As most of you know Skal New Jersey (formerly Northern New Jersey) has visited over 30 clubs since 2004.  Most of the clubs are in Europe but last year we visited Panama City, Panama and met with the club there.  On many of these visits we “twinned” with the host club.  Twinning is a concept that bonds two clubs together for both personal and professional reasons.  Skal International introduced the idea in the early 2000s and our club has embraced it.  Before it was officially recognized by Skal we twinned with Skal Jersey, our friends on a small island located in the English Channel.  We made our “bond” official in 2009 at the World Congress in Budapest where we shared flags and gifts. 

Shortly after the Congress a small group from New Jersey travelled to Rome where we twinned with Skal Roma at a lovely ceremony at the Hotel Quirinale.  This twinning was set up the previous year when my wife and I arrived in Rome after a twelve day cruise.  Their president, Alberto Zampi, loved the idea and we started the ball rolling.  The following year we traveled to Ireland and met with Skal Kerry and joined with our friends, Mary McMonigle and Sean O’Driscoll, at the Muckross Park Hotel.  After the official papers were signed by our president, Bill Gardiner, and Mary Mac at the twinning ceremony we enjoyed a great dinner and some traditional Irish entertainment.  

I think twinning is an important aspect of Skal.  I’ve been called a serial twinner by some. I view Skal as a family and the clubs we are twinned with are like first cousins.  You can always count on them.  Skal’s longtime motto has been “Doing Business Among Friends” and I try to live by that motto. 

As of 2023 we have twinned with 14 clubs worldwide.  Sadly some like Jersey, Malta, Copenhagen, Belgian Coast/Flanders and Girona have had to close but I still maintain a relationship with many of their members.  Just before the pandemic we twinned with Skal Arkansas and with Skal Kvarner (Croatia) onboard the MS Symphony of the Seas during the 2019 Skal World Congress.

And the Pandemic didn’t stop us.  We virtually twinned via Zoom with Skal Garden Route in South Africa and Skal Mexico City.  In fact, the twinning with Skal Garden Route gave rise to a virtual trade show where various members showcased their products. 

Last year a group from Skal New Jersey traveled to Panama City where we were wined and dined by Skal Panama before we had a twinning ceremony.  At the World Congress in Opatija I invited all of our twins to share a drink together which led to some of those clubs twinning.  In May at NASC in Mexico City we plan to formalize our twinning with a small ceremony.  It’s all about friendship and bonding. 

Call me a serial twinner if you want. I’ll wear that badge proudly!!!