Annual General Meeting Going to San Francisco – September 6-9, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO! HERE WE COME!!
Annual General Meeting Going to San Francisco – September 6-9, 2012Justin M. Gingery, Regional Commissioner of the Central Pacific Region, is pleased to announce the Clan Donald, U.S.A., 2012 Annual General Meeting in San Francisco, California, September 6 – 9, 2012.
According to Conde Nast Travel Magazine, San Francisco is one of the favorite travel destinations in the world, not only the top American city to visit. It is often called “Everybody’s Favorite City,” a title earned by its scenic views, cultural attractions, diverse communities, and world-class cuisine, all in a compact 49 square miles. The City has a rich and colorful past, growing from a small village to a major city nearly overnight as a result of the 1849 Gold Rush.
Dotted with famous landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the Transamerica Pyramid, Coit Tower, as well as the famous Fisherman’s Wharf area, it is a world-class city, offering a wide variety of sightseeing, entertainment, culinary experiences, plus the famous fog. Traditionally, September is considered one of the best months to visit “The City by the Bay.”
- The Headquarters hotel is the Holiday Inn at Fisherman’s Wharf, located at 1300 Columbus Avenue. It features 585 guest rooms, a heated pool, sundeck, meeting rooms, a business center, complimentary wi-fi, and a restaurant.
- We were able to negotiate the rate of $159.00 (plus tax) per night, compared to the usual rate of $220.00 plus, during the busiest time of the year in San Francisco.
- The hotel is a 10 minute walk to Pier 39 and the Aquarium of the Bay; a four minute walk to Fisherman’s Wharf; and one block away from the famous cable cars, plus there are many restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.
- It is a short walk to Ghirardelli Square, the Cannery and Hyde Street Pier National Park, featuring a number of ships, including the sailing ship “Balclutha,” a three-masted, steel-hulled, square-rigged ship built to carry a variety of cargo all over the world. It was launched in 1886 by the Charles Connell and Company shipyard near Glasgow, Scotland.
- Also close by is the world famous Buena Vista Café, where Irish Coffee was invented. From the Holiday Inn it is a short Cable Car or bus ride to Union Square (for shopping), North Beach (for great Italian restaurants), or Chinatown, for lunch or dinner and exploring one of San Francisco’s oldest neighborhoods.
- We are creating a schedule to provide a variety of options for you to enjoy during your visit to San Francisco, including a Wine Tour, to the Napa Valley on Thursday, September 6, and a dinner enjoying the views from San Francisco Bay on Friday, September 7.
- Regional Commissioner, Justin M. Gingery, along with the members of the Central Pacific Region, look forward to welcoming you to San Francisco. We hope you will make your plans to join us in San Francisco and enjoy the wonderful opportunity to visit one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, and meet your fellow Clan Donald members from around the country and around the world.
- Important Travel Information: When planning your trip to San Francisco, make sure you also check airfares into the Oakland Airport, as well as SFO, as fares can vary substantially by flying into Oakland. You will not need a rental car at the AGM. There is frequent Super Shuttle van service from the SFO airport and from the Oakland Airport (by reservation in advance) to the hotel.
- Additional Information: In 2012, the Caledonian Club of San Francisco will present their 147th Annual Highland Games in Pleasanton, the weekend before the AGM, on September 1 and 2 (Labor Day Weekend). They are held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, about one hour east of San Francisco. They are one of the largest Scottish Games in the U.S. For more information, check their website: www.caledonian.org
- Questions: Please contact Majbritt Murdock at mbmurdock@aol.com or Bonnie Thompson at thompson.brdg15@yahoo.com or by mail to Bonnie Thompson at P. O. Box 990181, Redding CA 96099-0181.
San Francisco Travel Association photo of Golden Gate Bridge by Lewis Sommer and Cable Car photo by SFCVB Phillip H. Coblentz.