AFTERWORDS
An Old War Horse Reunion
BY LINDA FORT HARVELL , CTP
BACK IN THE EARLY ’ 90s , a group of longtime NTA members started having Old War Horse reunions . We came up with that name because so many of us had been attending NTA conventions for years , plus it just fit the group . We always held our reunions the night before convention kicked off — usually in a bar ( imagine that ). We even made Old War Horse T-shirts for each destination .
As the years progressed , the reunions stopped , and many of us retired from the travel industry . We ’ ve been able to keep up with each other through Facebook , but we had an amazing opportunity to get together again the night before Travel Exchange opened in St . Louis . On Feb . 26 the Old War Horses — along with the current board — were hosted by Sweet Home Alabama , Sports Leisure Vacations and NTA for a wonderful barbecue dinner at the National Blues Museum .
Out of 80 or so people at the event , around half were us ol ’ timers , including Keith Griffall , Ed Camara , Bob Hoelscher , Ed Dresel , Charlie McIlvain , Shawn Ford , Scott Hartcorn , Judith Thomas , Trip Bellows , Brenda Ison , John Schaffer , Bruce Beckham , Mary and John Stachnik , Mike Zirbel , Mark Hoffmann , Clayton Whitehead , Jim Warren , Misha Jovanovic , Michele Michalewicz ,
Longtime NTA Executive Vice President Jim Host ( center ) chats with Ed Camara ( left ) and Mike Zirbel .
Keith Griffall snaps a picture of ( left to right ) Michele Michalewicz , Judith Thomas and the author , Linda Fort Harvell .
Eugene Dilbeck , Marjorie Bender , Kris Lokemon , Tom Frenkel , Bob Hofmann , Ron McConnell , Gail Arndt , Ed Sturrup , Norris Flowers , Mike Neustadt and , of course , the heart of NTA , Jim Host .
I don ’ t think any of us can express the overwhelming joy we felt each time we would see another Old War Horse walk in . There were hugs , more hugs , laughter , conversation , more conversation , more laughter and hugs … always more hugs .
Most of us have known each other for well over 30 years . We ’ ve worked together , traveled the world together and attended a gazillion NTAs , where we were all very involved . The love and friendship we still have for each other is as strong now as it ever was . That ’ s amazing , considering that many of us haven ’ t seen each other in years . But those years just faded away as soon as we were together again , even if it was just for one brief evening .
The memories we shared were hysterical , if for no other reason than they have gotten much better with time ( and with cocktails ). What fun it was to sit and listen to someone sharing a story , only for another person to jump in and add their recollection of what really happened … in their mind , anyway .
The Old War Horse Reunion falls into the category of “ priceless .”
Chances are there will never be another one ( unless another sponsor wants to step up and invite us — and we ’ ll help make that happen ). Within the industry ,
we were an extremely close-knit group of travel professionals . As friends , we remain close-knit to this day … 30-plus years later .
Just a little advice from an Old War Horse to you young ’ uns in NTA : Read this story over and over . It ’ s all about relationship building , whether you are a tour operator , a tour supplier or a DMO . It ’ s all about cultivating and respecting the friendships that are developed over the years . It ’ s about working together — and being together .
I was both a tour supplier and a DMO in my career , and my tour operator friends knew that when they booked with me , they were booking an experience . They could rely on me to make them look good , which created business for both of us .
What an amazing reunion we had in February . So many of us were there , yet in our hearts and minds , we grieved for those who have passed over to the Great Motorcoach in the Sky .
But for one night , we Old War Horses were together again .
Linda Fort Harvell was an NTA member for nearly 30 years , beginning in the mid-1980s . She chaired the NTA convention in 2002 and served on the boards of both NTA and the National Tourism Foundation . She resides in College Station , Texas .
NAIM HASAN PHOTOGRAPHY
56 April / May 2017