  
. .
In
Loving Memory of Eunice
Rawlings Dear
colleagues and
friends: It
is with great sadness and a heavy
heart that I have to be the
bearer of bad news for all of us
at ATA and friends of
Africa…our beloved Eunice
Rawlings passed away yesterday,
June 28, 2001. It
is hard to believe that just a
month ago she was with us in Cape
Town…sharing her energy,
constant good humor and wonderful
spirit with all of us throughout
the ATA Congress. Eunice will be
sorely missed as a long time
friend and colleague whose
tireless efforts and creativity
inspired so many wonderful
programs, tours and promotions on
behalf of Africa…and as the
dynamic President of the SoCal
ATA Chapter for many years and
newly elected member of the Board
of Directors. Many
of you will remember that Eunice
also lived for several years in
Senegal where she was a tour
operator specializing in West
Africa, and where she was fondly
known by her Senegalese name,
"Penda". When she returned to the
US she expanded her tour programs
to include a specialty in East
Africa. We will treasure
her memory always. Please
share this sad news to others who
knew Eunice and would want to
know. We would like to share with
you the address for
condolences: Eunice
Rawlings, 5322 Colony Drive #
3 Best
regards, About
Eunice She
operated her own business, the
Africa Tourism & Trade Bureau
(ATTB).
In
the space of two decades Eunice
studied Swahili, Amharic and
Woloff and honed in on her
French, a real plus in countries
like Senegal. For example Ms.
Rawlings often utilized French
while escorting the Honorable
Ndiawar Toure, Minister of
Tourism from Senegal and an
entourage from the ministry.
During late August, Minister
Toure conferred with business,
government and media officials in
the cities of Long Beach,
Inglewood, North Hollywood and
Los Angeles on launching new
tourism and trade strategies.
These talks included reviews of
the "Africa Growth &
Opportunity Act," (a.k.a. Trade
& Development Act 2000)
signed in May by President Bill
Clinton. Long overdue, the law
contains provisions that expand
tourism with Africa, Caribbean
nations and the United States.
Senegal and other countries in
Africa are presently reviewing
the benefits of ventures with the
U.S. I
am saddened to read about the
death of Eunice, who in the few
minutes I physically met her (at
Addis Ababa airport in May 2000)
struck me with her vibrant
spirit, contagious energy and
passion for life. Her life was
and inspiration to those of us
blessed to meet her. May she rest
in peace. |
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Here
is a comment we received from an
interview with Eunice, who has
been a great friend and popular
contributor to our ATA Magazine
and Web Site.