Author
Marion Wilkens, Alpha1 Germany eV, as published in Alpha1 Journal 2/2016.
Dear members,
Does it seem odd to you to read about travel in the journal, especially during the cold, wet season? Let me briefly explain why this topic appears at the beginning of the journal: At our annual general meeting in Bremen in April 2016, we set ourselves our usual goals: over 600 members by the next general meeting and two new self-help groups.
We've already achieved both goals. We currently have 621 members. Furthermore, three new self-help groups have been founded (Eastern Bavaria, Cologne, and Munich), and a new group (Rhine-Main-Nahe) has been formed. The next founding meeting for the Franconia group is already planned for February 2017 in Bamberg. And since I always wanted to be present at the first events, I traveled a lot. I was struck by a participant's question: "You still fly?" This question opened the door to further inquiries, and once again we had touched upon a new topic that we definitely wanted to examine more closely.
What does travel mean for alphas? It's certainly wonderful. Who doesn't love going on vacation? But can I still do that as an alpha? What about medication while traveling—perhaps even abroad? What if I need oxygen? Can I still travel then?
We're not starting with the answer to the question, but with personal accounts and helpful tips. Many clubs have written excellent articles about travel; we don't need to rehash everything. We're particularly interested in hearing about your experiences. Share your stories with us!
As I write these lines, the next trip is just around the corner: the Alpha1 Children's and Youth Day, a completely different topic that hardly anyone writes about. But read on page 22 to find out what we experienced there. After the record number of visitors in Bremen, we were also overwhelmed by the registration numbers for the Children's and Youth Day.
And if you happen to feel cooped up at home during the darker months, simply dream yourself away on your next trip – perhaps to one of our events…
