NEWSLETTER 3 VOLUME 2

FEBRUARY 18, 2001

Well, it is definite now. We are going to Des Moines for their Race for the Cure which will take place on October 13, 2001. The planning committee has been working and have some updated information for you.

Anyone who thinks they can make the trip needs to contact the hotel and make a reservation. As you all know reservations can be canceled near the date of the trip if for some reason you find you will not be able to make it. However, there are several other groups who are going to be having meetings in Des Moines that weekend so it would be in your best interest to go ahead and make your reservation at this time.

Virginia Riley, one of our members who lives in Des Moines has been very busy on our behalf and we owe her a big round of applause and thanks. She has chosen a hotel that is near enough to the race site for us to walk if we want to walk. We did that last year and the walking to the race was almost as much fun as being at the race site. The hotel also has a shuttle for those who might feel that walking would be too much for them. The hotel is about .83 miles from the race site. (We will have some strong men along with us on the trip so if you need a wheelchair, bring it and we will "enlist" one of the men to push you to the race site. I can't promise they will push you the mile but I think we could persuade some of the group to get behind and give you a push. Last year, Selma could not fit into the wheel chair that was provided for her so Fran and Liz pushed it around the race site for her even though Selma sat in the Survivor's tent and waited.

I know you want to know which hotel so here is the name and some information about it.

If you would like to contact the hotel yourself for further information, please do so or ask one of the committee members. The hotel does have a web site and an 800 number for phone calls. I am inserting information about the hotel at the end of this newsletter in case you want to print out just that and not the entire newsletter.

I have e-mailed the state of Iowa as well as the city of Des Moines for information about things of interest in the state and city. I received a very large package from the state with a lot of interesting facts. I found the site for this by going to my search engine and typing in Des Moines, Iowa. I am still waiting to hear from the city but the state gave me so much good information. Des Moines is

quite an interesting city and seems to have a lot to offer to all of us as visitors. Here are three sites I checked out in my search. There are a lot more…Iowa is a state I have not visited but I am looking forward to seeing as much as I can on this trip. I don't think anyone will be disappointed in the city but we will get to see our club members there and that is what is most important…the city itself is just a bit of lagniappe.

One of our members mentioned that although air fares are higher to Des Moines, many people go to Omaha and drive from there. If there are several who plan to take that route, they might want to get together and rent a van or car and share expenses. We shared van expenses last year and it worked well for us.

There is also a bus terminal in Des Moines but I do not think they have a train station. Several of our ladies who flew into Baltimore last year were able to get good fares by going on the internet and purchasing tickets…and remember you can watch for specials.

Planning committee and contacts:

Feel free to contact any of those listed if you have questions about our trip.

Doris Fandal