The Charter Chapter (Los Angeles/Orange County) gathered for its Annual International Holiday Luncheon at the festively-decorated Lawry’s The Prime Rib Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California on Dec. 13, 2025.
A celebratory crowd of nearly 75 (including 14 guests) came from seven states and two foreign nations as we recognized four members who had reached advanced level status. Special Platinum Level honors were bestowed on Bobbi Laufer and Peter Narins for their travels to 250 TCC countries/territories while Olivia Narins and Charlene Chang were recognized as Gold Level (200 destinations) achievers.
Four New Members (three of whom joined at advanced status levels) were welcomed to the club. Joining Jeff Averill, Jr. as a new Full Member were Reuben Zadeh (Gold Level) as well as Debbie Black and Pamela Spears (both Silver Level/150 destinations).
Charter Chapter Coordinator Michael Sholer introduced TCC member and travel professional Kim Hester who presented a wonderful winter program — “North of Ordinary: My Encounter with Churchill’s Polar Bears” — highlighting the annual migration of polar bears on the snowy shores of Hudson Bay, Manitoba.
