This Summer See "Paris By Night"

Travelers attending the D-Day trip this summer have lots of amazing opportunities ahead of them! One that we will discuss at this Sunday night's meeting is an optional "Paris By Night" activity.

This activity will be available either the first or second night we are in Paris. Those who choose to do it will have the opportunity to go up the Eiffel Tower! (Note: This will be travelers' only opportunity to go up the Tower. The following day we will stop to take pictures overlooking the Eiffel Tower, but we will not have time to go up). The trip up the Tower will be followed by a cruise along the River Seine, with a look at some of Paris's most famous landmarks. I had a chance to preview this activity during my training this past Thanksgiving, and I HIGHLY recommend it. Paris is beautiful when lit up for the night, and this is one of the best ways to see it. The pictures here are from my experience.

This is not one of the "optional excursions" that must be pre-booked and paid for through our tour company, but we do need to sign up in advance. This is because our tour director, who would be arranging this for us, must book space for groups and pay for it two weeks in ahead of our arrival. If you want to do this activity, you'll have to commit to it at our meeting and make plans to pay for it while on tour. I'm anticipating the cost will be around 20-25 Euro ($26-30).

Well worth it to take pictures like this: YOU at the top of the Eiffel Tower!

Culver's Night to Benefit D-Day Trip - April 7th

Once again, the nice folks at the Culver's in Lake Hallie have agreed to help us out with raising money for our D-day trip! A "Culver's Night" has been planned for April 7, 2009.

At our meeting on April 5, I'll distribute coupons to be used for the fundraiser. Travelers hand them out to friends, relatives, co-workers, etc. For anyone who presents a coupon when making a purchase on April 7, Culver's will donate 10% of their total sale to our group. What a deal!

We've done similar events in cooperation with Culver's in the past, and they've always been very nice to us. Let's do our best to honor their goodwill by generating record turnouts this time around! One rule to keep in mind: Culver's does not want us to just stand outside the restaurant handing out coupons to anyone who goes in. They are able to provide this service because they are relying us to bring in more customers than they would generally get on a slow weeknight. So, gather your friends and head to Culver's on Tuesday, April 7th!

Deadline to Enroll in Italy Trip: March 31!

For those considering enrolling on the 2010 Italy trip, an important deadline is approaching. You must enroll by THIS TUESDAY, MARCH 31 to get the best rate on your trip. It may cost you up to $200 more if you wait one more day, so don't delay!

Enroll online at www.eftours.com/student. You'll need to enter our tour number: 673733 and make your $95 downpayment.

I hope you can join us on this amazing trip! See this post from March 16 for prices, itinerary, and other details.

Reminder: Mandatory Meeting for D-Day Travelers April 5

With our departure date rapidly approaching, it's time for our next scheduled check-in meeting for the D-Day trip. On Sunday, April 5th we will meet in the Chi-Hi Cafeteria at 6:00 PM to discuss a number of important travel-related topics. Items on the agenda include:

• Pre-booking optional excursions
• Signing up for the "Paris by Night" activity
• A general itinerary (some details still in the works)
• As complete flight information as I can get by then (currently I have flight schedules for the extension group, but not the regualar, 11-day group)
• General Fund and Individual Account status information
• Expectations for Students (must sign required paperwork)
• Students indicate rooming/roommate preferences

See you there!

New Candy Bar Order has Arrived!

Can you smell the chocolate? Our last order of candy bars for this school year has arrived! To sell (and raise $ for your trip), here's what you need to do:

Bring payment for however many boxes you would like to me in room 136. Each box costs $28 and contains 52 items which you sell for $1 each. This means $24 profit for your trip per box. Sell the candy at school/work. When you've sold your lot, bring in the profits and I'll credit them to your trip account.

Boxes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't delay if you would like to participate. If you act soon, you will have a choice between an assortment of Fannie May chocolates or M&M Mars candies.

Note: If you've returned fundraising money to me within the past month, you may have funds in your school account that you may put toward the purchase of your first box. Just ask and I can give you the amount.

Butter Braid Kick-Off a Tasty Success!

Jim Knobloch (a.k.a. "the Butter Braid guy") met with student travelers this past Monday during Lunch & Learn, and urged students to get out there and sell to raise money for their trips. He also provided us with samples of some delicious Butter Braids, so we all have had a taste of their gooey, buttery goodness.

He also gave us plenty of ideas about who to sell to, and many of our students left the meeting and immediately drummed up some business. In fact, I talked to one traveler who sold EIGHT before the end of the school day. Given the popularity of the product with those who have purchased before, Jim recommended to me that we make sure students sell in areas/organizations that have some familiarity with the product.

This morning he emailed me and suggested that students attempt to sell at these locations, as they have previously ordered products from him:

• Our Savior's Lutheran Church
• Halmstead Elementary
• Landmark Christian Church

If anyone belongs to these churches OR would be willing to take forms to Halmstead staff, post a comment below so we know they were approached! Remember, forms and money are due back April 20th!

Considering Your Options: Should I Purchase Traveler's Insurance?

As you are likely aware, the tour company we are traveling with offers an "All-Inclusive Insurance Plan" for travelers. For D-Day Travelers, the deadline to purchase this insurance is April 1, 2009. I do not require travelers to purchase this plan (though some Group Leaders do), because I feel this decision should be up to parents and travelers. Traveling without insurance does involve some additional "risk", though whether the elimination of that potential (minimal) risk is worth the fees charged, is largely a personal decision.

With that in mind, here are some things to consider when making your decision:

• Most U.S. insurance companies do not offer complete coverage while you are traveling abroad. Check with your insurance company to be certain if you believe you already have coverage. Don't assume and then find out later you don't have coverage.


• If your current medical insurance covers care in Europe, you will have to carry with you proof of your coverage. This is because hospitals in our destination countries won't just "take your word for it" if you show up needing care.


• Although traveling in Europe is VERY safe (rates of violent crime are MUCH lower than those of most major US cities), crimes like petty theft and purse-snatching are not uncommon, especially in areas frequented by tourists. You will need to be vigilant in keeping track of your possessions, and it wouldn't hurt to have a "back-up plan" in case you become a victim of theft.


• The cost of EF's All-Inclusive Insurance is $115 for 2009 travelers and $125 for 2010 travelers.

EF does provide insurance to travelers who would like extra protection while on tour. Listed below is what's included in EF's All-Inclusive Insurance Plan:

1. Tour Cancellation & Interruption Service:

• Full refund of Program Fee if canceling or partial refund if leaving tour early due to serious illness or injury requiring hospitalization, financial hardship due to unexpected job loss, jury duty, military call to active duty or severe damage to home. Note: Because of EF's new "Job-Loss Guarantee", all travelers may cancel due to job loss with minimal fees; purchasing the insurance is no longer required for that. For cancellations due to other reasons listed above, the insurance is necessary to get reduced fees.

2. Medical and Accident Insurance:

• Direct payments will be made to the hospital in the event of hospitalization


• Travel and accomodation expenses for a family member to be with you while you are hospitalized


• Combined coverage of up to $35,000 for the above situations.

3. Baggage and Property Insurance

• Coverage of theft of baggage, cash, airline tickets, valuable documents and valuable property in cases of theft or delay.


• Emergency cash on tour of up to $300 within 24 hours in case of theft

If I want to purchase this insurance, what do I do?

You may enroll by 1.) Contacting Mrs. Welle (I can add it to your account) or 2.) logging on to your EF Account and following the links to add insurance, or 3.) calling EF's Customer Service at 1-800-665-5364. Have your account number handy.

Candy Ordered - Change in Plan

Okay, if there's one thing I've learned from our fundraising efforts this year, it's that working with candy bar distributors is exhausting. They seem to change their prices and available products every couple of days...though that's probably an exaggeration.

Anyway, after I called in an order for a mix of Hershey's and M&M boxes, I was informed that Hershey's is changing their fundraiser assortments - no longer making $1 packs (and instead switching to $1.50 and $2 packs). Thus, I decided to scrap the Hershey's order and instead go with some other $1 variety of chocolate bars. The M&M assortment we just sold is still available however.

So, for the LAST candy order of the year, we'll get some more M&M packs like last time, and some Fanny May chocolates (which include 12 Milk Chocolate, 10 Crisped Rice, 10 Roasted Almond, 10 Caramel, 10 Peanut Butter). I'm anticipating the price per box will remain the same as last time ($28 per box), but I'll let you know for sure once I get the final invoice. Order should arrive early next week, and I'll distribute them on a first-come, first-served basis once again.

And the Winners Are...

Chosen at 8:00 PM on March 17, here are our lucky winners of the Quilt Raffle prizes:

Karin Cooke - 1st Prize - Full Size Quilt

Dylan Clark - 2nd Prize - 50" x 50" Wall Hanging

B. A. Scherer - 3rd Prize - WWII Movies & D-Day Book

I'll be contacting the lucky winners today. I will also post pictures of the winners & their prizes as they become available.

Thank you to everyone who sold or bought tickets. Our revenue from this fundraiser totalled over $1000!

Butter Braid Sale Kickoff Planned for March 23

Our next major fundraising initiative will launch next week Monday. During the lunch hour, Jim Knobloch of J & M Fundraising will meet with student travelers to present information about their featured product, the Butter Braid. He will also have free samples to eat, so you don't want to miss this one!

Students will be able to pick up order forms and promotional materials to share with potential customers. Students will have until April 20 to collect orders and payments. This allows studenst to gather orders over the Easter holiday. Products will be delivered May 1 at 3:40 PM. Since it is important that your orders remain frozen, you must be able to pick them up by 4:00 PM on May 1.

Both D-Day Trip and Italy travelers are eligible to participate in this fundraiser. For D-Day travelers, proceeds from this sale will benefit your contribution to the group's general fund (unless you have already met your obligation). If you are unsure how much you need to raise yet for the general fund, please see me for an updated balance. Proceeds raised by Italy travelers will benefit their individual trip accounts.

Note to D-Day Travelers: I hope to make this the LAST major fundraising effort for our general fund. Save for candy sales, this will be your last opportunity to meet your obligation to the general fund (which is approximately $67, but I'll have updated figures at our next meeting), so please plan accordingly.

See Versailles this Summer!

Travelers enrolled in the D-Day Trip have the opportunity to enhance their trip with two optional excursions. What are optional excursions? They are trips or activities that are not included in the regular tour price, but can be added to your trip for a small fee. Usually they are really cool experiences you would not want to miss, and they will cost less if you enroll in advance.

For D-Day Trip participants, two optional excursions are available: The London Eye & Thames River Cruise (more about that option later) and Versailles. I had the opportunity to visit Versailles as part of my training to lead this tour, and I highly recommend it! (That's me, standing in the Hall of Mirrors, to the left).

Versailles is a MUST-SEE locale for any history traveler. This grand palace, built by Louis XIV, is unrivaled in opulence and splendor. Some of the principal living areas are now open to the public as a museum, as are the elaborate gardens (hundreds of acres of them) behind the palace. The picture to the right is of the gardens during my trip in November. They'll be in full bloom when we go in June! Notably, several major treaties were signed in the palace's Hall of Mirrors, including the Treaty of Versailles which ended World War I. Within the various salons (rooms), you'll find numerous paintings and other works of art documenting the history of the French royal family.

If you would like to enroll on this tour, you can do so by accessing your online account and following the links to "enroll on an optional excursion". Or, let me know and I can also sign you up. The cost of the half-day trip (Versailles is about 20 miles outside of Paris), is $70, and that includes your transportation, admission, guided tour (and whisper headset equipment for the tour). You won't want to go to France and NOT see this, so sign up today! The deadline to enroll is April 26.

Double Your Fun? Italy 2010

Have you caught the "travel bug"? Wondering what you will be working for after the D-Day Trip is over? If you are already enrolled in the D-Day trip, consider making plans to join us for the Italy trip in 2010 as well!

The deadline to enroll at the lowest prices is March 31, 2009. Travelers who enroll by this date get:

• $100 off the regular tour price (an "early enrollment" discount)
• Locked in 2009 Program fees (those enrolling after 3/31 pay higher, 2010 fees)
• And...if you already traveled with EF (this means anyone attending the D-Day Trip)... $95 off the cost of your trip!!!

This means, the cost for a 9-Day trip to Italy will be $2732 for a student enrolling by 3/31/09. Or, for a veteran of the D-Day trip: $2637. What a deal!

There will be a meeting for interested travelers on March 23, 2009 at 6:00 PM in Mrs. Welle's room. Please plan to complete enrollment materials that evening if you wish to take advantage of these special offers.

Want more information? Here are some links you might find helpful (Note - you will be taken to a separate screen to view these documents. Click "download now" to save and view them):

• The Detailed Itinerary for Italy 2010
• A Price Quote for Italy 2010 (only accurate for those enrolling by 3/31/09)
• The 2010 EF Enrollment Booklet (details on payments, what's included, what to expect on tour, etc.)

Raffle Ticket Sellers Needed for March 17

March 17 is a big day: St. Patrick's Day, Parent-Teacher Conferences, and - of course - the date of our Quilt Raffle. We had two students volunteer to sell tickets during last week's parent-teacher conferences, and they made about $50 in sales for their efforts.

If any enterprising traveler would like to sit at a table near the Cardinal entrance and sell tickets from 5-8 PM on March 17, I'd be more than happy to set that up for you. I have more tickets if you need them and I'll bring the quilts for you to display. Sales might even be better since the drawing is that night.

Should Mrs. Welle Order More Candy Bars?

Well, even though I thought I had ordered plenty of candy to meet our needs through the end of the year, it turns out the boxes flew out of here in less than two weeks! Either you folks are excellent salesmen/women, or Chi-Hi is madly hypo-glycemic...

I need to know whether there are travelers (or their assistants) who would like to continue selling. It's especially important that I get an accurate count for this order because I don't want to be sitting here at the end of the year with candy yet to be sold. Particularly because I purchase the candy with money from the General Fund (which you then pay back when you pick up your boxes). The last thing that we want is to be in "debt" to the General Fund when the departure date for the D-Day Trip arrives!

Please respond to the poll question at right. I'd like to place the order no later than Monday, March 16.

New Communication Tool for History Travelers!

Greetings, all. Given the difficulties of communicating via the Google Groups page (some users found it cumbersome, passwords were forgotten, etc.) I'm changing up my communication tools once again. I apologize for any confusion, but from now on I will be attempting to post trip information via this blog. I hope you find it to be more user friendly. I think it will be easier for me to post links, pictures, and documents, which will become increasingly important as our departure date approaches.

To respond to any posting, simply click the "comments" button below it. I'll respond to questions as soon as I can.