A little "typo"

Hey everyone!

If you have booked your cabin for Guatoberfest, you will soon be receiving a letter from Geri at Great Southern Travel about your reservation.

On that letter, she had a little typo and accidentally said that Guatoberfest was supporting the adoption of Guatemalan children, instead of saying that it was to support orphanages in Guatemala. She apologizes for the mistake.

FINAL PAYMENT DUE JULY 1st

The DEADLINE for the final payment is right around the corner!

The balance for the cruise is due NO LATER THAN JULY 1ST to Geri at Great Southern Travel.

Also - if you have not submitted your Registration for Guatoberfest, please do so IMMEDIATELY.

Email me if you have any questions!
Cindy: cindy@globalorphanteam.com

I will be posting more details about on-board activities in the next few months - so check back later!

Cindy

RESERVATION DEADLINE EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 15th

We have tried to extend the reservation deadline as lonnnnnng as possible - but this is IT!

If you are interested in cruising with us, you have until FRIDAY, MAY 15th to make your reservation.

After May 15th, availability and prices CANNOT be guaranteed unless you have made your reservation.

Contact Geri TODAY!

If you have already made your reservation, but have not sent in your Registration Form, please do that TODAY! Thanks!!

Email me if you have any questions: cindy@globalorphanteam.com

Cindy

Registration/Reservations are STILL OPEN!!

We still have cabins available - so we have extended the reservation/registration period through the month of April.

You have until MAY 1ST to call to make your reservation and submit your deposit, as well as pay the registration fee for your family.

Please be aware that if you have family members or friends who want to attend Guatoberfest, you can reserve more than one cabin at our special discounted rate!

We'd love to fill every single cabin that has been reserved for our group - so please pass along the link to our website and encourage EVERYONE you know to attend!

Email me if you have any questions: cindy@globalorphanteam.com

Cindy

REMINDER: REGISTRATION IS DUE APRIL 1st

Click here to link to the registration form:

http://image3.photobiz.com/265/20090217145158_22175.pdf

Please print this off and fill it out and mail it with the $125 registration fee to The Global Orphan Team by APRIL 1st.

Thanks!

Serious Life Magazine

Hey everyone!
Some of you are already following Abby's story on www.riggsfamilyblog.com but her Daddy, Brent, also puts together an INCREDIBLE online magazine that you should check out!
See if you can find our Guatoberfest in this month's issue!
Click the link below:

REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN!

There are still cabins available for anyone who hasn't booked yet!

The deposit has increased to $100 per person (for anyone booking after March 1st), but that does not affect the total price of the cruise per family. The increase in the deposit amount will decrease the amount of the first payment. **Note changes below
Example:
QUAD - Inside Cabin: $935/family
Payment. #1 DUE ASAP: **$400 Deposit Due to Great Southern Travel
Payment. #2 DUE April 1st: $125 Registration Fee due with completed Reg. form to G.O.T.
Payment. #3 **DUE May 1st: **$45 due
Payment. #4 DUE June 1st: $245 due
Payment. #5 DUE July 1st: $245 due

If any of this is confusing - please contact Geri and she can explain your family's payment plan.

We have had people ask if this cruise is ONLY for families with children from Guatemala... and the answer is no. ANYONE can join us - but the Guatoberfest activities on board will be planned with families with Guatemalan children in mind... and they will be sooooo much fun!!!

Also - don't forget that the Registration Form and Payment of $125 per family is due APRIL 1st to the Global Orphan Team.

Continue to check back for more updates!

Registration Form

Please visit the GOT website and click on the "Downloads" page to download the Guatoberfest registration form. Remember, the registration fee is PER FAMILY and is due no later than April 1, 2009!

Help us spread the word!

Please feel free to use the picture below to help spread the word about Guatoberfest. ALL are welcome! Go post it now...Blogs, Facebook, MySpace...wherever! The more the merrier!

Frequently Asked Questions

GUATOBERFEST 2009 FAQ's

Who can come to Guatoberfest? Although most of the families in our group will be families with children who were adopted from Guatemala, all families are invited to cruise with us!

Is there an age requirement? Yes - Passengers must be over the age of 6 months to travel on the Cruise.

Is there a discount for children? No - all Passengers must pay the rates listed, regardless of age.

We want to go! What do we need to do? Call Geri Jacoby at Great Southern Travel at 1-800-749-7116 or Email: gjacoby@greatsoutherntravel.com to make a $50 deposit per person. She needs the passengers' full legal names as they will appear on the Passports and a credit card.

Can we request a cabin other than the ones listed? (ex: A Suite): Call Geri - she can request specific cabins- however there may be an up-charge for this.

I saw a better deal online – can I choose to book my own cruise? Many prices online do not include the taxes and port charges. Those account for approximately 50% of the cost of the cruise and are included in our cost. Also, we have group activities planned while on board. If you do not book with us, you will not be able to participate in the group's activities. We will not be able to make any exceptions for those who choose not to book with us because Carnival has agreed to waive the meeting space fee if we have a minimum number of cabins.

How do I pay for the cruise? See the payment plan listed on our website.

What is included in the price of the cruise? According to Carnival's website: "Spacious Accommodations, Delicious Meals, Full Schedule of Shipboard Activities, Spa Carnival's Complete Fitness Center, 24-hour Room Service, pizzeria and ice cream, Award Winning Youth Program, Amazing Destinations, and so much more!" Go to Carnival's website for their chart of the "Value of Cruising": http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/cruise_control/value_of_cruising.aspx

Our prices DO NOT include travel to and from the port of Miami or transportation to the ship. You will be responsible for those charges, but contact Geri at Great Southern Travel if you need assistance. She will get you the best rates possible.

I just heard about the cruise and our family wants to go, but some of the payment dates have already passed.
What do I do? You will need to "catch up" on your payments. Ex: If you book on May 15^th, you will need to make the full deposit, as well as the registration fee and payments #1-3.

Could the cost of the cruise change before travel? Making a deposit of $50 per person on or before March 1^st will guarantee these rates. After March 1^st, we cannot guarantee the price of the cruise.

What activities are planned while we are on board? We will post the activities once they have been confirmed.

What about onboard childcare? The cost of childcare is included in the price of the cruise for children ages 2-17. Check out: http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/promo_content/obx/youth_programs.aspx to learn more about Carnival's youth programs.

Does my child need a passport to travel? Yes. All passengers need valid passports for travel. Here is a FAQ about obtaining passports for internationally adopted children: http://adoption.state.gov/pdf/FAQs_C...0of%202000.pdf

What happens if there is a Hurricane?
Please see Carnival's policy on Inclement Weather HERE
The link to the travel insurance information is HERE

Each family will need to decide if they want to purchase the trip insurance and talk with Geri to get the insurance. It is NOT included in our pricing.
If there is inclement weather, the ship may change course to avoid it, which may mean that we miss a port.

Cruise Payment Details

CRUISE PAYMENT PLAN

(This payment plan is for those families who booked BEFORE March 1st .

**See NEW PAYMENT CHART IF YOU BOOKED AFTER MARCH 1st)

DOUBLE (2 people/cabin)		Inside Cabin: $589/family	Oceanview Cabin: $670/family
Payment. #1	March 1st:	$100 Deposit Due to Great Southern Travel (contact info below)
Payment. #2	April 1st:	$125 Registration Fee due with completed Reg. form to G.O.T.
Payment. #3	May 1st:	$163.00 due	$190 due
Payment. #4	June 1st:	$163.00 due	$190 due
Payment. #5	July 1st:	$163.00 due	$190 due
TRIPLE (3 people/cabin)		Inside Cabin: $762/family	Oceanview Cabin: $867/family
Payment. #1	March 1st:	$150 Deposit Due to Great Southern Travel (contact info below)
Payment. #2	April 1st:	$125 Registration Fee due with completed Reg. form to G.O.T.
Payment. #3	May 1st:	$204 due	$239 due
Payment. #4	June 1st:	$204 due	$239 due
Payment. #5	July 1st:	$204 due	$239 due
QUAD (4 people/cabin)		Inside Cabin: $935/family	Oceanview Cabin: $1064/family
Payment. #1	March 1st:	$200 Deposit Due to Great Southern Travel (contact info below)
Payment. #2	April 1st:	$125 Registration Fee due with completed Reg. form to G.O.T.
Payment. #3	May 1st:	$245 due	$288 due
Payment. #4	June 1st:	$245 due	$288 due
Payment. #5	July 1st:	$245 due	$288 due
QUIN (5 people/cabin)		Inside Cabin: $1105/family	Oceanview Cabin: $1255/family
Payment. #1	March 1st:	$250 Deposit Due to Great Southern Travel (contact info below)
Payment. #2	April 1st:	$125 Registration Fee due with completed Reg. form to G.O.T.
Payment. #3	May 1st:	$285 due	$385 due
Payment. #4	June 1st:	$285 due	$385 due
Payment. #5	July 1st:	$285 due	$385 due
BALCONY SUITE DOUBLE (2 people/suite): $1342/family
Payment. #1	March 1st:	$100 Deposit Due to Great Southern Travel (contact info below)
Payment. #2	April 1st:	$125 Registration Fee due with completed Reg. form to G.O.T.
Payment. #3	May 1st:	$414 due
Payment. #4	June 1st:	$414 due
Payment. #5	July 1st:	$414 due
BALCONY SUITE TRIPLE (3 people/suite): $1578/family
Payment. #1	March 1st:	$150 Deposit Due to Great Southern Travel (contact info below)
Payment. #2	April 1st:	$125 Registration Fee due with completed Reg. form to G.O.T.
Payment. #3	May 1st:	$476 due
Payment. #4	June 1st:	$476 due
Payment. #5	July 1st:	$476 due
BALCONY SUITE QUAD (4 people/suite): $1850/family
Payment. #1	March 1st:	$200 Deposit Due to Great Southern Travel (contact info below)
Payment. #2	April 1st:	$125 Registration Fee due with completed Reg. form to G.O.T.
Payment. #3	May 1st:	$476 due
Payment. #4	June 1st:	$476 due
Payment. #5	July 1st:	$476 due

*The cost of the cruise is NOT guaranteed without a paid deposit on or before March 1^st, 2009.

*Payments not submitted by the due dates may be subject to additional fees.

*If you register after the due dates, you are responsible for submitting all payments up to the date of registration.

Ex: If you register on May 15^th, you will be responsible for submitting Payments #1-3 at the time of Registration and the cost of the cruise may increase. Register early and take advantage of these rates and the payment plan!

DEADLINE TO BOOK YOUR CRUISE AND SUBMIT ALL FINAL PAYMENT IS JULY 1, 2009.

*All payments should be submitted to Great Southern Travel EXCEPT the Registration Fee.

*Registration form should be completed and submitted to G.O.T. NO LATER THAN APRIL 1, 2009

*Contact Geri Jacoby at Great Southern Travel for their cancellation/refund policy. (her contact info is below)

*Geri can also make your arrangements for travel to/from Miami and hotel reservations in Miami if you would like to

extend your trip.

*Mail check for your $125.00 registration fee (per family) payable to GLOBAL ORPHAN TEAM and mail to PO BOX 3460, MCDONOUGH, GA 30253.

*If your registration is not received by GOT by the due date, your cruise reservation will be cancelled. You must register to attend this event.

To book your cruise contact Geri Jacoby at Great Southern Travel.

Phone: 1-800-749-7116
Email: gjacoby@greatsoutherntravel.com

Guatoberfest 2009!

Plans are underway! More information to come tomorrow!

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Guatoberfest 2008 Video

I've had a few requests to see the video before ordering, so I decided to go ahead and post it. I understand the "try before you buy" thing ;). Enjoy, then see the post below to purchase your copy. All proceeds go to Global Orphan Team and our mission to raise the standard of care of the children in Guatemala.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So what is Guatoberfest anyway?

The first annual Guatoberfest was held in 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia. We, Julia (www.thejujucrew.blogspot.com) and Kerry (www.kerrycollinsblog.com) sat around a kitchen table one day in June and decided to organize a small event for our own little network of friends we have met through the adoption of our boys from Guatemala. That small event quickly grew. Our first year 35 families and over 100 people attended.

The purpose of Guatoberfest is to network with other adoptive families and grow relationships that will last a lifetime for us, and for our children. It’s a time to celebrate adoption and share what it has meant to our families. It is a relaxed weekend with lots of free time to spend with other families and some fun planned events sprinkled in as well. Last year we went to the Georgia Aquarium, and we will always plan those types of organized events. This year we’ll be in Myrtle Beach and have some fun things planned there, as well as some guest speakers and other surprises. Guatoberfest is open to and we welcome ALL adoptive families, not only families who have adopted from Guatemala.

Guatoberfest is different this year in that there is an additional purpose. Last year we announced the launch of our “baby,” Global Orphan Team, a non-profit ministry. Guatoberfest is a Global Orphan Team sponsored event and any proceeds will go towards our mission work in Guatemala. Although still in its infancy, look for GOT to make big changes in the standard of orphan care in Guatemala and around the world.

Our Mission Statement:

“Our mission is to reach the lost and forgotten through the love of Jesus Christ. We build relationships with those we reach to ensure a continued relationship and quality mission work in those regions. Our work will raise the standard of care in orphanages, families, churches and schools where it is desperately needed. We will educate, equip and encourage those in our community and around the world on how to work together to make a change in the lives of others.”

Guatoberfest is a great event and you will be blessed by taking part. The best friends I’ve made in my life have been through the adoption of my son. We would love to have your family join us this year!