Update - Final Payments (March 2 & April 6)

This is a friendly reminder that the next tour payment for the 2012 Germany/Italy tour (Coupon #5) is to be postmarked by this Friday, March 2nd.

Thank you in advance for being on time with your payment!


There will be one final payment made - to complete the balance due - on April 6th.  On our about April 1st, we will contact families with the confirmed final tour price.  There are several variables that are at play.  The exchange rate (with a dollar that is stronger now than when the tour was quoted initially) is in our favor.  However, the European Union has leveraged a substantial new 'carbon tax' on all airlines with inbound planes from foreign countries.  


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45748814/ns/world_news-europe/t/european-court-defies-us-over-airline-carbon-tax/


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17114312



These taxes are predicted to eradicate much - if not all - of any gains we should be seeing with a stronger dollar.  


Our travel agency has advised us that they do not expect our tour costs will go higher than what was originally quoted.  Again, as we get closer to April 1, we will keep you informed.

Option for Money Exchange: Travelex in Naperville

The following was shared at Monday night's meeting, but only on a slide.  We wanted to make sure families had this information as an option for money exchange:


TRAVELEX in Naperville
Ogdon & Naper Blvd.
630.955.0535


Identify yourself as a "Downers Grove" or "District 99" band student, and receive an 8 cent discount for every dollar/Euro exchange.  They will also waive the $10 service fee.

Tonight's Meeting in the Cafetorium at DGS

Tonight's mandatory meeting for tour participants (and at least one parent/guardian) will be held in the 'Cafetorium' at South High School.  The meeting will begin at 7 pm, and last approximately one hour.

Please remember to bring the paperwork that should have been printed and completed at home (including a photo copy of the participant's PASSPORT and INSURANCE CARD).

Sign up for D99 Honors Band Text Msg Alerts!

You have already registered your email address with the tour blog, which means you will receive an email within 24 hours of a new post.  But maybe you'd prefer a text message alert within an hour of a new post?!

Now you can receive a text message, with a direct link to new announcements, every time the Tour Blog is updated.  It couldn’t be easier to stay informed about the tour ...

To subscribe:

1. Send a text (SMS message) to: 40404

2. In the message body type this exactly: follow @d99honorsband

Note: you MUST make sure you leave a space between the word “follow” and the “@d99honorsband”

To unsubscribe:

1. Send a text (SMS message) to: 40404

2. In the message body type this exactly: unfollow @d99honorsband

Would You Like To Blog For Us During The Tour?!

Would you like to be an 'official blogger' for our D99 Honors Band tour this summer? We are looking for approximately 8 students (4 from DGN, 4 from DGS) who would be willing to post real-time updates about our travels together.

Our department’s Tour Blogs have been featured as examples for other music tours in issues of School Band & Orchestra Magazine.  It is likely that your work could be viewed by hundreds – if not thousands – of music educators throughout the United States in the months to come.

There is “no blogging experience” necessary to be a part of this team.  Mr. Teague will meet with the team approximately two weeks before departure to teach everyone the needed skills to successfully post to the blog.  General social-networking skills would be helpful.  Facebook and Twitter users will pick this up quickly. 

Tour participants interested in being considered are invited to fill out the form D99 Honors Band Blog Team Application. To fill it out, CLICK HERE!

Rome, Italy Roommate

Students traveling on the tour will be assigned to a "double
occupancy" hotel room in Rome.

If participants have a roommate preference they should come to the
February 27th meeting prepared to express their request.

Medical Form and copy of Insurance Card

As you already know, we have an important (mandatory) meeting for all tour participants and at least one parent or guardian scheduled for Monday, February 27th, at South High School.  The meeting begins at 7 pm.  At this meeting we will go over important tour updates, sign paperwork, turn in forms, and students will have the opportunity to select their tour shirt size.

Earlier in January we posted a letter and two forms on the tour blog, and asked that your family please print these out and bring them with you to the meeting on February 27th.  These included a Student Information Card and a copy of the participant's Passport.  (If you need a refresher on where to find these forms to fill out, please click here.)

There will be several other important documents provided to you at the meeting, that we are required to go over with families in person.  Some of these you will sign and return that night, including the Medical Form.  Because it may take you some time to complete the medical form, and because we would like you to also bring with you a photo copy of the participant's medical insurance card, we are providing these two forms in advance of the meeting for those who would like to get a head start.

We will provide a blank form for you at the meeting to use as needed, but you may find it helpful to print these forms in advance and determine the phone numbers of physicians, etc.  

Here is a direct link to the Medical Form and the Medical Insurance Card Form:
http://www.box.com/s/8kvztvq6v2k719zdldf3

Updated Itinerary Available

We have recently uploaded a major update to our itinerary for this summer.  This revision includes significantly more detail about each day of the tour.  Check it out!

Direct link to our Itinerary Folder:  http://www.box.com/s/vgbxtip9ph8y1c4rco0z

Required Meeting This Month! Have you filled out your forms yet?

This post is a reminder that we have a required tour meeting on Monday, February 27th, at South High School.    The meeting will begin at 7 pm in the DGS Cafetorium.

If you have not yet had a chance to download and print the paperwork that is required for the Feb. 27th meeting, please do this immediately to make sure you have everything in order.  You can find that information here:

http://d99honorsband2012.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-update-letter-time-sensitive.html

Thank you!