The Explorers Club Washington Group (ECWG) would like to welcome to our region new members: Gordon Birkhimer FN 06, Daniel Hlavin SM 02, Christopher Kerzich MN 06, William Klimack FN 90, Robert Koenke MN 98, Kevin Marvel FN 06, Celina Montorfano FCN 06, Antonis Polemitis FCN 01 and Priestly Toulmin FN 06.

William Sladen, MED 78, has notified us that he will be an “Arctic Tern” for seven months traveling to Alaska’s North Slope with biologist John Whissel on a grant from Conoco Phillips. They will be marking Tundra Swans and fitting some with satellites and conventional transmitters. These swans make an 8,000 mile round trip migration, breeding with swans in the Northwest Territories and then wintering in the Chesapeake Bay and North Carolina. Bill plans to use the internet to link to various schools across the country bringing this valuable research directly to their classrooms! For more info please go to www.trumpeterswans.org.

Lew Toulmin MN 04 wrote and published a non-fiction book entitled The most Traveled Man on Earth. It is about two men vying for this title. Accounts of searching for and finding the actual “Bali Hai” of James Michener’s Tales of The South Pacific, sailing as crew on tall ships, being targeted for recruitment by the KGB, joining the Knights of Templar and exploring the worlds newest country, Timor Leste.

Robert E. Hyman FN 93 completed a technical climb in August of the Worshiper and Idol spires (both 10,880 + feet) located on the east flank of Teewinot Mountain in the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.

Kenneth and Ruth Wright both FN 83 recently traveled from their home in Denver to present a lecture at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The event was hosted by The American Society of Civil Engineers and the Embassy of Peru. The topic was the Andean archeological site of Tipon. The Wright’s new book is entitled, Tipon: Water Engineering Masterpiece of the Inca Empire.

The Explorers Club Washington Group had 28 attendees at our fall “BOMBASH” exploring Charlottesville Virginia, organized and led by Frank Power MN93. Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello, was the starting point followed by visits to Ash-Lawn Highland the home of U.S. President James Monroe and The University of Virginia’s beautiful grounds. Also included was a wonderful lunch at a ca. 1784 tavern and tour of the local Virginia Wine Museum. On Sunday participants were treated to a tour of Montpelier, the home of former U.S. President James Madison.

The ECWG education committee member Robert E. Hyman FN 93 was recently invited to visit third grade students at Capitol Hill Day School in Washington, D.C. The class was studying early explorers like Columbus, John Smith, Lewis and Clark and why people explore. Robert spoke on what modern-day explorers are in search of, the types of people that choose to explore, equipment and supplies needed for an expedition, how to prioritize tasks, problem solving and navigational instruments. The students asked many good questions and enjoyed looking at maps and other expedition equipment.

Conservation news: ECWG Chairman Robert Hyman recently received a Chesapeake Bay Program, outstanding practices award from the Chesapeake Executive Council Chairman, Maryland Governor Ehrlich. Robert is chairman of the District of Columbia Soil & Water Conservation District, Citizens Advisory Council. Along with the D.C. Department of the Environment and the Natural Resource Conservation Service Robert has implemented a city wide storm drain awareness program working with school kids, civic groups and other volunteers to raise awareness about non-point source pollution and the impacts of storm water on local waterways.

Other News: The new ECWG web site is currently under construction and will eventually be found at www.explorersclubdc.org