Fellow UTLA member and/or Educator:

When I asked over 100 union activists where they might want to travel when I planned the next series of fundraiser cruises for the UTLA Christa McAuliffe Scholarship Fund, the overwhelming response was Alaska, Activist after activist said that they had heard so much about the beauty of the United States' last frontier.

As one who has traveled there before, let me tell you, there are no words adequate to describe the beauty of Alaska. From Juneau to Ketchikan to Skagway and throughout the nation's northernmost state, it is simply one breathtaking sight after another. From bald eagles soaring over towering pine trees to newly formed icebergs crashing into Glacier Bay, a cruise to Alaska is a cruise one never forgets.

For those lucky enough to be able to book this once-in-a-lifetime trip, you will leave in mid-August aboard the Norwegian Pearl, one of the newest of the Norwegian Cruise Lines luxurious vessels. From bow to stern, the Norwegian Pearl offers features like no other cruise ship, including a bowling alley and Norwegian Cruise Lines' famous "Freestyle Cruising".

Better yet, you know that when you book your stateroom on the Norwegian Pearl for your Alaska Adventure, a portion of each fare will go to the Christa McAulliffe Scholarship Fund, named for the teacher astronaut who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Each year, the fund awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving students across the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Come join us on an Inner Passage trip from convenient Seattle, Washington via the Inner Passage to Alaska and back. The sooner you call or e-mail Montrose Travel, the better your staterooms will be! See you in August, 2008!

Gregg Solkovits
UTLA Valley West Area Chair