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BY Nancy Mueller 4 Comments ON August 6, 2012

Make a Difference with Meaningful Trip

“It doesn’t take much to do good,” claims Joe Staiano, founder of Seattle-based Meaningful Trip. He should know.

At home, Staiano devotes his time to several non-profit organizations: ICO (Inner City Outings) through the Sierra Club, IRC (the International Rescue Committee) and Camp Erin, founded by All-Star major league baseball pitcher, Jaime Moyer and his wife Karen, for children grieving the death of someone close to them.

For 10 years Staiano coordinated overseas tours for REI Adventures to such dream destinations as Ecuador/the Galapagos Islands, Turkey and India.  He then spent the next 7 years working in community-based tourism and volunteering his expertise in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Moved to make a difference in the lives of the people he met beyond his own volunteer efforts, Staiano started Meaningful Trip with the goal of giving back to the local communities. Volunteer tourism is a worthy goal, he recognizes, and “the travel and tourism industry can do even more,” starting with his own company.

First, in addition to ensuring the travel expertise of his global partners, Staiano goes further by asking tough questions, such as: “How many women are on your staff?” What are your environmental values?” “What do you do to support your community?”

Second,  a portion of each client’s fees, typically 5 – 10%, is donated to women’s empowerment, health, education, and poverty alleviation. His company also supports hunger and anti-trafficking programs in the U.S.

The third leg of Meaningful Trip’s “Triple Give” giving mechanism extends to Staiano’s dream of “building a community that cares” when clients return from their travels. Through meaningful dinner parties and thought-provoking conversations, Staiano encourages people to explore actions that make a difference in their local communities.

“Travel with an open heart and open mind.  Meaningful travel and you can change the world,” says Staiano.

For more information on responsible travel and all of  Meaningful Trip’s itineraries, including a Founder’s trek in Nepal in November, click : http://www.MeaningfulTrip.com or contact: info@meaningfultrip.com.

*All photos: Copyright Joe Staiano

How are you making a difference in your travels or in your own communities, Wanderboomers? Share your experiences with us here.

Filed Under: Activities, Africa, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Destinations, Make a Difference Tagged With: activism, Africa, All-Star, All-Star baseball pitcher, Bhutan, Camp Erin, communities, community, community-based tourism, Conversation, dinner parties, economy, Ecuador, environment, explore, giving back, ICO, India, IRC, Jamie Moyer, Joe Staiano, local economy, make a difference, Meaningful Trip, non-profits, REI Adventures, responsible travel, social justice, Southeast Asia, the Galapagos Islands, travel, travel and tourism, travels, trip, trips, volunteer travel, women, women's empowerment

BY Nancy Mueller 32 Comments ON October 31, 2011

It Started with a Pith Helmet

At least I think there’s where my wanderlust all began . . .

More years ago than I care to remember, I was standing among my childhood friends a week before Halloween. Mrs. Banner, our elderly neighbor, had asked us to come over because she had a surprise for us. As she led us up the creaking stairs into her attic, we were wide-eyed with curiosity. What would we discover?

Across the room in the farthest corner stood a dusty, dilapadated suitcase. Mrs. Banner picked it up, placed it on a chair, and said, “Go ahead. Open it.”  I don’t remember who of us unlatched the fastening, but I do recall an overpowering smell of moth balls as we all joined in to open the suitcase.

At first we were puzzled. “What’s this?” we asked her. “Why, that’s a pith helmet, of course!” When we still looked confused, she elaborated. “World explorers wear pith helmets when they go on safaris in Africa, looking for animals like elephants and jaguars.” “And what about this?” we asked as we continued pulling out more clothing pieces. “Well, this is part of a kimono that women wear in Japan. And this one I’m sure you know. It’s a witch hat. But not just any witch hat. Oh, no. This one will take you on a broom around the world in one night – but only on Halloween, of course.”

Was that the moment my wanderlust took flight? I wonder. All I know is that Mrs. Banner had given us a priceless gift – the gift of imagination and its power to lead us beyond the border of our tiny town into a world of daring adventure. The pith helmet may be long gone, but my lust for travel goes on.

What about you Wanderboomers? Can you remember when your wanderlust began? Share your story with us here.

Have a Happy Halloween! Boo!

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, Holidays, Uncategorized Tagged With: adventure, Africa, animals, attic, big game, big game hunters, brooms, costume, costumes, daring, elephants, Halloween, Halloween costume, Halloween costumes, imagination, Japan, jaquars, kimono, moth balls, pith helmet, safari, safaris, suitcase, surprise, travel, wanderlust, witch hat

Hello fellow wanderboomers! I’m a Seattle-based travel journalist, specializing in fun travel adventures for the young at heart. My articles have been featured in Hemispheres, AAA Highroads Magazine and Northwest Travel & Life Magazine where I'm a frequent contributor. When this Wanderboomer isn’t traveling, I help global executives polish their personal and professional brand for long-term results.
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