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Congratulations and Good Luck toFive Talented Colorado Students
Despite current events in the Middle East, only 17 percent of Americans ages 18–24 can find Afghanistan on a map, according to a National Geographic-Roper Global Geographic Literacy Survey.
To help address this problem, AAA Colorado has become involved in a nationwide high school competition designed to enhance geographic and geography literacy. More than a geography competition, the inaugural AAA Travel High School Challenge (grades 9-12) includes questions to test students' geography literacy. College scholarships worth $156,000 will be awarded to winning students who successfully master three levels of competition.
At press time the first level—an Internet web-based exam—had been completed, with 119 Colorado students registered online to take the test. AAA Colorado's heartiest congratulations go out to all those who participated and especially to the state's five knowledgeable finalists: Lauren Bennett, Englewood; Zebulon Holbrook, Fort Collins; Michael Krakowiak, Colorado Springs; Libby Reinish, Boulder; and Melanie Spencer, Arvada.
Sometime during March—as you read this article—the five finalists will move to the second level: a state competition where they will take a proctored written exam.
The top scorer from each state and Washington, D.C., will receive a $1,000 scholarship and will be flown (with a chaperone) to Orlando, Fla., for the national finals in May. The finals will include a proctored written exam and culminate in a live game show with two teams of three students each. Members of the winning team will each win a $25,000 scholarship; members of the runner-up team will each receive a $10,000 scholarship.
Funds for the college scholarships are provided by the Hogan Family Foundation of Westlake Village, Calif., while sponsors of the Challenge include Continental Airlines, Holland America Line, Marriott, MBNA America, Pleasant Holidays and Universal Orlando.
Watch this Space
We're not bashful in saying that AAA Colorado has offered some fine travel deals in its day. Travel packages—from Colorado offerings to international fare—are a specialty, and from the responses they generate from members, you agree.
Well, as they say in show biz—you ain't seen nothing yet!
Keep an eye on this space (the Member News and Benefits department). In the May/June issue we'll be previewing a comprehensive weekend package that will offer Denver attractions, accommodations and a very special activity—let's just say it involves gondolas—at an unbeatable rate. Whether you're from the metro area or the Western Slope, the eastern plains or the northern mountains, you'll want to read about this unique travel package.
A Good Internet Site Keeps On Improving
Last year the Wall Street Journal called it the "Top Choice" for online mapping systems.
What was this prestigious publication raving about?
Answer: AAA's Internet TripTik Traveler site. And now, in 2003, the popular online site has been improved to include Approved Auto Repair locations, an events list and a separate tab for Points of Interest.
Access to the site is through www.aaa.com. In the Top Links box of www.aaa.com, click on Internet TripTikŪ. When you reach the site, you can now find the nearest Approved Auto Repair locations, as well as more than 5,000 events listed. The Points of Interest addition helps promote the capability to switch between narrative directions and points of interest data.
Mystery Shoppers Can Win Valuable Visa Gift Cards
Here's a win-win situation: go shopping and get a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card.
All you need to do is be part of AAA Colorado's Show Your Card & Save Mystery Shopper Program. After visiting one of the SYC&S partners, simply fill out the application send it back to us and you'll then be entered in a drawing, held May 5, to win one of four $50 Visa gift cards. Good luck—and happy shopping!
Win $10,000 from Hampton Hotels and AAA
What would you do with $10,000? Stock up on a shopping spree? Recharge with a family vacation? Tackle that spring home-improvement project? With $10,000, you could choose all three!
AAA Colorado members have a chance to win a $10,000 AAA Visa gift card simply by booking and staying at a Hampton Inn or Hampton Inn & Suites between February 1 and April 30, 2003. Use the card just as you would a credit card—at retail stores, restaurants, attractions, hotels, even online—anywhere Visa is accepted.
Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites hotels have more than 1,200 locations and are preferred AAA hotels as part of the AAA Show Your Card & Save program.
To book a Hampton stay—and a chance to win $10,000—call the Hampton AAA member reservation line, 800-456-7793, or call or visit your local AAA Colorado office.
The Gift of Sight is a AAA Member Tradition
"I can finally see the words on the blackboard!" said 5-year-old Miguel, who recently received his first pair of glasses.
Little Miguel never knew he needed eyeglasses until he visited an optical clinic near his home in Bolivia. There, LensCrafters volunteers discovered he needed strong vision correction.
Each year, LensCrafters and Lions Club International volunteers travel the world to hand-deliver eyeglasses to people who may never have another chance to see clearly. People walk for miles—sometimes days—to receive much-needed eye care at the clinic sites.
Where do AAA members come in?
It all starts with you. AAA Colorado members have been generously donating their unused eyeglasses by dropping them off at nearby AAA Colorado offices. The glasses are then taken to a LensCrafters store for processing and ultimate distribution to developing countries.
In 2002, AAA Colorado members donated a total of 531 pairs of unused eyeglasses.
Miguel is thankful.
Because this program is ongoing, if you would like to give the gift of sight, drop off your unused pairs of eyeglasses at any one of our statewide AAA offices. We'll do the rest.
Know these "Keys" to Understand
the Importance of AAA Locksmiths
In the world of AAA Colorado, a group of "unsung heroes" go about their important job with hardly a nod of recognition—AAA locksmiths. Usually, the only acknowledgement they receive is the grateful appreciation of members who have locked themselves out of their vehicles.
To the rest of us, if we think of locksmiths at all, we conjure up an image of an old-fashioned lock and ancient "skeleton" keys. The locksmith comes along, finds the right key and suddenly the lock is opened.
Today, however, that image of a locksmith is as outdated as the image of AAA Colorado being just a towing service. Twenty-first century AAA locksmiths are skilled, sophisticated craftspeople who deal with a dizzying array of computer technologies that seem to change on a daily basis.
For a better understanding of what they do, and the problems they face, here's a quick primer: To begin with, many service calls still involve the basic "I-locked-myself-out-of-my-car" scenario. AAA locksmiths are completely equipped to gain access to any vehicle type, no matter the age or model.
When it comes to broken or lost keys, however, that's when it starts getting tricky. Of course regular keys made of solid metal can still be cut and duplicated with the proper key-cutting machines. Most new cars, however, are now equipped with transponder keys, which contain a computer chip. Transponder keys were initially developed to increase auto security.
Unfortunately, heightened security does have a maintenance price tag. Because a transponder key interacts with the automobile's computer, it requires a highly educated person to run high-tech locksmithing equipment that can read the key's chip and, when necessary, encode the car's security code onto a new key. Such equipment requires people who are trained in the most up-to-date technological advances. Even with such machines and people, sometimes a car will need to be towed back to the dealership for a new key and encoding.
As automotive computer technology advances even further—taking with it the transponder key—it will become critical for drivers to have access to highly educated, computer—equipped locksmiths prepared to handle any "key" emergency. AAA Colorado's locksmiths are ready to meet that challenge. (See your membership benefits to determine what locksmith services are provided.)
Get the Inside Scoop About European Travels
What do visiting Americans need to know about teeing off at St. Andrews? Or where to have afternoon tea in London? Or where the best sunning spots are on the Riviera?
Try the AAA European Lifestyle Guides, which include such titles as Britain & Ireland Pub Guide 2003; Guide to Britain's Golf Courses; and Bed & Breakfast in France. Updated annually, the series of guides is packed with detailed descriptions, prices and rates, color maps and photographs—offering more comprehensive travel planning information than other competing series on the market. Information is checked every year by reliable organizations—the hotels and restaurants featured in the Great Britain guides are inspected and rated by the Automobile Association, AAA's sister club, and the lodgings in France are inspected and rated by Gites de France, a well-respected travel organization. For more information, ask your AAA Travel professional.
How to Ensure the Best Vacation Possible
What's the most important element of any trip?
Answer: accurate, reliable information.
A major problem arises, however, when you start the process of gathering information and trying to make sense of what you find. Suddenly our high-tech, information-overloaded world becomes daunting rather than liberating. Go to any bookstore and you'll find a dazzling—albeit confusing—array of travel books and guides. Go to any Internet search engine and up pops 2.5 million websites for your destination. Call any airline and you'll discover the hard way that there are 10,000 different airfares—none of which fit your budget!
When it comes right down to it, the research and booking stages of any vacation can be journeys in themselves. That's where a knowledgeable travel agent can make the difference between a dream trip and a nightmare trip.
A recently released free AAA brochure titled, The Best Travel Experts. The Best Travel Experience, outlines and details why an experienced, reliable travel agent is a critical ingredient to any trip. It's now available at your nearest AAA Colorado office.
Find Out More, Get Involved,
Stay Attuned to AAA Initiatives
When it comes to important traffic safety, consumer, automotive and travel issues, AAA has a long history of public service and legislative lobbying. Much of these efforts have been a direct result of member interests and needs. Now there's a new Internet vehicle—AAA Exchange—for keeping up with what AAA is doing as a representative of 45 million members of the traveling public.
Access to AAA Exchange is through www.aaa.com. In the News & Information box on www.aaa.com, click on AAA News, then click on the box, Public Affairs Site AAA Exchange. Once you're at AAA Exchange, clickable topics include:
- Safety and mobility
- Transportation funding
- Right to repair
- Distracted driving
- Truck safety
- AAA's environmental positions
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