CRA Travel Tips

Planning

- quickly determine location and dates

- determine number of participants and skilled labor

- assess current budget balance and funds needed

- develop necessary fundraising and donors

- establish all contacts for travel, location, work, funding and food

- communicate regularly with group about what to bring and what to expect

- collect available cell phone numbers, and all waiver forms

- refer to CRA Policies regarding dues, dates and drop-outs

Travel

- Travel Time has been used to coordinate group travel

- Agents: Michele Fries, Chris Kangisser

- Airports: Philadelphia, BWI

- Trains: Amtrak, SEPTA (Philly regional)

- Long train trips tend to be more expensive and exhausting

- Vans: Alamo, local F&M vans to BWI

- Direct flights have been cheaper and faster

- Mini-vans are cheaper. F&M no longer allows rental of full-size vans

- It is possible to swap-out participants 48 hours before flight

Work

- CRA trips to date have included Picayune, Pascagoula, and New Orleans

- Trips have involved varying degrees of skills

- To date, we have not had to provide tools or supplies

- Skilled laborers have included: Steve Hicks, Steve Spadafore, Mike Joseph and Hans Gulati. We have also worked with a VA Baptist church, the Harrisburg Diocese and Common Ground

- We worked with 100 Home (Red Cross, Salvation Army) during the Jan. 2008 trip. Site coordinators were Ed and Joe Castillo.

- It might be a good idea to pre-train for basic skills, since there are no guarantees that CRA can procure skilled labor.

- To date, CRA has not been able to find or use F&M skilled labor, like Facilities.

Lodging & Food

- Lodging can be basic, but should be safe, clean and offer shower facilities

- Location should have adequate cooking facilities for a group of 15-20.

- Breakfasts and lunches tend to be cereals and sandwiches.

- Group should find or assign cooks for dinners

- Everyone is responsible for cleanup of lodging, kitchen and dining facilities