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Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Your Input Needed for Big Event!

Dear RevGals Ring Members:
Your input is requested! We need to know how many of you are able to commit to the Big Event as we have planned it (with an initial deposit date of October 13).

We have already polled the Corporation members and do not need those responses again (unless you are changing your answer!)

Please respond YES or NO to this message by Friday, October 5 at this address: revgalblogpals@gmail.com Be sure to include your name and email address!

After much searching, the Big Event Planning group has found the most practical and affordable option to be a four-day cruise, departing from New Orleans on March 27, 2008, with a sail time of 4:00 p.m.

How did we reach this decision?
Retreat centers are typically outside of major metro areas and require an hour or more drive from major airports. We wanted to keep the cost as low as possible, so we started looking at hotels in major cities (similar to conference venues). Most of these required more advance notice than we have and also required large deposits well in advance, which the corporation is not in a position to make.

A cruise meets our goals of putting us all in one place for fellowship and renewal; providing (at no additional cost) meeting rooms for the many sessions we plan to have, and giving us the opportunity for personal time. All meals will be provided and (if flying to New Orleans) it is a major hub airport that offers fairly low flight costs.

We recognize that many of you will be applying to use clergy study leave time and/or funds for this event. It will be clearly titled and the schedule organized to demonstrate that the purpose and scope of the event are for Clergy self care and nurturance. We believe that we can provide materials that can be shown to a Pastoral Relations committee or similar body to explain that self-care preventsburnout/illness (not to mention misconduct).

We look forward to hearing from you!

The Big Event Planning Committee

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DETAILS
Ship : Carnival Fantasy
Port: New Orleans
Port of call: Cozumel, Mexico with 2 days at sea

Inside Cabins: Total cost $432.12 per person
includes:
$270.00 cabin
$122.12 port& gov tax
$ 40.00 pre-paid tips

Oceanview cabins: Total cost $482.12 per person
includes:
$320.00 cabin
$122.12 tax
$ 40.00 pre paid tips


PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON AND BASED ON TWO PERSONS IN A CABIN. Transportation to and from New Orleans is NOT included.
Travel insurance is available, with price based on age of passenger and cost of trip.
ALL SAIL DATES ARE MARCH 27, 2008 this is a 4 day cruise
ALL SHIPS SAIL AT 4:00 PM
Meeting rooms are available for all days
ALL PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL RESERVED AND DEPOSIT MADE.
This price includes all food, tea, coffee, juice and water (in a pitcher), ship board entertainment, games, weight rooms etc.
Does not include liquor, tips for liquor, gambling, soda, bottled water, beauty shop, massages, shopping, internet access, ship to shore phone calls, etc.
Passports as of now are not required until June, 2008...THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE...as it has changed so many times in the last two years. A PASSPORTIS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED.

****************************
Here is the payment schedule:
Deposit due October 13, 2007 - $25.00 per person
Second Payment due November 1, 2007 - $150.00 per person
Final (balance) due January 5, 2008

To make reservation, must have
FULL LEGAL NAME
DATE OF BIRTH
MAILING ADDRESS
HOME AND CELL PHONE NUMBERS
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBER
Decisions to be made include: roommate arrangements, inside or oceanview cabin and dining time for group (choose from 6:15pm, 6:30pm, 8:00pm, or 8:30pm. )
For more information on the ship:
Carnival Fantasy Cruise Ship
http://www.carnival.com/Ship_Detail.aspx?shipCode=FA

Questions? comments? you know what to do!!

17 comments:

  1. Mary Beth, I tried to send an email to that address and it was sent back the notation that I did not have the authorisation to past to that group. ?? I used the email I use for blogger....

    In any case, here's a commitment...let me know the right address or how to get into this one and I'll send the rest of the information.

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  2. Ditto -- my email bounced back...

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  3. Friends, small error. I'll fix it.

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  4. Please use the revgalblogpals@gmail.com address. I've corrected the post. Thanks.

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  5. I will try responding again, now that the bounce is fixed.

    Related note-- was the poll of Corp. members random, or did it include the whole list? If the latter, I got missed in the effort; should I check that I'm listed?

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  6. Jane Ellen, it should be everyone, but we will double-check.

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  7. Two questions:
    Can we bring kids?
    And if we bring kids, will there be things for them to do?

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  8. The event is being planned just for ring members, not for families/partners/spouses/children. Of course mothers with nursing babies may bring them.
    Having never done an event such as this before, it seemed beyond our powers to make it a family event. And given that the topic is self-care and nurture, it seemed in conflict with bringing families along.
    As you can imagine, no one plan will suit everyone. At the same time some would wish to bring family members along, others are saying this is too expensive for even one person. We are certainly paying attention to all thoughts and concerns, but want to be clear that our starting point was the Friday Five back in May in which people dreamed about the Big Event.

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  9. Wish I could join you all for what promises to be a great adventure on the high seas. But I cannot. Have a wonderful time!

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  10. *Ker-clink!* That is the sound of my heart breaking.

    I am sad I will not be able to join you on this cruise.

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  11. Has anything been prepared yet on the value of clergy self-care? I'm meeting with my board on Sunday, and I'd love to have something more for them than what I'm coming up with. This will, frankly, be a stretch for us financially, and they will want to know that they aren't just paying for me to lie in the sun on a cruise when most of them will never be able to do that.

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  12. The cruise idea sounds wonderful, and I'd love to meet face to face with such wonderful folks. Unfortunately, family, finances, and time are all preventing me from being able to participate this time.

    Have a wonderful gathering all!

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  13. Will an address be posted soon for the reservation information/first deposit check?

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  14. Not a chance from this end, it will cost me around $1,000 to fly over to New Orleans! OUCH BIG TIME!!!

    Hope it all works out well and you will post loads of photos.

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