This guide is compiled to provide preliminary information only in consideration of your vote as a member of the Pennsbury Band Boosters.  Final trip details and costs can not be finalized until the summer/fall of 2009.  Until the trip is approved by the boosters and school board, a site visit is conducted to finalize the itinerary, and payment is made in full, the trip itinerary is subject to change as is the cost (due to exchange rates, fuel charges, changing taxes, etc.).  Therefore the information provided is offered as a best estimate, but is tentative and should be considered only as directional information. 

Trip Dates:             Depart Fairless Hills, PA:  December 27, 2009

                               Arrive London, England:  December 28, 2009

                               Depart London, England:  January 3, 2009

                               Arrive Fairless Hills, PA:  January 3, 2009

Note: The following is potential trip information only – many choices remain to be made and those listed are possible activities during the trip – not a finalized list of activities.  Some activities may be changed, added, deleted from this list.

Air Travel:  To and from Newark, NJ or Philadelphia, PA by reliable, full service,

          scheduled carriers for transatlantic flights

Hotel:  The exact hotel is not known at this time.  Hotels are selected from among

three or four star hotels in central London locations. Students will generally be accommodated in triple bedded rooms, while adults will be accommodated in either twin or double-bedded rooms. All rooms have private bath/shower and WC facilities.

The minimum room standards include:

·       All rooms have private facilities.

·       The private facilities will include a shower and bath, WC, washbasin.

·       All rooms will have cable or satellite television

·       All rooms will be centrally heated or air-conditioned

·       All bedrooms will receive a full service with fresh towels each day and two linen changes during your stay

Meals:  Trip organizers provide two meals on each day that our group is in   London.  The first is always a continental buffet breakfast.  The second provided meal is dinner.  Lunch is not included.  There will be six lunches and approximate cost of each is $15 US dollars (total $90).  Where dinners are arranged on a group basis, the menus selected and the style of service employed will be designed specifically with students in mind.  Soft drinks, such as Coke, Diet Coke, Seven Up etc will be available at all group dinners, but are not included in the price and will be charged for (approx $2 ea).

Potential Itinerary:

We will be in London for seven days. 

·       The first night is spent on board the transatlantic flight. 

·       The day we arrive in London is taken up with local sightseeing

·       On January 1^st is the New Year’s Day Parade – London followed by a New Years party that evening

·       The last day will include breakfast and packing before departing for the airport

·       The remaining days may include some of the following (this is only tentative and activities may be added, changed, deleted from this list –this is a broad list of choices, not all will be done):

·       A guided half-day motor coach tour of London's West End and City

·       A guided half-day motor coach tour of Greenwich or Windsor or Hampton Court

·       A guided full day motor coach tour to specific places of interest outside London, band may choose one from five available options

·       A ticket to an evening performance of a musical at a London theatre

·       A ticket to an evening performance of one of the ‘Music for London’ gala concerts

·       Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Horseguards Parade, the Changing of the Guard, Covent Garden, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The British Museum, Harrods, other shopping & sightseeing

Other Information

• During the trip we will have the services of a full time guide. This person, assigned by the official travel agency, will handle the day-to-day coordination of activities.

• Chaperones & Staff – It is anticipated that approximately 5 school staff and administrators, 1 physician, 1 nurse, and 20 parent chaperones (screened, approved & active for the entire year) will accompany the students on the trip.  The ratio of students to adults will be approximately 6:1.

• Passports - It is the obligation of each and every passenger to ensure that they have the necessary documentation for their journey. We will have a group passport registration by the end of the current school year for those who may need a passport.

• Insurance - Included in the trip is a specially written travel insurance policy. This has been arranged by B.D.B. Limited, a firm of very long-established London brokers and is insured 100% with underwriters at Lloyd’s of London.  Travel insurance includes, under specific circumstances, some of the following (full details to be provided):

1)       Cancellation (for limited reasons)

2)       Medical and emergency expenses and personal accident

3)       Loss or damage to personal baggage, delayed baggage or damage to and rental of musical instruments (instruments insured up to a value of US$2,000.)

• Money – Credit cards are accepted in most restaurants and shops. Master Card & Visa are used widely in the U.K. American Express & Diners Club are used but are not accepted in as many places. When using cash usually British currency, i.e. £ Pounds Sterling, is required. There may be exceptions but expect to exchange U.S. Dollars into Pounds.  Please check the internet for current exchange rates (as of 11/6/08, 1 British Pound = approximately $1.59 US dollars). We suggest students use a debit card to insure/reduce the risk of loss, theft as well as the best exchange rate.

• Luggage:  ONE piece of personal, checked luggage is permitted. This piece must not exceed 40 pounds in weight nor have combined total dimensions in excess of 62 inches (weight and dimensions subject to change). International passengers are normally allowed 2 pieces of this weight and these dimensions, but that second piece is held in reserve for band equipment/instruments & uniforms to cut down costs.  Every passenger is allowed to carry something onto the plane with them. TSA (Transportation Security Administration) rules must be adhered to at all times. Rules on what may be carried on board are frequently updated. Currently the UK regulations are slightly more stringent: ONE cabin bag, no bigger than approximately 22 inches x 17.5 inches x 9.85 inches. Purses count as a cabin bag and must be placed inside the one piece of carry on luggage to be able to pas through UK security.

• Rules: Pennsbury School District rules must be followed at all times. Any violation may result in immediately sending the student home with chaperone at additional cost.  Additional Pennsbury discipline may also apply.

• Parent Trip:  We will inquire about a group trip for parents and others interested in travelling with the band to enjoy the experience of a week in Britain.  Note: access to tours and special items, such as concert tickets and grandstand tickets, is only available to those people travelling on the official programme and is not available to independent travellers.  Public events, like the parade, are open to all.

• Trip participation is NOT a requirement for participation in the Marching Band for 2009-2010.  We will be doing a parade performance, not a field show performance in London.  You may participate in the Pennsbury Marching Band but not go on the trip!

Approximate Trip Cost:  London is a major metropolitan city and as such is very expensive

(similar to New York, Paris, etc.).  The official travel agency of the New Years Day London Parade is required to be used for all travel arrangements for invited groups, and their prices are fixed.  We are negotiating some options.  Current estimates on the cost of the trip, NOT including the yearly band benchmark, are based upon estimated number of students, chaperones and staff attending, current exchange rates, and current gas prices.  These items may change.  Based upon this information, the approximate trip cost is currently estimated at $2,995.00 per person.  If the trip is approved, each student will have an individual trip account and payments will be spread out over several months.  Note: unfortunately there are no discounts for multiple students from the same family – the overall trip already reflects group pricing.  If the trip cost is less or if group fundraising provides unexpected revenues, the trip cost may come down.  Likewise, unexpected occurrences could raise the trip costs.

Fundraising:  Numerous opportunities for group and individual fundraising will be provided through the band boosters organization.  These will include everything from selling candy, gift items and Avon, to a golf outing, marching band festival, and many more opportunities.  If you have ideas, want to help, or want more information about fundraising, contact Stan Gursky @ SGursky1@verizon.net.

PENNSBURY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC BOOSTERS

POTENTIAL LONDON TRIP

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS & BALLOT

Booster Vote:    Tentative trip information and estimated costs are available on the

Pennsbury Band Booster website at www.PennsburyBandBoosters.org.  Active boosters should review the information completely before voting. 

Only active boosters (one paid booster membership = one vote) with students in 8^th – 11^th grade should vote by sending Karen Fox an e-mail by Friday, November 14^th.  Karen Fox is the current President of the boosters and the parent of a senior band member.  Therefore she will not be travelling to London if the trip is approved and will be tallying the votes as a neutral observer.  All ballots will be held confidential by Karen and only shared in aggregate. 

A majority vote is required for booster approval, and final approval by the school board is also required.  Trip vote totals and status will be communicated after Nov. 15^th.

Please answer the following questions in an e-mail to Karen by 11/14/08 at foxfoxfive@aol.com:  For those without e-mail, please print, place this page in a sealed envelop, and deliver to Karen Fox’s band box at the high school (outside the band room) or to Pennsbury Band Boosters, PO Box 146, Fairless Hills, PA 19030.
 

*** You can also  Vote Online -->

Name: __________________________________

 

1.     Are you in favour of the proposed Pennsbury Marching Band Trip to London, December 27, 2009 – January 3, 2010?    Yes / No

 

2.     How many students from your family do you anticipate being in the Pennsbury Marching Band for 2009 – 2010? ______

 

3.     How many students from your family do you anticipate participating in the Pennsbury Marching Band trip to London (2009-2010)?  ______

 

4.     How many parents/siblings/others from your family are interested in participating in a Boosters Companion Trip to London?  _______

 

5.     Comments/Questions regarding the proposed London Trip:
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Questions:  Additional questions about the trip and the vote should be directed to David

Willard at Willard@medcommedia.com.