Two diverse “craft talks” highlighted this week’s program at Arcadia Rotary. Phyllis Corliss led off, followed by “Red Badger” Jeff Kelley.

Phyllis, a member since 1999, described how she got into the “travel business”. Currently, Phyllis owns and operates The Corliss Group, with her specialty being arranging cruises on the Crystal Cruise Line. Phyllis is a local woman, who grew up in Altadena and attended Pasadena Schools. With her husband, Frank, they started several businesses, starting with a trade school. After selling that business, they started traveling and Phyllis found her love of traveling.

She spoke of one of her experiences on the Yucatan Peninsula and touring Mayan ruins. They met a gentleman staying at the same hotel. She had just finished reading Kon Tike, Thor Hayerdahl’s reflections on the building and sailing the raft the Kon Tiki from Peru to the South Pacific. It turned out the gentleman was none other than Thor Hayerdahl! Another anecdote involved meeting Irving Stone. Stone authored, The Agony and The Ecstasy. They enjoyed their meeting and Stone gave them a bottle of his own wine, which she has had for so long it is now vinegar.

Her travels have taken her to Pitcairn Island in the Pacific, which is where Fletcher Christian of Mutiny On the Bounty fame and sailors from the Bounty settled. Phyllis said it is a great place to visit.

Phyllis described how she got into the travel business. Her husband was asked how they got into the travel business, and he replied, “I went everywhere, and she was the last resort!” In the 1970s and 1980s cruising became popular and the Corliss’ were involved in different businesses managing tours. Crystal Cruises approached Phyllis to market their cruises and thus in 1988 she became the top producer for Crystal. Although she sells other cruise lines, Crystal Cruises are her favorite line. She described their service as impeccable.

In closing she said that her favorite travel spot is the Continent of Africa. Arranging cruises this year has shown no slowdown from prior years. Finally, she said she appreciates her experiences in Rotary and the friends she has made.

Our second craft talk came from Red Badger, Jeff Kelley, the CEO of Unishippers, a shipping service company located in Pasadena. Jeff was raised in Orange County and attended Cal State Fullerton, where he obtained a finance degree. After graduating, he moved to Pasadena and bought a home there. It turned out the house was a block from where he first lived after his birth. He explained how his company works putting companies who are shipping products and transportation companies together.

Jeff was married previously and has two children and is now engaged to Lucy, who has two children. They are buying a house in the Highland Oaks area of Arcadia and expect the children to attend Arcadia schools. Jeff told us about his interest in sports. He has UCLA season seats and Angel Stadium seats also. Jeff has chosen Arcadia Rotary over the Kiwanis Club and is interested in raising money for great projects such as Polio. He wants to help raise money for the next great project sponsored by Rotary. He described one fund raiser described a “Jello Jump”. People dress in costume and jump in a huge vat of Jello and search for a key. The winner can come up with a key that fits a new car. Jeff looks forward to new and exciting projects at Arcadia Rotary.