Summer, 1999

The Club Peace & Plenty, Beach Inn and the Bonefish Lodge once again bring you news and information from the lovely island of Exuma in the southern Bahamas. The employee of the issue is Janet Bethel Morley, the night chef at the Beach Inn. Janet, a native Exumian with children DeAngelo, Raquel and Rico, has exhibited exceptional culinary skills, a high energy level, a coolness and efficiency when facing a packed house and a driving desire to continue learning. She also finds time to teach pre-school and provide hot lunches for the children. Congratulations Janet, the guests and staff of the Beach Inn love having you there.

In January, we had the pleasure of hosting Al Roker from the NBC "Today Show" visiting Exuma as part of the show’s presentation on "Back to the Roots" of Matt, Katie, Al and Ann. As reported in a previous newsletter, Al’s grandparents were from Exuma. The show brought him back to the historical sites and church documentation tracing his family back to the plantation days. We mailed a postcard advising the airdate to you as supplied by NBC. Unfortunately, NBC later advised that the piece had to be delayed by one week. Sorry about the mix-up, however, the good news is that it finally aired and Exuma showcased on National TV. Also in January, Foxhollow, a Lexington, KY Spa Group, booked the entire 16 room Beach Inn for three weeks. Foxhollow operated weekly programs featuring heath food specially prepared by their chefs, yoga, massages, astrology, acupuncture, exercise, boating, snorkeling, diving, fishing and sightseeing. It was so well received that Foxhollow has booked the Beach Inn again for January 8 to February 2, 2000 for a special Millennium program with single ladies for the first week and co-ed for the second and third weeks. Interested parties for any of the January 2000 sessions may contact Mary Jo Guelda, Director, Foxhollow, Inc. phone number: 502-241-6604 or fax her at 502-241-3935 for details and reservations.

Speaking of the Millennium, both the Club Peace & Plenty and the Beach Inn were sold out for the gala week around New Year’s Eve. However, the Club has had a few cancellations recently, so if you are still interested in starting the Millennium on Exuma contact Loren as soon as possible. In January 2000, the Club Peace & Plenty is offering 3-night and 7-night Millennium month discount packages. Call Loren in reservations, 1-800-525-2210 for details.

Recently, actor Sam Elliott was in the Club looking for a phone. Tom Weiscoff, the golfer, spent an evening at the P&P Saturday night dance listening to "George Wiley and the Inn Crowd". Tom stated that he was designing a golf course for the new island Club property about three miles west of George Town. Segorney Weaver, "Alien" fame, rented a house for a few weeks on the Beach near George Town. Jimmy Buffet returned for a little R&R on his yacht. Actor Gene Hackman checked-in at the Club in June. He took some time off from his yacht based in Elizabeth Harbor. Jeanne Benjamin went on her annual trip, January 8 – May 10th on the Royal Viking Sun to the Pacific Rim. Stan joined her for his usual month.

Barry Benjamin and Charlie Pflueger went to the Italian Travel Show in Milan, then visited Vienna and Frankfurt before returning to Exuma.

The Peace & Plenty Bonefish Lodge has brought back Chef Robert Thompson to spin his seafood magic. Robert is not only an excellent chef, but a skilled diver and fisherman, catching much of the Lodge’s seafood requirements, including the deliciously unique "Spider-Crab" claws, Exuma’s answer to the tasty Alaskan King Crab.

Karen Bentley is still drawing raves for skill and courage for her nightly shark hand-feeding show. A new video was recently shot from the Lodge by Gary and Robin Edwards of the Wyoming Flyfishing Connection, for presentation by an estimated 80% of the Public Television Stations in the U.S. Subject matter included the bi-annual Jake Jordan Flyfishing School, shark feeding, bonefishing, turtle riding and other exciting activities. Look for the show, "Flyfishing Destinations" on your PBS local TV station, it should be terrific! As reported in the last issue, the Benjamin Foundation has secured IRS 501(c)(3) tax status, which enables donations to the Foundation to be tax deductible.

The Benjamin Foundation has made available six acres of land and various buildings, which, in part, house the only campus in the Out Island’s representing the College of the Bahamas. Other educational efforts include computer training, language instruction (Spanish to be taught in the fall), and a new building under construction to offer cabinet making, among other courses. The Benjamin family has been instrumental in allowing Exuma to set the pace in education in the Out Islands of the Bahamas. Friends of Exuma may send donations to Cynthia Rhyner at Sterling, Ltd., 3550 Lander Road, Pepper Pike, OH 44124, phone 216-464-6901.

The Nassau Guardian Newspaper, one of the two major newspapers in the Bahamas, has stated a monthly issue published for Exuma, with local stories, pictures and ads. It should help us keep current on what’s happening around our island. A new police car appeared on the island a few weeks ago, complete with lights and sirens, speeders beware!

Eyes popped out recently when a wide-bodied 757 landed at the Exuma international Airport. The pilot stated that they brought the owner, who sold a number of Kroger Food Company stores in California, to catch his yacht for a southern Bahamas cruise. Must be nice to have a 757 with 20 seats and 2 bedrooms.

Tropical Gardens, the rental cottage complex Stan Benjamin and Charlie Pflueger are building near the southside, is proceeding. Stan’s first two-unit apartment building is all but completed and Charlie’s third unit is a few weeks from completion. There will probably be a dozen cottages and a clubhouse when completed with lots of flowering shrubs, tropical trees and birds!

Charlie Pflueger is retiring in July after an association with the Peace and Plenty for 30 years. He plans to spend most of his time on Exuma at Tropical Gardens and helping Managing Partner Bob Hyde at the Bonefish Lodge. He will still attend many Club P&P’s cocktail parties to greet our returning guests as usual. Charlie wishes to thank Stan Benjamin, the Peace and Plenty, hotel guests and the wonderful people of the Bahamas for the many happy years afforded him in a tropical paradise.

This winter saw new Whitecraft type of chairs installed in the Club dining room. They look better and are more comfortable than the old ones. New lobby furniture has also been ordered.

For those people building or contemplating building a home on Great Exuma, the 2 year moratorium on custom duties for building materials expiring on July 1, 1999 has been extended one more year. You better hurry time is slipping away fast.

We couldn’t persuade Jeanne Benjamin to come back to Exuma permanently, however she did visit for a few days after her cruise and upgrade the boutique, with a new lively exterior paint job and interior redesigning. It looks great! Why didn’t we think of that?

Judy Turnquest, former manager of the Two Turtles Inn in George Town, has been appointed Resident manager of the Club P&P. Judy, a Bahamian citizen originally from England, has lived and worked in Exuma for the past 19 years and should be a great asset to the hotel.

Beauty queen, Dorothy Dorgerville, the Miss Out Island Regatta for 1999, is our front desk clerk at the Club. The seventeen-year-old beauty is enrolled for the fall term at the College of the Bahamas in Nassau. So hurry down and meet her before she goes!

David Kettlewell, from Ohio, is the new marketing entity for the Peace and Plenty Properties. He brings a wealth of marketing expertise to the table. Welcome David, send some new guests, Stocking island is still almost empty!

The Peace and Plenty had 2 big wedding parties recently, one on June 18th and one on June 23rd. Have you ever considered having a second honeymoon at the P&P?

On July 2nd, guest Matthew Kumula surprised his spouse with a small ceremony to renew their wedding vows on Stocking Island. They then enjoyed the Friday night cocktail hour and a private dinner on their balcony. What a romantic! The Club supplied a tuxedo jacket and vale for the couple to wear with their bathing suits and video taped the ceremony. Our baker, Dale Knowles, even made a small wedding cake for dessert. Anyone interested in a romantic weekend with their spouse can call Loren in our reservations department at 1-800-525-2210 for more information.

Stan, Jeanne, Barry, Charlie, Bob, Judy, Mazell, Pat and the staffs of the Club, Beach Inn and Bonefish Lodge wish you a great summer and fall, and hope to share our paradise with you in the near future.

Here is a sample of David’s new advertising for the Peace and Plenty. We thought our regular guests might be interested in our summer marketing program. Below is a copy of an ad that you might find in some Florida and Nassau newspapers.