April Updates & Newsletter
Dear Fellow Skalleagues,
I start this newsletter with wishes of continued good health to each of you and your families. We are living in turbulent times where our need to connect with family and friends has never been more important.
In place of our April 16th meeting, the Club hosted our first ever Zoom Skal Toast and
Conversation. Approximately 50 members attended along with Skal USA President David Ryan. It was great to finally “see” so many of you and hear from President Ryan. He gave an update on the results of the survey that was sent to members. Skalleagues Dan Donahue and David Colella shared some Boston hospitality insights. Skalleague Bob Levine added some levity regarding President Ryan’s love of the Buffalo Bills and his delight in Tom Brady’s move to Tampa Bay. If we gave awards for “traveling” the furthest, Skalleague Christine Frazier would be the winner. We did record the call and hope to have it edited and posted on our website and share it on social media soon. A HUGE thank you to all who joined the call.
Your Skal Board of Directors met on Thursday, April 16th and I would like to share some updates with you.
May Meeting
Unfortunately, due the continued uncertainty with state and city policies regarding social
distancing and public gatherings, the board voted unanimously to cancel our May reception at the New England Aquarium. It was not an easy decision to make but the safety and well-being of each of you continues to be our primary concern.
We will most likely schedule another Zoom meeting. If there are any “Zoom Specialists” out there, please let me know.
Other April Board News
The Board also asked that I reach out to the locations that agreed to host the remainder of our meetings. I will, of course, share those updates with all of you.
The Board also passed a motion that any future donations the club makes will be to an
individual or organization in need and is associated with the greater Boston Hospitality
community. During these times of need, the board felt any donations distributed should be to those closest to our industry. The December holiday luncheon was not part of this motion and the board will leave the charity decision to Skalleague David Colella and other members of the Board.
Boston Skal Immediate Past President Terrilynn Haak and current SIUSA Representative
accepted a position on the Skal USA Board as a member of the Membership Committee. Please join me in congratulating Terrilynn on this appointment.
2020 Scholarship Recipients
With special thanks to our Scholarship Committee consisting of Skalleagues Chris Pappas, Dennis Graham, Carrie Campbell and Julie Pagano, both the Keith Staples Travel and Tourism Scholarship and the Bruce Leaver Hospitality Industry Skal Scholarships have been awarded:
Keith Staples Travel and Tourism Scholarship
The committee met and reviewed several applicants. They decided on a UMASS student, Hailey LaFlamme, class of ’21. A check in the amount of $2,500 will be sent directly to the UMASS bursar’s office. Hailey is the first person in her generation to go to college and her mother has worked in the hospitality industry for over thirty years as a waitress.
Hailey sent this comment to the committee, “Thank you so much! I’m very honored and excited to be receiving this scholarship. I was in great need of financial support and am insanely grateful”.
Bruce Lever Hospitality Industry Skal Scholarship
UMASS, administers the program for the Club, has selected Elizabeth Grunewald, class of ’21. Elizabeth has an associate degree from Greenfield Community College and is currently a student at the Isenberg School. She has primarily worked as a Wellness Educator and Special Events Manager, focusing on combining physical activity and creative expression for personal and communal well-being.
We congratulate both of these outstanding individuals and look forward to introducing them at a future luncheon.
A check in the amount $2,500 for each recipient will be mailed to the UMASS bursar’s office.
World Skal Day
Tuesday, April 28, 2020 is World Skal Day. Skal International would like to have as many
Skalleagues from around the world offer each other the Skal Toast on this day to celebrate World Skal Day.
They would like each member to upload a short video of themselves reciting the Skal toast. Please post to your own social media pages, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn and add the hashtag #worldskalday.
Two samples from Skalleagues Bill Rheaume and Fiona Nicholl are below:
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001dgGzYqWq8Yf9uUsYPM_5yY4HigxX0CIiJqNI5TIrMcdoS9pD7ilZ
bzeStecT0RjaCvAJUgzLV-
LhOWO6pDRUf7kycOmCc_c7iSS67jsgli_q4Lmgo1Na2NsMM3fMdYUpnIBxrnI-
36UYhMFi6n7ozA==&c=fbyXr1FVOtkzv__8yN0Fz9dK5rJPCiYKzP6-
7R9wlxtd8pIOa8IoKg==&ch=aQYOS4ItoNc2APn8C2UO7NsOH3Tz78Z9KipQXTBmYMLr4DrfENS
Mrg==
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001dgGzYqWq8Yf9uUsYPM_5yY4HigxX0CIiJqNI5TIrMcdoS9pD7ilZ
bzeStecT0RjaFSACoXbdqO5snHW-us-WePQ5iMXOgazK-
hFUAopotRWEBuboS2ZdeEVjwOOhIXygV-sex4VUmOQJFWlTw_-
goA==&c=fbyXr1FVOtkzv__8yN0Fz9dK5rJPCiYKzP6-
7R9wlxtd8pIOa8IoKg==&ch=aQYOS4ItoNc2APn8C2UO7NsOH3Tz78Z9KipQXTBmYMLr4DrfENS
Mrg==
The Skal toast is at the bottom of each page of this newsletter.
Please watch our social media platforms for more information. Remember the date is Tuesday, April 28, 2020 – WORLD SKAL DAY.
New Skal International Website
Once again, I must ask that if you HAVEN’T updated your profile on the new Skal International website, to please do so. Skal USA President, Dave Ryan and Holly Powers, Skal International Representative both reminded us of this during our Zoom Call on April 16 th .
They have asked all Club Presidents to again remind their members to log into the site and make sure your passwords and individual profiles are correct. If you have been a member of Skal prior to 2000, your profile needs updated. This can be accomplished by going to:
www.skal.org
Reset the Password:
- Prior to entering the site, and from the web login page, click “Reset Password:
- Enter your email and click the “confirm button. You will receive next steps in your
mailbox. - Check your mailbox. You will receive an email from Skal International with a link to change the password.
- Follow the link and you be asked to entry your email and a new password. Click “Confirm” and you should be set.
Update your Profile:
- Access the web login page and your username and password.
- Access the website and click on the top right “My Account”
- In your account you can find your documents, your contact information and other
details. Click “Edit” to update your profile. - You can change your image or modify any field of your profile except “Member Code” or “Category”.
- After making your edits, at the end of the page, click “Confirm details”. Your profile has been updated.
Having an updated profile will be very useful for you as well as for other members to get in touch with you and establish both personal and business connections.
Social Media
We have several social media accounts and I encourage you to follow us:
Instagram: bostonskal
Twitter: @skalboston
Facebook: SkalBoston
Skal member Alyssa Dion Rodning oversees social media. Please share any pictures or
newsworthy articles with her at Alyssadionrodning@gmail.com.
Stay well and be safe,
Yours in Skal,
