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New
Trier High School (Issued
and published on the Tour Webpage, We are now ready to accept CHINA TOUR participation forms for adults (individuals out of high school) who wish to travel with the New Trier Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble I. What follows is an overview of the program for these non-chaperoning adults. WHAT: An opportunity for 14 adults to travel on the New Trier CHINA TOUR as GUEST TRAVELERS. STIPULATIONS: 1. Guest Travelers must be older than high school age, and must be related to someone on the tour. 2. Guest Travelers must be willing to pay $2,600 on the following payment schedule:
Make payments payable to NEW TRIER HIGH SCHOOL and send them to Mr. Warrick. You will not receive a bill to remind you of your monthly payment dates. You may add $350 to one of the payments if you wish to stay in a single hotel room. Note: As with student payements, you may pay the entire amount in one payment on a Visa or Mastercard via the New Trier Book Store if received by February 15, 2000. Some student families are doing this to receive air miles or other incentives that charge cards provide that they could not otherwise receive. (Obtain payment forms for payment by this method from Mr. Rosheger, and return those completed forms to Mr. Warrick.) 3.
Guest Travelers must agree that their tour price will not
be lowered as a result of the fund-raising projects conducted by the
performing students, directors or chaperones. RIGHTS
AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1.Guest Travelers will have no chaperoning responsibilities while
on the trip. If a Guest Traveler wishes to assist in any
situation where help is needed, it would be appreciated, but is not
expected. 3. The Guest Traveler will be provided as much “free time” as possible with no expectations that the Traveler attends concerts. 4. It is expected that the Guest Traveler participate in group activities for which the Guest Traveler has already paid. (For example… museum tours or special dinners.) If the Guest Traveler does not participate in these activities, then the tour operators will make no refunds or special arrangements for transportation away from the group, or in addition to these activities. 5. Guest Travelers will be expected to take the same transportation and stay in the same hotels as the group. 6. While not required, Guest Travelers should make every attempt to attend the special China Familiarization Classes held for the students and chaperones during the next few months. 7. As with all travelers, Guest Travelers are responsible for the costs of their passports, visas, bottled water for meals, optional trip insurance, and personal spending money. 8. Guest Travelers should have very honest discussions with their son or daughter about the advisability of going on the trip. To be blunt, it should not be assumed that your son or daughter wants to travel to the other side of the world with their best friends and have you (and your spouse) “tag along.” THE TIME TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION WITH YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER IS NOW.” BEFORE TURNING IN THE ENCLOSED FORM. 9. Current plans call for us to be transported while in China using busses that hold 40 people each. Since we will have 3 busses we can sequester the 65-70 students to two busses and reserve the remaining bus for our Guest Travelers and chaperones that will be rotated off the student busses. (The Warricks and the Roshegers will be remaining on the student busses.) This is the primary accommodation we can make for our Guest Travelers, who are paying more than the others on the tour. 10. Guest Travelers should carefully read the statement from Mr. Warrick and Mr. Rosheger about their experience with non-chaperoning adults participating on past performance tours they have conducted. There is a very different set of group dynamics that takes place when a person travels with a performance group and that person is not an actual performer or chaperone with responsibilities. Read the statement below carefully before deciding to participate on this trip. 11. All Guest Travelers will be placed in double rooms with other Guest Travelers. It is possible, however, for our Guest Travelers to room in single rooms by paying an additional fee of $350. Quad accommodations are necessary on the two overnight train rides however. The names of all Guest Travelers will be provided to help you arrange your roommates, should you not decide to pay the extra money for a single room. 12. As with the student travelers, there will be a $250 non-refundable cost for Guest Travelers who withdraw from the trip once accepted if you CAN NOT locate someone to take your place. If you withdraw more than one month or less before the date we leave and cannot locate someone to take your place, then the full $2,600 will be nonrefundable. STATEMENT FROM MR. WARRICK AND MR. ROSHEGER REGARDING EXTRA TRAVELERS: “A primary reason we are making travel spaces available to non-performing or non-chaperoning travelers is that we recognize the uniqueness of this trip and that it may be the only way that many people would ever visit China for such an affordable price. Seeing China with a son or daughter makes the trip that much more special. Since we have the extra room, we might as well take advantage of it. However, taking extra travelers means additional responsibility for the directors and tour operator. We are willing to assume those responsibilities if we know that the extra travelers both appreciate our efforts and are willing to conform to the dynamics of a tour group comprised for the safety and enjoyment of the STUDENTS involved. During the trip it will be our most important job as directors to meet the needs of the students. While we will do everything possible to also meet the needs of the extra non-chaperoning travelers, the focus of the directors and chaperones will be on the safety and enjoyment of the students. Travel in any foreign country is challenging, but in China it will be more of a challenge. This is an unpredictable place and the best plans and intentions of everyone may need to change in a moment’s notice. Once again to be blunt based on our combined 40 years of conducting experience with more than seven international performance tours between us, students and adults who complain or “pout” make it less fun for everyone else on a tour. EVERYONE going must have a sense of humor and a willingness to adapt to last minute changes beyond our control. Everyone traveling must bring and maintain a good, fun-loving, and disciplined attitude if the trip is going to be a success.” SELECTION PROCEDURE: At this time, we can accommodate 14 Guest Travelers. When the China Trip Commitment Forms were received from the students in November, there were a total of 20 adults who checked that they “Definitely want to go” or “Might want to go.” Since it is possible that some of those people have changed their minds, or that others who might not have considered this travel option for themselves may now wish to travel, a lottery system is the only fair way to determine who can participate as a Guest Traveler if we have more than 14 people wanting to go. Consideration also must be give to married couples that wish to tour. In an effort to keep this process as fair as possible, we will use the following procedure… 1. Everyone is receiving this information at the same time and in the same manner (U.S. mail). Those interested should return the attached form and return it to Mr. Warrick or Mr. Rosheger no later than 3:30 p.m. on Monday, January 24, 2000. The forms will be reviewed for completeness on that evening (they must include a deposit check) and separated into two categories… Those forms with husband/wife wishing to travel together, and those forms that are from an individual traveler. 2. If necessary, at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 25, 2000, a drawing will take place in Mr. Rosheger’s office, which anyone can attend. The first two forms drawn will be from the “single traveler” group, the next form will be from the “married traveler” group (if there are married travelers wishing to tour). That process will complete the first four travelers, before the next set of four travelers are drawn. Should the forms of “married travelers” (if there are any) be depleted, then all the remaining travelers will be selected from the “single traveler” pile. The drawing will continue until all 14 Guest Travelers are selected, and the reminder of the forms are drawn to compile a waiting list, should a selected traverler’s plans change before June. 3. Everyone who submitted a Guest Traveler form will be notified by telephone immediately after the drawing is complete. Write the telephone number you want us to call on your commitment form. New
Trier High School Jazz Ensemble/Chamber Orchestra Return to Mr. Rosheger or Mr. Warrick no later than 3:30 p.m. on MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2000. If necessary, a drawing will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 25, 2000. Married couples should complete one form. TRAVELER NAME(S) (PRINT): ___________________________ Son or daughter going on tour (PRINT): _______________________ Their ensemble (circle): Chamber Jazz Both ____ I (We) wish to participate in the China trip by the New Trier Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble during the summer of 2000, as a “Guest Traveler”. I (We) understand my “rights and responsibilities” as detailed in the information that accompanies this form. I (We) understand that I (we) will be paying $2,600 and will not benefit from the fund raising activities held by the students. I have discussed with my son or daughter the implications of my participation on this trip. While not required, I (we) understand that it would be advisable for me to attend the special China Familiarization Classes held for the students and chaperones. I (We) understand that there will be additional forms relating to medical and liability issues to be signed before the trip commences. I (We) also understand the differences between traveling as an individual (or in a family) and traveling as a group with high school students. Signature(s):
_______________________________ _____ (For single travelers) I am interested in rooming alone and will pay the additional $350 to do so. Kosher
food required: _________ The primary method of communication will be via email and the Internet (www.ntjazz.com/chinatour) Do you have Internet access: ______________ What is your email address: ____________________ How often do you check your email: ___________________ What immediate questions do you have? |
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