Well...went with a seasoned TD to Chicago with group of high school choir students. Challenge for the trip was a 16 yr old girl in wheel chair. Best advice, make sure you tell your driver to make sure he gets her off the bus as soon as he parks the bus. Also make sure the venues know you have a handicapped person. Look for ramps and seating for handicap. Went to see a play, had to make arrangement for her seating, she was seated away from the group. Theater only allowed to have 1 person seat w/her, but an aunt came along the the trip. I spoke with the seating supervisor and convinced her to let the aunt seat with them if the seats were unused after the intermission.
Was not with our training during this event, but one of the kids defaced something. The kids were detained by security. My trainer convince the company and the security to not press charges, but for the student to pay for the cost of clean up.
I also went on a training of Washington DC, Gettysburg, Baltimore, Mt. Vernon & Lauray Caverns with a group of TDs for the inauguration and for the spring season.
Don't think I'll get a tour group for the big event. Spoke to many seasoned TDs usually tour Chicago for the 1st year. But sales, customer service and marketing was also on the trip. Seems they're interested in my photographic services for the event.
Best advice for the big event, according to seasoned TDs make sure that you utilize the chaperones!! It's very important that they know what is expected of them when leading the students with the amount of people expected for the event!
Student Tour seems much easier as all we really do is to facilitate the tour. Chaperones pretty much care for the students and they handle their own luggage. Just watch out for chaperones who think they are on vacation.
For those working the Inauguration...congrats! It will be a challenge, but you will have support as there will be other staff members at the event if you run into some problem. Good Luck! Hope to see you there and or Texas!
If you have any questions, contact me...emilyhoward@mac.com or call me 248-880-8373
4 comments:
Ohmygosh! This is so exciting! Congratulations to all of you that are writing here! Alice, thank you for establishing this blog. It is so inspiring to hear of the successes. I am thrilled a number of you will be going to the Symposium in January, I look forward to seeing you there. So far I have committed to working with a local program that connects international students with host families. Figure it will give me some language practice and tide me over until those tour offers start rolling in. I'm finally in the last week of my full time employment here and as I look towards this new career, your stories are just wonderful to read. The work sounds as inviting as ever but it's also obvious, the people in this field are just fabulous. Hope to post my own adventures soon.
Hey Em and Mr. P.,
It sounds like the training was a great experience! And thanks for the call, it was great to hear from you.
Toni, good to see you here, can't wait for Texas. I am eagerly anticipating your adventures too!
I just got an overnight trip to Lancaster, PA---same company I've been doing day-trips for. Still sending out resumes and pestering everyone I can think of.
Keep the pressure on, everyone! Don't let up until you get what you want! (I learned that from my kids). ;-)
Hey Emily! Let me know if you ever have some free time in Chicago! 812.344.0798
happy thanksgiving.. im so blessed to have made such great friends at itmi.. looking forward to seeing all of you at symposium in january.. all the best.. mike..
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