Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a successful author, transforming leisure travel experiences and memories into a formidable story that you can share with readers around the world? Our October speakers achieved great success in this type of endeavor. I invited Carole Bumpus and her husband Winston, to speak to us in October. Winston is the Vice Commodore of the Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association (PICYA), an organization that promotes yachting activities, organizes, conducts and coordinates yachting programs in the greater SF Bay area. Among the many PICYA activities, one, which can be of particular interest to our members, is the Veterans’ Wheelchair Regatta. This annual event provides military veterans; many confined to wheelchairs, with a rare opportunity to experience a boat cruise on SF Bay along the San Francisco City front. On their return from the exhilarating sailing experience, the vets are treated to a picnic luncheon and entertainment on the grounds of Encinal Yacht Club. Most of these honored veterans are residents of Northern California Veterans Homes and hospitals.

Winston will give a brief description of PICYA and its programs, but the main speaker will be his wife, Carole. Carole travelled to France with WW II veterans and had an opportunity not only to tour hallowed grounds where battles raged in WW II, and visit National cemeteries, but she also had the chance to meet with and talk to local men and women who suffered greatly during the war and then experienced the joys of post war liberation. From this experience, Carole authored a very successful book - “A Cup of Redemption,” where she created three generations in France who burst to life in a story about WW I, WW II, and lives touched by love, loss, and the search for identity. By popular demand, Carole then wrote a companion cookbook, giving recipes for delicious meals,- be they “peasant cooking”, “wartime food”, or simply French family-style favorites. All recipes are carefully described and footnoted with interesting and often amusing culinary notes. Carole’s books will be available for purchase after the presentation; or they can be ordered via Amazon. For additional information on Carole Bumpus, see the separate article on guest speakers’ bios.