NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

Date:                June 4, 2010

Contact:            Henry Guthard

                        Director of Development

                        (313) 962-6740

                        henry@tasmd.org

 Travelers Aid to Host Fireworks Dinner Cruise

Spectacular to Help the Homeless

(Detroit, MI )  The Detroit Fireworks are back … and we have the best seats in town!

The Travelers Aid Society is staging a memorable fundraising event to seek charitable support for families at risk of homelessness.

Sure to be one of this Summer’s highlights will be a fabulous dinner & riverboat cruise being planned to take full advantage of the upcoming Detroit fireworks display on June 21st. The pyrotechnic extravaganza is rated as one of the grandest in North America. 

Party-goers will start by gathering along the River Walk near the Stroh 300 River Place development at the foot of Jos Campau street on Detroit’s eastside. The popular Diamond Belle tour boat has been chartered with a departure time set at 6:15 and an estimated return at 11:00.

The festivities include a leisurely cruise along the historic Detroit River, a scrumptious barbeque style dinner, music, door prizes, … and then while anchored off-shore … being treated to a breathtaking, ‘front-row’ view of the internationally renown fireworks.

Tickets for the complete package are just $75 each, but must be purchased in advance. Proceeds from the event will be used to help support the Travelers Aid Homeward Bound series of programs that are helping the homeless throughout the metro area. A portion of each purchase is tax deductible.

Tickets are now on sale by visiting the www.TravelersAidDetroit.org website or by telephone at (313) 962-6740.

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About Travelers Aid

The Travelers Aid Society of Metropolitan Detroit is a 501c3 nonprofit charity dedicated to addressing the needs of people in distress including travelers, transients and the homeless.

Established in 1923, the organization has a proud legacy over their 85+ years of helping thousands of disadvantaged individuals by providing one-on-one crisis intervention counseling; referrals for emergency and transitional housing; integration into a ‘care-network’ of ready human services providers; as well as providing life skills training and job-readiness coaching designed for program recipients to achieve self sufficiency.

NEWS RELEASE FOR GENERAL DISTRIBUTION 

Contact: Henry Guthard, Director of Development

               Travelers Aid Society of Metropolitan Detroit

               (313) 962-6740

               henry@tasmd.org

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR AIR TRAVEL DURING THE HOLIDAYS

December 8, 2008 - Detroit, MI     

Air travel congestion and delays can be expected to be especially heavy during the holiday travel season this year. Despite a difficult economy the airlines industry anticipates that millions of passengers will again  be traveling nationwide.

Tips have been submitted by Travelers Aid International managers from airports throughout the U.S. to help air passengers complete their travels more efficiently and smoothly. When making your plans be sure to check www.travelersaid.org.

We are pleased to put these tips together for the traveling public:

PLANNING

The secret to successful travel is planning, planning, planning. Planning starts at home with research before you leave.

• Fly early in the day. It’s often cheaper, easier to get a seat, and if there are delays you will probably still get out the same day. Even better: Fly on the actual holiday.
• Go to the www.tsa.gov web site and understand the security regulations.
• Other valuable sites are www.flightarrivals.com as well as www.flightstats.com. 
• Review the web sites of the airports you will be traveling through to check on the location of gates and the amount of walking you will need to do. In Detroit you can check out www.metroairport.com.
• Give copies of your itinerary to: 1) person to be called in the event of emergency; 2) someone you can call if you forget the details; and 3) the people picking you up at your destination
• Call the airline to confirm your flight status and permissible size of carry on luggage
• If you are sending an unaccompanied minor on a flight, arrange for ‘unaccompanied minor handling’ with the airline and pay the fee. It is well worth it.
• Travelers in wheelchairs: Do not presume that the airline or the airport can readily assist you unless you have made prior arrangements with the airline.

DRESSING AND PACKING

• You may bring only one carry-on and one personal item, such as a purse, laptop computer or briefcase
• Pack undeveloped film and cameras with film in them in your carry-on baggage only
• Wear slip-on shoes
• Don’t wear heavy belt buckles or chunky jewelry
• Don’t pack your laptop computer in your checked luggage. Cargo holds can be punishing and crack cases or damage screens.
• If you lock your checked bag, use a TSA-approved lock with the red diamond symbol. Better: do not lock your bag.
• Pack your clothes in large zip-lock bags to simplify a possible hand search of your luggage
• Label your bags – checked and carry-on -- with your name, address and phone number, both inside and out
• Place books and shoes in different areas of your luggage. Having them condensed all in one place can set off the screening machine alarms.
• Put a number in your cell phone called “Home” or “Emergency contact.” If you lose your phone, this is the first logical place people will look for a number to call.

CARRY-ON ALLOWED ITEMS

• Prescriptions in their original containers. It is recommended that patient names on the labels match the boarding pass. If it does not, be prepared to explain why.
• Non-prescription medications necessary for the duration of the trip
• Baby formula and baby food – but only if the baby is traveling with you! Limited to the amount needed to reach your destination.
• Laptops, cell phones, electronic games
• Matches (safety matches only). No lighters in carry-on bag or on your person.
• Solid lip balm or solid lipstick. No liquid or gel lip gloss.
• Bring an extra zip-lock bag (or two) and place your change, keys and cell phone in them at the security checkpoint

PARKING AT THE AIRPORT

• Before leaving for the airport, call the airport (not the airline) if it has a “parking hotline” to check the availability of parking
• Write down your parking location and take it with you. Turn your lights off.

MEETING PASSENGERS AT THE AIRPORT

• Some airports now have “cell phone lots” where you can wait for an arriving passenger, so they can call you when they arrive
• Make sure you have the airline name, flight number and connecting city of your arriving party. If their flight is delayed or missed, it will be virtually impossible to track them down without this information.
• Designate a specific spot to meet your party. You cannot go to the gate.
• If you are meeting a child, disabled or elderly passenger, you may be able to go to the gate, but you will have to go to the airline’s check-in counter to get permission first

SECURITY SCREENING

• LIQUIDS: 3-ounce bottles in one one-quart clear, plastic zip-top bag.
  • Nothing else will be accepted! Pack this bag before you leave home – security staff will not supply them to you!
  • At the checkpoint, have your bag ready to place in the bin or on conveyor belt

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