ALL STAR II BOAT LETTER 2004



This is the letter that describes everything you’ll want and need to know about preparing for All Star II this year. EVERYONE should read it - even you Old Shoalers who think you know all of it already. See if you can find the surprises! The Boat Letter will also be on the All Star II web site (www.allstar2.gurus.com) NOTE: We have included the latest memo regarding the new boarding procedures. It is important to read that carefully as well.



BEFORE YOU PACK:


Have you ordered your 100% cotton All Star II 2004 T-shirt from Sue Barry? If you happened to miss out on the e-mail and would like to order one, call her at (603) 228-1058 before the June 9th deadline. Make sure your kids and teenagers know about them too. For more details, see the All Star II web site (www.allstar2.gurus.com)


Bring something for the Art Auction. Of course you can always do the work on the island but you could also bring something with you that you've drawn, painted, or made in prior years.


Last year we returned to the tradition of a “cleaning out the cupboards” type of Adult Farewell Party. Conferees bring some snacks or drinks that they have brought to the island and have not consumed. This lightens the return luggage and helps the All Star II budget.


WHAT TO BRING/PACK:


This is NEW ENGLAND. Be prepared to enjoy a variety of weather every ten minutes. Think layers since the days usually start out cool, may get quite warm by early afternoon and cool down at night. Sweatshirts, long pants, warm socks and windbreakers are necessary. Unfortunately, rain gear can also be helpful but sun screen, swim wear and beach towels are useful,too. Water temperature is chilly but those early morning "polar bears" are a hardy, determined lot! The island is rocky, so sneakers and sturdy shoes are best. Bring enough clothes to last a full week. Star is a casual place but on Banquet Night people do "dress up" a bit, so at least one nice outfit is suggested.


Island rooms have no locks so leave your valuables at home. Bring a flashlight as the uneven terrain makes walking at night tricky. The electrical service is very limited so do not bring appliances with heating elements - their use is strictly forbidden in your bedroom. Outlets for hair dryers are available only in a few bathrooms (i.e. basement of Oceanic).


Sports activities are available "Star Island" style so bring your tennis racket, softball glove, and a Frisbee. There are a few rackets, bats and gloves available for common use. Musical instruments that you enjoy playing are always welcome. The All Star II conferees are a very musical group, with lots of singing and chances to play your instrument. Some shoalers bring treats (like real maple syrup or hot sauce) to share at meals with tablemates.


Most shoalers look at their week on Star as a chance to get closer to the natural world. Spend a week without cell phones, laptops, game-boys, Walkmans, mp3 players etc. You can do it! While frowned upon, cell phones may be used in your own rooms but there are no hookups for checking e-mail on island, nor facilities for fax sending or receiving, except in extenuating circumstances (the island has only two phone lines which are linked to the mainland by repeaters). Paul Jennings, our Island Manager, emphasizes that our week at Star should be a retreat and a break from most technology.


The ferry ride is about an hour long, usually smooth but not always. If you need it, make sure you bring your motion sickness pills/devices.


Finally, think of Star Island as wilderness experience. Take only pictures, leave only shoe prints. Whatever you bring in, plan to carry it out. This applies especially to food/drink bottles or cans you may have brought. Recycle your empties in Portsmouth or at home.


HOW TO PACK IT ALL:


Now the hard part - all of the above must be consolidated, securely packed and not weigh over 50 lbs. because Pelican luggage handlers will not load anything over 50 pounds. Show restraint when packing - one bag per person is ideal but the maximum should be two!! Keep in mind the safety of luggage handling crews and be aware that luggage will be passed on and off the boat and over railings. Loosely packed items run the risk of being dropped in the water during handling. Carry-on luggage is limited to what will fit on your back, under the seat or in your lap.


ALL luggage must be labeled with your name, address & phone number before you arrive at the ISSCo. dock. Duffle bags are the preferred form of luggage (no garbage bags or paper bags please). Do carry on valuable items for their safety.


Remember that no illegal/dangerous substances or items are permitted: same substances or items that would not pass through airport security. (See memo for clarification.)


HOW TO GET TO PORTSMOUTH:


BY CAR: From Interstate Route 95 (North or South), take Portsmouth exit 7, and follow signs to downtown Portsmouth/Isles of Shoals Ferry. The dock is about half a mile from the exit on the left, next to the salt piles and across the street from the Sheraton.


BY BUS: The Greyhound terminal in downtown Portsmouth is only a few blocks from the dock. To reach Greyhound, call 800-231-2222 or see www.greyhound.com. C & J Trailways also has service from Boston/Logan Airport to Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth, NH. For schedule, call 800-258-7111 or see www.cjtrailways.com. It is a short and inexpensive cab ride to the dock. There is also a shuttle trolley that runs between Pease and Portsmouth. Contact www.coastbus.org for details.


BY PLANE: Scheduled flights into Boston's Logan Airport. C & J Trailways serves most terminals at Logan Airport and goes to Pease International Tradeport. (see above) Pease International Tradeport also has some commercial flights, call for details. Manchester Airport in NH is about a one hour drive to Portsmouth.


With the new Homeland Security measures and since there is no evening boat, it is crucial that we all leave some margin of error in our timing and try to arrive in Portsmouth early.


ARRIVING AT THE DOCK:


Due to new Homeland Security measures, many procedures have changed. Think of the Star Island ferry as a floating airplane and the dock as a quaint, open air, riverside airport and you’ll begin to know what to expect. Next, think of Star Island as a special place that pampers its conferees and tries to make a confusing process as easy as possible for everyone. Keep in mind that we are all in this together and random kindness goes a long way.


1. When you arrive at the dock by car you will be allowed to drop off your baggage in the designated luggage drop off area. To avoid traffic backup on Market Street, unload your vehicle immediately upon arrival at the dock area, and move your car to the parking area. If there are two or more people in your car, one must stay with the baggage while the other parks the car. If you are the only person in your car, you have 2 options: (1) park your car and then bring your luggage with you to the Star Island Desk (see below) or (2) pull over near the Star Island Desk, leave your bags in your car, find a Star Island representative and get permission to leave your baggage in the drop off area while you park your car. For this second option, a Star Island representative must stay with your luggage while you park your car. Any unaccompanied luggage will cause the Steamship Company to call 911 and evacuate the area so it is VERY important to stay with your baggage at all times!


2. The parking fee ($9.50 per 24 hour period) will be added to your room and board bill.


3. Star Island Desk: Once you have parked, go to the Star Island Desk next to the Steamship Company’s ticket window. All Star II representatives, Rodney Lowe and Sally Russell, will check you in which means they will verify your ID and check your luggage. At this time your color coded room tags, provided by the island staff, will be affixed to your luggage. All baggage must stay in your possession at all times prior to official baggage check in. There will be no access to luggage after it has been checked in. All baggage and persons are subject to search. All passengers 18 and older must furnish a valid photo ID to board the vessel. All passengers under 18, unaccompanied by a parent/legal guardian, must furnish ID.


4. After your ID is verified, you will be issued a card which will permit you to buy a boarding pass at the Steamship Company ticket window. You will not be permitted to purchase a boarding pass without this card.


5. Buy your ferry tickets. This year's roundtrip ferry fares are $23.50 for adults, $21.50 for children aged three to eleven and free for children under three. The boat will leave the dock at 1:55 pm but we think boarding may begin around 1:15 pm. Since there will be no other boat to the island until the next morning, plan to get to the dock by 12:30 pm at the latest.


6. Once you have passed through security, just like at an airport, you will be segregated from those who have not passed through security.


7. Get your family's name tags from Meg and Ed Doty and start wearing your name tags.


8. Get a copy of the Dockside Post from Craig Allshouse and Bonnie Smith that will give you Star reminders and some Island or All Star II news. We will also try to include any changes to Saturday's schedule in the Post.


9. If we have inclement weather, you might want to take one of your favorite motion sickness pills an hour or so before departure.


10. Your luggage will be unloaded and delivered to your room on island, hopefully safe and sound. However, the Star Island Corporation is not responsible for replacement or repair of conferee luggage lost at sea or damaged in transport.


BOARDING THE BOAT:


1. Boarding STOPS 15 minutes prior to published departure time.


2. Remember to SAVE YOUR BOARDING PASS in case you need it for the trip back.


WHEN YOU REACH THE ISLAND*:


When you arrive, Phil and Pat Hurzeler will greet you with refreshments on the porch. After that, register at the front desk in the lobby then check the Starboard, (chalkboard with information about all conference activities) also in the lobby. While you are doing all this, the Pelicans are delivering your luggage to your room. At 4 pm, EVERYONE must be in Elliot for the Mandatory Orientation.


A family conference means there are lots of families (parents, grandparents) and lots of kids, over 96 at last count. This conference works best when everyone is aware that the rules are there for reasons and they apply to everyone. Bedtimes and curfews serve the purpose of making sure children and teens are well rested because we all keep pretty busy during the day. Children’s boundaries are for the safety of younger children. Parents or guardians are always responsible for their children except when the kids are in morning or afternoon groups. Check in with one another on a regular basis, at meals, over ice cream, on a walk. This should be one week in the year that everyone has time to share with one another.


*If, for any reason, a conferee car is not parked in the Port Authority lot (inside the second gate after entering the Steamship Company's parking lot,) and issued a parking permit by the Pelican on duty, the owner of the vehicle must notify the Front Desk immediately upon arrival on the island. The owner must complete a form indicating where the car is parked and must leave keys with the desk so that the car may be properly parked. If the desk is not notified, the car will be towed, either by the Steamship Company or the Port Authority, depending on where the car is parked.


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE SATURDAY SCHEDULE:

(subject to last minute changes at the whim of the Chairs, the gods or others)

. 12:30 pm Show up at dock

. 1:15 pm Boarding begins, maybe?

. 1:40 pm Boarding stops

· 1:55 pm Leave mainland

· 3:00 pm Arrive Star Island - check-in at the front desk in the lobby

· 4:00 pm MANDATORY orientation for EVERYONE in Elliot

· 4:45 pm MANDATORY meeting for teens and teen advisors in Brookfield

· 4:45 pm Staff Meeting in Sandpiper Room

· 5:30 pm Social Hour

· 6:30 pm Cottage Dinner

· 7:30 pm “Slide” Show in Elliott

· Bedtimes 8 pm for Skimmers; 8:30 pm for Puffins; 9 pm for Terns; 9:30 pm for Gulls

· Curfews 10:30 pm for Jr. Teens; 11 pm for Mid Teens; Midnight for Sr. Teens

· 9:30 pm Chapel (Tim & Irene)

· 10:30 pm Dictionary in Newton



ON THE ISLAND:


There is a doctor and nurse on staff and available at all times for emergencies. Regular clinic hours are one hour before each meal. Be sure to alert the Island and Chairs of any significant change in your Health Status. And please note that under the best of circumstances, it can take almost 2 hours to transport someone from the island to the hospital.


There is a small lobby store where you can get toiletries and small personal items as well as order newspapers from the mainland. There is also a snack bar, gift shop and bookstore on island so bring some cash with you. You can cash personal checks on the Island if needed. Hotel bills MUST be paid by check. You cannot use a credit card to pay any island bills.


PELICAN GRATUITIES:


The conference center is staffed by a group of young people affectionately known as Pelicans. Pelicans are paid as salaried employees and gratuities are included in the conference room and board bills. There will be a box on the writing desk for those who wish to make a contribution to the Pels above and beyond their normal wages. In addition, All Star II will probably be holding a Pel Auction on Monday evening and proceeds of this go to the Pel Club.


BABY SITTING:


The island staff provides baby sitters who are on duty every evening from 8 to 11 p.m. All families with one or more children under the age of 8 will have $24 added to their room and board bill to cover the cost for childcare service.



IMPORTANT ISLAND POLICIES AND REQUESTS:


*Firearms and fireworks of any kind are strictly prohibited. Violators will be required to leave the island on the next boat.


*Alcoholic beverages may not be consumed in public spaces on the Island unless such activity is directly related to a conference sponsored function.


*Oxygen or helium bottles cannot be transported on the boat.


*Use environmentally safe products (toiletries) on the island and recycle as much as you can. If you arrive with any bottles or cans, please leave with them even if they are empty.


*VISITORS: No day visitor may stay on island past the 3:00 p.m. boat without prior arrangement with the manager.



OUR SPIRIT'S HOME:


The weather can deal our island home some cruel blows and this year was not an exception. Major repairs will need to be done to the dining room roof. Perhaps if we could find a particularly generous donor, the Star Island Corporation would offer naming rights (the Ron Cordes Roof?) Seriously, room and board fees don’t cover the cost of maintaining the island any more than conference registration fees cover the cost of running an individual conference. Those of us who love Star Island need to contribute to the Star Island Annual Fund. There couldn’t be an All Star II conference without Star Island. It’s that simple.



SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR 2004:


We thank all those who accepted their volunteer jobs with grace. We tried to give many shoalers an opportunity to do different jobs and work with new people. We eliminated some jobs and activities and tried to spread the work load equitably. If you get asked to help out with something else on the island, please do your best to cooperate with the volunteer organizer who asks.


Some changes will be noticed immediately, starting at dinner. For Saturday night, we are asking ALL SHOALERS to sit by housing assignments so you can get to know your neighbors. This is a different type of get-acquainted event. After dinner, thanks to Nate Hubbard, there will be a continuous review/preview of a week on Star via one of those fancy electronic gadgets the rest of you have been discouraged from bringing to the island. Come and go as you please but be ready for an early chapel on Saturday. Since many of you will have traveled long distances, we decided to have a 9:30 pm chapel so those who want to can get to sleep earlier, not to mention starting Dictionary earlier.


Sunday will be the 1st time in about twenty years that All Star II has been on island for the 4th of July so we have all sorts of fun planned. Check out the Dockside Post for the latest details. There will be a Red, White and Blue theme lunch that day, a good time to wear one of your new All Star II T -shirts since they only come in those colors!


This year we have hired Scott Ward to be the All Star II Adult Music Director. Scott will direct the Adult Choir and Chorus, as well as provide music for chapels and those who may need it for Stunt Night or the Musicale.


Bring ideas for Stunt Night or the Musicale. We have several shoalers involved with these events and volunteers are always welcomed or coerced, which ever works best.


There will be no Sandpiper this year. Anyone who feels defiant and wants to start an underground newspaper is forbidden to do so since the whole point of an underground newspaper is to be in opposition to the established order;-)


“Announcements, announcements, ann-ooooow-nnnnce-ments...”:

There will be none this year. At least not at breakfast. Unless it is a REAL emergency. Other meals are subject to interruptions for announcements, preferably short and humorous. We will read all announcements and as soon as we start to read announcements, stop chatting or you may miss the punch line. Long announcements should be posted on the bulletin board adjacent to the Starboard.


And finally about our program for the week. Our speakers this year are Nancy and Jim McLaren on the topic “Exploring Our Potential.” Unbeknownst to you, life experience has been your homework so all of you are as well prepared as you’ll ever be to begin on Monday morning at 9:30 am in Newton. Isn’t it a good feeling to have your homework done?


This has been a long letter, both to write and to read. We hope we have covered everything you needed to know. If not, please feel free to email us at as2chairs2004@yahoo.com with any questions you might have. We still have a short waiting list so if anyone has to drop out at the last minute, PLEASE let us know immediately so someone else can fill your slot.


We’ll be greeting all of you on the pier in less than a month! We can hardly wait!

You will come back! You will come back! You will come back!


Tim & Irene

781-235-0059

as2chairs2004@yahoo.com





P.S.

Be sure to read the complete Homeland Security memo which details the process that will be followed for boarding the Star Island Ferry.

New Security Measures at the Steamship Company Dock

Current as of June 1, 2004

Effective immediately, federally mandated regulations from the Department of Homeland Security require that all passenger vessels carrying over 150 passengers (including the Star Island ferry) fall under strict security regulations very similar to those found at airports.

NOTE: This memo contains the most up-to-date information that reflects the Steamship Company’s homeland security plan, as approved by the US Coast Guard. It replaces all previous draft dates.

A SPECIAL NOTE TO STAR ISLAND CONFEREES: Though these regulations require such things as ID verification procedures and random screening of luggage, they should not greatly prolong the boarding process. The Star Island Corporation and the Steamship Company ask for your patience and willing support in following these required procedures.

All passengers will be REQUIRED to follow these regulations:

BAGGAGE:

IDENTIFICATION:

ARRIVING AT THE DOCK and BOARDING:

MISCELLANEOUS:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

The Star Island Corporation and the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company (ISSCo.) ask for everyone’s cooperation as these new regulations are implemented and enforced, and we will strive to make the transition as seamless as possible.