This is Throwback Thursday #141. In these, we look back into the past at ESCONI specifically and Earth Science in general. If you have any contributions, (science, pictures, stories, etc ...), please sent them to [email protected]. Thanks!
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This week, we look back at a holiday letter from Bill Allaway in 1977. When ESCONI was founded back in 1949, Bill was its first chairman. The first few meetings were held in his basement. He served as chairman from 1949 through 1951. He and his wife Helen moved to California in the early 1960's, where it sounds like he had an out sized impact on a club in Santa Clara Valley.
The letter appeared was received in December 1977, but not published until January 1978.
TO Earth Science News
from Bill AllawayWay out here in Los Gatos, California Helen and I have been watching the many activities of Esconi for the past 15 years and are very proud of this great club. On page 28 of the December 1977 bulletin I note that Esconi was selected as one of six clubs in the Midwest to receive the All-American Trophy and a certificate for outstanding service. We were also awarded a trophy for one of the Midwest Merit awards.
As the only surviving member of the founding team of Norvell, Farr, Beghtol and Allaway and also as Honorary President of ESCONI which title was conferred on our 20th anniversary, I would like to let our members know that I think they are doing a great job and know they will continue to do so.
Incidentally, our local rock club, the Santa Clara Valley Gem & Mineral Society is gradually building up along the lines of ESCONI and has six groups which meet separately from the regular meetings. It would be interesting to exchange bulletins.
Congratulations on another great year.
Sincerely yours,
Bill Allaway
Excerpts from the Xmas letter--
Here we go again, with Xmas just around the corner. We had such good response to last year's letter which we tried for the first time that we are going to try for a repeat......
We had a great trip to Europe this fall which included Germany, a trip from Switzerland to Holland on the Rhine, Belgium, Normandy beaches, Mont San Michel and Gay Paree, which reminded me of the Streets of Paris at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago. The Mont was tremendous, the high- light of the trip as we clambered up 900 steps to the top, being quite an achievement for us. My son Bill drove and we visited Universities where he had students. He is Director of Students abroad program, for t the University of California.
We are still working with the museum, Director for 5 years, church, rock club, garden and the golf course of course, but not as avidly as here-to-fore.
The best of Christmas greetings to all our friends and we hope you are all enjoying life as much as we are. A very Merry Christmas.
Helen & Bill Allaway
