POWERGRAMS

16 R ide a camel in the Egyptian desert. Savor smooth, rich chocolate while taking in a snowy scene in Switzerland. Feel the gentle sway of the Eiffel Tower while surveying the City of Lights from almost 1,000 feet above Paris. These are a few memorable experiences orchestrated by Horace Waugh for members of the company's charitable service arm for retirees. During the past eight years, Waugh and his wife, Martha (affectionately known as Mott), have arranged more than 25 trips – in the U.S. and internationally – for the Energizers Travel Group. While Energizers is open to retirees of Alabama Power, Southern Company Services and Southern Nuclear, one mustn't be an Energizers member to enjoy travel benefits. Waugh, who replaced H.D. Cambron when he hung up his travel director's hat in 2009, estimates that 350 retirees have taken advantage of the service during his tenure. "We have loved every trip," said Joyce Goodman, wife of Alabama Power retiree Bill Goodman. The couple has journeyed with Energizers to Machu Picchu, retraced the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, and visited China and the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific, among more than 30 other exotic locales. "We've taken seven trips with the Energizers, and traveling with Horace is like having your own concierge," said Goodman, a Birmingham Division Energizers member. "If there are any hiccups, Horace and Mott work with the local people to work them out." Many people have at least one story of travel gone awry, but the Waughs helped save the Goodman's vacation to Sicily and Italy. "The airline lost our luggage for two days, with all my and Bill's clothes," Goodman said. "You couldn't have anyone taking better care of you. I'm someone that always needs my hairspray. Mott went and found me some hairspray in a little town in Sicily. Fortunately, our luggage got there the third day, before we were going to leave for another town." At first a little hesitant about traveling with a large group, Bob Wesson and his wife, Gaye, found the Energizers experience congenial though they aren't members. They've enjoyed trips to Sicily and Rome, Italy and last year visited Great Britain. "You get to meet other people this way," said Wesson, who retired from Technical Services at Corporate Headquarters after a 33-year career. "Everybody got along great and did very well. We like keeping in touch with people at the company and go to the annual retiree meetings every year." Waugh works one-on-one with travel companies to set up trips and excursions, allowing Energizers to enjoy competitive prices for travel in the U.S. and internationally. Flights are arranged by the travel company, removing many headaches. Hotel stays and housing – such as when Energizers vacationed at an Italian villa – are included in the price. Waugh recommends that members buy travel insurance to protect their investment in case they're unable to take a trip. "The travel companies will line up tickets for tours, and make things a lot easier," Waugh said. "We've done trips as short as eight days and as long as 21 days. We love traveling with our folks. We have a good time wherever we go." Waugh, who holds memberships in the Birmingham, Corporate, Western and Mobile Energizers chapters, relishes the time spent with friends old and new. He attends several chapter meetings monthly to learn where members' interests lay, travelwise. "I've developed a lot of friendships this way," said Waugh, who retired after working in the Alabama Control Center for the last 10 years of his career. "My last few years at work, I got to know employees in Western Division and Mobile, and this has allowed me to continue friendships I made at the company." Waugh said that traveling in a group provides security and the chance to socialize. It allows singles to engage in safe, enjoyable travel while having friends with whom to share the sights, meals and conversation. Retirees can bring a friend on trips. One unique aspect is the chance to have an authentic, home-cooked meal abroad. "We often go to the home of someone who hosts a visit and a meal, sometimes coffee and cake or a local dessert," said Waugh, who has visited 34 countries. "This lets you experience the people. The advantage of travel is to experience other cultures and how people live in different parts of the world. We have some people who do one or two trips a year, and some go to almost everywhere we go. Group in Pompeii, with Mount Vesuvius in background.

• Cover