Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Dates Announced for 2013 NID - News from America


Dates Announced for 2013 NID - Call for Deposits

November 27, 2012
Potential NID Participant,

The Government of India has set the dates for the 2013 NID.  The National Immunization Day for February will take place on February 24, 2013.

We are very excited to announce the dates for the Rotary Zone 34 / District 6970 National Immunization Day Trip to India - February 21st through March 2nd, 2013.

This means that participants will travel to India February 20th – 21st, with the goal of arriving on February 21st. Hotel accommodations begin the night of February 21st.  Official NID trip activities begin at 9 am on February 22nd. Participants should plan to leave India the evening of March 2nd into the early am hours of March 3rd. Hotel accommodations end the morning of March 2nd, although extra nights can be arranged at group rates.  Official NID trip activities end on March 2nd at p.m.

Participants should plan to spend the entire time between 9 am February 22nd and 12 pm on March 2nd with the group.

Our Indian hosts have opened their hearts and homes to receive us by helping to create a unique and special NID experience. You will be participating in many Rotary and NID events and all participants will be expected to attend all official programs, including the National Immunization Day activities and club visits.

With 30 participants joining us from around the world, accommodating
individual itineraries is unfortunately not possible.

Don't miss YOUR chance to truly make a difference, first hand, in the lives of children around the world!

The approximate cost of the trip per person, double occupancy is $2100 US. We are hoping final costs will be less than our estimate. This covers all costs while in India, with the exception of a couple of dinners and personal spending money. Please see Itinerary below for details.  Participants are responsible for their own airfare and are free to make any pre- or post-trip arrangements as well.  I have provided the name of the individual who has arranged pre- or post-trip travels for past NID participants in this communication.

As there are many Rotarians, families and friends interested in attending, we will CONFIRM your name on the OFFICIAL NID TRIP ROSTER when we RECEIVE a $500 deposit (payable to Rotary District 6970 by check, money order, or wire transfer) towards the total price of your trip. Please do not make any travel arrangements UNTIL you have been CONFIRMED on the trip roster.  We only have spots for thirty (30) individuals on this trip and the first deposits received will secure your place.

All checks or money orders should be made payable to ROTARY DISTRICT 6970 and sent to:

Rotary District 6970
Attn: Patti Chapman
P.O. Box 47195
Jacksonville, FL 32247

For wire transfers, provide the following information to your bank:

Bank:
VyStar Credit Union
P. O. Box 45085
Jacksonville, FL 32247

some banks will want a physical address, it is:

VyStar Credit Union
4949 Blanding Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32210

Company:
Rotary International District 6970, Inc.
P.O. Box 47195
Jacksonville, FL 32247

If you need an address other than the P.O. Box you can use:
1000 W. Pleasant Pl.
Jacksonville, FL 32259

Bank Routing # 263079276
Bank Account # 7502249759


Please send an e-mail to me confirming that your check/cash/money order has been mailed or money wire transferred for deposit to hold your spot. We will officially CONFIRM YOUR NAME ON THE NID TRIP ROSTER WHEN WE RECEIVE A $500 DEPOSIT PER PARTICIPANT towards the price of your trip.

Once you are confirmed on the trip, the next step is to process your Indian visa if you have not already started this process. Visit Travisa's website
https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/and click on the link to the left which says "Need an India visa, click here to get started." This site will walk you through everything you must do and provides tools for tracking your application. Please apply for a TOURIST VISA. The visa becomes effective as soon as it is granted, so keep that in mind in regards to the length of visa you apply for and any travel plans you have pre- or post-NID. Information on how to complete the visa application is distributed regularly via email via the Yahoo Groups Polio NID Listserv. You will need this in order to fill out the visa application.

In addition to a visa, you will need to consult your personal healthcare professional for advice regarding obtaining the appropriate vaccinations for travel to India. He or she may refer you to a travel medicine professional. The most accurate and up-to-date resource for a published list of recommended vaccines is the CDC's website:
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationIndia.aspx
These recommendations and other useful travel information are updated based on the latest information available to the CDC, so check back regularly.

Note that some vaccines require more than one shot or take several weeks to be 100% effective. To have the most benefit, see a health-care provider at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need it. Please be sure to consult your health care professional before proceeding with any vaccinations.

It is our goal to give each interested participant all of the information they need to make a decision about attending. And then to provide each confirmed participant with all of the information needed to make their trip a success on all fronts. With over 200 people on the Yahoo Groups Polio NID Listserv and more joining each day, it is challenging to answer individual questions, thus we encourage you to carefully read the information distributed. We will send out regular updates and additional information via the Yahoo Groups Listserve, so be on the lookout. If you do have a pressing question, feel free to reach out via email
cyndecovington@gmail.com or phone 904.568.1497 to Cynde. If you do not hear back within a couple of days, please send her a follow up to ensure she received your first communication.

If you are interested in planning additional travel in India, we recommend India Travel Specialist Raj Singh Solanki who can be contacted via email
kr.rajsingh@gmail.com. Raj is not affiliated with Rotary or this trip in any way. He is a friend who has planned several trips for fellow Rotarians and friends over the years with much success and positive feedback. 

We are honored to be Co-Leading another NID trip to India and promise you that it will be one of the most incredible and memorable experiences of your life. Thank you for your dedication to the worldwide eradication of polio. Your participation on this NID will truly make a difference in our goal of a polio-free world.

Our very best personal regards and best wishes over the coming holiday season!

Cynde Covington
District Governor 2010-2011
Rotary International District 6970

Barry Covington, Past President, Rotary Club of South Jacksonville
Zone 34 / District 6970 NID India Co-Leaders



APPROXIMATE COSTS - GROUND PORTION ONLY $2,100
(You are responsible for making your own flight arrangements)

INCLUDED PER PERSON:
 All transportation including airport transfers
 All hotel accommodations
 Breakfast, lunch, some dinners (see itinerary)
 Monument entrances, sightseeing & guides
 All tips
 $100 Contribution to The Chandigarh Rotary Club - to cover costs for a Group Dinner, with the remaining serving as a donation for their projects
 $20 Donation to St. Stephens Hospital Polio Corrective Ward

NOT INCLUDED:
 Hotel accommodations for the night of February 20th  and before, or March 2nd and after.  (Extra nights @ group rates can be arranged)
 Airport transfers not falling on February 20th/21st, March 2nd/3rd
 Some dinners (see itinerary)
 Personal expenses: internet, phone calls, laundry, in-room services

PAYMENT:
 Personal check, money order, or wire transfer to "ROTARY DISTRICT 6970"
 $500 deposit to be placed on the OFFICIAL NID TRIP ROSTER
 Additional details and exact costs to follow for those
Confirmed on trip after $500 deposit received

Please note that itinerary is subject to change.

QUESTIONS:
Cynde Covington
Zone 34 / District 6970 NID India Co-Leader
District Governor 2010-2011
Rotary International District 6970
904-568-1497 Cell
cyndecovington@gmail.com

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