Scioto Valley News

Summer 2011 / Autumn 2011

A Publication of Hostelling International USA, Central and Southern Ohio Council
To help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling.

HI USA Reorganizes
From HI,CSOC to COHOH By now you must have heard. A monumental change has occurred within HI-USA. 27 affiliate HI hostels and councils, along with HIs National staff have chosen to become one, strong unified organization. This means that our council, CSOC has given our national HI, USA organization the right to use our councils assets for the good of the entire HI, USA organization. In the near future we will be working with HI in regard to where our cash assets will be allocated to improve and maintain Ohios HI-Lucas hostel at Malabar Farm State park. Our councils name will be changing from Hostelling International-Central & Southern Ohio Council (HI, CSOC) to Central Ohio Heart of Hostelling (COHOH) when our councils transition occurs.

Engage with CSOC by emailing our email address hi.csoc@gmail.com and visiting our website www.cohoh.org Often!
If you are reading the Scioto Valley News over the Internet right now, thank you. Thank you for staying in touch with your local council of Hostelling International by using Internet service to access our website. In the recent past, CSOC has mailed out highend newsletters twice a year through the US postal service. However, in the future, we will be emailing our newsletter and keeping news on our website current in order to inform our local HI members. By utilizing electronic media, not only will trees be spared, but also our time, cash reserves, and collective energy saved. Occasionally we will mail postcards announcing important events and news, but we will no longer mass mail our councils newsletter. For members that have registered their email addresses with HI, we will automatically email our newsletter to you via the Internet. If you prefer not to receive our newsletter automatically, you will have an opportunity to opt out of receiving the newsletter, and can access the newsletter directly on our website. Please let us know your preference. And if you ever need to contact your local HI council for any reason, please email us at mailto:hi.csoc@gmail.com Thank you.

Enrolled in The Ohio State University? Did you know there is now an
OSU Hostelling Club? You can friend them on facebook Just search for: OSU Hostelling International

They also have a website. Send questions and inquires to the club via e-mail:
osu.hostelling_international@yahoo.com

Inside This Issue

Our new website Where have you been lately? Houston, We now have a Hostel 2011 Spirit of Hostelling Award OSU, Hostelling International Club Better Sleep at Hostel Eureka! I have found it!

Page 2
Eureka! I have found it!
(Californias State Motto)

Scioto Valley News

hostels HI has in California. To your amazement, you discover 19, 19 HI hostels in California, and many of the hostels are on the travel path you were intending to take. Calculating travel miles between hostels by using Google maps, you begin to make reservations at www.hiusa.org at specific hostels in specific locations on certain dates in the month of when you plan to be traveling for 10 days. You know reservations can be easily changed or cancelled later if necessary. No deposit is even made; just a credit card number is used to hold your reservation. Like placing destination pins in a map, making reservations on specific dates at specific hostels serve as anchors for your future trip. Your trip to California is beginning to take shape before your eyes and you havent spent a penny! For many people, planning a trip can be nearly as enjoyable as taking the trip, and stashing away $50-100.00 a month into a travel savings account can be like burying treasure that you dig up later to make a travel dream come true. Like the gold diggers who left their homes to discover gold in far away lands, you too can shriek Eureka I found it, when you reach your treasured destination through effective trip planning. California is the most populous U.S state, and the third-largest U.S. state by land area after Alaska and Texas. Its geography ranges from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the east, to Mojave desert areas in the southeast and the Redwood-Douglas fir forests of the northwest. The center of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. HI,USA.org website

by Nancy Clarke; President CSOC, HIUSA

We live during an amazing age. Our entire world seems to be catalogued and connected by means of the Internet. As members of Hostelling International, people who travel within the United States and abroad, trip planning, using the Internet has become a convenient an easy task. Lets say you want to plan a trip with a friend for next summer. Planning your trip a year in advance gives you both a tremendous advantage. Since you are eager to start planning, the two of you decide to meet up at your favorite coffee shop or library on a Saturday morning. Your plan is to brainstorm trip ideas together, log onto Internet service, and get a head start on that trip you both have always wanted to take to, lets say, California. Together the two of you start to brainstorm all the must haves concerning the trip you want to take, writing down all the things you want to make happen while you are in California. You agree on the number of days and dates you both can be away from home. You decide it is best to fly to California, and then rent a sporty convertible that offers unlimited free miles on the car rental. You discuss the places you definitely want to spend time, and from there, you decide which airport is best to fly into. You start to think about what it is going to cost the two of you to go. You know that one of your greatest expenses will be the round trip air travel cost from east coast to west coast, and then there is your car rental fee, gasoline charge, and the costs of overnight accommodations, food and entertainment. As you log into the internet, you both wonder what your budget will have to be to make your trip happen the way you want it to happen, how much money it will take to pay for your trip before you go. After all, who wants to go on a great trip only to return a lengthy credit card bill? So you start to think about your budget and places where you can easily cut your costs. The first place you know to save money is by staying at HI hostels for your overnights. HI hostels are guaranteed to be clean, safe and very affordable. So your first stop on the Internet is to www.hiusa.org, HIs website to see how many

Page 5
The Malabar Farm Hostel and the Eco-Hostel Project Hey members, CSOC has an idea we want to send your way. Despite the change in organizational structure, the current members of the board are interested in supporting the hostelling movement in Ohio. As a result of our hostelling spirit, we are committed to supporting the only HI hostel in Ohio. To increase the number of people who are renting the hostel for day time meetings or who are staying overnight. We have an idea of turning Malabar into an eco-Hostel. The term Eco Hostel tells visitors that the hostel is committed to using methods that conserves the air, water, and the land. We believe such a statement fits the mission of Louis Bromfield's work at Malabar. Call or email if you, your nonprofit, school, or business would like to help or give a suggestion for spreading the word about the Eco Hostel and Malabar project. Thoughts on turning Malabar into an Eco hostel. How could we put Malabar on the route for those biking locally or across country? How can we convince the Malabar Foundation to come on board? Can we make a connection between Louis Bs work and the ecotourism movement? What are the requirements for becoming an eco hostel? How could the Eco-Hostel title help the Park Service? How can we encourage the local community of the importance of having an eco-hostel? Other thoughts: Invite travel agents, travel groups, history groups, and environmental groups in the area to the hostel. Make a connection at OSU-Mansfield- If your group invests a certain amount, you'll be allowed to rent the hostel for one-two weekend throughout the year. Possible Partners for this mission: Green Columbus; Sierra Club; Consider Biking

Scioto Valley
Lessons from HI-Washington DC which has been honored by many organizations for their green project Currently renovating all guestrooms using low VOC paint and carpet that is low VOC, made from recycled materials, and is itself 100% recyclable Recycle aluminum, Glass, Paper, Plastic, Cardboard, Batteries, and ink/toner cartridges Use (and then recycle) compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) throughout the hostel All paper (office paper, toilet tissue, and hand towels) is from at least 95% recycled materials Provide reusable plate ware and flatware in the kitchen and for breakfast (no disposables) The lowest water consumption per overnight guest of all HI's Gateway City properties Follow a linen re-use program to conserve water (during a hostellers stay, linens are washed only by request) Have push faucets on all sinks (the timer reduces water consumption) Installed low-flow aerators on all sink faucets and showerheads Reduce chemicals in the environment by employing Green Seal Certified cleaning products for all routine cleaning (all-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, glass cleaner, air freshener) Employ environmentally friendly dish soap in the kitchen Provide information on recycling and the environment throughout the property (Recycling Centers on each floor, poster on the inside of each guestroom door, HI-USAs Environmental Commitment posters throughout the property) Host monthly documentary movie nights on environmental topics Member of Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce DC, Destination DC (Washington Convention & Tourism Bureau), Energy Star (certified), Green Hotels Association, SBNOW (Sustainable Business Network of Washington) All new appliances will be Energy Star rated

Page 4 Houston, We Now Have a Hostel

By Angela McFarland

Scioto Valley News

Houston, Americas fourth largest city now has a hostel to call its own. Travelers from around the world will be treated to Texas-sized hospitality and camaraderie with fellow hostellers at the Houston hostel. Housed in a gracious historic inn on a tree-lined boulevard, the future HI-Houston hostel will host guests in shared dorms and private rooms. The Montrose neighborhood is ideal for a hostel. Close to public transportation, downtown and the museum district, everyone will find fun things to do in Houston. Walking distance to affordable restaurants, coffee houses, and clubs, hostel guests will also enjoy Houston night life. Did we mention that theres a swimming pool?! And a lovely tree-shaded backyard with perfect outdoor spaces for socializing and making new friends. Book your stay at HI Houston hostel with Hostelling International, situated close to public transportation, restaurants, coffee houses, and clubs, hostel guests will also enjoy Houston night life. HI - Houston at the Morty Rich Hostel 501 Lovett Boulevard 77006 Houston houston@hiusa.org

Where have you been lately?

By Cyndy Youker

When was the last time you travelled and used the hostels in the US? Or maybe you took a trip outside of the US and stayed in a hostel. This past summer I stayed at the new Chicago hostel in downtown Chicago one block from Lake Shore Drive. The weekend I went there was the reorganization meeting, but after the meetings we had such a great time. A group of us went to the bike trail/walkway along the shore. We walked along the shore, past the fountains, and the Yacht Club. It was wonderful seeing the boats and enjoying the stars. On Sunday before we headed back to the train, to get to the airport, we walked over to the shore, and enjoyed the lake shore, the Blues Festival, the Bean, and happened

upon a flash mob in Grant Park. All these people were reading their phones for the next action to take. It was really quite a fun scene. Remember why you are a hosteller, meet new people, visit new places, and get out more!

Chicagos Bean

Page 5

Scioto Valley
Better Sleep at Hostel

2011 Spirit of Hostelling: Adventurer of the Year Award

Have you or someone you know demonstrated outstanding enthusiasm and curiosity while traveling abroad and staying in hostels? If so, nominate that person or yourself for the 2011 Spirit of Hostelling: Adventurer of the Year Award. This honorary award recognizes an individual (or individuals), regardless of age, who, through his or her experiences, has demonstrated outstanding enthusiasm and curiosity while traveling abroad and staying in hostels. Criteria for the award: Primary consideration is given to the spirit and manner in which the nominees undertake their travels, their ability to give interesting presentations, and their experiences in hostels. The recipient of the award is honored with special recognition and an HI-USA Life Membership, both of which are presented at the Central and Southern Ohio Annual Meeting & Party. Recipients are also featured in the CSOC newsletter, the Scioto Valley News. The award recipient must be able to attend the Annual Party to receive the award. After receiving the award, the recipient makes a presentation on his or her adventures and travel experiences. Who should apply? Maybe you know a person you would like to nominate? Do they have an itchy foot and curious mind? Is it someone whose life plan involves meeting people of different cultures and visiting the far-off corners of the globe? Do they have an unquenchable desire to see the world and meet its people? Is that person someone who understands that travel is a vehicle for better human understanding? Maybe that person is you! How to Apply: If you wish to nominate yourself or someone else, please send us the name and contact information for your nominee (including phone numbers). Tell us about your nominee and their travels and why you believe they should receive this award. Go ahead...Impress us (we love photos)! Please email or smail the information to: Hostelling International, CSOC Attn: SHA Award Committee, PO Box 41, Columbus, OH 43216-0041 Contact Angela McFarland at alm2111@ameritech.net with questions. Friday, September 23rd 2011 is the deadline for submissions Hostelling International USA, on CSOCs recommendation is in the process of upgrading the mattresses at Malabar Farms Hostel, in Lucas, Ohio. There will be other work going on to improve the hostel to make your visits there as comfortable and memorable (in a good way) as possible. In addition to the mattresses, we are working to make HI-Lucas a Green Hostel this effort includes getting new energy efficient windows, new energy efficient heating system, and other green improvements. If you are interested in helping us make HI-Lucas a green hostel, please let us know. mailto:hi.csoc@gmail.com

Have you been to our new updated website yet? www.cohoh.org Keep up with your organization

This past summer the Board put together its energies to create a new website to help engage you, our community. We keep up a blog for you to hear about the events and thoughts of things your organization is involved in and sharing the experiences we have with other members and our community. Check it out!

International Hostelling USA, Columbus & Southern Ohio Council E-Mail: hi.csoc@gmail.com

To help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling.

Were on the Web! Visit us at:

www.cohoh.org

Hostelling International USA, Central and Southern Ohio Council PO Box 41 Columbus, OH 43216-0041

Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Columbus, OH Permit No. 2609

Customer Name

Street Address City, ST ZIP Code