Have you ever wanted to take a special trip and couldn’t find anyone to go with you?
    I did. Ever since I was about 12 years old I wanted to go white water rafting on the Colorado River – through the Grand Canyon. Don’t ask me where I got this crazy idea, I just did, and it never seemed to go away. 
    Time went by and I found myself staring 40 in the face. I still talked about going and my friends and husband thought I was crazy – so did most of my family. Obviously I could have gone by myself, but that didn’t appeal to me at all. I wanted to share this lifetime experience with others who could appreciate my enthusiasm.
      So, to make a long story short, I started Women Traveling Together in 1997, among other reasons, in the hope that one day I could get a group together to take this trip. Surely I wasn’t the only woman in the world that wanted to do this!
    In the years since Women Traveling Together began, I have come to realize that there is so much more to the travel experience than just the destination. It has been the women from all over the US, Canada and other countries that have enriched my life far more than the sights I’ve seen.
     In 1999 I got the opportunity to realize my dream with 14 other women. To this day it is still one of my all-time favorite trips. 
     From a staff of one, Women Traveling Together  has grown to include so many women (and a few outstandingly talented men) who help to make the wheels of this company turn and the tours we offer so wonderful. We'd like to introduce you to our primary staff and tour leaders.

Name: Debra Asberry
Hometown: Annapolis, MD

Position: President and Founder; Tour Leader
Favorite Destinations:
Iceland
Colorado River Rafting
Montreal & Quebec
Northern Lights in Alaska
Switzerland
Germany
Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA
Tall Ship Sailing
Galapagos Islands
Santa Fe and Albuquerque
 

   "One of the main reasons I started Women Traveling Together was to meet other women from around the world who shared my love for travel," says Debra. "I just knew that if we shared travel as a common interest we would have lots of things in common – and I was so right. I have met so many remarkable women in the years I have been doing this!"
    Debra’s favorite type of trips are adventure travel. She was a competitive swimmer in her youth, and still swims three days a week in addition to aerobics and Pilates. "If it’s outdoors, or water related, count me in!" says Debra. "To this day my favorite trip is the Colorado River rafting trip. I was 40 at the time and the second youngest woman on the trip. It was so gratifying to me to see women in their 50’s and 60’s (and two in their 70’s!) enjoying such an adventuresome experience."

Name: Hazel Cannon
Hometown: Spartanburg, SC

Position: Director of Membership and Trip Services; Tour Leader
Favorite Destinations:
Las Vegas
Phoenix
Sedona
Lake Powell
Grand Canyon
Italy
England
Holland
Maine
Nantucket
Seattle

    Shortly after retiring from a position as a Customer Services Representative, Hazel was asked to fill the position of Director of Membership and Trip Services because she is so meticulous, organized and customers love to work with her.
    Hazel began in the office but quickly moved into tour leadership. She is a natural and travelers really love her southern style, her unhurried approach to touring and her friendliness. "The thing I enjoy most about leading tours is that I get to meet gals from all over the country," says Hazel. "I really like it when I get to see women whom I’ve met on a previous tour – it’s like seeing an old friend!"
    When not leading tours, Hazel is the woman to talk to if the subject is membership or any trip correspondence. She handles everything from the trip deposits, to final invoicing, to sending out the Traveler’s Information Packages just before the trip departs.

Name: Karin Sokel
Hometown: Arnold, MD

Position: Tour Leader and Retreat Leader
Favorite Destinations:
Sedona, AZ
France
Germany
Italy and the Amalfi Coast
California
Mexico
Switzerland
New York City
Peru

    Karin believes in living in the moment, and nothing brings you into the present better than travel. "We spend so much of our lives living in the past or thinking about the future that we rarely are just "in the current moment," says Karin. "You may not necessarily intend travel to be a personal growth opportunity, but it is. A big part of travel is living in the moment – paying attention to everything, and developing new relationships. All of these experiences give us personal insights and expand our view of ourselves and other people we share our travel experience with."
    When you get right down to it, Karin finds the personal interaction as exciting as the destination. "Even though I’ve been to certain destinations before, it’s a new experience because the people are new. While you are taking in the sights and sounds you are also taking in people’s stores and sharing in their lives. Different personalities bring different things to the experience and that’s always fun!"

Name: Karen Joeckle
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV

Position: Tour Leader
Favorite Destinations:
Egypt
San Francisco
San Diego
New York
Orlando
Tahiti
Australia
Japan
Germany
 

    Karen’s favorite aspects of travel are experiencing the different cultures in the world, meeting people in those areas and making new friends while traveling. "I think traveling is the most wonderful experience in the world," says Karen." It really teaches you that people everywhere are people, even though we have our different. We all want to be loved and understood."
    As a tour leader Karen likes sharing her experiences, and meeting the travelers and becoming part of the group. "Because WTT’s groups are small it’s easy to get to know everyone quickly," says Karen. "Even though we do have a planned itinerary and I am leading the group, I still have the opportunity to interact with the other women during free time. I like the fact that the tour leader becomes part of the group."

Position: Tour Leader
Favorite Destinations:
Costa Rica
San Francisco
Africa
Galapagos Islands
Key West
France
Italy
Australia
New Zealand

     Kellie has seen and done just about everything. As a solo traveler Kellie has hiked Kilimanjaro, sailed in New Zealand, Croatia and Tonga, explored the Galapagos Islands, and much more. Getting off the "beaten track" is a favorite travel activity and she will search out those special places on each trip. She is an avid sailor and can be found most weekends out on the water (when she’s in town).
    Kellie truly enjoys discussing world travel opportunities - where you have been and where you want to go - so come prepared for travel story time!

     Pam Jones has tour leading in her blood, or so you might think when you learn that she not only leads tours for Women Traveling Together, but also leads tours for other major touring companies. At home Pam is also a tour guide for the Annapolis, MD historic district and in Washington, DC. 
    You will be immediately struck by Pam’s outgoing personality and her enthusiasm for travel. Pam has traveled extensively, and enjoys researching the finer details of wherever she is going.

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All previous information has been superseded.