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TASLA'S 2ND WINE TASTING EVENT    LAX MEET & GREET SERVICE    STAFF CHANGES    "JOHNNY! 19 YEARS OLD"    LAX BOOTH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

 

TASLA’s Second Wine Tasting Event is Tuesday, September 26, 2006  7:00-9:00 p.m., at The Wine House, 2311 Cotner Avenue , Los Angeles

 We’re looking forward to having an even bigger showing than we had for our first Wine Tasting Fundraiser held in June, at The Wine House.

 On the evening of June 13th, our guests were “introduced” to their own palates by being treated to a delicious array of hors d’oeuvres consisting of goat cheese, fig loaf, triple cream brie (which was dreamy in addition to being creamy), and to a cold Montsarra Cava sparkling wine from Spain.  A blend of Macabeo, Xarello, and Parellada grapes, the Montsarra’s color is pale; its sparkling and lasting bubbles reveal a cool, fruity, vigorous flavor. (We didn’t talk like this until we attended the wine tasting.)

  After a welcome from TASLA Vice President Sheila Okabayashi, J.B. Severin, General Manager at The Wine House, gave an engaging, human, and unpretentious wine-industry prologue for those of us who drink wine, like it, but can’t say what we like about it.

 J.B. gave us a Tommasi 2005 Pinot Grigio, an Ostertag ‘Barriques’ Pinot Gris 2003, Carrick’s 2003 Pinot Noir, Tikal ’s Patriota 2004 (an Argentine blend of Malbec & Bonarda), Bonny Doon’s ‘Le Cigar Volant’ Syrah 2002, and a 1999 Barde Haut Bordeaux.  He asked us to consider the Tommasi:  “Is it true to its type?” he asked.  And then he had us tipping our glasses nearly horizontal to “see” it against the white of our napkins.  Then he taught us: “If wine is too cold, you can’t smell it.”  And smelling the wines was what we did.  “Screw-caps: Don’t let ‘em mess you up!” he exhaled.  “It’s just a different way to open a bottle.”

  There was a thorough examination of Biodynamic wines, highlighting the Alsace wine, Ostertag’ Barriques 2003 Pinot Gris.  Biodynamic wine making exemplifies the principles of organic farming: it emphasizes a closed, self-sustaining ecosystem and uses the influences of lunar cycles to pick the grapes; it incorporates mixing animal bones into the ground while not using harmful pesticides, and instead enlisting bugs that eat other bugs to control pests.

  Future Wine Tasting Events are November 28, 2006 and January 30, 2007.  Don’t miss these fun, informative, and tasty events supporting Teen Canteen!

 

LAX Meet & Greet Service

 A Travelers Aid Tradition.  If you have a relative or friend traveling through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) who needs help making his or her connection, please consider our Meet and Greet service. A Travelers Aid Society of Los Angeles (TASLA) representative will meet the passenger at the arrival gate and escort him or her to connecting flights or to other transportation services at the Airport. Our representatives will be wearing a red blazer with a blue Travelers Aid armband and hold a sign with the passenger's name on it.

 

  Of the 41,988 hours of service that our volunteers logged last fiscal year, we provided 152 "meet and greets" from July 2003 - June 2004.

"…I thank Emily for arranging the meet and greet service for my mom’s flight transfer. [My mom] does not know any English at all. A Volunteer waited for her outside the exit at the International terminal. I am very grateful for your help." [Daughter of a Chinese traveler]

Here’s How It Works.  All Meet and Greets must be arranged at least 72 hours in advance. Although our services to travelers are free, we do suggest a $35 tax-deductible donation per Meet and Greet event. [Payable to Travelers Aid Society of Los Angeles .] Our volunteers do not accept gratuities.

Meet and Greet Service Hours.  Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 8:00pm.  (traveler must arrive at LAX after 8:00 am and before 8:00 pm).  Saturday and Sunday, 10:00am to 7:00pm.  (traveler must arrive at LAX after 10:00 am and before 7:00 pm).

The Information We Require.  Complete flight itinerary, including: airline name; all flight numbers; and all arrival and departure times and locations. Name and pertinent information of the traveler being met, including: name; gender; age; ethnicity; and a physical description. Any special needs that the traveler may have such as: a physical or mental disability; elderly; or limited English proficiency. Although most TASLA representatives are not bilingual, they do have access to interpreters through the AT&T Language Line as needed.

"…Thank you so much for your help in meeting my mother when she arrived in Los Angeles from Sydney , to find that her connecting flight to Portland had been cancelled. It was a great relief to me to know that you would be able to tell her what the alternative plans were. Your volunteers are wonderful. Please accept this small donation in gratitude for your work and the peace of mind it brings to so many with travel difficulties." [Son of an American traveler to Australia ]

From the person arranging the Meet and Greet we require: your name; relationship to the traveler; address; email address; and a phone number where you can be reached during the time of the service.

Here’s the Fine Print.  TASLA or its representatives cannot presume to place themselves in the role of parent or guardian.  TASLA representatives cannot sign papers or documents relating to travel for unaccompanied minor children under any circumstances.

We are unable to assist children ages 12 and under who are not accompanied by an adult. If you have a child under the age of 12 who is flying alone, please contact your airline for assistance.  TASLA cannot assist minors who are required by their airline to use the airline’s unaccompanied minor service.  Children 12 and younger are typically required to use the unaccompanied minor service, but age restrictions vary between airlines.  Please consult your airline regarding its policy.

TASLA representatives are not permitted to push wheelchairs or baggage carts and are not permitted to carry luggage or children. Travelers who need wheelchairs should contact the Passenger Service Department of their arrival airline. If a traveler needs help transporting luggage, a TASLA representative will assist in arranging a Skycap/Porter or in securing a luggage cart for traveler's convenience.

TASLA is unable to assist travelers in the customs area. Only airline and customs personnel are allowed in the customs area. To arrange for assistance with customs, please contact your arrival airline.

To Request a Meet & Greet.  Please contact TASLA-LAX during office hours, Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5:00 pm PST. 310/646-2270; Fax: 310/646-1801.  Email: meetgreet@tasla.org

 

DISCLAIMER: Travelers Aid Society of Los Angeles offers the Airport Meet & Greet program as a public service. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that all travel information is current and accurate. TASLA is not responsible for missed flights, lost luggage or any other loss or injury. If a traveler, due to a delayed flight or other unforeseen circumstances, misses his or her connection the traveler is responsible for any costs incurred either for accommodations or for other expenses.

Staff Changes:

Travelers Aid Society of Los Angeles welcomes new members to its dedicated staff.  Teen Canteen Case Managers Benjamin Lieberman and L. Dennae Wright joined the Agency in January.  Ben comes to us from New Jersey with a B.S. in Psychology from St. Joseph ’s University, Philadelphia ; Dennae is from Utah with a BSW from Kansas State University .  Marshall Rosenlund joined TASLA in February; he comes to us from New Jersey and was educated at Atlantic Cape Community College [N.J.].  A former social worker, Marshall is our part-time Delivery/Purchasing Clerk.  At our PATHWestside Office, funded by the L.A. County Office of AIDS Programs & Policy, Kei Alegria-Flores and Cristina Rodriguez-Hart joined our Team as Health Education/Outreach Workers in early July.  Kei comes to us with a B.S. in Microbiology and Japanese from UCLA; while Cristina has a B.A. in Egyptology from Brown University .  Our new Administrative Assistant at the LAX Service Center , Dayanna Soto, joined us this month; she has a B.A. in Sociology from Mount St. Mary’s College.  Also at LAX, joining us in August, is Serena Johnson, our new Caseworker, with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Illinois/Chicago.

 On behalf of the Board of Directors and everyone else at Travelers Aid Society of Los Angeles, we welcome these new members of our TASLA Team.

--Paul E. Hollombe, Executive Director

Travelers Aid Society of Los Angeles

August 24, 2006

A Recent Travelers Aid Success Story

“Johnny.  19 years old.”

(Johnny’s name was changed to preserve confidentiality.)

I came to Hollywood from Porterville , Calif. , sometime in 2004.  It was a pretty messed up situation with my mother and her psycho boyfriend living together and my half-sister and her father and me living somewhere else.  My mom said she and the boyfriend were moving to Los Angeles , so I just had to say good-bye to her, because she was leaving; she’s my mom. But my sister’s father told me that if I left to go see my mother I wouldn’t be allowed to come back; the man hated my mother so much because she was a drug addict and prostituted herself to keep her and the boyfriend in the money.  Well, I decided to see her and he kicked me out.  So, I took the consequences and I left Porterville with my mom and her boyfriend.  We arrived at the Greyhound Bus station with enough money to live in a motel for about six months. During that time, my mom’s boyfriend became very abusive, and he started begging on the streets in order to pay for his drugs and alcohol, which got way out of control.  We all got way out of control.  Then, in a moment of weakness, I let my mom’s boyfriend introduce me to crystal meth.  And I became addicted. 

When the money ran out and there was nothing left to hock, we had to leave our hotel room.  We moved from shelter to shelter and, finally, we ended up sleeping on the streets.  One day I came back to our squat and found my mom’s boyfriend beating her up, he beat her up pretty bad.  I got between them.  I tried to stop him from hitting her by shoving a screwdriver into his neck.  That did it!  After that, my mom decided that she was going to stop using drugs and leave the psycho boyfriend alone, and she moved into a domestic violence shelter.

I knew some kids who’re Teen Canteen clients and they told me that I should visit Teen Canteen.  They told me how it is a drop-in center for kids who don’t have any place to go.  I went there the very next day.  I continued to squat and to use drugs everyday, but now I had a safe place to go to and at least I could get food.  Soon I started opening up to the staff at Teen Canteen.  I told ‘em that I wanted to stop using drugs and to start working so that I could get my own place and get off the streets.  The staff worked with me to help me stay clean and out of trouble.  I became a regular workhorse around that drop-in center.  I was always asking to help.  I worked pulling up weeds, preparing lunch for the other clients, and trimming bushes.

I have been clean and sober now for the past eight months.  And with the help of Teen Canteen staff, I’ve completed my resume and posted it on the Internet.  I went on several interviews, and I even landed a couple of temporary jobs.  I still go to Teen Canteen to help do odd jobs, and I try to stay connected with the staff.  I even keep in contact with my mom; she lives in SRO housing Downtown.   Somebody asked me how Teen Canteen has helped me.  I told them, “…being there has made me a lot smarter and motivated.  Teen Canteen provided a lot of support for me, and being able to get good food, do laundry, take a shower, and little odd jobs here and there, have helped me to stay clean and sober.”

LAX Information Booth Volunteers Needed

 

Travelers Aid Society of Los Angeles at LAX is looking for volunteers to assist travelers from all over the world on weekdays, weekends, and evenings.  Volunteers assist travelers with accommodations, transportation, and sightseeing information.  This is an exciting opportunity that will leave you feeling wonderful after your four-hour shift.  For further information on the Volunteer Program and the date of the next scheduled training, please call Christine Okinaga, Director of Volunteers, at 310/646-2270, email her at Christine@tasla.org.