SCOTLAND TOUR NEWSLETTER NO.1

This is the copy from the first newsletter. Since publication, we are about to confirm the Saturday fixture, and more news on this will follow shortly.
Please hand in your Tour deposit and permission slips as soon as possible, to reserve your place

NEWSLETTER NO.1 October 2008
After the generally acclaimed success of the last Easter's tour to the South West, we have decided to venture to Scotland!
Due to the GCSE exams in May we agreed it was wiser to tour in the February half term rather than the Easter break.
The Tour will hopefully act as a positive distraction from having completed the Mocks and before the hard slog for the main exams starts in earnest. We hope this timing will suit most people and are assuming a full squad participation.

PROPOSED ITINERARY
Thursday 19th February:- The coach leaves Humber Doucy Lane early morning, and we arrive in Newcastle, in time for the first game v Gosforth 2.30pm KO.
Afterwards, we rejoin the coach to Edinburgh, where we stay three nights in a SmartCity hostel or similar.
Friday 20th February:- After a morning’s entertainment at a suitable venue (Edinburgh Castle?), a fixture v Merchiston School KO 3pm. Evening - Swim at the Royal Commonwealth Pool.
Saturday 21st February:- a morning game tba - KO 10.30am. After lunch, a visit to a senior league/professional game. End of Tour evening meal and presentations.
Sunday 22nd February— after breakfast, coach back to Humber Doucy Lane. Arrival back around 7pm.
A full schedule of the Tour together with joining instructions and contact phone numbers will be emailed to you separately, when numbers and events are confirmed.

FUND RAISING & TOUR PAYMENTS
We will need to raise about £6,000 to cover travel, meal, kit and accommodation costs, depending on numbers, and parents/siblings joining us.
Part of this money will come in from your Tour Payments, but the rest we need to raise with bag packing at Morrisons, Sainsburys, and Asda, The more raised, the less the Tour Payments will be!
We want a full turnout of at least 20 volunteers for each of the following dates:- A minimum of 4 x 3hr shifts is required from each Tour participant.
14/15th November - Friday PM, Saturday AM
28/29th November - Friday PM, Saturday AM
5/6th December - Friday PM, Saturday AM
An initial deposit of £50 will secure your place on the Tour, payable in November. The balance will be due by the end of December.
We are aiming to keep the Tour Payment down to about £100 per player and £150 for supporters, amazing value for 3 nights in Edinburgh!
All suggestions for other fund raising ideas are welcomed.

If anyone has any other good ideas for fund raising, or wants to provide direct financial assistance, please contact a member of the Tour Committee.
We want all players going to Scotland, to have the matching Tour playing shirt and rain suit, at no cost for the new recruits.

KIT
We need to put an order in for those of you who don’t have this kit from last season. by the end of November. Look out for shirt and rain suit ordering requests shortly. We are thinking about getting an embroidered badge “Scottish Tour 2009” to add above the existing “West Country Tour 2008”, badge on the sleeve of the original shirts.