The Down East Seniors Club held its May 16 meeting at the Blind Center of North Carolina in Washington. President Chip Ide led the meeting. Jim Hackney played for the singing of “God Bless America,” followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Charles Smith gave the invocation, and Ed Hamrick read factoids for the date in history.

Ide introduced Bill Zachman who spoke about traveling tourism. Zachman has been working with the Washington Tourism Development Authority and the Committee of 100 to promote tourism in Beaufort County as a means of increasing economic development. He said that the county’s greatest asset is its friendly people. When this is combined with the county’s historic attractions, there are good reasons for travelers to come for a visit. New Bern has done a good job of promoting these same points, and we can learn from them.

Bill Cates won the 50/50 drawing.