* November 17-20 (Thurs-Sun)  Hostelling-USA’s Annual National Council Meeting, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

* December 2, 3, 4 (Fri-Sun)  Olde Tyme Christmas Weekend at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park with Holiday Programs at HI-Harpers Ferry Hostel (call 310 834-7652 for Reservations)

Please join us December 2^nd ,3^rd ,4^th and December 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th at the Harpers Ferry Hostel for a celebration of “Olde Tyme Christmas 2005”! For 35 years, the Harpers Ferry Merchants Association along with the National Park Service have welcomed guests to the beautiful and historic town of Harpers Ferry, WV, for a celebration of county Christmas in resplendent 19^th century style.  The Harpers Ferry Hostel would like to invite friends and members of the Potomac Area Council and Hostelling International to take part in this yearly event, offering an amiable place to rest one’s head for the evening along with special events and programs that will leave ready to embrace the holiday season with ample amounts of cheer. Programs will include:

-         Costumed tours of Harpers Ferry led by your hostess and historian-in-residence, Lisa Jane Berray

-         Traditional ornament making followed by tree decorating (participants will take their ornaments home as a reminder of their experience)

-         Hot cider and cookies along with traditional stories from around the world told in front of our beautiful fireplace

-         19^th century music

-         A traditional holiday dinner served on Sunday afternoon

-         Free time to explore the wonderful shops and museums of Harpers Ferry with information about weekend events hosted in the town 

* December 9,10,11 (Fri-Sun)  Olde Tyme Christmas Weekend continues at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park with Holiday Programs at HI-Harpers Ferry Hostel (call 310 834-7652 for Reservations)

* December 8  (Thur)  PAC Monthly Board Meeting (7 pm) at the Washington Hostel, 11th & K Sts NW (All welcome.)


Past Events-Fall 2005

* October 15 (Sat)  "Moonlight Memorial Ride" (gather at 8:00 pm, depart at 9:00 pm), at the Washington Hostel.  Come meet scores of fellow cyclists at the Washington International Hostel (11th & K Streets, NW) for a 10-15 mile frolicking bike ride looping around Washington ... including the Capitol, Tidal Basin, Mall, White House, Georgetown Harbor, GWU Helmets required. Great for singles, groups or families. Free bike checks at start and roving mechanics will patrol the ride. Sponsored by the Potomac Area Council and College Park Bicycles. Small contribution, if you wish. T-shirts and refreshments available. For more info, please visit http://www.bike123.com/ or call (202) 783-4943.
 
* October 15-16 (Sat & Sun) from 10 am to 4 pm each day. Fellow hostelers and volunteer  refurbished the Baltimore Hostel, the next great building in Charm City.  A weekend of training, plaster work, drywall, painting, with time for pizza and story swaps at this historic brownstone at 17 W. Mulberry Street (2 blocks south of Mount Vernon Square).  Mary Jane German supervised on Saturday; Dave Toleman supervised on Sunday.  410-576-8880.

* October 21-23 (Sat, Sun) HI-USA’s Eastern Regional Meeting, (Ivoryton, Connecticut at the Incarnation Conference Center).  Sponsored by the Yankee Council. Spend a weekend of training workshops, organizational meetings, and outdoor activities. Meet hostelers from 8 councils all over the Northeast!

* October 24 (Mon) Ceremony at 10:30 ... Mayor of Baltimore to award the PAC & Friends of the Baltimore Hostel a Baltimore Heritage Area grant for $12,000 (at the Tremont Plaza Hotel, Baltimore).
 
* October 29 (Sat) Potomac Area Council of Hostelling-USA’s Annual Meeting, 1-3 pm at the Harpers Ferry Hostel (Knoxville, MD).  20 members enjoyed the fall leaves and learned of the key events of the past year, helped set the goals for the coming year.  Wonderful banquet from Jean Toleman, Maryland's greatest chef!

* November 5-6  (Sat-Sun)  Fifteen children  from the Hillcrest Children Center in D.C. visited the Harpers Ferry Hostel ... for the weekend to get away from the city and to experience life in the country. (One girl told hostel manager Lisa Jane Berray that she had never seen the stars before and it made her cry!). After a tour of Harpers Ferry, there was a hike to Jefferson's Rock and a nature scavenger hunt.  "We ended up doing a rather difficult two mile hike because the kids didn't want to stop!"  Finally, there was a trust building exercise at the hostel, followed by another short hike down to the river.)