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The following Frequently Asked Questions should help orient you with dates, costs, and the trip to New York city. You can also download these as a PDF: NYC FAQs (PDF) Jump to these sections below:
IMPORTANT DATESA non-‐refundable deposit application fee is due at the time of online registration. This fee is applied towards the cost of your trip. $125 application fee (non-‐refundable deposit) for 7 day trip option and $75 application fee (non-‐refundable deposit) for 4 day trip option*. 2. When is my trip balance due? Final balance on all registrations (Early Bird, Regular and Late for both 7 day/4 day trip*) is due on or before June 7, 2013. 3. What are the registration deadlines for the trip? 7 day trip 4 day trip* 4. What if I cannot pay my balance by the due date? This mission trip is a partnership between our organization and each team member. We ask that each participant be accountable for paying for their trip when they have committed and the organization has paid expenses toward that participant. Failure to pay the final balance of the trip within 5 business days after the balance due date will DEACTIVATE a participant's account. (Note: A participant is encouraged to establish a payment plan prior to account DEACTIVATION.) Participants with DEACTIVATED accounts are not allowed to go on the trip until they have established an agreeable payment plan (see "Payment Plans" section below) with Spread Truth Ministries. Once the participant and Spread Truth Ministries have agreed upon a payment plan, the participant's account will be RE-‐ACTIVATED and the participant will be allowed to go on the trip. 5. Are there any payment plans to pay off my final balance? A participant may choose to pay the remaining portion of their balance within an additional 3-‐ week period after the due date of the final balance; however, an additional 5% Extended Payment Fee (calculated from the participant's remaining balance) is added to cover the cost of credit card and banking fees. It is the desire of Spread Truth Ministries that all participants are given an opportunity to go on the trip, but past experience has shown not all participants are willing to pay their full balance. Special payment plans may be arranged on a "per individual" basis at the discretion of Spread Truth Ministries. Participants may choose to pay by credit card or automatic withdrawal from a checking/savings account. *Streets and Parks track only
6. What are our lodging accommodations? Brooklyn New York Marriott 333 Adams Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 718-‐246-‐7000 7. What about my transportation to/from New York City? Team members have the option of Spread Truth Ministries booking their transportation and transfers through our travel agency, Suzi Davis Travel. This can include transportation by plane, train or bus from any departure city of the team member’s choosing. This transportation option will then be billed through Spread Truth Ministries upon purchase of the ticket. Transportation booked through Spread Truth has the opportunity to use donations received toward this cost. Travel (airfare) costs are typically due within 10 business days of confirmed booking by the team member. This cost is added to the trip members cost and can be viewed online at their (GO) Trip account. Team members who choose not to book transportation through Spread Truth Ministries need to follow the guidelines sheet provided for arrival, departure and transfer options. These guidelines can be found at the end of this document. Spread Truth does not reimburse with donated funds for those booking their own transportation. BENEFITS TO BOOKING THROUGH SPREAD TRUTH
Team members are welcome to drive to New York City if they wish. If you are coming as a group you will need to book your own charter bus to drop you off and pick you up at the hotel. If you are coming by car or mini van, you may park at the hotel for $23 a day (no in/out privileges). If you are coming by SUV, passenger van, shuttle, or bus, we will work with you to find parking. Parking in lots near the hotel in Brooklyn or in economy lots near an airport can be $50-‐$100 a day for these types of vehicles. Please contact Spread Truth Ministries by May 15 with your type of vehicle and we can help you make arrangements for your parking.
7 day trip Regular Registration is from February 1, 2013 until April 19, 2013 -‐ $725 per person. Late Registration is from April 20, 2013 until May 17, 2013 -‐ $750 per person. All balances due for the above registrations are on or before June 7, 2013. Registrations after May 17 will be at a cost of $775 and are based on available space only. $775 rate must be paid at time of application to reserve this type of registration. If you have chosen for Spread Truth to book your transportation, the cost of airfare and airport transfers will be added to overall all trip cost. Airfare/transfer cost is invoiced and due 10 business days after booking. 4 day trip* Late Registration is from April 19, 2013 until May 17, 2013 -‐$499 per person. All balances due for the above registrations are on or before June 7, 2013. Registrations after May 17 will be at a cost of $525 and are based on available space only. $525 rate must be paid at time of application to reserve this type of registration. If you have chosen for Spread Truth to book your transportation, the cost of airfare and airport transfers will be added to overall all trip cost. Airfare/transfer cost is invoiced and due 10 business days after booking. 10. What does the cost include? The trip cost includes hotel accommodations (quad occupancy), meeting space, unlimited ride subway card, trained leaders/directors, training materials, support materials, and evangelism materials as well as online account management which includes processing of all donation support.
11. What do I have to pay up front? 4 day trip* -‐ $75 application fee (non-‐refundable) – due at online registration 12. What if I don’t want Quad Occupancy? 7 day trip 4 day trip* *Streets and Parks track only The non-‐refundable deposit is due at the time of online application. 14. Will I receive a trip statement? Statements can be viewed on your GO Admin account under Trip History/Balances. This statement shows donations/payments received toward your account (this will include each donor's name and amount).
15. How do I receive donations toward my trip cost? Each team member will be set up with an account at Spread Truth Ministries. This account is specified by the team member's id number. Team members will receive their member id number via email within 3 business days after their application and deposit are received by Spread Truth Ministries. Their account is where donations/payments will be deposited. Donations should be mailed directly to the Spread Truth office at PO Box 3171, Bloomington, IL 61702-‐3171. Donations and payments by check should be payable to Spread Truth Ministries. All donations made payable to Spread Truth Ministries are tax deductible. We cannot accept checks that are made payable to an individual team member. Checks that are returned from the bank for non sufficient funds will incur a $5.00 service charge to the team member. Team members are encouraged to send out their support letters as soon as they sign up for the trip. It is recommended that you only give your donors two (2) weeks from the date you mail the letters for which to turn in their support donations. This is for two reasons: generates urgency of the need and allows you the opportunity to raise additional support should those donors not come through for you. Team members should reference their member id number on all support letters sent.
16. Do you have support letters I can send? Support letters for all ministry tracks are available - Click Here. These are form letters that can be personalized with your personal information. Team members should reference their member id number on all support letters sent. Please review the Support Letter Strategies for tips before completing and mailing support letters.
17. What are my payment options? By check: mailed to and made payable to Spread Truth Ministries Inc. Include your member id number in the memo line of check. By credit card: Apply online with credit card or call our office at 309-‐452-‐3213. Automatic Withdrawal from Savings or Checking Account: call our office at 309-‐452-‐3213 if you wish to use this option. 18. What other costs can I expect to pay? Meals are not included in the price of the trip. Participants are allowed (by the IRS) to raise support for up to $41 per day (maximum of $246 for 7 day trip participants) over the cost of the trip. Any additional funds that are raised beyond the cost of the trip and the daily meal allowance will be placed in the Spread Truth Ministries general fund to purchase evangelism materials. Example: Susan raises $1200 from various donors. $865 is applied to pay for the cost of the trip (this would be the cost plus airfare/transfers); she receives the maximum allowance for food -‐ $246. The remaining $89 goes to the general fund to purchase New Testament Bibles. Money raised for food allowances will be accepted until July 1. Team members will be reimbursed by check, which is mailed on July 8. Trip participants are responsible for any unforseen expenses that may be incurred while on the trip, including but not limited to: missed connections, weather delays, extra hotel nights, additional meals, room damages, and medical expenses. Spread Truth Ministries will supply trip participants that purchased trip insurance through us appropriate claim forms for covered reimbursable expenses. 19. What if I raise more funds than my trip costs and meal money? Excess funds will not be transferable to other trip members, unless it is an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, and sibling). In addition, excess funds will not be transferable to future trips. Excess funds raised over the initial cost of the trip and meal money will go into the trip general fund to pay for operational expense with each track. 20. Do I have to have medical insurance to attend the trip? While it is not required we prefer that all team members have medical insurance coverage while on the trip. Anyone not covered under a regular policy will be asked to sign a medical insurance release form that indicates they will be responsible to pay any out of pocket expenses for medical insurance. 21. Does Spread Truth Ministries offer trip insurance? We offer trip insurance at a cost of an additional $75* per person. This insurance has multiple benefits including but not limited to, trip cancellation reimbursement, trip interruption costs reimbursement (this includes additional lodging, transfer fees or new flights), baggage delay and loss coverage, and trip medical expense coverage. When you purchase our trip insurance you will receive a detailed summary of all covered benefits. *those age 65 or over will incur an additional $20 per person charge. 22. What if I decide to cancel my trip? 7 day trip 4 day trip* *Streets and Parks track only
23. Does Spread Truth Ministries arrange for sightseeing activities? We offer several group options each evening from Monday through Thursday (Friday night is a mandatory group meeting) and during the day on Saturday. Activity descriptions are available after January 20 at www.SpreadTruth.com/NYC. You are welcome to plan your own evening activities. We plan activities as a group to see some of the most popular sites; this is a great resource for those who are unfamiliar with New York City. All group activities (unless where noted) are led by experienced leaders. Sightseeing activity fees are the responsibility of the trip participant. Since this is for entertainment purposes, tax-‐deductible donations received to an account cannot be used toward the activity fees.
PREPARATION BEFORE THE TRIPWe believe that training is the key to spending a week immersed in evangelism. Each member will receive specific information regarding training for their ministry track. This information will be sent in May. The following guidelines apply to roommate requests:
26. What should I bring with me to NYC?
27. What is the dress code in NYC? Make sure your clothing is modest and remember that we are ambassadors for Christ. Women: Modest slacks or jeans. Shorts/skirts not more than 4 inches above the knee. No low cut tops or midriff tops. No spaghetti strapped, tank or strapless tops or dresses. Sleeveless tops are acceptable. Men: Modest pants, shorts or jeans. Nothing torn or frayed. No t-‐shirts with questionable material on them.
You can also download these as a PDF: NYC FAQs (PDF)
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