake-call as we only had obligations at the University of Portland that morning. What I had not anticipated was a big flat tire on the bus. Bob called his dispatch and in 30 minutes we had a temporary replacement bus to take us around for the day. A lengthy tour and talk at the University of Portland went well. The beautiful campus placed us in a lovely park-like setting and with standards for admissions more lenient than many of our visited schools in California. The soccer facilities as well as reasonable admissions drew awareness from some in the crowd. Interest in the performing arts was also significant. The facilities as well as the programs offered appealed to several of the girls. The array of upcoming shows and the crowds of Portlanders that attended were impressive. The edge of the campus overlooked the port of Portland adding to the attractive setting of the university. The campus was very private and located in a residential location. It was a very good visit. It was now time for the stop at Multnomah Falls followed by a nearby visit to a government dam and fish hatchery. The falls as always was a successful stop. Unlike the previous visit to the falls, most of the troops chose not to follow me, Doug
and Simone the higher levels. It was only a few miles further to get to our second educational stop. The government dam and fish hatchery were less stimulating for some in the group. I should have realized that too much learning might trigger a negative response from the “jokers”. The talk and tour of exhibits required a mild
intervention. We returned to the Phoenix Inn for another very pleasant evening. That evening, I was again joined by Stacy Evert (excursion. 7) a highly successful nutritionist in Portland, who drove a considerable distance to listen to the exploits of the group. Bob made it a rule to never eat with the moderators on any trip but was always invited by my kindly crew. It was his rule of the road and I understood. Eating in a wonderful McGrath’s restaurant next to the hotel, Bob sent over some bottles of wine for our diner. He was a gem. The bus now had four good tires. I delayed our posted departure time so that the group could again take advantage of the hot breakfast. Relatively few besides the moderators took advantage of this opportunity. It was on to Puget Sound where our school representative spoke and then broke the group into smaller sections for more personalized tours. Puget Sound supplied lunch tickets for the group in the cafeteria. The generosity of the colleges
visited on the northwest trips was decidedly better than schools in California. They operated in a more relaxed environment, stressing physical well-being and recreation more than straight academics. This came as no surprise during our six trips, and was appreciated by the participants on every venure north.
From there it was on to the University of Seattle (abov) for an extended talk followed by a tour that included the new student union and the new chapel. They were both major upgrades that transformed the small campus in the heart of the city. Walking tours did not tire out my groups at Seattle University. (I believe the larger children were ours although with the boys I wasn’t always sure). Our Thursday was divided by a visit to the University of Washington and free-time in Seattle. Our tour and talk came from Allison Potter on the left (excursions 13 and 14). With her brother and sister in attendance she gave us our best tour and talk of “U-Dub” as the school was nicknamed. She extended that visit to take those who followed her off-campus for those who wanted to see her sorority house. Allison (far left) was indeed a gem, an MVP and is considered as one of the all-time best excursion participants.
The free-time in Seattle proceeded as expected. I took Ms. Cunningham and Laura Tuttle with me on my familiar walk to the wharf area where we took a ferry across
Puget Sound. This vacation to the Northwest while seeing colleges really worked. Laura had expected the trip to be a personal challenge. Instead she had enjoyed herself throughout the different experiences which also reflected positively on the behavior of the group. Even a run through the fountains of Seattle Center could not upset me. A return to Lynnwood and a quiet night made for the culmination of an excellent day. The next three days broke the trip home into easy segments. The Friday night in Medford Oregon revealed a unique aspect of the trip. At various motel stops, Doug and Simon Lei had been purchasing two brands of Canadian Beer. Kokanne and Labatt’s (bottled in Canada) were two of my favorites and could not be purchased in Nevada. With a limited amount of luggage, it was possible to place the beer in the front bay where Bob stowed his gear. They wrapped the cases in newspaper, to keep this legal bootlegging from the youthful participants. In Medford, the last purchase was made, and that following morning the cat was released from the proverbial bag. The kids figured it out, but my supply would last me the entire school year. On Saturday, we awoke to a prank as one roommate hid the wallet of another. It was funny until it was time to leave and we were now delayed because of the wallet. I spoke to the roommates and when it was still not resolved we took a last look in the room. I overturned everything and still no missing item. Finally, my patience gave way and I erupted. It was a second celebration of Mother’s Day. I further said what I won’t put in print, but he got the message and eventually his wallet. The trip to Reno was through the forests of Northern California. We arrived about 3:30 or in time to drop off two members of the group. One left for football camp and the other was involved in Boys State. Our overnight stay on Virginia Street was close to the State Tennis championship site. The talk and tour the following day went very well. The ride to Las Vegas the following day was routine. Post-Trip Analysis: Overall, the group is remembered along highly positive lines and fond memories. The academic profile of this group was not as good as many of the other excursions. What they lacked in grades they made up in personality. They were more spontaneous than most groups. They were an interesting ensemble to be around. As noted, the girls were nearly perfect, and the guys were, well they were guys. The Saturday night mass fiasco became an instant classic. It was well shared around the Gorman campus for many years. The day at Oregon and Oregon State was special. The Aquarium visit, the ride up the coast, and the stops at the government dam were informative. Oregon
State gave us the entire stadium to play around and take our group picture. Laura Tuttle enjoyed herself and was enjoyable to be around. Her students saw her in a social manner and were very respectful. Doug, Simon and I set an excursion record for eating in the most Chinese restaurants. This was not insignificant in number of meals eaten. The compliments at the Silver Cloud Inn of the group made it special. The female members of the group all clearly earned MVP status. Erin Lovelace and C.J. Potter earned Hall of Fame status. The small annoyances along the way were quickly forgotten. Robert Maxey proved himself to be a standout participant.
Top College Excursion Participant
Allison Potter leads the tour at the university of Washington. Allison meant so much to the excursion program. She clearly was my # 1 Excursion Participant.
Jennifer Alvarez Danyelle Bengochea Doug Browand Anne Buckley Ashley Cook Casey Cornett
Kellen Cornett Alan Doucette Amanda Dreschler Ayanna Eagan Matthew Gladd Ali Hamrick
Matthew Johnson Sasha Kalishki Erin Lovelace Robert Maxey Laura Ochoa Kelly O’Conner
Nicole O’Rourke Tamara O’Rourke John Parker Ryan Phillips Bethany Potter C.J. Potter
Michael Schmitt Ryan Skelly Max Stevens Brandon Thomas Martin To Amanda Zanoni
Robert Maxey stood out only for how he acted on the excursion. He was an MVP participant.
Return to Barn
South Rim of the Grand Canyon
I
Excursion # 17: June 2002 More than a Grand Canyon
n December of 2002, I decided it was time for a change. A five-day itinerary was planned to cover popular schools in Southern California and Arizona. It had always been my desire to take the excursion to these locations, and encouragement from our Arizona college reps had been strong for many years. A few years before, I had planned a fall excursion to Arizona that was denied by the Gorman administration. ASU had planned to provide tickets to a football game, and other attractive inducements including over-night accommodations with food. It was a very generous offer but to no avail as missing two days of school was not negotiable. I was invited to go myself but where is the fun in that. I resisted the temptation of including both the north and south of California. The mileage alone would have required several more weekdays. Registration for the trip filled rapidly with solid applicants. At one point I had to consider a second bus as numbers reached beyond bus capacity. This didn’t happen when I assured freshman and sophomores that there would be a trip to both ends of California in 2003. Ms. Virginia Cunningham was now a seasoned veteran of the program. My two college graduate children were on hand to lend their moderating skills. Randi had just graduated from the University of Idaho in four-years. She would start her first job after we returned. Doug earned his degree from the University of Nevada; Las Vegas. The amount of luggage required the strength and agility of my son. My driver and good friend Bob was on-board along with Coach USA. The Sunday departure at 6 AM left on time from a Gorman Parking lot that was totally full of cars. On the bus was a special parent. Juliana Pisani had been an excellent student of mine in the 1970’s. She was also my head Diamond Girl, an auxiliary of my varsity baseball team. Opponents could out-score my teams but could not match my talented, attractive girls. In 1976, I inherited both the team and the auxiliary group when the coach suddenly left Gorman at the start of spring semester. I knew the game really well, and had minor experience at my high school in Rochester, New York where you couldn’t see or use the grass from the snow until the middle of April. I had been the captain of my varsity Baseball team in high school, and remembered most of the drills. What I lacked in experience I made up with blind enthusiasm and a sense of confidence. I inherited a great group of holdover players who made my transition much easier. We were the surprise team that year and nearly made it to state. Given those circumstances, I had not seen Juliana, a graduate of USC in many year. We had much to remember and to discuss along the way.
Drivers and head moderators eat free in Barstow, at the McDonalds and the Burger King which had become our traditional first stop. It was a standard perk but had no influence on where I might want to stop, since each fast food stop offered the same option. Parking ease and convenience was more important. Available parking led us to BK towards the later excursions. Barstow was less than hour from Redlands and that university was always an attractive way to begin our visitations. I led informal visits of Redlands (left) and Occidental (below) which reflected the nature of quiet and empty campuses. The large group followed me around and listened to my informational talks.
I represented all schools best to my abilities. These two institutions occupied the entire day. Doing head counts on the bus became easy as all the seats were occupied. We spent the night in Costa Mesa CA at a Best Western motel I had selected for its location proximity for future travel. The site did not have the eating places within easy walking distance. The color brochure and the letter from management had promised nearby eating establishments. This was not true. It was false advertising, California style. It was the only time a motel ever did that to me. It took a long exploratory walk by the moderators to find out how deprived we were.
At a great distance from the motel we did find an excellent family-run Mexican restaurant. The meal was wonderful. Because of the scarcity of eating choices, an optional trip to a California Angels game was immediately planned for the next evening. The motel was a disappointment. Listed at a three-star rating, I had expected better. Travels to the Northwest had apparently spoiled me. When registering the group, I was told that management had not received the school check. A call to school the next day revealed that it had been sent weeks before. It would take a stop payment of the original check, and the re-issuing of another check to solve the bungling of their business office. The proximity of the motel to Disneyland kept it crowded throughout our three-day stay. Fortunately, our time around the motel was minimal. On Monday morning we headed to Pepperdine, where the talk preceded the tour. The tour that I was on was led by a highly opinionated girl from New York City. Her
narratives were not appreciated by her group and by the end of the tour, my group wanted to throw her into the Pacific Ocean. I said it was okay with me but would probably make us late for our appointment at Loyola Marymount. They chose to leave her alone. Too few available tour guides made for larger groups. It also afforded the Seif moderators (pictured) a chance to get their dad some well-earned coffee. The bookstore did outstanding business on this day. Juliana Pisani is on the left. A rather quick visit to UCLA found us parking on the far north side of the campus for the very first time. We could park our bus legally, but it was a long walk to the student union and the bookstore. There was little interest in the very high standards for admissions or the large diverse student population. It was a chance to visit the large bookstore, the food court and observe students about to take their finals. It was only a short drive from there to Loyola Marymount. As usual, the admissions office at Loyola Marymount went all out for our visit starting with tickets for lunch. This was followed by an excellent talk in a large impressive auditorium. Our super rep spoke the words that the group wanted to hear. Loyola Marymount would be the top choice visit of the trip as determined by the participants. It also ended in time to allow us to beat traditional heavy traffic as we headed back to our motel.
Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount
We arrived back at the Best Western around 5 pm where I announced that the bus would leave to see an Angel baseball game at 6, and to dress accordingly. It was optional, and Ms. Cunningham would be in charge of those who remained at the motel. Mrs. Pisani did not feel particularly well and stayed behind as well. We were a short distant from Anaheim and found bus parking easily. I advised the group that went (about half) to purchase general admission tickets. I had studied box scores for a month to know what to expect for attendance on a Monday night. I not did buy tickets for this group because enrollment numbers were constantly changing, and by the time the trip sold out I couldn’t account for it in my budget. It was hard for me to know who was up for a game after an active visitation day. My last words of wisdom on the bus were as follows, “I don’t care if the game goes seventeen innings, be back to this bus after the ninth inning”. Doug, Randi, and I sped ahead to get seats by ourselves. We bought general admission tickets and found a great view behind home plate in the upper deck. There we could have a beer with our hot dog dinner. The beer part was canceled when we spotted our group sitting a section to our right. They had followed my instructions to the letter and followed the three of us as well. The seats were great, and the Angels won 2-0 in nine innings. We proceeded as a group back to the bus, and a head count was made. As we began to roll, a young lady came to the front of the bus to ask me a question. Why did we leave early? I thought you said these games lasted seventeen innings! It was her first experience with baseball. We returned to the motel shortly before bed check. A few of the boys were making some noise in the parking lot, and Doug was sent to solve the problem. It was no big deal. The next day began early with a visit at nearby Chapman College. It was informal and a great place to have coffee and/ or breakfast. The somewhat compact campus made it possible to tour the campus and be on the road to UC Irvine in time for our formal tour. I had visited Chapman as part of my last wine and dine counselors tour in 2000, so I knew my way around. (back to the bus at Irvine) The Irvine tour was interesting, and
UC Irvine
our guide was dynamically entertaining and knowledgeable. The lack of other student guides (no shows) put greater strain upon him. The group cooperated to allow the guide to do his normal routine. The group moved at an appreciated quick pace and before long we were back where we met the tour guide. Allowing time for the bookstore and restrooms, we had to be careful not to leave anybody along the way. The walk back to the parking lot was always interesting over the years. On one trip the bus had to be re-fueled and the group spent considerable time in the many places for ice cream and soft drinks on a rather hot day. At other times someone got disorientated and had to require some help to find their way. On this day, with all hands accounted for, we could head south on I-5 for lunch at Seaport Village in San Diego. A decidedly larger group than the year before, supervision had to be taken very seriously to avoid delays in our activities. . The village and the Harbor Restaurant were voted the best excursion places for lunch by a unanimous margin (Doug, Randi, Ms. Cunningham, me and other moderators). It was always no less than a 90-minute lunch stop. The bus in the background was our and was always parked where it was easy to find. On excursion 15, we had to park the bus in the large parking lot in the front and several students got lost finding the bus after lunch. It was roughly a thirty-minute drive to the University on the hill. The talk and tour at the university of San Diego was done extremely well and the
school instantly became a group favorite. An adequet number of tour guides provided a more intimate experience for the troop. They were introduced to new facilities which had been built since my last visit. It was easy to feel the excitement and the enthusiasm of the group. We used UC San Diego as a quick rest stop before the ride back to Orange. The experience of visiting these schools allowed me to know where to go for particular services. The day had gone well, but now we faced our biggest challenge: Motel hot water heater breakdown. There was also a problem with television reception from day two. This added to the mix of dissatisfactionand with a motel and became very annoying. I did complain about this place to the AAA. Loyola Marymount and USD on consecutive days gave group participants plenty of food for thought. The large excursion group earned high marks on their college tours. They responded very well with our major representatives. I was very proud of their total group performance, general cooperation and positive attitude. They were friendly, cooperative and fun to be around. As this was my first capacity excursion, these factors were extremely important. The Loyola Marymount equalled that of USD in group satisfaction. The group was marched around campus and was highly
Seaport Village Above and USD Arrival
impressed by the new apatment-style dormitories. Meeting in the Hughes business complex, the group showed great presence during the inspiring talk. Arizona Here we Come We were on the bus early the next morning happy to leave this (not the best) Best Western. They had received the second payment for the rooms, and I told them not to lose it this time. I also told them where they could deposit it. They did not like that and many of the other comments I made that morning, but who cares, they earned it, and I would never be back. We had a tour and talk at USC and the obligatory visit to the bookstore. The baggage became heavier as souvenir clothing began to pile up. We arrived in time for our fivecollege tour at the Claremont Colleges. With group popularity for Loyola Marymount, USD, and USC clearly on display by shirts and even sweatshirts, the heavily intellectual schools took a beating that day. Sensing a lack of interest for these schools I knew that a good lunch would be necessary before our Arizona invasion. The reliable food court in the Montclair Mall was the solution. The food court there was also a long-time excursion favorite. An estimated five-hour trip to Mesa AZ awaited, as the first and only Harry Potter movie on an excursion, went into the DVR. A stop at the Blythe rest area told us we were back in the high heat sector. We arrived in Mesa at 7:30 after it took us an hour to negotiate Phoenix traffic. The desk clerk at the Best Western motel wanted each student to register with her at her desk. I asked if the motel had received payment for our stay. She said yes, they had. I was on a short fuse from the motel in Orange and told her my room list would serve the same purpose as the individual registration of 48 tired teenagers. Sensing my open hostility, she agreed, and gave us the room keys. While the California Best Western was a total bust, the Mesa property was clearly above expectations. The location was really excellent and was next to a major mall. Additional food locations were abundant and within an easy walk. A quiet night awaited a tired group. With two days to see three major universities we wasted no time the next day to head for Tucson and the University of Arizona. We were right on time for our appointment. The temperatures were about 10 degrees higher than usual for that time of year, and references to the cooler California climate could be heard. We experienced a talk and a tour that took heat into account. It terminated by noon in a part of the newly opened student union.
Everyone could pick their selection of choices in the original or new food courts. I instructed the group before we dispersed for lunch that I would take the bus to The Arizona Desert Museum, a world-class facility south of town. Those who wanted to stay on campus could do so as Doug would be in charge. I told them when the bus would be back.
Twenty-nine participants went to the museum with me, Randi, and our resident science expert, Virginia Cunningham. She had amazed us with knowledge the year before at the Newport Aquarium, and I planned this option based on her. What I did not plan to do was take the bus down a road only suitable for smaller vehicles. Bob and I both missed invisible signs that stated that buses and trucks were not permitted on the road. It was an exhilarating, exciting, dangerous ride. It was impossible for Bob to see the large curve and the downhill that awaited. A pickup truck coming from the other direction was forced to back-up for us to make the curve. It was over in just a few minutes and we cautiously headed for the Museum. Those aboard were either too shocked to see what was happening or weren’t paying attention. There was no over-reaction, and in a few moments, it was history. It was a “my bad” moment for me and the Arizona highway department who did not post prohibitive signs. It was hotter than expected and the temperature had reached 116 degrees at the museum. Most of the group chose to populate the indoors in the snack and gift shop area. It was much the same at the university, and it was a smart choice to stay indoors on this day.
I paid for Randi, Virginia Cunningham and myself to enter the museum. Maybe to justify my decision to take the group there, I walked the length of the outdoor area, catching shade where I could. The underground exhibits were a life saver as was my bottle of water. I walked at a rapid pace and heat immediately took its toll. When I returned to the snack area, it was almost time to return to other group at the university. We faced a ninety-minute ride back to Mesa. We took the proper exit this time to return to campus which was designed for long vehicles and buses. The remainder of the group was there to meet us, and off we went to our motel.
The Long Walk for Dinner Doug, Randi and I took a long walk through the mall to the other side and back as sunset turned to dark. We found a Stuart Anderson restaurant that had a remarkable surf and turf special for Thursday night only. Our long walk had paid dividends. Friday would be a challenge in that we had two formal visits and a return to Las Vegas planned. The 9 AM appointment at ASU was met on time. We were escorted to a large meeting room where the group would be addressed by our school representative and her boss. Coffee, juice and pastries were provided. The director of admissions was lavish in his praise of Gorman and the excursion program. The talk that day was great and when the student guides arrived, the groups were toured sensibly for the heat (quicker and shorter). The last stop on the tour was the bookstore which always did a high-volume business when Gorman arrived. The bus met us conveniently, and it was two-hours to the cooler Flagstaff, and Northern Arizona University. The head basketball coach at that time was Mike Adras, another former student of mine (geometry/algebra two) and was a varsity baseball player for me as well. He would later teach and coach basketball at Gorman before starting a college coaching career. He was at the center of our visit to NAU. We arrived a bit late which did not impact the proceedings. NAU gave the group tickets for lunch in the cafeteria. It was crowded with summer school students. We went to a large meeting room where we received greetings from our school representative, coach Adras, and the President of Northern Arizona. It was the only time a current university President would ever speak to an excursion group. This was the work of Mike Adras. The school reps at both ASU and NAU were excellent people who had inquired about my excursion trips when they visited Gorman. This year, with so many students from Gorman attending schools in Arizona, I decided it was their turn. I was very glad I did. While the groups toured the campus, Mike took Doug, Randi and I back to his coaching office. We had a great time discussing old times as I taught and coached Mike in the 1970’s. Some of the stories were graphic evidence that Gorman did not always follow an expected image, and my kids got an ear-full. This meeting unfortunately came at the expense of taking more pictures of the group and individuals. It was time to get back to Las Vegas, and in that year a bus could not use the Boulder Dam road (9/11). We did not get on the road until 5 PM and as we were chasing the
sun to the west, a satisfied group looked forward to the summer. A stop in Kingman at a gas station was a bonanza for their mini-mart as our next stop was home. I placed a movie into the DVR as we settled into the night. It would be the first arrival for the excursion in the dark. The parking lot was alive with parents picking up their children. Arrivals were always chaotic, as moderators had to check the bus for items left behind. I always had to sign documents for the driver, and meeting parents for the first time was difficult. Post-trip Analysis: Overall, it was a very good trip with a fine group of participants. The size of the ensemble made it more difficult to connect with participants on a personal level as much as I would have liked. As a consequence, only a few participants had the chance to stand out for the observed attributes exhibited on previous trips. As always some did an exemplary job and still others earned MVP status. Based on their performance on the this and the previous trip, Jennifer Alverez, Danyelle Bengochea, Anne Buckley, Ashley Cook, Casey Cornett, and Michael Schmitt earned Hall of Fame Status. Catherine Gatenby, Hank Hymanson, and Kellyanne Roberts were clear MVP’s. Many others were close. The group was friendly and for the most part highly cooperative and reliable. They dealt with the adversity of the first motel. They enjoyed our place in Mesa which was everything the first place was not. The extreme unexpected heat was a factor in Arizona but virtually nobody complained about it. There were a few couples within the group that stayed too separated from the group. A few minor curfew violations were handled by Doug and Randi and went no further. The group wore their name tags on the first day. My letters of recommendation indicate that I enjoyed my relations with this group.
Broc Addis Janelle Alaan Jennifer Alvarez Christa Avena Brandon Barnett Danyelle Bengochea James P Bennett Lauren Blaney Anne Buckley Charley Burns Kerry Butts Josh Chavez Corinne Cogswell Ashley Cook Allison Cordova Casey Cornett Paul Diaz Katharine Gatenby Michael Gilroy Blake Guinn Amanda E.M. Higgins Hank Hymanson David Ingenito Drew Jaszczak Hyun-Woo Jeong Daniel Kneppler Kyle Kreml Katie Long Janell McGovern Michael McKinlay Jamie McNulty Katrina Ann Miller Michael Mona Sean Muscato Stefanie Nakadilock Kelly O’Connor Morgan O’Connor Skyler Perez Jennifer Peterson Jillian Peterson Peter Pisani Justin Prince Nick Puliz Kellyann Roberts Katie Rozinski Michael Schmitt Christina Storey Janelle Summy
Return to Barn
Yosemite National Park
Excursion # 18: June 2003 A Wild Ride to Remember
S
tarting with the 2002 excursion, I had four consecutive incredible groups that made the creation of the excursion travel program very rewarding. There were always outstanding individuals on every trip, but only some groups meshed together well enough to create Utopic entities. I have had to factor in the quality of my own itineraries and mistakes that I made despite trying to put forth my best effort. Like coaching team sports, chemistry and other intangibles had to be there by good fortune. In 2003, I returned to the normal trip of both Northern and Southern California. It is what the students wanted, and what I had promised the previous year. I did not question why I made that pledge and knew it was the right thing to do. The group formed quickly through registration and reached the maximum of 48 sooner than the exact same number of the year before. While my interviews with individual students went well, it would take a few days on the road to see how these friendly, talented teenagers would interact together. Doug and Randi both had jobs after graduating from college and could not join me. Virginia Cunningham was back and joined by Mrs. Julie Walkow. My big news for the trip was the recruitment of easy-going, nice-guy counselor Rick Spiritosanto. He was a number one draft choice and I knew how much I could rely on him. My Driver Bob was back for what would be his final trip with the excursion program. The trip was mapped out to be a nine-day visit to the most popular places in California. It would be the last nine-day trip in the excursion program and consequently our last visit of the University of Nevada Reno. We would also have first-time visits of Westmont College (Santa Barbara), Notre Dame De Namur (near Stanford) and Sierra Pacific College on Lake Tahoe. We found new bases of operation (motels) in Arcadia CA in the south and Pleasanton CA in the north. We would spend singular nights in San Luis Obispo and Reno. No baseball game was planned for or expected. Another large crowd again filled the Gorman parking lot for a Sunday, six AM departure. Amongst them was a family and a personal friend who wanted to have his son join the group. Despite having turned away applicants only a few weeks earlier, I consented, and this male student took the place of a male student who I removed from the trip recently for disrespectful conduct towards a teacher. I took that student and he was an asset on the trip. We stopped in Barstow and the day had an eerie Déjà vu feeling about it. That ended when we arrived on time for our formal visit of the University of Redlands. Paul Driscoll, the great admissions director said that his staff had volunteered to come in on their day off because it was the uncommon Gorman Excursion. Their efforts were
truly above and beyond the call of duty and allowed for more personal tours led by officers of admissions and not students. Paul was always one of the best in his field.
[Redlands pictured] Lunch at the Montclair Mall was followed by a last-minute decision to not stop at the Claremont schools. The group was highly cooperative that day which bode well by experience. I thought an early arrival at our first stay in a new location was more valuable than being marched around empty colleges that had become extremely competitive and thus less appealing for admissions. A pre-trip survey made passing up the Claremont schools easier. Exposing students to crushing standards meant less to me now than in the early years of the program. The Hampton Inn was ready for us and the high-rise hotel quickly met with group approval. Conveniently located off the 210 freeway, it was love at first sight. The selection of highly popular eating establishments within walking distance of the hotel also met with wide-spread delight. This wouldn’t be a repeat of last year’s fiasco in Orange. My careful research had paid off. It had been an excellent first day. A change in the itinerary of this year’s trip was the chance to visit schools that were more likely to accept the students visiting them. Passing up the Claremont schools was a start. Not visiting Pepperdine or UCLA was a continuation. I wanted this group to feel the positive side of admissions if they were interested in the schools. For Pepperdine it was the social restrictions more than the academic standards and required grades. A Tuesday visit to Loyola Marymount started the day. Connecting with four distinct freeways and arriving fifteen minutes early was a highly positive sign. Loyola Marymount provided a predictably great experience. The personal and sincere nature of the visit was a trademark of schools such as Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara and the University of San Diego. While becoming more competitive in admissions, most students felt highly positive about academic programs, religious heritage and social involvement. Students seeking a community environment felt at home at most of the Catholic universities. After visiting a school such as Loyola Marymount, an excursion reality was that whoever we would visit next would be a letdown. The exception was USC which was always bristling with excitement. It was for that reason the Loyola Marymount visit
was followed by the dynamics of the University of Southern California. It just didn’t work out as well any other way. We had lunch in the familiar USC union before our
talk and tour. Both went off extremely well and the group was put into the Trojan spirit. Rick and I marched through USC history in their hall of champions. All we lacked was O.J. Simpson. Our last visit for the day was at Occidental, a short ride away on this day. We disembarked the large group near a constricted office of admissions. Summer construction was in full view and finding a secure spot for the bus took it to the other end of the campus. The talk outside the building end with the arrival of several tour guides. I told them where the bus was, and they adjusted their tours around this location. Good planning on the itinerary made for a brief trip back to the Hampton Inn. Traffic was avoided at all costs if possible and thus far the we were winning that battle. A great dinner made another good day complete. The Hampton Inn had a large lobby with many comfortable chairs. It also served a very good continental breakfast in that lobby. The chance to sit there casually gave Rick and myself an excellent opportunity to informally chat with our students. This comfortable unpretentiousness was the key
in getting to know so many of these highly personable participants. The Tuesday trip to San Diego used a newly found short-cut. A rather somewhat short informal visit at the University of California, San Diego was adjusted on the fly. After a long lunch with plenty of free time at Seaport Village, we arrived at the very popular University on the hill for our 2 pm appointment. Always treated extremely well, this visit was no exception. Since we would not visit any other school on this day, we had plenty of time to spend with our hosts. The bookstore visit used any of the extra time we had built up.
The long ride back to Arcadia still beat the misery of sitting in nasty traffic. A harmless movie or two made the time pass more quickly. Restaurant choices in easy walking of the Hampton Inn included: B.J.’s Pizza and Grill Chili’s Grill & Bar Claim Jumper Derby In-N-Out Burger Olive Garden Outback Steakhouse Red Lobster Sesame Grill Another leisurely excellent meal awaited us followed by a quiet evening. There was more good talk in the lobby. The group had performed extremely well again. By now most doubts were removed concerning this contingent. Wednesday awoke to a new challenge as our two formal visitations were with places the excursion had never been. My 2000 “wine and dine counselor tour” had included California Lutheran University. They were very gracious when they invited me and the excursion to visit. Several Gorman students had done well at Cal Lutheran which was an attractive campus in the Los Angeles valley. After bringing the group to Loyola Marymount, USD, and USC, I suspected that the next place would suffer. The victim would be California Lutheran in Thousand Oaks. An extensive tour was followed by a talk that just took too long and was too fundamental for many of the sophisticated teens. It might have been acceptable only if it had been the first school we visited. The highly achieved group was seeking more than was offered.
Admissions was no factor, only scholarship and honor programs were competitive. The location of the very attractive campus was a plus for those wishing to go to California California. Admissions was a certainty. The visit dragged non and I sensed the distress in the very polite group. I was able to end our visit early by telling the well-meaning representatives that we were running late for our next appointment. I employed this self-escaping mechanism several times over the years. It was the reason I never sent our current itinerary with the group profile. We were on our way to Westmont, a school I had never been to. It had been recommended to me by college reps from other schools in southern California. It enjoyed a good rating in popular magazines. My confirmation letter said to just follow the signs to get to the campus. We were on time as we followed the signs from the 101 freeway and climbed to higher elevations. There were two signs indicating entrances. The Failure to Act For some reason never to be known to me, Bob just did not turn left onto either one. He proceeded straight up the hill where I urged him to turn the bus around at the first opportunity. As he waited for that time and space, which never came, the road narrowed and continue to climb. A residential community on our right quickly gave way to private estates which had small driveways not suitable for a 55-foot motor coach. Traveling forward meant we would have to continue traveling a road which offered no signs and clearly was not meant for a bus. Fortunately, return traffic was light to non-existent and since we were traveling at a slow rate of speed hugging the mountain side, the sheer drop of the road on the driver side was still very terrifying. It was in fact, very, very terrifying! We stopped the bus when we saw bicycles coming towards us. “Thank God”, I said. When they turned out to be Germans who spoke little to no English, only then did I know what a language barrier meant. Bob could certainly handle the bus, and few if any aboard showed any fear. I must admit that I did not look into the faces of those sitting in back of me. Bob seemed to be lost in thought, thinking about a turn he never made. A sheer drop was no longer on our left, and everybody seemed relieved. I certainly was. At a fork in the road, Bob chose the one that cautioned about a narrow bridge. I asked him to stop and let me off, so I could examine how narrow the bridge actually was. I determined that it was too small for the length and width of the bus. I told Bob to back up the hill to where the roads divided. We would take the other choice. He hesitated, still somewhat stunned. I told him in a calm manner to relax and that I was in charge of directions. I gave him the command to back up the hill. We were both away from the coach, and our conversation could not be heard by anyone else. He seemed to respond in a calm positive manner. The crisis had passed. In a mile or two we got the left turn we were hoping for. Virginia Cunningham had called Westmont to explain our lateness. They confirmed that buses were not allowed on that road. Well thank you for that brilliant
deduction was my immediate thought. We came down a straight and wide marked state highway, eventually finding an entrance to the campus. We parked down by the gymnasium where buses were usually sent after discharging their occupants. I ran up the hill through a beautiful garden area cussing madly (to relieve my tensions) as I ran. As I arrived at the meeting point, I missed a step and fell on my rear. I felt that I had been punished for my outburst, and justly so, but we finally got to our meeting. In less than thirty minutes, we heard from our hosts about a different if not strange set of student rules. Tour guides emphasized what we heard. The school had a gorgeous setting, and a good academic reputation, but too many social restrictions. As one experienced participant from a previous excursion said. “This place makes Pepperdine look liberal!” Indeed, it did and the interest in the school became minimal. Now I knew why I hadn’t been to Westmont before. Newsworthy if not Criminal Throughout the experience, group behavior was exemplary. I decided that lunch in Santa Barbara had been deservedly earned. Bob came through and found us complementary bus parking near city center, and I told the troops to have a good time. Gina, Julie, Rick, and I had experienced what no few buses had probably done and lived to tell about it. If live tape had been available, we would certainly have made it onto a national news broadcast that night. Bob and I most likely would have faced child endangerment charges. Instead we enjoyed a wonderful Mexican restaurant. (UCSB union pictured)
We used UC Santa Barbara as a long rest stop. My instructions were to use the facilities or see the campus on your own remembering where the bus was parked. Our stop for the night was only 90 miles away in San Luis Obispo. The Best Western there was under modification which explained why we could afford to be there in the first place. The indoor corridor rooms were nice, and since we didn’t have cars there was very little inconvenience. Eating choices were all around the motel. Unfortunately, Rick missed diner with the other moderators. He took a well-deserved nap. He and I met for a six-pack of topics by the pool after room check. We reflected on our ultimate good fortune for that day. We were not disturbed and were able to unwind. The beer was for medicinal purposes only. Thursday began bright, sunny, and brimming with enthusiasm. Our fast-two-hour ride up U.S. 101 was in sharp contrast to the previous day above Westmont. Our first visit was with the always-popular Santa Clara University. Everyone seemed to be in a real good mood as smiles were generously shared. I regret that I didn’t take more pictures of the smiling faces as they were radiantly abundant. The talk as always was highly meaningful. The availability of numerous tour guides was able to break the large group into comfortable smaller entities. Unlike some groups which were difficult to separate friends from friends, this group was always willing to oblige. It was a truly an outstanding visit. From there it was on to Stanford where we discovered a new meaning of liberal education. At lunch it was discussed how a world-class school could have such a second-rate student union. I guess visiting so many schools made me a critic. Eating options were never a problem, and this stop was no exception. Students chose to self-explore, but lunch and a bookstore visit was enough for most of the group. Everybody was on time for our departure and it was only a short ride to our next appointment. We were making our only visit to Notre Dame de Namur University just north of Stanford. The admission director was a wonderful man named Richard Scaffiti who coordinated our excursion one visit to Whittier College. He was a very talented man who had professionally worked in entertainment on Broadway. He was not shocked or even surprised that I was still doing my program and this visit was pay back for his many professional considerations over the years. The school had a fine reputation in the Bay area and was known for the performing arts. It had a small intimate campus that was easy to tour. Richard gave the group
an inspiring generic talk about preparing for college in general and made no attempt to focus attention on his own school. Refreshments were made available. The group acted in a very positive Gorman-like manner, and the moderators were very proud of them. As the smaller sub-groups toured the campus, the moderators remained behind to spend the time with Richard. He was indeed a very interesting man. The late afternoon drive to our new accommodations took us across the Bay over the high San Mateo Bridge. It was this experience that exposed me to my first panic or anxiety episode. I couldn’t explain it, nor did I want to show it outwardly, but it was real. It passed quickly, as the route to Pleasanton required many travel instructions for Bob. We arrived at the Crown Plaza Hotel (currently a Sheraton) at six PM. We were slightly in awe of what we found. It was a full-service hotel with elevators needed to get to all rooms. While there were restaurants in the hotel, it was walking distance to a nearby indoor mall and all the usual eating places. Many participants found their way to this mall for an enjoyable evening. There was a very fine gourmet seafood buffet that captured my attention and my appetite. The rooms were nice but nothing radically special by excursion standards. They assigned us rooms at different locations inside the hotel. I had to rely on the integrity of the participants to not violate regulations, for it was an impossible deal for moderators to supervise if the students wanted to leave their rooms. This would not be a problem.
Over the next three nights I did not received a single complaint of any sort only several compliments from guests at the hotel. They couldn’t believe what I was doing with such a large group, or the history of the excursion program. I met people from all over the USA who never heard of such a program like ours. In any event, it was the politeness and courtesy of the group who brought compliments about themselves specifically, and Bishop Gorman as a school. Friday would find us at Saint Marys College and Berkeley after a later than usual scheduled departure. I was adjusting well to the needs of a large group. We would be in no rush today as only the visit to Saint Marys was formal. Berkley provided the usual freak show off-campus. Since it was the only UC school we were visiting, I allowed time for those interested to visit the admissions office. Not many went as most participants traveled in large units or stayed close to the bus. Who could blame them? We returned to the Crown Plaza for another enjoyable evening. Rick and I walked three quarters of a mile to find a lovely Italian restaurant, courtesy of my triple A book. It did not disappoint. The hotel was bristling with guests and our students. More compliments would follow. The Saturday tradition of free-time in San Francisco began with a self-guiding tour of the University of San Francisco, the scene of the attempt to provide church worship the year before. We all had a laugh. Since the baseball Giants were playing a day game, I said that the bus would be going to the game for those who wanted the ride. I had never considered that game a possibility until we downloaded our participants at pier 39. Eleven boys plus Bob, Rick and I saw the Giants beat the Tigers 4-3. Only the adults paid for tickets. The boys watched the game for free through the right field portals in the stands. The bus returned to the wharf area after the game to drop us off. Bob took the bus to be cleaned and refueled. It returned at 7 PM to bring us back to Pleasanton, ninety minutes away. We had two full travel days to return to Las Vegas. We would have an informal visit at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, a formal Sunday afternoon visit on Lake Tahoe and an appointment on Monday with UNR. I almost felt worry free but came to my senses the next day.
Cal Lutheran and Westmont College
It was a quiet Sunday morning as we headed into the sun toward Stockton. We parked the bus under the noted tower, and I led a casual tour and talk at UOP. I knew the place very well and could speak on behalf of both the school and my own constituents. For such a large group, I had begun to appreciate how special they were. Leading a tour of so many people is never easy, yet these highly cooperative troops made it feel so. They were in tune with what I was trying to do. I knew they were tired from the active trip, but they never questioned my instructions. We enjoyed stopping along the tour route and I was able to take many interesting photos. After the leisurely tour with stops to discuss the programs of the university, admissions, finances, scholarships, we went to eat lunch at a nearby plaza. It was in the more comfortable part of town. The parked bus offered numerous choices. We all felt pretty good and it was hard to hold the group to a strict departure time from lunch.
From there it was on to Lake Tahoe and Sierra Pacific College. Peter Brown was a Gorman graduate who did not go on an excursion. His sister was a wonderful participant of excursion 6 (1990). Peter had worked at California Lutheran and was responsible for my going there. He left during the school year to take a similar position with Sierra Pacific. I could have canceled my Cal Lutheran appointment but felt guilty about doing it. I would have no problem with guilt four years later during my last trip. The bus had a hard time climbing to Donna Pass, and we fell behind our scheduled arrival. Bob missed the correct Tahoe exit and we fell behind further. A call to Peter alerted him to our delay. We drove along Lake Tahoe until reaching the school. We arrived almost an hour late but were warmly greeted with drinks and snacks. Peter put on an excellent talk. With the campus divided into a lower and upper segment, we had to take the bus up the hill. The group picture was a classic photo taken in the pines. It ranks as my favorite group picture because so many in the group managed to smile warmly on cue. When we said our thank you, it would take more than an hour to get to our Virginia Street motel in Reno. It was an active evening at the swimming pool before room checks. By now the room check was more of a mere formality as the moderators had seen enough to indicate
Alexandra Bengochea Reese Benjamin Lauren Blaney Kyle Bonnici Krista Briare Mytae Carrasco Brandi Catlin Nicholas Chartrand Josh Crame Jacqueline Dayton Colette DeFilippis Jennifer Delatorre Dominique DiCarlo Kelsee Downs Katie Fine Jennifer Fischer Paul Fisher Kathleen Foley Katharine Gatenby Robert Gregorka Amy Guasch Shanika Gunawardena Amanda Higgins Christina Jojola Kevin Jones Steven Kennedy Andrew Maffey Meghan Macabali Katherine Manthei Michael McKinlay Jamie McNulty Michael Mona Brittany Naylor David B. Noahr Morgan O’Connor Aileen Mae Pastor Liliana Pisani Tara Poniewaz Kevin Ralls Alexandra Reifenrath Katie Reyburn Sarah Ricciardi Apryl Roberts Stephanie Rowe Clare Schneider Brandon Scott David Simons Christopher Smith Tim Sullivan
the students were always where they should have been. I did see some unsavory characters in the parking lot, and it caused me some concern. I walked by them several times until we were on speaking terms. When I indicated that I was just checking on my motor coach, they left, and I was able to go to sleep. We were all looking forward to getting back to Las Vegas, but it didn’t take away from the courtesy of the group. The next day started early as we had a nine AM appointment at the university of Nevada, Reno. Rick left the group to fly home as Gina, Julie and I had breakfast in the student Union. Our gracious hosts did a very nice job. We respectfully toured the campus and would leave Reno around 11:30. Post Trip Analysis: Excursion 18 in 2003 earned its place as one of the very best groups, and I still have all the letters of recommendation to prove it. As an example, the photo taken at the University of the Pacific with numbers was sent to the colleges applied to by the candidates. Many of them had applied to the same schools. These letters drew favorable comments from the schools that received them. The qualities of the applicants were responsible for overwhelming acceptances for these young ladies specifically and the group in general. This exceptional group was comprised of veterans of excursion sixteen to the Northwest and excursion seventeen to Southern California and Arizona. It was a given that I would never take a participant twice if I didn’t respect their performance on their first trip. These experienced travelers always added their maturity, sensibility, character, and personality to subsequent trips. They always earned All-Star status initially and Hall of Fame status for subsequent trips. While I did not write personal thank you notes to these people and their parents, the thought did cross my mind. Hall of Fame status was earned by Katharine Gatenby, Amanda Higgins, Michael McKinlay, Jamie McNulty, Michael Mona, and Morgan O’Connor.
The group picture is one of my favorites. The highest percentage of participants did their best to smile for each of the five photos needed to get my best result. The sincerity of their efforts in the photo reflected the overall cooperation of each member of the group. Keeping in mind the fatigue of a rigorous itinerary, and the emotionally draining ride to get to Westmont, this group truly earned all the accolades I could ever bestow upon them. Additional impact performers included; Amy Guasch, Shanika Gunawardena, Brittany Naylor, Liliana Pisani, Tara Poniewaz, Sarah Ricciardi, Apryl Roberts, and Brandon Scott. Each one earned hall of fame status.
It would be Bob’s last trip for me, and despite a few possible blips, he always served the program with distinction. He was without a doubt my favorite driver and his emergence was a key factor in the success of the trips for which he was a participant. I visited with him several years into retirement, and his enjoyment of working with the excursion program was mutual.
Return to Barn
A
Excursion # 19: June 2004 J.P., The Man in Black
fter an extraordinary group effort in 2003, it did occur to me that ending the program while ahead, always possessed a certain amount of merit. If I had, I would have missed sharing the experience of an excursion with another fantastic group. Pre-trip interviews made me excited about the composite of the group. This had worked for me with the previous group so why not trust my instincts again. Virginia Cunningham was once again designated administrator and moderator. Following the unwanted excitement of the previous trip, I was estatic that she was willing to make another trip. She was joined again by the always pleasant Julie Walkow who always added a calm peaceful presence. My son Doug was back again in his familiar role. My ability to arrange heavy luggage on the bottom of the bus was not as good as in the earlier days of the program, and with large groups it took three of us. Passengers were not permitted to help so amny of our stronger boys were willing but had to be denied the service. A new driver greeted us on the first day. “J.P.” was what he said to call him in the Gorman parking when first we met. He was dressed in all black and was another exmilitary man who knew very little about California except for having been stationed there for a short time, twenty years before. He would be a character throughout the length of the trip. Bishop Gorman required us to be back by the first Monday of Summer School, so our trip would have to be Sunday to Sunday. It was also awarded an extra .25 credit for participation in the program. In an era when ripping off the Gorman community became commonplace (The Sullivan era error desired to make Gorman great again), the useless credit was free. Our hotels in Arcadia and Pleasanton were happy to have us back. Our Sunday departure before Memorial Day created some difficulty for the itinerary. We had only four working days to schedule formal visits. Great group performance helped ease the strain. This became apparent on the first day at the first college (Redlands pictured) when I discovered that I could easily guide a pleasantly talented group of 48 teenager around the campus. Later that day we visited UCLA and Pepperdine with equally fine results. From there it was only light Sunday traffic back to Arcadia and the Hampton Inn.
My excursion experience told me I could take nothing for granted. It took threeday before I could fairly assess the nature of the group. However, the cooperation of the group at the two visited schools and lunch at the Montclair Mall in Upland, suggested I could be enthusiastic about the qualities of this assembly. After checkingin the group at the Hampton Inn, Doug and I explored the world on the other side of interstate ten. It wasn’t worth the effort. The Monday holiday presented opportunity as well as difficulty. We had tickets for the Dodger game starting at one. How could I entertain the large group in a productive manner, and arrive at the game on time? I decided to take this highly cooperative gathering to the Claremont Colleges which I had skipped the year before. We had academic candidates on this trip who could compete for their selective admissions. The five colleges involved were easily negotiable by distance. I guided the troops on tours stopping to speak at each campus. I knew what I wanted to say without reference material. Those truly interested in a school could visit with the corresponding representative(s) when they came to Gorman in the fall. Schools had been alerted of our holiday visit and sent me a ton of self-guiding materials to distribute. It never made it to bus for obvious reasons. These materials weren’t necessary, as my responsive group listened to me at every stop along my selfguided tour. (Okay most stops). They had a good time with each other in a greatly acceptable manner. Photo opportunities were excellent as the deserted campuses seemed to be all to ourselves. We took advantage of this rare situation. Classes ended at the Claremont colleges in early May. From the Claremont schools we doubled back to the peacefully quiet and deserted Occidental College campus. This would be the undergraduate destination for President Barack Obama. On this lovely day, the campus have never looked better. I knew it was a good day when I found a building left open that provided necessary bathrooms. We had done considerable walking and the troop were beginning to feel hungry. As usual, many in the group had chosen extra sleep over a very continental breakfast at the Hampton Inn. Occidental was relatively close to Dodger Stadium. My maps indicated an easy pathway to Dodger stadium. It worked like a charm. We had done a considerable amount of walking at both quiet, serene locations but arrived just before game-time at the stadium. The cost of parking for a bus had gone up to $25.
A day at the Ball Park
We had great reserved seats, but on an 85-degree day were in the sun during the early innings (J.P Doug on the left and our section on the right). All but a few found cover quickly further back in the stands. The crowd would be less than 25,000 so finding seat in the shade was no problem. Doug purchased “Famous Dodger Dogs” for us with a soft drink. I downed the dog much too quickly, and in less than an hour it began barking back. A long walk around the stadium did little to relieve my extreme discomfort. I wondered if I had been poisoned. Only time could solve this issue. By the time the scoreboard said, “Welcome Bishop Gorman” I was back to normal. The Dodgers won the game, and we were back to Acadia at a reasonable time. This group as all my previous groups exhibited A++ behavior at all baseball games with no exceptions. They always returned to the bus on time and were ready for the vital head count. This may have gone un-noticed until faculty would ask me how the kids acted at the ball game. The cooperation and appropriate behavior was worthy of a Gorman achievement award. The ball game experience was another high point in the excursion legacy. The Dodgers won this game with a late rally. My travel habits if not my eating habits had worked well. That night, J.P. had to get fuel for our Tuesday trip to San Diego. He had no idea of where to go. Unlike your local gas station, the bus companies had arrangements to fuel at a limited number of locations. Once we knew where to go, I sent Doug with him to guide him there and back. I did room checks for the boys. It took longer than expected, but the bus was refueled and clean. The San Diego day itinerary plan was simple. An informal visit of UC Irvine (pictured), a long lunch at Seaport Village and a return to Arcadia after our University of San Diego visit. With only the visit to USD a formal appointment, I had time to play with. Everything went as planned and we arrived on time for our two PM meeting. One of the boys had left some expensive personal items at Seaport Village. Rather than risk not seeing the bus again, I escorted J.P. and the student personally where we found the missing items. At the cost of an hour on the tour I had taken many times, everything was fine. The talk that day included our school representative as well as a priest who was the top administrator of the university. In a large auditorium, he said only the nicest things about Gorman students and the excursion program. After speaking to the group, he spent some remarkable minutes with me. We chatted about current news within the college world of California. He had a great sense of humor and the time spent his him was precious. Following ice cream and refreshments in the student union, it was on the bus and back to Los Angeles.
Our last day in Los Angeles would encompass formal visits of Loyola Marymount and USC with lunch at UCLA. The academic talent aboard had reason to look at these schools closely, especially the two private universities. Several on board had the grades to compete at UCLA as well. A goal of the excursion program was to find schools that might best fit the needs of the student and the budget of the family. I spent considerable time discussing these same aspects during the fall semester. Those on the excursion had an easier time than those who had yet to visit potential choices. Parents did not like driving in Los Angeles. On this day, tours at Loyola Marymount took the participants to parts of the campus I had never seen in previous trips. We were taken on a long walk to the main business
administration building where we were spoken to by our school representative. The meeting was held in a very state-of-the-art auditorium. It was impressive as was Dale Marini our rep. The walk back stopped to view some of the newest housing which included new apartments and suites. It was explained that students after their freshman year were eligible for these coveted housing locations. The chances for admissions could not be overlooked or dismissed. I mentally carried my database of current Gorman acceptances in my mind. It was impossible not to use such statistics for encouragement. The tours and the talks went very well as this highly personable group seemed to enjoy each opportunity. While the group visited the book store and student union, I met with my cohorts in the admissions office. Mysteries and inside explanations clarified what I wanted and needed to know. It was then on to the 105 freeway to connected with the 110 to USC. The highly urban downtown location of USC (pictured) was both a plus or a minus
for excursion participants. On this day we followed the standard protocol of lunch followed by the talk and then the student tours. The group was so large that the talk had to held in a small lecture hall on campus. They divided themselves for the sake of the number of available guides. The inner campus was always very attractive, as the student ambassadors referenced famous “Trojan” alums. While the purpose of the excursion program was to disseminate pertinent information to participants, impressive performances by members of the trip made great impressions on the schools themselves. I could use my letters of recommendation most effectively for those who stood out for their kindly, friendly, helpful, cooperative, character. For the second consecutive year, the Loyola Marymount/USC visits produced great results. The personality of the group was outstanding and is obviously shown in many of the photos. Below is one of my favorites!
The Friday journey north to Pleasanton included a formal visit to the University of the Pacific. We took Interstate 5 up the center of the state passing more agricultural development than I had seen on previous trips. Not strapped for time, lunch and rest stops were liberal and we did not have to face San Francisco traffic. That night, I took Doug to that fine Italian restaurant that I had discovered the year before with Rick Spiritosanto. We were rewarded for our efforts. It was a mile and a half round-trip walk, but the outcome was
excellent linguine and clams. The group remained very well behaved. The scattered rooms proved to be no obstacle for the moderators. Complements for the behavior of the group were turned into the front office of the hotel. We were all very proud as these accolades came from other hotel guests. This was the second consecutive year that hotel guest lauded the group for their behavior.
Friday would be the most strenuous day, and the last day we would visit multiple colleges. We engaged in a later wake-up call that provided time for a moderator breakfast at the hotel. We started out at Berkeley where the instructions were to enjoy the campus but not bring back any strange creatures (In the past I had to twice escort unwanted visitors off the bus). Doug and I took Gina and Julie on a long tour of the campus. Digital pictures always came out so well in Northern California where the air was clearer than in the south. My new Olympia Digital camera may have had something to do with the photos taken on this trip. We arrived at Stanford for lunch and free time. The short drive to Santa Clara allowed me to appreciate how much we had accomplished in a relative short time. As this was the last formal tour of the day, we spent extra time at this group favorite before heading back to the Crown Plaza. For Doug and I, an unscheduled trip to San Francisco awaited. J.P. informed us that the bus would need fuel and a cleaning before we could return to Las Vegas. I told him to ask his dispatcher where that could be accomplished. He was told us that Saturday was the busiest day with no guarantees, so if he wanted to be certain of receiving necessary services, he would have to take the bus to San Francisco that evening. We didn’t want a good trip to finish on a sour note, so I told him that Doug and I would guide him to an unknown industrial address. I spoke to the dispatcher myself to get directions. This did not help as the conversation was garbled and confusing. We left at 7:30 PM and it took more than an hour to get to the city. We could not find the address, stopping several times to inquire. I got lucky when I saw several charter tour buses heading to an industrial area under the Bay Bridge. Follow those buses I barked at the poor beleaguered driver. It was the address we sought. They were very busy and could not take the bus for an hour or so. I made a quick decision to have J.P. take Doug and I to the Embarcadero Station near Chinatown. We would meet the bus there when service had been completed. He assured me he could re-trace his steps back to the bus barn and retrace them back to pick us up. We had a cell phone so that seemed like a good scenario.
Doug and I walked into Chinatown as the sun set taking with it the daylight. It was crowded, and lines were forming outside the restaurants. We got into a place that was below street level. The time was 9:30 and if the bus service was faster than the restaurant service we would take the food to go. People were very well-dressed, yet they overlooked our appearance in shorts. The menu was extensive, but the prices were reasonable. We ordered and began to eat expecting the cell phone to ring at any moment. The food was authentic and great, and the phone never rang. We called Virginia Cunningham and explained our situation. She and Julie would room check the boys in our absence. It was quite dark when we left the lights of Chinatown to return to our pick-up point. We did this without incident. With still no call, we paced outside the closed ferry terminal. At 11:30 J.P. called and said he was a few minutes away. We were both delighted to see him pull up to the curb with a clean-refueled bus. It would be more than an hour more till we saw the Pleasanton exit. I had another unexpected anxiety issue crossing on the Bay Bridge and back, and while confused about causes, I knew I would be okay. It had been a very long Friday. The day off in San Francisco went well for the group. Doug and I stayed rather passive that day. After so many trips, there was little that we hadn’t done previously. A great Bay area meal was always a welcomed experience. It was more important that our kids were having a good time, and while I ran into most of them at pier 39 our bus rendezvous location, my camera was on the bus. The long ride back to Pleasanton reflected a good day for all. A quiet night, and an uneventful trip home allowed me to savor the enjoyment of working with another great group. I knew I would be busy after the summer writing appropriate letters on behalf of so many worthy candidates. Somehow, and with the help of so many great digital images, I did not mind the thought. Post Trip Analysis: Since each group is faced with different obstacles and circumstances to handle it, it is sometime impossible to compare groups on a fair basis. This group was fun to be around from the very first visit at Redlands in the south, to the San Francisco free day. The talent was awesome, but the good-natured spirit was even superior. The group meshed well and very few participants were left out of group activities or gatherings. As an example, Marian Williams was easily acclaimed a trip MVP an much more. I am quoting from my letter of recommendation sent to all colleges and scholarship organizations. Her letter may have one of my very best efforts and was well received by all who
Alexandra Bengochea Reese Benjamin Alexander Benjamin Shelley Bolor Courtney Bonnici Meghan Bradford Caroline Brascia Kate Buckley Diana Dickinson Gary Ebersbach Megan Frisk Genevieve Fumo Kelly Gaughan Austin Gorostiza Patrick Hoy Ashley Hutton Krystal Jackson Jason Lao Peter LaFemina Alysia Lippetti Julie Mark Nicole Mayman Emily McPherson Melissa Metoyer Marisa Miller Ryan Moffatt Daniel Monroe Wade Nolte Ashley Olson Ross O’Rourke Stephanie Parks Ashley Pieniazek Lucy Pinto James Pizzariello Taylor Preston Tori Puliz Alexandra Reifenrath Jeff Schlaack David Simons Marisa Szewczyk Ashley Thompson Jelindo Tiberti III Taylor Trujillo Kendra Turner Marian Williams Amy Winn Kristopher Yang
received it. “We were staying in Pleasanton California (on the college excursion) during the weekend when a Harry Potter movie was opening. Marian secured advanced tickets from the theater that was showing the movie before she left on the college trip. She arranged for transportation to the theater, which was five miles from the hotel (who provided a special shuttle service for her). She did this for a total of fourteen participants with my approval but without any assistance whatso-ever. The entire group was back in their rooms by the time my moderators made their normal bed checks”. Julie Walkow went along to see film and act as the moderator. It should be mentioned that many more participants were asked at the last minute when tickets became available. Her actions made her one of the top students in the excursion program history. There were other MVP types onboard including Stephanie Parks who went out of her way to make other participants feel more comfortable. This also earned her MVP status and was reflected in her recommendation. It is clear why excursion 19 was one of my very best trips ever. Besides Stephanie and Marion, Alexandra Reifenrath, David Simons also earned Hall of Fame Status. The number of impact performers was large and supported by my letters of recommendations for admissions and scholarship. for this group. In alphabetical order they included; Courtney Bonnici, Kelly Gaughan, Krystal Jackson, Peter LaFemina, Emily McPherson, Marissa Miller, Melissa Montoyer, Lucy Pinto, Taylor Preston, Tori Puliz, Marissa Szewczyk, and Amy Winn. Others could have qualified as well. These people made the trip better for other participants. It would be impossible to not consider them as my favorites.
Excursion nineteen deserved a better group picture. It was my shortcoming not to review the image more closely after I took it. It was by group request that we took the picture at Saint Marys. Multiple locations would have been appropriate but with one day less to spend we always had to be on the move to our next visitation.
The Two Best of many different Attempts
Return to Barn
Excursion # 20: June 2005 “California Dreaming” Part Deux(2)
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ollowing three excellent groups, I worried that my good fortune would not last. I had learned to take very little for granted, although my overly optimistic nature made that difficult. I had been busy that winter, thinking about trips for Easter to Southern California and a June return to the Northwest. Neither idea fell into line and when registration opened March 1, I had reverted to the traditional California circuit. To again comply with summer school which restricted all planning, another eight-day itinerary had to be offered. The direction of the trip would be different this time, with the Bay area being visited first. By April 1, registration yielded 45 participants. There were many familiar last names on the registration forms including many students I had seen multiple times and got to know well during the school year. This always created a very strong positive outlook for an upcoming trip. It also provided me with the knowledge of what general and specific areas participants were interest in. Another important aid was a well-achieved student profile mailed to colleges with no questionable students on board. One candidate had dropped, and I denied participation to several others. If not for them I would have had maximum participation for three consecutive years. A new but experience driver joined the same moderating crew from the year before. We had worked well together on the last three trips. The summer school restriction again took away a valuable week-day for Memorial Day and eliminated the chance to visit UNR. This was a real shame as many excursion participants were comfortable choosing the “Wolf-Pack” after comparing schools in California. On the plus side, one less day lowered my costs and proportionally the actual student price. That spring, a national college-tour company based in the east called me to ask if I would consider working for them. When I said that I had enough on my plate at this time, the rep asked me about my current trip. When I gave him details and costs, he said in a rather shocked tone, “I don’t know how you do it, but we couldn’t come close to matching that.” He told me that their programs did not spend all their nights in hotels. I told him that my profit margin was much different from theirs. Since they were only interested in my moderating skills and most likely my ability to bring along students from my school, this effectively ended my chance to work on a national basis. Note: The sub-headings in this section all represent song titles from an era different than my participant and possible readers. How many can you name before going to your browser for help.
Sunday “Mornin” will never be the Same Our Sunday ride to the bay area featured plenty of rest stops. Time was not a factor. I did arrange in the itinerary for the group to go over to Santa Clara University for the school’s renowned Sunday night mass. I had heard about it for more than twenty years from representatives to actual Santa Clara students. When we arrived on time at a brand-new Holiday Inn Express in Santa Clara, this option looked good. Our Pleasanton hub was under new corporate management and their prices were much too high. Unfortunately, this family that owned this motel had a buffoon working at the front desk (The owner’s son), and the 7 PM mass became an impossibility. He wanted each student to fill out a registration card. I told him this was an impossibility! Fortunately, I won out but not fora penalizing length of time. It was his first bus tour and we were lucky to see our rooms before the mass began. The group silently dealt with the disappointment as those for whoom mass was constant were present the night before at location throughout the Las Vegas valley. The desk clerk apologized for his not being prepared for our arrival and mentioned he had recently graduated from college. I asked, “Santa Clara?”. He replied, “No, San Jose State”. Those in the office smiled and noted the probable difference.
Monday, Monday Memorial Day did not include a baseball game. It included informal visits of Stanford followed by Berkeley (commonly pronounced Bezzerkley by now) for lunch, and USF in the early afternoon. Free time in San Francisco would begin following that visit and would extend until 8 PM. The extra time at the end of some lightning fast informal visitations required the latest time for a San Francisco fre-day pick-up. That time was dependent upon the cooperative and reliability of the group during those informal visits. They came through with flying colors and earned the additional time. Excellent weather worked greatly to our advantage.
The Stanford stop went well. School was still in session and all food services, the bookstore, and libraries were available. The offices of admissions and financial aid were closed. Some participants meandered the campus while most stayed close to the student union. We took the group picture at a traditional place. There were lots of people on campus and some of the boys entertained themselves with a soccer ball while waiting for the bus to come back from routine servicing. This included the usual and necessary clean-up. Two days of 49 people and a long first day made quite an immediate difference. Berkeley was also open for business and the “crazys” were all over the place. My new digital camera took great pictures of the campus, but unfortunately, none of the group could be found on that campus as I explored that terrain with Doug. We walked up to the refurbished stadium on the north edge of the campus. We walked around the newly opened facility thinking we would see it several times on TV in the fall. We were to be correct in that prediction. Lunch and the extended experience went well as we boarded the bus to go on. My favorite lunch stop of many years “Kips”, was closed for having sold alcohol to minors. It would not re-open. As in previous trips there were homeless people living in the student union bathroom on the bottom floor. This came as a shock to some of our boys. I had seen it before, and it was a sad problem. An asylum for the mentally ill had been closed many years ago, and some occupants had settled in on campus. This was only a rumor but one I could easily believe. We were ahead of schedule and I interpreted the group’s vibration as telling me they had earned more free time at the wharf area. At USF (pictured), the group followed me on tour and listened to my very brief talk on behalf of the school. The group had performed up to my standards, so it was time for me to release them as traditional tourists. The pier 39 drop and release point had reserved spaces for buses picking-up their passengers. While you could choose to go anywhere you wanted on your own, every participant knew the time and place for pick-up. Doug and I stayed close to the pier thirtynine area after coffee in place were had never been. The crowds were large and
most of our students were among them. When everyone met up with the bus on time, a solid group reliability record had been set in place. The hour ride brought us back to our Santa Clara motel. Students found food places within easy walking distance of the Inn Express. Doug and I took a longer
walk back to a restaurant name Mariana’s, which we had eaten at several times in the past. It was a long two mile venture but a worthwhile experience. The walk back revealed many people on the iconic El Camino Real (Blvd.) It was another quiet easy night. Doug and I greatly appreciated how cooperative the boys were. The girls were impeccable as well, but that was usually the norm. The continental breakfast of hot cooked items was operating at the Holiday Inn Express. Only a few took advantage of the excellent offerings.
We were only minutes away from the Santa Clara campus. I had intimated to the school that this trip would likely be my final visit to the great Jesuit university. They presented me with a shirt, probably the last thing I wanted them to do. It somewhat surprised the group, also something I did not want to do. I didn’t stay long at the group informational meeting because one of the boys had left his billfold in their room. We returned to the motel and came back with the wallet.
When we returned to the group and he and I roamed free to observe all of the tour groups set up for our visit. I ventured off by myself to walk about the campus. The participants didn’t need the moderators with the groups as they acted as adults. I took some of my best photos of the beautiful place. They have been prominently seatured in my College Resource Book over the years. If this was not to be my final trip to this great university, it certainly felt very much like it was.
It was a serious nostalgic experience one that I could not predict. I also was able to catch up with our touring groups to take numerous pictures of the massive team. At tours end, we all met up for lunch in the student union. In an hour we would be on our way to Arcadia CA, an intimate seven-hour drive away. Tuesday,........ Afternoon The beauty of switching the north and south itinerary was that when we were done on Sunday, we didn’t have a long trip home. We took numerous stops at rest areas along the way and before long, every snack known to mankind was on the bus. It was a very relaxed causual ride that was just the opposite of the first two days. We arrived on time according to my prediction on the itinerary. There was time eat late diners or just continue on available snacks. The Tuesday trip though long, avoided the dreaded heavy Southern California traffic. We arrived in Arcadia at our Hampton Inn about 7:30 PM. It was just turning dark. Those seeking a late dinner had plenty of choices. Doug and I found a buffet serving just healthy foods. It was a new addition to the neighborhood, and it was .... very healthy.
We would save our date with the Red Lobster for the next night. It was across the very busy street from the Hotel. The group had responded well on the northern leg of the trip and we had no complaints to answer. Room checks were relaxed somewhat to allow for the troops to unwind after a long day on the road. Wednesday Morning....3AM The next day began with the breakfast at the Hampton Inn. The lobby was full of bright-eyed, friendly Gorman participants. They had seriously taken my recommendation about the importance of something in the morning. Those who were up at 3 AM stayed in bed to the last minute before departure.
Allowing for traffic into Los Ageles, we were on time for our appointment at Loyola Marymount. My good friend Dale Marini gave another inspiring talk. He was always at his best, and groups always responded to his straight-forward, sincere manner in a highly appropriate way. He was clearly one of the best spokespersons throughout the history of the excursion program. His visits to Gorman reflected his excellence as well. From there the student ambassadors escorted smaller groups around campus while I met with Mr. Marini in his office. We discussed the status of the Dodgers before we got down to any serious business. I would ask about spring applicants who had been rejected or wait-listed. He would give me the reasoning of the admissions committees who made the decisions. This was very valuable. In return, I would provide from memory, the schools chosen by Gorman students who had been accepted at Loyola Marymount but had decided not to attend. These facts were important to administrators. I had done this exchange for years at Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, USD and USC. I first met Dale in 1981 when my son Doug was only four-years old. On this trip Doug was in his 20’s and his 6-4 frame amazed our host. He was the best of all the college representatives I would work with. While not considered unethical, these exchanges provided me with an invaluable source of admissions data. I never wanted these meetings discussed or to become an issue at school. I used what I learned to both encourage and discourage sensitive applicants. I knew when to buy an extra box of Kleenex. From there we traveled out to the highly popular Montclair Mall for lunch. All we had left for the day was a formal visit of the Claremont Colleges. This year, I had worked out a deal where participants could choose two schools to visit. It turned out to be a version of musical chairs with the five colleges being the chairs. Doug, Gina and I escorted groups of participants who had made their choices pre-trip. Julie stayed with large groups. It was creatively an outstanding effort on the part of all concerned if not a royal success. The thought process involved in this scheme impressed the five colleges administrators. It also clearly displayed the group’s flexibility, cooperation and togetherness. The stunt which seems stupid to me now was greatly appreciated, and those who stood out in this stunt got a special commendation in their recommendations. Their performance as well as those of the moderators were priceless. When we finished the program we were only thirty minutes from Arcadia. The itinerary for the day had worked well. Doug and I treated ourselves at the Red Lobster that evening.
Sweet Thursday The trip to San Diego had a new wrinkle. I had secured at group rates, tickets to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. They were happy to give us special rates because of the college visitation program. Our goal was to spend enough time at the park and still eat at Seaport Village before our two PM appointment at USD. As we approached the park in Escondido, an auto accident resulted in stand-still traffic on I-15. We arrived later than planned. Our tickets were waiting at the will-call window, but now I had to adjust a new bus departure schedule. This very smart group adjusted expertly to the circumstance, and we were able to make our usual San Diego destinations on time. The experience reinforced that feeling that making the trip into more of a family vacation worked in the Northwest as well as in California. Had I figured that out during my early excursions, everybody probably would have had a better experience. This is the benefit of hindsight. An extended lunch and the formal visit to USD took the entire afternoon. I spent tour-time in the administrative offices of the school. I met all the necessary dignitaries and sat down with the director to exchange pertinent information. We again stopped at UCSD for a late afternoon rest stop/ice cream break before the journey back to Acadia. I escorted those who were interested in the school on an abbreviated tour of the campus. I was almost beginning to feel guilty about using the great research schools of California for bathroom stops and refreshments. Both were highly suitable for the purposes of the excursion program. On the previous trip I had found a short-cut through Riverside. It cut off an hour of travel and did not bring us into heavy traffic. It worked out again this year just as well. Another late arrival at the Hampton Inn meant another great late evening meal which wasn’t good for proper digestion. It had been another very good day. The group added more excellence to their highly positive status. Because of the weekend, we had to leave the Hampton Inn for the last two nights of the trip. Following a day at Pepperdine (below) and USC we would move down the coast to Costa Mesa and the Holiday Inn of that community. Three excursions before the group had stopped at the South Coast Mall of Cost Mesa for lunch. At that time, I had noticed the Holiday Inn Hotel as we entered the freeway.
Friday Our Friday began with a late departure by design. The Holiday Inn offered a great breakfast (we had to distribute meal vouchers provided by the hotel), and most of the group took advantage of the valuable amenity. It was on to Pepperdine for a formal visit. It was bright and sunny, and the ocean in the background looked awfully inviting. On my tour, we visited a dorm room. Classes had ended, and the residence apartments were vacant. I jokingly pointed to the panels of the ceiling. “That’s where they hide the beer.” A skeptical student quickly stood on the bed and pushed open a panel. Two empty cans of Coors could be seen. “How did you know that, Mr. Seif”. I guess that “Because that’s where I would have hidden it”. In fact, I did just that, about 40 years before when I was a freshman at Eastern New Mexico University. I requested that the student ask our guide outside the dorm, about the alcohol tolerance at Pepperdine. The answer was the one everybody expected but did not want to hear about. The tour this day were quite extensive as the student ambassadors wanted to show us more of the campus than any previous visit. We took our second group picture. The taking of group photos at two different locations somehow had alluded me over the years. Lunch for those who wanted it, was either at the student union of USC or across campus at the international food conclave. Crossing Jefferson Boulevard seem more dangerous than it was. Less than half the Gorman students made the trek. Stanford and USC trailed behind most schools in the student unions I had visited. For the tuition money they got, I always thought they could and should have offered a better venue. The tour and talk was up to specifications. We left USC and beat the traffic on the 110 and the 405 to get to our Holiday Inn accommodations. It took a while to check-in, and I knew by the nature and the size of the new crowd that we were fortunate to have our Friday night reservations. Our rooms were located within easy reach of the moderators. Supervision of room checks were extremely enjoyable as the composite of the boys were willing to be honest and unguarded. That evening, I took the bus over to the South Coast Mall. It would be open late, and our driver could let us off and take the bus for cleaning and refueling. Most stores and food services stayed open late, and I hoped the mall had enough security. The bus came back after the mall had closed as the group waited patiently in the parking lot. Nobody attempted to mess with likes of these troops. Perhaps the two city police cars helped? Room checks were quick and painless. By now, they were probably unnecessary?
Saturday Night Fever Saturday figured to be a low energy day based on the pace we had been going. With everything closed we could afford to pick and choose where we wanted and divide-up the day. UCLA has always been an excursion favorite despite its low admissions rate. The school was always in session and there was life on campus. After another planned late departure, More breakfast cards to dispense and we took an uncrowded 405 Freeway to UCLA, and parked the bus on the north end of the UCLA campus. It was free time in Westwood which included lunch. At this time the moderators would decide on who to visit in the afternoon. At lunch in the food court, Gina Cunningham suggested taking this excellent group to Newport Beach. It was a brilliant idea, since no group had ever been bestowed that honor of a beach visit. I was certainly “Colleged-Out” myself. Three hours on the beach in Newport sounded great. It was back down the 405 freeway with Virginia Cunningham now totally in charge. We found a place for the bus in the beach parking lot and let the troops roam free. It was a relaxing three-hour refuge, and a chance to reflect on the upcoming summer. Doug and I visited out to end of pier to take the picture on the left. We refrained from having a cold beer which really sounded good at the time. We then took the ferry to Balboa island before returning to the bus. The trip back the next day included an inconsequential stop at Redlands. We had seen more than enough colleges to satisfy the most inquiring minds.
Post Trip Analysis: Courtney Semana Azaan Akbar James Bedotto Alex Benjamin John Buckley Reeca Cordova Catherine Crockett Bryan Daseler Nicole DeFelice Lisa Dickerson Peter Doan Robert Ebersbach Jamie Garrett Andrew Gregorka Jonathan Hamrick Meghan Hernandez Ryan Jones Alexandra King Arlene Losloso Candace Malone John Manfredi Caitlin McClincy Steve McKinlay William McPherson Alexander Medick Meagan Medick James Moore Nicole Mona Nicholas Morata Tanattha Nakadilok John O’Rourke Alex Owen Katie Owen Blais Pfabe-Pisani Petra Pfabe-Pisani Alyssa Ralls Briana Ramos Vincent Rivera Amaan Shafti Joseph Shoen Alyssa Smith Princess Thomas Michael Tulimero Alexandrea Wabara Michael Walker
Similar to the previous trip, there were many participants who earned MVP status. I really enjoyed being around this and it was a total pleasure to interact with them at all times. I never had to use harsh language to gain their attention, or at least, not that I can remember. The group was friendly, cooperative, reliable, and performed at the highest levels. They distinguished themselves by asking many toplevel questions during informational sessions. They were totally outstanding in the personality department and placed high on the list of the very top groups. They offered a sophistication not seen by many groups. Had I been a smart man, I would have ended the program after this trip. It had been twenty years for a program designed for five. It was the quality and my enjoyment of the previous four groups that led me on for two more trips. It would take my retirement two years later to end the program. Quality impact participants were abundant. I am afraid that my memory may not do them justice. Letters of recommendations were a big help in providing these accolades. John Buckley, Catherine Crockett, Nicole DiFelice, Jamie Garrett, Jonathan Hamrick, James Moore, Nicole Mona, Alex Owen, Katie Owen, Petra Pfabe -Pisani Princess Thomas stand out. Meagan Medick and Candace Malone were worthy of Hall of Fame status.
Return to Barn
Canyon de Chelley, Arizona
Excursion # 21: June 2006 The Beginning of the End
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arly in 2006, the success of the last four excellent excursions gave me a false sense of the future of the program. Its fate was heavily tied into the political climate at Gorman. It was that fact and a compulsion to not let the program die, that put me on the road for another trip. My standing at Gorman during the Sullivan Era(error) was never good from my perspective. I always felt he allowed and tolorated the excursion program because he did not know how to take the program from me without causing a huge stink. This was a curious point, as I was unaware of any advantage that I may have had. He already envisioned a more elaborate operation designed to see the Ivy League elite. He did not like that I said no to his invitation to run such a program. His administration was not the honest, student-oriented school administrations I had thrived under. I also had a hard time keeping my opinions to myself. During the winter, I kept busy by conceiving of an extensive trip to both Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Despite it being an excellent package (Price per day and a vacation-like itinerary), it was a mistake waiting to happen. I almost plunged into it head first. Rather than cancel and admit defeat, I kept modifying and cutting down the number of days and destinations. This was not difficult as no financial commitments had been made. The eventual trip turned out to be a five-day Monday through Friday Southern California sprint. I lost Ms. Cunningham to administrative duties, and Julie Walkow as well. Doug was attending classes at the University of Idaho but was replaced by my daughter Randi (Pictured at Occidental). Stepping in for a return engagement was John Goertemiller, and newcomer Mrs. Maria Healy. John’s presence really helped me out on this trip. Limited numbers made it difficult to deny participation, and I paid for that breach of practice. The second smallest group of the excursion program left on a Monday, June 5. The first day went well with formal tours at Redlands and Occidental. The use of a Monday thru Friday itinerary allowed for an easier schedule than my past three trips. Memorial Day closure of business offices had raised havoc with formal visitations. On this day everything was open for prospective students. Our talk at Redlands was handled by my friend Paul Driscoll. The extensive tour of the campus was run by members of his staff. I told him that I probably would not be back and wished him the best. He did the same to me.
The formal visit at Occidental also went very well. After an excellent talk we followed a very capable student tour guide around campus. She stopped at various points and answered questions from the group. The beautiful campus was in perfect condition and although it was warmer than usual, the group kept up with our guide till the very end. I took many excellent photos that day of both campuses. From Occidental, Arcadia and the Hampton Inn was only thirty-minutes away. Our check-in at the Hampton Inn of Acadia was like returning to a familiar summer home. It was a very comfortable hotel, had the best eating places within a three-city block area of any motel/hotels in excursion history. It would be our only home for this trip. Randi and I were preparing for dinner when a call came from the front desk requesting my presence. I was told that some boys had yelled racial slurs down upon guests in front of the hotel. They could not pin point the exact room or the boys, but it was close enough to our rooms to inform me. My natural tendency was to deny such evaluations, but this was coming from the manager who had sent me a very special Christmas gift as a thank you for our patronage. After three years of working with this manager, I took it very seriously and promised to investigate immediately and thoroughly. I confronted all the boys in those potential rooms and received only denials. Something however didn’t seem quite right concerning those denials as most did not vigorously deny any guilt. They were made to understand that I would consider them innocent and not proven guilty, but I would be watching them closely for the remainder of the trip. Fair or not, I was greatly disappointed by the accusation. It continued to bother Randi and I that no one took major offense to my words. The damage had been done however, and the welcome mat at the Hampton Inn of Acadia would not be extended in the future. The Tuesday itinerary went well with a formal visit of UC Santa Barbara (pictured). It was a long ride to see one school but free time on campus and lunch near the pier and downtown made it a worthwhile experience. Maria Healy, Randi and I had a wonderful lunch on the famous boardwalk pier. We returned to Acadia in time to offer an optional trip to Dodger stadium. All but two students in the group in the group chose to pass on the invitation, and thus Randi and I virtually had a bus to ourselves. It was a good thing that more people did not see us in our matching Dodger shirts. Proximity to the stadium made this side trip feasible. It was an entertaining game between the Dodger and Mets. It was also a rather fast-moving game, with entertaining taunts between the Dodger and Met fans. We returned for bed checks and were very pleased to find that no incidents had occurred.
That morning, (about 3 AM) we were all awakened by the ominous sound of fire alarms. We met at the bus as planned and found out it was just a false alarm after fire crews arrived. Hastily dressed, all members followed the protocol set out by the school administration and executed well by the participants. We went back to our rooms when the all-clear was given. Yes, I had the fear that someone(s) in our group had pulled an alarm but that was not the case or was never proven at least. Formal visits at Loyola Marymount (pictured) and USC went as well as they typically did. These places were more interesting for the group than the smaller liberal arts institutions. Lunch and bookstore time at USC were routine. The group had performed very well with interrupted sleep. There were no incidents at the hotel that evening and my confidence in them was growing at a healthy rate. Our Thursday was spent in San Diego with formal visits at UC San Diego in the morning, and USD (pictured) in the afternoon. Lunch of course was at Seaport Village. The tour at the La Jolla school was too long as too much of a large sprawling campus was covered. There was minimum interest for most of the students in the group.
The USD tour also was longer than usual. New buildings were visited for the first time, and they marched the group through each and every one of them. The long drive back to Arcadia was quiet, as many in the group slept. Our final night at the Hampton Inn was pleasantly uneventful.
Friday’s plan was to visit Pepperdine early, UCLA for lunch and a return to Las Vegas through the Palmdale cut-off. Each phase was handled very well by the group who continued to impress me with their actions. The tours given by the student guides held the interest of the group. The pictures at Pepperdine represented the last group picture that would be taken. The lunch at UCLA marked the third University of California visited in a five-day span. By now I could easily have taken these fine participants north if the trip had been designed to do so. Group Analysis: Except for a single unsubstantiated incident (innocent until proven guilty), excursion 21 was a very good group that was easy to be around and was highly cooperative. I regret that to offer this trip to a limited number of students, the price was higher than it should have been. The parents were the true MVP’s of this trip and I was very thankful for their commitment to the program. Naturally, some students stood out for the right reasons. Lauren Davis and Angelica Wright went to the Dodger game with Randi and Me. Anna Gregory was a bundle of joy through-out the trip and joined Angelica Wright and Lauren Davis to earn Hall of Fame honors. Jordan Hitt stood out in any crowd, and Brent Resh, David Garcia, Madison Martinet, Miles Skalman and Aruhn Venkat were noticeable solid performers. The quality of the group was measured by the aforementioned participants. They accounted for more than a third of the group. Except for the alleged incident of the first evening, I enjoyed the company of the group.
Cameron Belt Kaitlin Bennett Lauren Davis Nick Errichetto Timothy Esposito David Garcia Anna Gregory Jennifer Guedry Morgan Hill Jordan Hitt Dan Huff Joshua Lubawy Andrew Marlow Erik Manthei Madison Martinet Cullen McGowan Brent Resh Matt Salt Miles Skalman Jesserey Tugas Aruhn Venkat Angelica Wright
At Occidental Above, and Pepperdine
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Silver Falls, Oregon
Excursion # 22: June 2007 “This is the End.” (Opening words of movie Song Skyfall by Adele) [When I first heard this song in the movie theater, I knew it was the theme for this trip evan after the fact.] Devin Altschul Dean Beckwith n the winter and spring of 2006, the new Gorman campus Brittany Bell was being completed. As I cleaned out my office on Maryland Taylor Bellinghausen Parkway, I sensed that more than a move was about to occur. Aaron Bengochea Taking down the excursion pictures that had hung traditionally Curtis Brunelle in student services for so many years was an emotional Bianca Cannella experience for me, one that I did not anticipate. A new facility Camille Ewing was part of the natural evolution, but too much of me would Kelli Flynn remain at 1801 Maryland Parkway. By instinct alone but with Sara Frank little passion, I planned for a new trip as I had done twenty-one Christen Garcia times before. Desiree Garrett Alicia Hoepfner Kristen Jones A lack of enthusiasm and a lessened desire for another trip Julia King caused me unexpected consequences. I did not work hard to Nicola Lippetti recruit moderators in the fall semester. This part was done for Jonathan Lisicki me by the Sullivan administration. It was the first and only time Ryan Manthei any administration told me who to take along, and I certainly did Melissa Marchand not like it one bit! Raul Mendez Addison MoneySenior Calida Morris I felt that the program was going to be taken away from me Jan Paulo Musni and whether I was right or just extremely paranoid, that was Rebecca Nguyen my mind-set. Mrs. Barbara Stewart and Mr. Eli Maslekoff, both Michael Onofre counselors in my department, were told to join me for the Patrick O’Rourke trip. I thought that Eli was a great choice, and I should have Sydney Sears asked him myself. The school appointed him to be the school Chelsea Sullivan administrator on the trip, a difficult assignment as it turned out Samantha Smith to be. My daughter Randi took vacation time from her job to see Alec Thomas that I didn’t get into any major trouble. My son Doug was not Jake Vukasin available. Alle Zaher
I
Spring registration was better than anticpated. The array of younger participants included many from families I had known throughout my Gorman career. They were highly personable and friendly, sported great academic records and were the reason I did not fold under enormous pressure, internal and external. Sports had taught me never to quit, but I can state now that I came very close to folding up the program. By spring, I knew I would retire after the 2007-08 school year.
Retirement and Unknown Health Complications In May, my wife and I went to the Pacific Northwest in search of a new location and home for our retirement. My Northwest excursions had created a strong desire to re-locate around the region I enjoyed. This kept my mind in the spring away from the plans of the excursion or a chance to cancel it. Several personal health problems which were beginning to mount up. Having found my future retirement location and residence almost by accident, I felt exhileratingly good mentally when I returned to school in Mid-May. My doctor was trying to find the right blood pressure and cholesterol medicines (Statins), and it was a difficult process. I remember many leg cramps and periods of dizziness before we found the right combination. My leg cramps in Portland were so severe that I could not walk more than a few yards at a time. Now that a had a valid reason for replacing myself on next month’s excursion, I would not bail out on what seemed like a great group. I even considered bring along a wheelchair. I had set my retirement date to be a year from June and said goodbye to the Maryland Parkway campus and the fond memories thereof. It was more than a place to teach, coach and counsel. While I did not think the move would disturb me as much, I was terribly wrong. A new bus company, and a new bus driver was assigned. Costs for the trip had taken a spike due to unanticipated increases. The bus company was Ryan’s Express who offered a lower price than competitors. In response, my price was proportionately higher than previous years. The Crown Plaza became altogether too pricey as did our Holiday Inn Express in Santa Clara. The loss of the Hampton Inn was absorbed by the Holiday Inn of Costa Mesa. We were familiar with the locale from the previous year. The La Quinta Inn of Fremont became our northern outpost. The trip included tickets for a Dodger game. I had no thoughts about creating a family-vacation setting although the ball game, Seaport village, the Santa Cruz amusement park, and the day in San Francisco made it feel so. It would be my last Dodger game, and this time, no message of acknowledgment would be placed on the scoreboard. On this first day of the trip, a normal start got us going. After breakfast in Barstow we settled in to arrive at the park by 12:30.
On this day, this game was a one-sided thrashing of the Dodgers by the Toronto Blue Jays. I enjoyed talking baseball and general sports with Eli. The game ended about four, and we headed to the bus for what promised to be a long ride to Costa Mesa. [The photos above are the only ones taken on the trip. All other pictures were taken on previous trips or are photos from current websites.] Sunday traffic wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected it to be, and we checked into the Holiday Inn right on schedule. Dinner was at the South Coast Mall for those who chose to walk over the tricky 405 freeway overpass. Randi and I chose to do just that. We had a very peaceful dinner discussing our good fortunes of a first day, and my impending retirement away from Las Vegas. There were some heavy thoughts on my mind about being separated from my own children. We returned to the hotel, and I sat down in the busy lobby. The hotel was crowded as business people had replaced families. Randi, Eli and Barbara went to their rooms to prepare for the impending room checks. Sometime within the next 30 minutes, the placid nature of the first day crashed with a bang. As Randi came down from our room to give me the bad news, I was approached by hotel security. “Three boys were seen on the ledge in the front of the building by hotel guests.” I was both shocked and stunned to say the least. Anger caught up to me in only a few more minutes after I asked if any of them had fallen. They had not to my immediate relief. I then let my worst of my fears get the better of me. What if they had? (The Holiday Inn name changed to a Crown Plaza) Since the boys had suffered no injury or had not damaged the hotel, the security agent tried to calm me down by telling me the boys were not in trouble with the property. “They’re in trouble all-right” was my response. The agent turned and quickly walked away. He could field the heat! The moderators met at my request to decide what we should do. I could only imagine seeing any of the boys on the ground after a fall from the second floor. This was never the case by virtue of the configuration of the hotel. Since they were out of their room after room check, a serious breach of the rules had occurred. Word of the incident quickly spread through the rooms. There was talk of sending the boys home the next morning to explain things to their parents. There was even talk of taking the entire group back to Las Vegas. We decided to tell each room that we would make a final decision in the morning. It was a totally unsettling circumstance for a first night following a good day. Randi took me out of the hotel to a Circle K across the street. I was still spitting mad and highly disappointed for at no time did I imagine that anyone would commit such a foolish act. Randi was able to settle me down, and I reflected carefully on the entire scene. Before I went to bed, I had decided that the show would go on. I spoke to the guilty individuals the next morning. They each expressed sincere
remorse for their actions. I told them that while we would continue the trip, Mr. Maslekoff was the school administrator on the trip, and he would follow school guidelines. In the good old days, the incident would have been handled by my judgment, and would have been less public. I was not the only administrator of my own trip. We left for San Diego the next morning on time. Everybody was on edge as they entered the bus and walked past me. I had scheduled an informal visit of San Diego State University. I was feeling unmistakably down the entire ride down to San Diego. I had never felt that way on an excursion before. It was as if I was sitting next to myself. When we arrived at the school, I gave self-guiding materials to Barbara and Eli. I hoped that taking some time away from the group would help my disposition. I walked around campus with Randi and had my camera around my neck but took no photos. I had no desire to do so but realized that I had taken the incident far too personally. We met the group back at the bus and headed off for lunch. A nice meal at Seaport Village did make me feel better, and I was ready to lead the group to USD. While I don’t remember much about our visit, I knew it had gone well by the enthusiasm of the group. My camera never got off the bus. We took our time after the talk and tour and spent a long time in the bookstore. I tried to will-myself a better attitude and outlook, but with limited success. As I knew this would be my last trip, I had planned a somewhat farewell tour of honored locations. I took the group for dinner to La Jolla Village another San Diego favorite on earlier excursions. I took the moderators to a restaurant named “The Spot” where everything was excellent as usual. I told Barbara and Eli about a recent trip where a gracious parent had invited the excursion to stop at their summer house in La Jolla for an afternoon barbecue. I declined the invitation because I didn’t think it was appropriate. I regretted that decision almost immediatelt for it would have been a good experience for the participants. I made a mistake because the student and family were great people. We had a nice dinner. This was followed bt a peaceful walk around town before it was time to meet at the bus for the trip to Costa Mesa. We arrived just after dark and had a predictably quiet night.
Tuesday would be a good day as Loyola Marymount, USC, and UCLA were on the schedule. I reflected on the number of familiar names on the roster. They were the children of people I used to call my kids or students from early days at Gorman. This was the second straight year I was aware of this fact, and it weighed heavily upon me. I didn’t know how to deal with it. As I got to see the group in action, I saw only positive things emerge. The personalities were forming another good group. Despite that, I also wanted the days to pass quickly and with no further incidents. While I still could lead and give instructions, I displayed little emotion for what I was doing. At times I thought I was wearing a sign, “That fork is actually in me, and this time I am certainly done!” With no attempt to take any photos, my daughter recognized this as well. I could not snap out of that non-emotional feeling. I took the bus to the South Coast Mall for dinner that night. I didn’t want anyone to be walking the streets on this last night of our stay, and I didn’t want to provide too much time in the hotel for anything else to occur. The food court was a good eating solution, as another quiet night awaited. Wednesday featured the trip to the north. We got off to a late start. After a few traffic bottlenecks, I knew we would never make our appointment at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks. I called to say I was sorry, but in fact I was not. I didn’t believe the group would have embraced California Lutheran which benefited from lovely surroundings. We went to UC Santa Barbara for lunch. Those who wanted to see the campus were on their own after I led the group to the union. This a live and wild campus as the end of the quarter was about to end. People and bikes were moving throughout the campus. Don’t be late for departure were my only instructions. They weren’t. Coffee in an upstairs location calmed my nerves. The remainder of the ride to Fremont CA was comfortable as we stopped only when necessary. I didn’t have much to say, which for me is not a usual condition. I remember being deep in thought or a fog, but about what, I can’t recall. The La Quinta Inn of Fremont had said that there were eating establishments around the hotel but failed to specify what kind they were. As we passed San Jose to head up the East Bay region, I directed the driver to exit the freeway for a surprise dinner break. It was a gut feeling that turned out to be right. The shopping plaza we stopped at had many popular places to choose from. I was very relaxed because somehow my longtime excursion experience kicked-in. The variey of eating choices well spread all over a very large plaza area. I admonished the troops to be careful. Lateness on the part of only a few participants was acceptable at this departure since we were only a relatively short distance from our destination. Performance for this day had been excellent. The group had indeed rounded into a top-performing team.
We arrived at the La Quinta Inn to find very few suitable eating places off the freeway exit. There was a small strip-mall featuring a Korean barbecue restaurant and a large McDonald’s. Randi and I ate at the Korean restaurant folloing our visit to the Santa Cruz boardwalk. The hotel location and the rooms were highly suitable. Because the group had been confined on the bus for most of the day, I allowed them to unwind and gave them a later room check. My patience seemed to be returning following that dining prognostication. There were other big hotels adjoining our LaQuinta. They had large cocktail lounges but no suitable restaurants. It was essentially a businessman’s oasis. Breakfast was available at the McDonald’s near the hotel. We had a short ride to Santa Clara University and the final walk through the historic pathway to the office of admissions. The rep gave me another shirt to commemorate my final visit (they gave me one two years before). It was a very nice gesture and caught some in the group by surprise. Could the incident on the first day be the cause for these closing ceremonies? When asked, I replied that my retirement announcement had preceeded the trip. Leaving Santa Clara, we took the familiar short ride up the 280 Freeway for the standard informal visitation of Stanford. I regret not taking a group picture at this location because by this point of the trip, I was feeling good about the group’s overall performance. The boys from the first day were perfect thereafter. We all make mistakes, and this very regretable one was totally mine. It would have been nice to have someone, anyone, step in and ask for a group picture. Best to my recollections, nobody did. The rest of the afternoon would be spent on the beach front at the famous Santa Cruz Amusement Park. I had advised everyone to eat dinner before it was time to for the bus to return. It was hard to gauge the firsttime experience of the beach and the amusement park, as I was just playing out a safety-first game. Friday would take us to my last formal visits at St. Marys and USF. There was a standard talk and tour at St Marys. We went to Berkeley for lunch and we witnessed a fire in the Union area. It was no big deal, but it added some excitement and brought the strange population to one place. It was on to USF where they set up a more elaborate talk before the tour. The program was set-up for the upper campus, a location I hadn’t been to in nearly 24 years. Randi and I had to climb the hill twice to escort the group from the lower campus bus parking place. I somehow missed
a mystery letter sent to me giving me better instructions for parking the bus. A Gorman nursing graduate was part of the show which was done quite well. The tour was even better as a male tour guide gave the group more than was written in his script. The campus was busy and someone in the group asked about the male/female ratio which heavily favored females. He then said the defining words of the tour. “Do you know what USF stands for.” There was no response.” “Usually Single Females” was his response and it left the group groping for a meaning. Another Great Eating Solution I had carefully researched our dinner options and found a convenient mall close to our hotel, but several exits north. It worked to perfection as it again afforded numerous eating choices. The moderators ate at a Red Robin. I allowed for extra time to eat and unwind before returning to the bus. It had been a long day, but a very good one. Bed checks were traditionally at ten PM with just a few exceptions. I was frequently asked by the participants why I selected that time. Early in the program, I had to check female rooms in a pinch and was asked that same question. I responded, “Because Sportscenter is on at 11”. That response flew over the top of everyone in the room and the blank looks were a classic. Given the freedom after room checks, most participants stayed up well into the night. It wasn’t hard to spot those who got less sleep, but it was never my place to intervene. I was looking forward to the day off in San Francisco but had one big problem. Eli was scheduled to meet with relatives in San Francisco which left Barbara Stewart to be with Randi and me. That is not what I wanted nor could expect to tolerate. Eli earned MVP status for the trip when he extended an invitation to Barbara to join his family group. That left Randi and I to plan the exciting final free-day I had in mind. I took advantage of lighter weekend traffic to take the Golden Gate Bridge to the observation point on the north side. After spending adequate time there, I could head to the wharf for dispersal. Everyone was up for this day, and while I never knew what others had done, I will briefly share my adventurous day.
Randi and I took a walk from the wharf area (pier 39) to Chinatown where we found an upstairs restaurant for lunch. We continued our walk to the downtown district (major shopping and banking) until we came upon a BART station on Broadway. We took the subway across the Bay and came back. I had never taken Bart before that experience. We got off at the Embarcadero and took the ferry to Sausalito. We didn’t see much of the 60-minute crossing as we both fell asleep sitting up in our seats. We had enough time to walk around the pricey shops before waiting on line to catch the ferry to the wharf area. We stayed awake on this run and enjoyed the cool breezes on the deck. It was now dinner time and with no reservations stood a slight chance of being seated at our favorite seafood restaurant, a place named “Scomas”. It turned out to be our fortunate day as we were seated almost immediately when a party of two didn’t show up. The meal lived up to past expectations (I had taken moderators and parents there on four excursions). The bus met at the appointed time and we headed back to the La Quinta Inn for our final evening. I took Eli down to the bar in the hotel and said the drinks were on me. He had helped make my final San Francisco day, very special. I did my final room checks and with only the return to Las Vegas ahead, I could finally relax. Post Trip Analysis: The group performed extremely well throughout the trip, and under other circumstances would have ranked well in comparison to other groups. I never fully recovered from the shock of the first day, but perhaps factors aside from the trip were in play. I was very thankful that no injuries occurred but fearful of what might still occur. The group was highly personable, cooperative, and meshed together very well. I am sorry that I could not hold it together well enough to offer my services as I would have wanted. Looking at the roster of this group evokes only positive thoughts, so I guess all’s well that ends well. It has been more than ten years since we returned on that June 17, 2007 day. I am proud of the program, the great participants who put up with me, and the moderators who kept me going. Did I miss doing the next excursion?
Not One Little Bit!
T
College Excursion Hall of Fame
hese people earned this recognition for their exceptional performance on their excursion(s). It is mostly based on the willingness of these participants to improve the general travel experience or the well-being of other students on their trip. Kindly words, friendly encouagement, the inclusion of students in group activities left very positive impressions upon me or our moderators. Not every student worthy of accolades is represnted on this list. Many appear on a private secret list of my favorite participants. They might not have had perfect performance, but they were highly personable and added to the qualities of the group. Letters of recommendation on file, helped mightily in ariving at all these designations. In a few cases, additional contributions to the program were made beyond their performance on their trip. All in the Family There were some incredible siblings that I would like to honor. I salute the parents who raised some wonderful children who acted in a highly appropriate manner on the the trips. I could never have asked for better people. Meeting students whose siblings had traveled with me on a prior trip gave me exraordinary confidence that the experience would be a success. I was rarely wrong or disappointed. Note: I apologize for possible mistakes I have made in assuming that names that are the same may be in the same family. Outstanding siblings who performed well on the trip is the desired recognition.
All in the Family Tribute.
Elizabeth Beckwith Alexandra Bengochea Danyelle Bengochea Alexander Benjamin Reese Benjamin Lauren Blaney Anne Buckley Robert Buckley Betty Casey Neal Chemplavil Shaun Chemplavil Ashley Cook Casey Cornett Ariana Davis Shannon Engle Stacy Evert Stav Fischer Katharine Gatenby Joseph Gerber Jaclyn Haas Parviz Heshmati Amanda Higgins Jennifer Jacobi Nina Jacobi Erica Johnson Erin Kohlmeyer Melissa Kolesar Megan Mackay Sandra Martinez Amber Mauer Bradley Mayer Michael McKinlay Jamie McNulty Michael Mona Jim Norwood Kelly O’Connor Morgan O’Connor Stephanie Parks Danielle Peot Allison Potter J.T. Potter Alexandra Reifenrath Paddy Sandino Michael Schmitt David Simons Verity Tiberti Elizabeth Trent Katie Tyndall J.P. Vilai Laura Wade Marian Williams Alison Woodward Claudine Yballe Corinna Young Kate Young
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