Ted will lecture about how Hilton wrote the book "Lost Horizon" in 1933, invented the term "Shangri-La,"
and how Frank Capra made the Academy Award-winning film in 1937.
He will also discuss where Shangri-La is located, and the five or so other locations which have claimed to be "Shangri-La."
Ted’s partner Peter Klika originally saw several old National Geographic articles from the 1920s and early 1930s
written by Austrian-American explorer Joseph Rock about the Kingdom of Muli in Eastern Tibet,
and he wondered if the place still existed.
Peter took some other climbers to the region in 1989, and again in 1990 and 1994,
and each time the lives of the participants were changed thereafter by the magical experiences they had.
Ted always wanted to go with him, but business obligations interfered.
In 1998, Peter told Ted he was going again in 1999, and Ted committed to go with him.
Ted remarked that the Kingdom of Muli was his Shangri-La, and he thought, "Could it be James Hilton’s Shangri-La?"
He read "Lost Horizon" carefully, and after further research, over 20 clues revealed themselves to Ted proving that indeed,
Hilton used the Kingdom of Muli and its monastery as the model for his Shangri-La.
Shangri-La Monastery
They trekked there in October, 1999, from the north, over four high mountain passes up to 16,500 feet over 40 miles and 10 days to the Muli Valley,
and completed the film "Finding Shangri-La" to reveal to the world our experiences and findings.
15 years later they returned, on a difficult trip from the south, and their experiences are disclosed in "Return to Shangri-La."
Biography
Ted Vaill is a Los Angeles lawyer and mountaineer, and a member of the American Alpine Club since 1968, its former Secretary and Board member,
and Chair of its Legal Committee since 1973.
In 1983 he lead an expedition which made the first ascent of Celestial Peak in Tibet, up a 6,000 foot face,
at the time the most technically difficult ascent ever done in China.
He has climbed all over the world, and is also a member of the Explorers Club (FN ’14).
He lives in Malibu, CA.
Minerals and gems have long motivated prospectors, miners, and the public.
The lure of fortune has also attracted forgers, fakers, synthesizers and treaters.
This, in turn has brought scientists in to the world of forensic gemology.
To understand gems, their treatments and synthesis, it is necessary to travel to mines and laboratories around the world to witness, first hand,
the true story behind the sparkle and the science.
In Dr. Rossman’s presentation, we will hear of one such study of ametrine, a colored gem-variety of the mineral quartz
that began with rumors of misrepresentation and undisclosed treatment.
Rumors led to a damaged industry.
To get at the facts, the adventure involves trips to gem mines in Brazil and remote eastern Bolivia as well as a trip to Russia
to a laboratory where gems are synthesized.
Biography
Dr. George R. Rossman is Professor of Mineralogy at the California Institute of Technology where has worked since receiving his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry
there in 1971.
His work addresses problems relating to mineral identification, the origin of color in gems and minerals, and the global repository of water in rocks and minerals.
His mineralogical travels have taken him to the jungles of Brazil, Bolivia, and Myanmar.
He was an invited participant in the White House conference on conflict diamonds and
has been a keynote speaker at several international mineralogical and gemological symposiums.
He is a Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America, the recipient of their inaugural Dana Medal,
the recipient of the Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching at Caltech,
and the Friedrich-Becke Medal of the Austrian Mineralogical Society.
He was honored by having a new gem mineral of the tourmaline family named after him.
He is author or co-author of more than 320 publications in the mineralogical and chemical sciences.
An Ametrine Crystal
A Slice of Ametrine
Ametrine Gems Containing Both a Purple Amethyst and a Yellow-Orange Citrine Zone
Ladies Night -
David Hayward The Greatest Generation: WWII Bomber Pilot
Biography:
First Lieutenant David K. Hayward
United States Air Force
Dave in B-25
David Hayward won his wings and commission in the U.S Army Air Force in 1942.
He flew 53 combat missions as pilot of a B-25 medium bomber in the 22nd Bomb Squadron,
in the China-Burma-India theater of World War II, for which he was awarded the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross.
In 1949 David earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering at Caltech in Pasadena, California,
and a Master of Science degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Southern California in 1956.
David devoted his career to developing and producing oil fields in the state of California.
In 1989 the veterans of his squadron formed an association and held annual reunions.
He serves as secretary-treasurer and newsletter publisher, collecting stories for the newsletter and other publications,
one of which was his book A YOUNG MAN IN THE WILD BLUE YONDER.
David has returned to China seven times with veteran groups.
He and his wife Jeanne were married for 64 years but she has recently deceased.
He is living in Huntington Beach and is currently active in the Freedom Club of Orange County.
Their purpose is to send veterans to speak to high school students and to other events as part of a Living History program.
Chuck Jonkey Wanderings Through Russia & the Ukraine
Chuck Jonkey (member 1026) will give a presentation on his multiple adventures in many different parts of Ukraine
and Russia.
Chuck filmed, photographed and recorded music and sounds in many locations.
Exquisite architecture, amazing culture and stunning beauty are all parts of Chuck’s presentation.
Sonic Safari Music
