The Verdict

After hearing from the majority of the extension travelers, it looks like the 11-Day tour will not be able to run. About 1/2 of the enrolled participants indicated they would not be interested in paying more to make the extension a "private" tour. Thus, for any remaining travelers who did want to pay, the cost would be considerably more than $145 (probably at least double), on top of the already higher program fees.

It's a bummer, but I think we'll still have a great trip for a couple of reasons:

• The most frequently cited reason for travelers who wanted to go on the extension was an interest in Pompeii. Luckily, this is still an "optional excursion" even on the regular tour, it just comes at the expense of a "free day" in Rome. So if you want to see Pompeii, you still should be able to do so. :)
• Our second choice tour (if we cannot get the one we requested due to numbers) also includes Pompeii and is one day longer. Should we have to switch to that itinerary, those now signed up for the extension would probably already have the cost covered based on what they had previously paid.
• Anyone currently signed up for the extension will have the extra cost refunded. You can request a check in the amount of the overpayment, though I would wait on that until we have our tour confirmed (in case there are changes in cost due to a switch to the 2nd choice tour) or until we're able to enroll you on the Pompeii excursion.

I appreciate your patience and flexibility as we go through these planning stages. It's always a bummer when things don't work out as we hope, but I think this change will still allow everyone a great tour.

Decision Time: Tour Extension

I have some potentially sad news to report. I received an email yesterday from our tour consultant that affects all those currently signed up for the extended (11-day) tour. He tells me that the chances of us being consolidated with another group also choosing an extension are quite slim...so it's looking like the extension will not have enough participants to run (20-22 are needed...we have 13).

HOWEVER...if travelers still wish to go, we could elect to pay the extra costs involved to make the extension a "private" tour. If all 13 travelers elected to do this, it would be an additional $145 per person.

I realize that $145 is a considerable cost, so I'm leaving it up to you guys. I need to get back to the tour consultant by Friday with our decision, so please let me know ASAP what you would like to do. Essentially your two choices are this:

• Pay an extra $145 to go on the extension we had planned OR
• the extension would be cancelled and the extra fees you already paid would be refunded.
  

Instructions for Strawberry Sale

Order forms for our strawberry sale are now available. Here are the pertinenet details:


Orders will be due February 18th.

3 sizes are available to customers (flat, 1/2 flat and quart); they will be listed on your order form along with pricing information.

Payments should be collected from customers at the time the order is placed. Checks can be made payable to Chi-Hi.

Orders will arrive the week of March 7 (specific date to be determined). It extremely important that you are able to pick up the order the day of arrival, as the strawberries are very perishable and need to be delivered to customers ASAP.

Sunday's Meeting Time Has Changed!

As discussed at this week's Lunch & Learn meeting, we're changing the start time for Sunday's mandatory meeting.

When I scheduled this meeting over a year ago, I did not realize it would be Super Bowl Sunday... which will likely be a conflict for many football fans.

In talking with the students, it was decided to move the meeting time up to 1:00 PM. That way we'll be finished long before kick-off!

My sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused by the time change. I realize no time is ideal for everyone, but I'm hoping this new time will cause the least conflict.

Note: Shift in Potential Departure Dates!!!

Greetings, Travelers! I just wanted to keep you informed about potential departure dates for the Italy trip. As you are aware, we may not know our actual departure/travel dates for some time yet, because our group will be consolidated with others to get a "full" tour.

In speaking with our tour consultant today, he encouraged me to expand the range of available dates for departure, as it means we will be more likely to get our "first choice" tour. (I think most of the students are aware of this, but upon creating our group tour I have to choose a couple "backup" tours in case we cannot get enough travelers to make it run. Since I assume most people want the tour we have talked about to date, I felt that was a priority).

Because I have conflicts with moving the departure dates earlier (and students do, too, at least until the end of the school year), I expanded the date range through the end of June. We'll talk about this at the Feb 7 meeting, but it essentially means you should be prepared to potentially depart anywhere from June 17-30. At the meeting, I would like to hear if anyone has conflicts with those dates and what they are, because I can adjust it further if need be (to some degree). EF needs at least 9 days of flexibility for departure.

We will have our firm departure date no later than early April, so we will know plenty of time in advance of departure. But please be aware that at this time that our travel dates are not firm. It will say a departure date on your online account (June 17), but this is merely our requested date, we are not guaranteed to leave that day.

Strawberry Sale Planned

As discussed at our last meeting, we are planning to team up with Chi-Hi's FFA Chapter for a Strawberry Sale. Students will collect orders for fresh strawberries that will arrive from Florida in early March. This is a great collaboration because in order to get shipments the total order has to be large...which is difficult for one organization to do alone.

Ms. Hasselquist informed me today that order collection will run from February 1 - 18. More details to follow (including delivery dates) next week.

Raffle Tickets Available for Sellers

Our raffle tickets arrived on Tuesday as scheduled, so stop by rm 136 to pick up as many as you would like to sell. (You can always get more if you run out, though, so perhaps start conservatively).

Tickets are sold for $2 a piece or 3 for $5, and money (plus ticket stubs and any unsold tickets) must be returned to me by the date of the drawing, February 20th.

I'll be adding to this post the files for an informational flyer and other important directions for sellers, but as I'm writing this at home and the files are at school, you'll have to be patient with me. Sorry!

Anyway, if there are events at which you would like to sell tickets (e.g. basketball games), let me know and I'll get the approval process rolling. I need to know at least 5 days in advance to get permission & a table arranged for you, but this would be an easy way to get some sales. Last year our group raised almost $1500 with this fundraiser, so take advantage of it!

(At left: second place prize: 30" x 30" wall hanging).