Senior Connections Senior Connections Aug. 2018 | Page 12

Senior Connections August 2018
Chuck Thiel , founder of Community Club Tours , is pictured with Norb , the main tour bus driver with Holt-Peterson Bus .
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Center for Senior Behavioral Health

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CHUCK THIEL from Pg 9
“ I enjoy what I ’ m doing ,” Thiel said . “ I ’ ve got my little niche .”
Anyone who would like to sign up for a tour can contact Thiel at home , 320-395-2746 ( preferred ) or by cell 320-224-3462 . They can also email him at jollyramblers @ aol . com . Tour dates and details are listed online at jollyramblers . com / tours . Early registration is encouraged , as tours sometimes sell out quickly . No one is added to the list until payment has been received . In addition to the online schedule , Thiel also publicizes tours through community education brochures . He currently works with the districts of Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted , Sibley East , Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop , Norwood Young America , Watertown-Mayer , and Waconia .
One big benefit of Community Club Tours is that participants can avoid driving in the Twin Cities . The motor coach Thiel subcontracts with ( Holt- Peterson Bus ) picks people up at convenient locations like Cokato , Howard Lake , Winsted , Lester Prairie , Plato , and other communities .
The tours also eliminate the need to deal with parking , plan a schedule , and make reservations . In addition , participants get the advantage of group pricing for shows .
Thiel ’ s goal is to have a full motor coach ( 57 people ) for each tour . The minimum is technically 25 , but Thiel has occasionally run tours with as few as 20 participants .
One of the most popular trips is to Fort Snelling National Cemetery just south of Minneapolis . “ I did that tour seven times in one calendar year ,” Thiel said . Another favorite is a tour that includes the musical comedy , “ Church Basement Ladies .”
Thiel usually does about one tour per week during the warmer months , sometimes more . Because people don ’ t like to go out as much during the winter , he slows to about one tour per month January through March .
Running Community Club Tours requires a high level of planning and attention to detail .
“ I document everything , and I always call a week before to confirm ,” Thiel said .
In addition to being extremely organized , Thiel also has learned to “ roll with things ” that might make some people panic .
He remembers one tour , for instance , when a restaurant employee said they had run out of food because of a big festival . However , Thiel ’ s records – and the restaurant ’ s calendar – showed that Thiel had made reservations well in advance for that day .
The employee called the restaurant owner , who offered to come in and find something to make , but Thiel ’ s group wasn ’ t able to wait that long due to their tour schedule . “ I had a whole bus full of people ,” Thiel said . So , Thiel called the nearest McDonald ’ s and explained the situation . “ They were super ,” Thiel said . “ We got in , and they wrote everyone ’ s names on their bags .”
No matter what , Thiel aims to keep a fun atmosphere on his tours . Some trips are geared towards adults , while others are great for children with their parents or grandparents .
Below are two examples of upcoming tours . To see the full schedule , go to jollyramblers . com / tours :
• Tuesday , Aug . 7 – Harriet Island in St . Paul , to sites along a historicallynarrated cruise , which travels through the Ford lock and dam . Suitable for children and adults . There will be a buffet of barbecued chicken , pulled pork with buns , green chili cheddar corn bread , potato salad , coleslaw , watermelon wedges , cookies and coffee .
• Wednesday , Aug . 22 – Ives Auditorium in Bloomington , to see the Barbary Coast Dixieland Show Band . The trip begins with a lunch of oven-fried chicken , barbecued ribs , macaroni and cheese , southern-style green beans , coleslaw , corn bread or biscuits with honey butter , assorted desserts , and coffee or tea .
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Senior Connections August 2018

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