Please read through all of this. It's contact info for the summer.
This summer, the Blue Stars administration decided not to allow cell phones. I really would like to see all of you as well as hear from all of you, so send letters and stuff! But in addition to the information below, you can go to the souvie booth and find out where the trucks/trailers are as well as leave a message at the souvie booth, like where you are, or if you don't have time (hopefully you do,but sometimes things happen). Also, if you need to get ahold of me in a semi-timely fashion, just give my family a call at 605-371-3825 and I'll hopefully get to call them once a week or so.
Communicating with the Blue Stars and its Members
Summer Tour 2007
Mail on Tour
Members love to receive mail from family and friends. To send a letter to a Blue Stars' member, use the following address:
Blue Stars
Attn:
PO Box 2523
La Crosse, WI 54601-2523
The PO Box does not accept packages. If you would like to send a care package to a Blue Stars' member, use this address:
Blue Stars
Attn:
1100 Kane Street Suite 125A
La Crosse, WI 54603
Mail and packages are delivered to the corps with staff and volunteers as they go from La Crosse to meet up with the corps. There is no guaranteed frequency for delivery from the office to the corps. Mail may be delivered several times a week, or it could be a week or more before mail is delivered to members. Any mail sent after July 20, 2007 may not reach the corps before the end of the season. Please try to limit the size of packages, as very large packages are difficult to deliver and may take longer to reach the corps (for example, the person delivering mail may be traveling by plane).
Communicating by Telephone
In order to maximize the experience and camaraderie of the Blue Stars, the corps does not allow members to carry personal cellular phones while on tour. We are, however, sensitive to the needs of families to check in with each other and be able to facilitate emergency communication.
How to contact a member via telephone
Non-Emergency
Call the La Crosse office. (608) 782-3219. Corps personnel check the office phone for messages several times each day. Messages are recorded and passed along to members at the earliest possible convenience.
Emergency (family death or other serious family issue; trying to find the corps, but lost; etc.)
Russ Gavin (tour director) - (651) 338-1981
Chad Armbruster (corps director)- (612) 695-4906
Brad Furlano - (executive director) (608) 797-6301
If you have to leave a voicemail message, please do the following:
1. Clearly say both your name and the name of the member for whom the message is intended.
2. SLOWLY say the phone number that you can be reached, including area code. In fact, say it TWICE.
Note: The corps is periodically in rural areas with no or poor cell phone reception. We will make our best attempts at receiving and passing along messages to members, but there are rare times when communication is very difficult.
How members can contact you via telephone
The Blue Stars will have at least two cell phones exclusively available for members to call family members and friends. The use of these phones will be limited to meal periods and free time. In an effort to provide maximum availability, individual members will have a limited amount of time to talk. These phones are for outward calling only, and you should not call these numbers to talk to a member.
Members can have calling cards and use pay phones to make calls during free time. Additionally, members may use cell phones of family members who may be visiting or volunteering during free time.
Other cellular telephone notes
If a member and/or parent wishes, a cell phone may be checked in at move-in. The phone will be put in an envelope with the member's name and address and safely stored on the cook truck. If a member has to leave the corps for an emergency, they may check out the cell phone to assist in traveling when not with the corps. All checked in cell phones will be returned to members at the end of the season for the trip home.
Under extreme emergency situations, individual members may be permitted to carry a cell phone. These situations include a serious medical condition that requires monitoring by a physician, a life-threatening illness of a family member, or other serious family matter. Any member who feels they qualify for this exception should talk to Chad Armbruster. If an exemption is granted, the member must follow guidelines for usage, and will turn in the phone if/when the situation is resolved.
E-mail letters and notes
Parents, relatives and friends can send e-mail notes to members that will be printed and delivered to members. Delivery will be dependent upon Internet access, but should occur every day or two. To send a member an electronic note, send an e-mail to letters@bluestars.org. The subject line of the e-mail should be the members' name.
Other sources of information
The Blue Stars web site (www.bluestars.org) is a great resource for information about the corps. There are near daily updates and discussions on the forums about the corps and what's happening on tour. Sign up today and be part of the discussion.
Come on the road
The best way to know what's going on is to come on the road with the corps. We are always looking for additional help preparing meals, driving support vehicles, sewing, etc. Come out and join the fun. To volunteer, contact Chad or Russ today!
Communicating with the Blue Stars and its Members
Summer Tour 2007
Mail on Tour
Members love to receive mail from family and friends. To send a letter to a Blue Stars' member, use the following address:
Blue Stars
Attn:
PO Box 2523
La Crosse, WI 54601-2523
The PO Box does not accept packages. If you would like to send a care package to a Blue Stars' member, use this address:
Blue Stars
Attn:
1100 Kane Street Suite 125A
La Crosse, WI 54603
Mail and packages are delivered to the corps with staff and volunteers as they go from La Crosse to meet up with the corps. There is no guaranteed frequency for delivery from the office to the corps. Mail may be delivered several times a week, or it could be a week or more before mail is delivered to members. Any mail sent after July 20, 2007 may not reach the corps before the end of the season. Please try to limit the size of packages, as very large packages are difficult to deliver and may take longer to reach the corps (for example, the person delivering mail may be traveling by plane).
Communicating by Telephone
In order to maximize the experience and camaraderie of the Blue Stars, the corps does not allow members to carry personal cellular phones while on tour. We are, however, sensitive to the needs of families to check in with each other and be able to facilitate emergency communication.
How to contact a member via telephone
Non-Emergency
Call the La Crosse office. (608) 782-3219. Corps personnel check the office phone for messages several times each day. Messages are recorded and passed along to members at the earliest possible convenience.
Emergency (family death or other serious family issue; trying to find the corps, but lost; etc.)
Russ Gavin (tour director) - (651) 338-1981
Chad Armbruster (corps director)- (612) 695-4906
Brad Furlano - (executive director) (608) 797-6301
If you have to leave a voicemail message, please do the following:
1. Clearly say both your name and the name of the member for whom the message is intended.
2. SLOWLY say the phone number that you can be reached, including area code. In fact, say it TWICE.
Note: The corps is periodically in rural areas with no or poor cell phone reception. We will make our best attempts at receiving and passing along messages to members, but there are rare times when communication is very difficult.
How members can contact you via telephone
The Blue Stars will have at least two cell phones exclusively available for members to call family members and friends. The use of these phones will be limited to meal periods and free time. In an effort to provide maximum availability, individual members will have a limited amount of time to talk. These phones are for outward calling only, and you should not call these numbers to talk to a member.
Members can have calling cards and use pay phones to make calls during free time. Additionally, members may use cell phones of family members who may be visiting or volunteering during free time.
Other cellular telephone notes
If a member and/or parent wishes, a cell phone may be checked in at move-in. The phone will be put in an envelope with the member's name and address and safely stored on the cook truck. If a member has to leave the corps for an emergency, they may check out the cell phone to assist in traveling when not with the corps. All checked in cell phones will be returned to members at the end of the season for the trip home.
Under extreme emergency situations, individual members may be permitted to carry a cell phone. These situations include a serious medical condition that requires monitoring by a physician, a life-threatening illness of a family member, or other serious family matter. Any member who feels they qualify for this exception should talk to Chad Armbruster. If an exemption is granted, the member must follow guidelines for usage, and will turn in the phone if/when the situation is resolved.
E-mail letters and notes
Parents, relatives and friends can send e-mail notes to members that will be printed and delivered to members. Delivery will be dependent upon Internet access, but should occur every day or two. To send a member an electronic note, send an e-mail to letters@bluestars.org. The subject line of the e-mail should be the members' name.
Other sources of information
The Blue Stars web site (www.bluestars.org) is a great resource for information about the corps. There are near daily updates and discussions on the forums about the corps and what's happening on tour. Sign up today and be part of the discussion.
Come on the road
The best way to know what's going on is to come on the road with the corps. We are always looking for additional help preparing meals, driving support vehicles, sewing, etc. Come out and join the fun. To volunteer, contact Chad or Russ today!