Michigan Council

Joan Smykowski, volunteer coordinator for the Michigan Council    accompanied Susan Trudeau, President during the recent International Coffee Hour Appreciation Luncheon at Wayne State University.  In 1951, the Coffee Hour began when 37 students showed up at the WSU Foreign Student Office.  International education had just begun at Wayne State, and a global environment was created on campus.  Over the years, various community groups sponsored the coffee hours for all students in an effort to enhance learning of world culture from each other in an intimate setting.  Today, over 3000 international students and 675 scholars from 100 different countries are enrolled at Wayne State. The Michigan Council of HI USA was able to be part of this unique opportunity to help create global citizens.  We sponsored a coffee hour for Halloween last year, prompting lively discussions of the various symbolisms followed throughout the world. 

At the luncheon, we were presented with an award for our participation in the International Coffee Hour, and were told of the new plans to begin in the fall on behalf of the Office of International Students and Scholars.

 The Michigan Council continues to develop many relationships with Wayne State University.  Please view our Newsletter and Calendar for events and opportunities to participate in our community efforts to educate and become involved in the wealth of culture we have in the Southeast Michigan area. 

Just a train ride or drive west along I-94 takes you to one of the largest hostels in the United States and the world.  Located in the center of downtown, the Chicago hostel is in a perfect location for visiting the many parks, museums and stores in the downtown area.  Ride your bicycle for miles along Lake Michigan through the Park District pathways.  Choose a group or private room.  Reserve in time for the Chicago Blues Festival June 5-8, the Taste of Chicago June 27-July 7, or Lollapalooza August 1-3.  Always a popular destination, be sure to reserve your room early at www.hichicago.org.

Want to get away from the city lights?  Drive north to Wisconsin to check out a beautiful home hostel located on over 10,000 acres of State Forest.   HI-Eagle Home Hostel is located in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, nestled in an area of lovely wooden hills and small lakes.   JP & Miki Herman welcome hostellers to their home and provide a comfortable environment where they can cook meals, relax on the deck overlooking the forest, or socialize with other travelers around the campfire. Enjoy bed-and-breakfast accommodations on a shoe-string budget… this naturalist’s paradise runs for a mere $19.00 per night!  Click on www.hostellingwisconsin.org.

Still need to go farther north?  How about the Mississippi Headwaters in Minnesota?  A visit to the Itasca State Park Hostel offers miles of hiking trails, paved bicycle trails, some of the oldest forest in Minnesota, as well as the headwaters to one of the nation’s greatest rivers. The beach on Lake Itasca is great for swimming on warm summer days. Go to www.himinnesota.org/hostel.htm to find out more.

HI hostels are great for all ages, including families and groups. Renew your membership or join now.  Enjoy your stay!

HI Michigan Council Life Member Max Nemazi has moved to Florida to be with his family. Well known as an avid outdoorsman, you may not know of the many activities Max has engaged in over the years. Max is the ultimate runner - running in foot races, sometimes two in one day! Vacations with his family were often scheduled so he could run in a race somewhere around the country. Max loved biking also - and two years ago for his 80th birthday he biked 80 miles in one day. Max has been an amateur botanist for years, creating a nursery of native plants in his yard, volunteering much time at Matthaei Gardens near Ann Arbor as a docent, and leading many plant identification forays for Matthaei, and Sierra Club, H-I, Holliday Nature Preserve, and other Preserves. Long distance hiking, backpacking, all challenging outdoor activities are favorites with Max. And now he has accepted a challenge in Florida to tackle the jungles of - - - his new yard on Orlando. Good Luck taming the vegetation there, Max - and may your hiking boots always remain dusty!                         

Friends may contact Max by sending mail to  915 Oak Street, Orlando, Florida 32804 or by calling 407-425-4003.

EARTH DAY kicked off the “green” season with HI Michigan.

HI USA is extending its environmental sustainability initiative and the Michigan Council has helped.  We had a booth at the Huron Valley Earth Day Foundation’s second annual event in Milford Central Park.  Tips on how to travel respectfully were discussed. 

Michigan Council’s Vision Statement:

Hostellers become caring world citizens who are catalysts for intercultural exchange and understanding, and who are stewards of the earth”.

       Hikers enjoyed the early Spring flowers 

              Check our CALENDAR for the next hike.