Informational Meetings

The informational meeting for the 2009 Junior High/Middle School delegation to Australia will be Sunday, October 5, 2008, at 1:30 in the afternoon at the Landmark Convention Center at 47 St. Helens St. in Tacoma.

There are two High School meetings, both the same day, at the same location. The one at 3:30 is for an Australian adventure, and the one at 5:30 is for a Mediterranean program.

Reunion Update

We’ll have our reunion this Sunday, September 21, from 1:00 to 3:00 at Owen Beach at Pt. Defiance Park in Tacoma. Bring a small snack or dessert to share, and bring your extra pictures if you have any to share or display.

Not sure how to get to Owen Beach? Follow this link:
http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=80

We're looking forward to seeing you then and there!

Reunion Date!

The last day of summer is Sunday, September 21. So, what better day to wrap up our summer adventure? Accordingly our reunion will be Sunday, September 21, in the early afternoon. We have a couple of locations planned, but we need to know how many people plan to attend. Please let us know if you will be there, where ever there is, and we'll let you know where there is based upon the numbers. Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Reunion

We're looking for a volunteer to plan our reunion party! Do you know of a location large enough for everyone? If so, please let us know.

Sunday afternoons seem to work best for everyone, but summer is soon to end. Open dates appear to be August 17, or September 7, 14, 21, or 28.

I also have this message from Robbie's mom, which she asked me to share with everyone:

Hello Delegate parents:
I am sending you this e-mail on behalf of my son Robbie Lee, who traveled with your child with People to People. Unfortunately Robbie's camera broke the second day of their trip, and we have no pictures of this fabulous trip. I need to ask a huge favor: Couldyou please please make a CD copy of your child's camera chip? I will gladly pay you for the disk and any additional cost involved. Maybe even e-mail copies of the pictures to me. Please let me know if this may be something you can do for Robbie, and me too. I'm sure you have enjoyed all the pictures your child has come home with. Thanking you in advance for anything you can do for us. Please let me know what your thoughts are.
Tracey Lee tlee@upsd.wednet.edu

Lufthansa

As I am writing this the delegates are enjoying a dance party here in Chartres. Some French students were invited, but I do not know if they will join in.

If you have heard about the strike by ground crews and flight attendants at Lufthansa and are worried if it will impact us. I am aware of the situation and we are monitoring it. The flight department at the People to People national office are also aware of the situation are confident it will not impact our flights. If that changes, we will let you know right away.

The delegates are not aware of this, and I do not think they need to be; they have had enough to worry about with faulty air conditioning on trains and buses, so I do not think they need this as well.

Otherwise, the program is going well, and everyone is having fun. Just wait until you see the pictures! See you all Saturday.

Update from the road

I finally have an opportunity to post, so here goes. Eveything is going fine. Delegates are having a lot of fun, and learning a lot. We had a great time in Athens, are heading today to Olympia (not the one south of you), and tonight we'll take our overnight ferry to Italy.

So far they've learned how to dance traditional Greek dances, played volleyball with Greek students, heard a private concert in a 2,300 year old theater (okay, it was Janet singing, but it was private), and climbed the Acropolis. A lot more, but breakfast now awaits us, and then our next full day.

Lufthansa

Parents: we'll use the phone tree to let you know of our arrival, but if you want to check with the airline on-line, here is a link:

http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/us/info_and_services/flightinfo/arrivals_departures?nodeid=1699706&l=en&cid=1000390

Just type in our flight number:

Seattle to Frankfurt 491
Frankfurt to Athens 3382

Return:
Paris to Frankfurt 4235
Frankfurt to Seattle 490

Airport Meeting Part 2

Bring your passport!

If for some reason you are delayed getting to the airport (major bridge collapse, alien attack from outer space, etc.), or if you can't find us there (very unlikely) I'll have my cell phone with me. 253-376-3537.

E-mail check

Please let me know you received my email, and more importantly have read the current postings, by emailing me at charleshall@yahoo.com with the subject line "Plato was from Greece". Thank you, and we'll see you Monday!

Parents: Phone cards

Recently, People to People emailed many of us regarding Cellhire, a for rent cell phone service. That is an option open to you, however it can be expensive, and it really isn't necessary. If you need to contact your delegate during the program, please call the delegate assistance team at 800-669-7882. They will know where we are 24/7, and can call me on my international cell phone if you need to speak with your son or daughter.

If you do send your child with an international cell phone, please keep in mind that just as when your child is in school there will be times when phones must be turned off, and when it would be innappropriate for a conversation.

The best way for them to communicate with you is to have them take a phone card. The one I use is the MCI/Verizon card from Costco. It is very inexpensive, and the easiest to use. Trust me, I've had delegates take other phone cards, and end up using mine because they couldn't use their own. If you want to leave a message for your child, you may send one to the next hotel where we are staying and ask that the message be given to us at check-in.

Weather

The weather forecast for Athens, for the next few days, is for temperatures in the 90's under sunny skies. Rome this week is around 90 degrees, and Paris today and tomorrow should have rain and 73 degrees.

Why am I posting this? To remind you to check the suggested packing list in the "2008 Student Ambassador Protocol" handbook. It is not at all uncommon for us to experience light rain in Parisian summers, so a light jacket with a hood is a good idea. If you have everything on the list, you should be just fine.

One item not on that list, but one I strongly suggest you take, is a refillable water bottle. When you are walking a lot, and we will be walking a lot, in 90 degree weather, you'll need to drink lots of water, and you won't want to stop and buy bottles of it.

Schedule of Activities

Some of you have let me know you've not been able to find this information on the People to People website, so I've posted it here.

JULY 14 - AUGUST 2, 2008

MONDAY, JULY 14
Depart for Athens
Meet your delegation and board your international overnight flight to Europe.

TUESDAY, JULY 15
Athens, Greece
Welcome to Europe! After arrival at the airport your Delegation Manager and coach
driver will greet you!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16
Athens, Greece
􀁺 Enjoy a guided city walk taking in such amazing sights as the majestic Acropolis as well
as the Parthenon which symbolizes the glory of ancient Greece.
􀁺 Take some time with your delegation Manager for a walk in the old part of Athens -
Plaka, and enjoy the flair on your own.
􀁺 Take some time to relax and refresh yourself.
􀁺 Learn the first steps of the most popular Greek dances at the public school of Ano
Liossia.
􀁺 Participate in a traditional folkloric dance show by professional dancers. Don't be shy!
You can also join the dance in the end!

THURSDAY, JULY 17
Athens, Greece
􀁺 Enjoy your day on the beach with swimming and sport activities!

FRIDAY, JULY 18
Peloponnesus, Greece
􀁺 Take part in a service project in Glyfada near Athens. The "Archelon Association" takes
care for the protection of sea turtles- Caretta Caretta, especially for the preservation of
their natural living space and the existing of their species.
􀁺 Join a guided visit of the famous theatre of Epidaurus! The theater is marveled for its
exceptional acoustics, which permit almost perfect intelligibility of unamplified spoken
word from the stage to all 15,000 spectators, regardless of their seating!

SATURDAY, JULY 19
Overnight ferry to Bari, Italy
􀁺 Guided visit of Olympia, where the Olympic Games first took place in 776 BC. At
ancient Olympia, you can see the ruins of the Temple of Zeus as well as a 3rd century
BC athletic stadium.
􀁺 Departure of your overnight ferry to Bari on the Italian mainland.

SUNDAY, JULY 20
Naples, Italy
􀁺 Visit the ancient city of Pompeii, Vesuvius' most famous victim. When the mountain
erupted in AD 79, it rained ash and stone and completely destroyed and buried the city.

MONDAY, JULY 21
Rome, Italy
􀁺 Take an excursion to Mount Vesuvius, one of Europe's few active volcanoes. Don't
worry, the last eruption was in 1944.

TUESDAY, JULY 22
Rome, Italy
􀁺 Today you will visit the capital of Catholicism and the world's smallest state, the
Vatican! Admire St. Peter’s cathedral, including Michelangelo's glorious Pieta and the
Sistine Chapel.
􀁺 Continue with a city exploration in the way of a Riddle Rally including Piazza Navona,
the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Bring some coins - tossing a
coin in the fountain will ensure your return to Rome!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23
Assisi, Italy
􀁺 Some of Rome's most popular highlights are waiting for you: your guide will take you
through the Coliseum and the Roman Forum. The city of Rome with its antique
monuments and religious sites has been UNESCO World Heritage since 1980.
􀁺 Participate in an Educational Meeting at the monastery. You will have the privilege to
speak to a monk or a priest of the Franciscan Order who will tell you about life in the
monastery and its founder, Saint Francis who lived in Assisi in the 12th century

THURSDAY, JULY 24
Assisi, Italy
􀁺 Your day with Full On is a fear overcoming, confidence building and horizon expanding
personal development experience. The day involves indoor and outdoor challenges,
adventure and learning and the opportunity to abseil off an 800-year-old medieval
tower!

FRIDAY, JULY 25
Montecatini, Italy
􀁺 Now your guide will take you for a walk through the city of Florence, passing by the
Duomo and the bronze doors to the Baptistery, known as the Gate to Paradise.
􀁺 Pay a visit to the Accademia Gallery, which houses Michelangelo's colossal statue,
David.
􀁺 Get to know Pisa, while your DM will show you around. Use the free time for visiting the
Duomo and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

SATURDAY, JULY 26
Vicenza, Italy
􀁺 Enjoy an official welcome by an employee of the American Battle Monuments
Commission who will also guide you through the American Cemetery Florence, where
over 4.000 American soldiers, which were killed during the capture of Rome in June
1944, are buried.
􀁺 Enjoy a warm and official welcome to Brescello by a member of the town hall, or the
Director of the "Museum Peppone e don Camillo!"
􀁺 Visit the Museum Peppone e don Camillo and see some of the film sets throughout the
town.

SUNDAY, JULY 27
Overnight train, Italy - France
􀁺 Enjoy one of life's greatest pleasures and take a ride in a gondola. Passing "Canale
Grande" and narrow channels you will see the famous Guggenheim Museum, the
"Fenice Theater" and Mozart's Venice Residence.
􀁺 During a guided orientation you will explore the bustling alleys, quaint bridges and
narrow canals of Venice. See the Basilica San Marco and the Bridge of Sigh.
􀁺 Take part in an informative presentation about the making of glass in Murano. You will
learn about the singular steps leading from the composition to the polish of glass. A
demonstration of each of the working steps will underline the speech.
􀁺 Say good-bye to Venice and depart with the overnight train for the magical city of Paris!

MONDAY, JULY 28
Guesthouse, France
􀁺 Today you will learn how to express yourself in French! Attend a French language
lesson where you can learn a few phrases in preparation for your Home Stay/Guest
House.
􀁺 Enjoy a guided exploration of one of the most important art collections in the world, the
famous Musee du Louvre. You will visit the principal parts of the museum - including a
look at Leonardo's masterpiece, Mona Lisa.

TUESDAY, JULY 29
Guesthouse, France
􀁺 Enjoy an exciting day at the guesthouse and spend your time with different activities!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
Guesthouse, France
􀁺 Enjoy your last full day at the guesthouse!

THURSDAY, JULY 31
Paris, France
􀁺 Say good bye to your guesthouse and head for Paris!
􀁺 Voila Paris! A French guide will now join you for an orientation of the city Ernest
Hemingway called "a moveable feast".
􀁺 Visit the historic Montmartre area, a haven for artists and writers before WWI. Marvel at
the white Basilique du Sacre Coeur, which is the second highest point in Paris. Take
some time to discover this area's treasures in small groups.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
Paris, France
􀁺 Admire a dazzling view of Paris! There's only one place to go: take the elevator up to
the top of the Eiffel Tower (899 feet) which was built for the 1889 World's Fair to
commemorate the French Revolution.
􀁺 Explore the magnificent Chateau de Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on
your own. Built during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King, it was the seat of the royal
court from 1682 to 1789, when the French Revolution put an end to the monarchy.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
Depart from Paris for the United States
􀁺 Say goodbye to Europe! Have a nice flight back home!

Important Preparatory Information:
􀁺 Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
􀁺 A water bottle is highly recommended
􀁺 Climate can vary greatly during the program, be prepared for very warm and cool
weather

PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary may change at any time without notice. Updated
Schedule of Activities will be posted on your student’s OnBoard Web Site

Airport Meeting

Bring your passport!

Seriously, if you don't bring your passport, you won't go with us! We'll meet at the southern end of the ticket counter area, at the overlook of the historic airplanes display. Parents, remember delegates are checked in and out by their passport. I'll know they've arrived when I have their passport, and upon our return August 2nd I'll know you've picked them up when you've collected their passport. Delegates, your passport is the most important possession you'll take with you on this trip.

Our flight, Lufthansa 491, is scheduled to depart at 2:25 P.M. Monday, July 14th. This is an international flight, so we should plan on being there 3 (three) hours before departure. That means we should be there at 11:25 A.M. Monday morning. Yes, I know that is early, and yes, I know we'll probably spend some time waiting before we depart. However, we are not travelling as individuals, or even as a small family group. There will be 31 of us checking in, and frequently the airline won't let us even START checking in until EVERYONE has arrived. So please don't be late! If arriving at the airport before 11:25 A.M. Monday is an inconvenience, please let me know and I'll help you make alternative arrangements.

TSA Travel Tips

Please visit the TSA website at the following link to review their most current information on security checkpoint screening, as well as their restrictions for both carry-on and checked luggage. Preparing for screening before arrival at the airport will allow us to move more quickly and efficiently through the security process! Here is the link:

http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2007/press_release_05242007b.shtm

Please take the time to follow their various links on the page.

Credit and Debit cards

Apparantly many credit and debit card companies have added some hefty charges for using these cards overseas. In addition to selecting the exchange rate most favorable to the company, they are also tacking on "exchange" fees that can be as much as $5.00 per transaction. So before we leave you might want to call your financial institution and find out what their fees are. Then have a discussion with your delegate about how they should spend their money. Perhaps they should get more cash at an ATM and use the card less frequently?

You did remember to call the financial institution and let them know the card would be used overseas, and the dates of travel, didn't you?

During our program

Should you have any questions during our trip, the Delegate Assistance Team is always ready and available to assist you and get your questions answered! You may call them at 1 (800) 669-7882. The team is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during our trip. If necessary, they will even be able to call me on my cell phone.

Full On Experience Disclosure of Risk

Images of delegates enjoying the Full On Experience in Wales last summer!

This will be the third year our delegates will have the opportunity to participate in the Full On Experience. Each time, it has been one of the highlights of the trip for all involved!

If you can't read it above, here is a reconstructed version:

During the Full On 'self awareness and personal development day', participants will have the opportunity to personally challenge themselves by participating in adventure and educational based activities.

In Assisi, Italy the main activity is rapelling down the side of a restored tower.

Participating in these activivites can be dangerous, risky and result in serious consequences if undertaken by inexpereienced and/or unqualified people. However when underaken by trained professionals using industry approved equipment, the anmount of actual risk is very minimal and manageable, while the "perceived" risk (the risk we think there is) remains high.

One of the great things about 'Adventure Learning' is this perceived risk and the feelings and emotions it evokes can create a very powerful and meaningful learning opportunity, which is why is is included in the Full On Experience.

The staff and management pf Full On have taken all practicable steps to indentfy ana minimise potential dangers. For example some of the things we do include:

• Conducting site specific Risk Assessments for all activities


• Following comprehensive Safety Management Plans


• Using competent and trained instructors


• Conducting pre season training and assessment for all instructors to ensure competence with site specific activities and safety procedures


• Conducting Psychological Risk training


• Regularly reviewing all aspects of our Safety Management Plan


• Inviting external safety auditors on site to assess 'in operation'


• Using only industry checked and approved safety equipment

All participants must follow opur instructions and use the provided safety equipment. We reserve the right to withdraw any person who in our opinion is likely to endanger themselves or others. e also reserve the right to cancel activities on the 'Full On Experience' if we become concerned for any reason for your safety or that of any other person.

Whilst we cannot guarantee the absolute safety of participants, we can guarantee that:

• We will have done all we can to be prepared for any possible accident or emergency


• We have in place and follow best practice operational and safety systems and procedures


• We will use only trained, assessed and competent outdoor instructors and guides

Yours faithfully

Paul Nicholson, Operations Director, Full On New Zealand Limited

One last note: for this activity, please bring comfortable, worn-in athletic shoes

Service Project

We've only heard, so far, from the Humane Society, but they were very appreciative of the donations all of you made to their cause. Kudos to all who donated!

Phone tree

Tracie Norman (Brittani's mom) has volunteered to put our phone tree together. She'll be emailing everyone soon, but we could help her out by emailing to her the following information at: tracie.norman@comcast.net

Delegate's name
Parent's/Guardian's name
Daytime phone number
Evening phone number
Cell phone number

Thank you!

Cameras

As a general rule, delegates should not take anything with them they would be sorry to lose. In other words, no valuables! An exception would be their camera.

There will be so many photo opportunities, delegates will want to take a large number of pictures. Disposable cameras just wouldn't work, because they would need so many of them. The problem with film cameras is they require a lot of film, which can be damaged by airport screening machines. Also, traditional film cameras don't allow you to see the shot you just took until you get home and get it developed.

Digital cameras solve all of these problems. However, as Mrs. Makfinsky pointed out in our meeting Sunday, make sure you have a large storage card, or more than one card. Costco sells 2 GB cards (enough for over 1000 pictures) for about $25. You'll pay up to three times that at a souvenir shop in Europe.

Our Contest

Nancy Zhang is currently in the lead. With school soon out for summer, I know you'll have more time on your hands, so get involved! You'll have fun getting to know the delegates you'll be spending three weeks with this summer.

Baggage limits

This information was forwarded to me by Brittani Norman's mom. Thanks for this useful information!

Here's what I found out from the Lufthansa website regarding the luggage -

Weight limit is 50 lbs. (23kg); cost for overage between 50-70 lb. (23-32kg) = $50 USD

Size limit is 158 cm or 62.2 inches; cost for overage = $105 (website says 1 "unit" so I called and they said 1 unit = $105)

Here is a link to Lufthansa's site:

http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/us/info_and_services/baggage?l=en&nodeid=1769640&cid=1000390

Earthquake update

There was an earthquake earlier today in Greece. I don't think it will impact our program. The closest we'll be to the epicenter is the port where we catch our ferry to Italy. I've searched the news sources and haven't found any reports of damage in Patras, the port city.

That having been said, please know that People to People places our safety above everything else. If there is any damage that would impact our travel plans, those plans will be changed. However, I don't think there will need to be any change in our plans. If there are any changes, we'll let you know immediately!

Our Accommodations

Our accomodations are listed on the People to People web site. Based upon the information presented there, I've tracked down websites for our accomodations. Remember, these are subject to change. They're also subject to the accuracy of my internet search abilities!

Athens, Greece

http://en.venere.com/hotels_athens/glyfada/hotel_london.html

Isthmia, Greece

http://www.hotel-prime.gr/index.php?mylang=english

Overnight ferry to Bari, Italy

Castellamare di Stabia, Italy (south of Naples)

http://www.piccoleancelle.it/

Rome

http://hotels.hotelopia.com/italy/rome/hotel-giotto.html

Cannara, Italy

http://www.onetravelsource.com/21272000.html

Castellare di Pescia, Italy

http://www.rphotels.com/hotels/hotels.php?pg=mappa&lg=EN&tipo=hotel&cont=rose

Creazzo-Vicenza, Italy

http://www.vergilius.it/jspvergilius/hotel.jsp?lang=en

Overnight train Venice to Paris

Guesthouse, Chartres, France

http://blogsperso.orange.fr/web/jsp/blog.jsp?page=2&blogID=516251


Paris Novotel Pont de Sèvres

http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/nov/1979/fiche_touristiques.shtml

Paris update

Part of our time in Paris will be spent meeting with a group of local students who are themselves organinzing a trip to Romania later this summer. They'll be working in a village helping young children in need, and look forward to telling us all about their plans. They even have a website:

http://blogsperso.orange.fr/web/jsp/blog.jsp?page=1&blogID=516251

I'm looking into how we could help them with their project, and will provide updates later.

June Meeting Update

We’re getting close to our June meeting, so I wanted to send everyone this update. There is a lot of information here so please read this carefully, and let me know right away if you have any questions.

The meeting is Sunday, June 8th, from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. at Goodman Middle School, located at 3701 38th Ave NW, Gig Harbor, WA, 98335. For those of you familiar with the building, we’ll meet upstairs in room 201-202. For those of you unfamiliar with the building, we’ll have volunteers available at the front door to assist you.

What you need to do to be ready for the meeting:

1. We’ll have our project presentations at the meeting, so you need to be ready to present. If you need any technology I’ll have a computer with a projector, plus a document camera we can use. Please arrive early (1:30) if you need to set up for your presentation. Some of you have not yet told me what your topic will be; please let me know right away.

2. We’ll hand out everyone’s bio sheet, but we can only hand out yours if you bring copies for everyone. I already have copies from the Wisconsin delegation, and I’ll send them ours once you turn yours in.

3. I’ve received everyone’s polo shirt, name badge, lanyard, and luggage tags, so we’ll be passing out those items at the meeting. Kelly and Andy, we’ll need to make other arrangements to get yours to you.

4. If there have been any changes to the information on the health form since you turned yours in (new medications, etc.) please bring a revised copy to the meeting. I’ve already received one by email, which is another way to get it to me.

5. At the meeting, parents will be asked to fill out an emergency contact form. It’ll ask for information such as contact numbers for your delegate’s doctor, and alternate emergency phone numbers in case of emergency (a close friend or relative), so please bring that information to the meeting.

6. We need two copies of your passport, just the page with your photo. We need these for two reasons. You’ll have one to use on the program for identification, and the second one will be used in case we need to have an emergency replacement. For that purpose, we also ask you to bring a second set of passport photos. They do NOT need to be identical to the one in your passport.

7. Please read, consider, and sign the “Success Contract” in the protocol handbook, and bring it to the meeting. We’ll have a little ceremony at the end of the meeting, where you’ll be asked to pledge to follow the contract, and receive your People to People pin.

8. For our service project, we’ll be collecting items at the meeting, so please bring them. Just leave them in your car, and after the meeting we’ll transfer them in the parking lot.

This meeting is very important. Your attendance (except for Andy) is, therefore, also very important. If you cannot make it for any reason please let me know right away. Your leadership team will be at a training meeting that morning, so please don’t email me or try to call me at home after 8:00 A.M. Sunday; I’ll not get the message until after the meeting if you do.

A Fun Contest!

Delegates, here is a challenge for you. We are a combined delegation, with students from Washington and Wisconsin. Here’s the deal: Make contact with a delegate from the other state. The object is to get someone from the other state to email a leader from your state's delegation, mentioning your name and an interesting fact about you.

For example: Sally from Washington contacts Suzie from Wisconsin, and asks Suzie to contact Charles Hall (delegation leader from Washington) to tell him she has heard from Sally, and mentioning an interesting fact about Sally. The more Wisconsin delegates Sally gets to contact Charles, and tell him Sally asked them to contact him, the more points Sally gets. Plus, Suzie gets points for participating.

Delegation leaders will keep track of everyone’s participation. You get two points for having someone from the other state contacting us on your behalf. You get one point for sending in an email entry for a delegate from the other state.

The five delegates with the most points will get a certificate which can be used for special privileges on the program, such as special seating on the bus, head of the line at dinner, or special requests for roommates at hotels. The purpose of this contest is to have delegates from Wisconsin and Washington getting to know each other before we leave, so contact as many delegates as possible!

Contest ends June 14 (one month before our departure) so get involved NOW by contacting people with interesting facts about yourself.

Questions about the contest? Email charleshall@yahoo.com right away. Your chances of winning depend upon your efforts at winning! No purchase is necessary. Decision of the judges is final. As your leaders we wish each of you the best of luck, but luck has far less to do with it than getting involved right now!

On-line Quizzes

How to find the on-line quizzes:

1. Log on to the On-Board web site
2. Along the top of the home page, click on the “Learning Center” tab
3. Find the “Certification” box on the left hand side of the new page you’ve opened, and click on the red “Certification” box
4. Follow the instructions

Updated information

1. Our flight information is posted on the People to People web site, and our calendar of activities should be posted there soon as well. Keep checking in for the latest information. By the way, the airline is Lufthansa, a German airline.

2. Only a very few of you have sent me your biographical information. Please send it in for approval as soon as you can. I also want to add that I’ve been very impressed with the ones I’ve seen so far!

3. Some of you still haven’t told us what you want to research for your project, and the presentations are coming up at our next meeting. Please, if you haven’t already, let me know what you want to research.

Update

People to People

1. Our next meeting will be Sunday, June 8, from 2:00P.M. until 5:00 P.M., at Goodman Middle School, 3701 38th St NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335. For those familiar with the school, it will be held upstairs in my classroom. For those unfamiliar, there will be guides posted at the main entry.

2. Our flight information is posted on the Student Ambassador website. As you can see, we will be visiting the cities on our program in reverse order, starting in Athens and ending in Paris.

3. Also on the website is a “certification” page. There are three short quizzes you need to pass in order to be certified to travel. If you have any questions, please email me.

4. Ambassadors who will be traveling as 9th graders (current 8th graders) may also log on and take an on-line credit course. Details are on the website.

5. Projects will be presented at the June meeting. Some of you still haven’t let me know what you are researching. The time to let me know is NOW.

6. Please prepare a bio-sheet telling us about you. Please email it to me for approval, then please make a copy for each member of our combined delegation; we have 43 delegates and 4 leaders. Color pictures tell us a lot more! I would like to have these available to hand out at the June meeting, so please don’t put this off. I already have copies from the members of our delegation from Wisconsin, which we’ll also hand out at the June meeting.

Our May Meeting!

Our next meeting is next Sunday, May 4rd! Remember, this meeting is our “field trip” where we will practice our ambassadorial skills.

We’ll meet at Pierce Transit’s Tacoma Dome Station (http://www.piercetransit.org/tds2.htm) on the south side of the free parking garage, near the light rail (http://www.soundtransit.org/x4621.xml ) station. From there, we’ll take the free light rail train to the Union Station stop, and then walk to the Museum of Glass (http://www.museumofglass.org/ ). Our tour of the museum costs $4.00; please bring cash.

The museum can only accommodate our delegation, so parents, friends, and siblings please don’t try to come along. Besides, one major purpose of our field trip is to make sure we can move through an urban environment as a delegation.

We need to get on the train at 2:00 P.M. One of the ambassadorial skills we’ll be field testing is our ability to show up on time, which for People to People means 5 minutes early. So, please be sure to be there by 1:55. We don’t want to leave you behind! Our schedule has us returning to the Tacoma Dome Station/parking lot by 5:00 P.M.

If you have questions please email me at charleshall@yahoo.com or call me at 253-265-1208. If you cannot attend this important meeting, please let me know in advance so we can bring you up to date!

Our June Meeting

Typically, we like to set the date of our fourth, and last, meeting after we know our scheduled departure date. We do this because we usually receive delegates' polo shirts, lanyards, name badges, and luggage tags about 2-3 weeks prior to our departure date. That way, we can hand those out at the last meeting.

Well, now we know our departure date is July 14. Having a meeting any weekend in June or July runs the risk of conflicting with family obligations; graduations, weddings, Father's Day, etc. So what I would like from everyone is a list of Saturdays and Sundays which would NOT work for you during those months. Please email those dates to charleshall@yahoo.com as soon as you can, but please no later than March 23, so that we can get the last meeting scheduled. That way, you can start planning your summer!

Thanks for your help.

Our Meeting Sunday, March 9th

Some things to remember:

1. We "spring forward" that same day, so please set your clock and watch to Daylight Saving time so you can be on time!

2. Please bring some money for pizza. Remember, we're eating at a pizza restaurant to practice our table manners in public. Restaurants are NOT school cafeterias.

3. Parents, this is a meeting for the delegates to practice ambassadorial behavior as a delegation. If you have questions, please email me or call me.

4. Check out the new website! People to People has revamped the On-Board website, with new information. It also has the names and contacts for our teamed delegation members from Wisconsin. I've spoken with their leader. I'll have a prize at the meeting Sunday for the delegate who has communicated (email or phone) with (not just to, but actually with) the most delegates from Wisconsin. Every year that we've had a teamed delegation join us, the best friendships have come from across the delegations. Start making connections now! Here is a link to the website: http://www.peopletopeople.com/site/Postenroll/pages/DelegateLogin.aspx?productLine=Student

5. Another contest: Janet and I recently went on vacation. On the trip, we bought a rather strange souvenir. Here are the clues: they are long, but fit on a dining room table; we bought them in Korea; and, they are silver in color. Think you know what they are? Email me at charleshall@yahoo.com and be sure to include the phrase "P2P contest" in the subject line. The winner will be announced at the meeting Sunday. In case of a tie, the first entry received wins. What does this have to do with our trip? Nothing; I just thought it might be fun.

6. Please make sure you have your shirt size entered on the website. The site also has instructions to help you determine your proper size. March 10th is the last date to enter your size and be guaranteed delivery.

7. Questions? Email me at charleshall@yahoo.com or call me at 253-265-1208. See you Sunday!

Departure Date

Our departure date has been announced: July 14, 2008! We should be scheduled to return August 2. We've also been teamed with a delegation from Wisconsin. More details on that to follow.

Our third meeting

Our third meeting will be on Sunday, May 4th. This will be our "field trip" experience, when we'll practice our ambassadorial skills. We'll meet at the park and ride lot in Tacoma, across from Frieghthouse Square, at 2:00 P.M. Not sure where that is? Here is a link: http://www.piercetransit.org/tds2.htm

From there, the delegation will take the light rail train to the museum district, and visit the Museum of Glass. We'll have a tour of the gallery and the "hot shop" where glass art is created. Here is a link to the museum: http://www.museumofglass.org/ Please bring $4.00 cash for the tour.

We should be back at the park and ride lot by 5:00 P.M.

Our Second Meeting

Our second meeting will be Sunday, March 9, again from 2-5 P.M. Please make sure you set your clock for Daylight Savnigs Time, as that is the day we "spring forward."

The meeting will be held at Round Table Pizza located at 7011 27th St W, University Place, WA 98466. Please bring money for pizza, and we'll practice "delegation" table manners. This is important, as we'll be eating our meals in public, still representing our country and People to People! It's not the same as eating lunch in your school's cafeteria.

Parents, you do not need to attend this meeting, and in fact it might be better if you don't. We want to practice our manners in a "real life" setting, and you won't be with us in the trip. Plus, the room only seats 44, and our delegation has 32 delegates and three adults, so there won't be many extra seats.

Who is the Mona Lisa

Perhaps the most famous painting we'll see in the Louvre is the Mona Lisa. For years, people have debated whom the painting depicts. Has this question finally been answered? Check out this article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22652514/?GT1=10755

Travel Dates

Please understand I have no control over travel dates. I also want to know when we will travel, as we would also like to plan our summer! I've been told we should have the dates by the end of the month.

That having been said, as far as I am aware everyone should be out of school by June 26th. If that is NOT the case, please let me know right away. I don't know if it would make a difference, but I will pass on any such information to the national office. Thank you!

1st Meeting Date

First of all, I want to thank the many of you who answered my call for help in finding a meeting location! I am pleased to announce our first meeting will be Sunday, January 27, from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M., at the Keller Williams Realty office located at 5825 Tacoma Mall Blvd, Tacoma, WA, 98409. It is just south of I-5 and 56th St in Tacoma.

It is very important that parents and delegates attend this meeting. If you cannot, please let me know ASAP. Also, I’ll need to have everyone’s completed Health Form by that date; so far, I have received two completed forms. You can bring it to the meeting, or mail it to me at 8019 33rd St NW, Gig Harbor, WA, 98335.