Quilt for Children's Fund Auction: TEE SHIRTS NEEDED!

Remember this quilt? It's the one that was auctioned off at our 2006 convention in Greensboro -- it brought in close to $2,000 -- all of which was donated to the Ruth D. Anderson Kindermusik Children's Fund. Well -- with your help -- we'll have another, even BETTER, quilt to auction off at this year's convention in Raleigh! I need 20 tee shirts from ALL OVER THE WORLD to include in this year's quilt! So -- if you have a tee shirt that you'd like to donate, please email me at cschor@kindermusik.com or just drop it in the mail to me TODAY at:

Connie Schor

Kindermusik International

P.O. Box 26575

Greensboro, NC 27415

I must have all tee shirts in hand by NO LATER THAN October 15 so that the quilt can be finished and ready for Convention! As you know, all of the proceeds from the auction go to benefit the Ruth D. Anderson Kindermusik Children's Fund, which provides scholarships for children who otherwise would be unable to attend Kindermusik classes. To learn more about the children's fund, go to the teacher's lounge -- the details can be found there! Look under the "information & links" section -- then click on "educator enrichment" -- that's where you'll find it. Keep in mind, though, that applications for scholarships are accepted online ONCE each year, from May 15 through June 15 -- any Kindermusik educator can apply.

So -- please send me some KINDERMUSIK tee shirts from ALL OVER THE WORLD -- this quilt should represent all of us from wherever we may be!

Until then,

"Convention Connie"

NEED AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION? I HAVE A DEAL FOR YOU!

Whitehorse Transportation (www.ridewhitehorse.com) has agreed to provide transportation for our educators who are flying into and out of RDU International Airport. And, you will received a PREFERRED rate of $12.00pp (if there are 4 or more people in a vehicle) or $15.00pp (if there are 3 or fewer people in a vehicle). This price is EACH WAY -- and is CONSIDERABLY less than what you would pay a typical "cabbie" at RDU (they would charge you $39.00 EACH WAY)!!! You'd think we were living in New York City!!!

But -- you'll need to reserve your transportation ahead of time. Here's what you need to do:

1) Call Whitehorse Transportation at 888.62-HORSE (888.624.6773) ... or email Whitehorse Transportation at reservations@ridewhitehorse.com

2) Request the KINDERMUSIK CONVENTION rate

3) Advise Whitehorse of your date and time of arrival and your date and time of departure

4) Whitehorse will include this information in your transportation reservation and will send you a confirmation via email

5) Whitehorse will require a credit card to guarantee service, so please have that available when making your reservation

6) Whitehorse will pick you up just outside of baggage claim -- where you will find a PURPLE Preferred Services station (pictured below) -- you can't miss it -- there's one outside of both terminals at RDU.

This is an extraordinarily LOW rate as Whitehorse has a contract with the Marriott to provide ONE WAY service at $45.00 each way (that’s what I had to pay when Lee gave me a ride from the Marriott back to RDU last Friday – it was money well spent by KI, though, as I was able to find this deal to pass on to you!!!).

Please be sure to share this information with all educators who will be flying into RDU. This is much less expensive than renting a car and paying for parking in downtown Raleigh.

Of course, if you have questions, let me know -- I can be reached at cschor@kindermusik.com.

Until then,

"Convention Connie"

Curious about the Raleigh Convention Center and Marriott facilities?

Hi all,

Take a look at the powerpoint presentation that I just published using Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/) / which by the way is a wonderful/easy to use tool to use in posting items to your blog, your facebook page, your website, etc.: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30626785@N08/sets/. Click on the "Before and After" pix first -- THEN click on the "SLIDESHOW" icon at the top right of your screen to view the entire presentation with ease!

I think you'll agree that Raleigh is a MAGNIFICENT location for this year's convention! If you haven't already registered, it's not too late! Go to the teacher's lounge at http://www.kindermusik.com/ and REGISTER today! And -- to reserve your room at the Marriott Raleigh City Center, just call 919.833.1120 and request the KINDERMUSIK rate!

By the way -- the Marriott was kind enough to open up a few additional rooms for our block on the previously sold out Friday and Saturday nights! So -- don't delay -- reserve your room at the Marriott today!

Until then,

"Convention Connie"

911 Reflection, contributed by the PKE blog

September 11, 2008

What began as a bright and sunny day here in Central Illinois has turned a bit dismal with the onset of a slow & steady rain. I find myself sitting at my desk and contemplating the events of 9-11-2001. (Exhaustion from the first week of classes may, too, have something to do with this state). Less than 1 month later in that year, Michael Dougherty was scheduled to visit our Midwest studio and my staff. I remember it vividly – wondering if he’d even make the trip. Flight times were still drastically reduced, and even the most avid of travelers was re-thinking the need to fly if it weren’t crucial. At a dinner with my staff (and Michael’s daughter, Frances, who got to accompany Dad on this trip), he talked to us about the need for Kindermusik. “In times like these”, he said, “We are reminded more than ever of the important work that we do.” Spoken from his heart, I remember being overcome with emotion, and a new passion and attitude for spreading the Kindermusik “word.” Helping families spend time together in a meaningful way, fostering a child’s growth and development, spreading love… Families NEED us! Children NEED us. It was much-needed fuel to forward our mission at that time.

In these economic times, and remembering, today, the tragic events of 9/11, we need to rekindle our passion, and boldly “sell” Kindermusik as the “SO MUCH MORE THAN MUSIC” that we know it is. We need not apologize to a parent for the investment in education that he will make for his child, and indeed for his entire family (while being sensitive, of course, to his need for options and help in making the experience possible). We must stand proud and confident in our knowledge of the potential we have to change the world with music. We must not give in to the excuses of tough economic times. Though tough times may require tough measures, investing in children is still at the top of any parent’s priority list. We need to embrace that and not be deterred….

I hope this finds your semester full of smiling little faces! I can’t wait to see you all in November at the Raleigh Convention - (An investment in your Kindermusik future).

Katie Henderson
PKE Board
Advisor for Professional Development

CONVENTION DEADLINE REMINDERS!!!

All,

We are delighted that so many of you have made the decision to join Kindermusik International this November 5th in Raleigh, North Carolina for Convention! Below are a few deadlines and details that you should keep top of mind just in case your plans change:

If you are registered for convention but now determine that you are unable to attend:

1) There is a $50 cancellation fee for those who cancel their convention registrations after September 2, 2008.

2) The cancellation DEADLINE is October 1 -- thus NO CANCELLATIONS will be accepted after October 1, 2008.

3) If you are registered for convention but you do not cancel your registration and do not show up at convention, a $250 "no show" fee will be charged to your educator account

I know this sounds a bit tough -- but Kindermusik has to guarantee numbers to the Convention Center for meals, meeting space, set-up, AV, etc. -- we could be severely penalized by the convention center if the information we provide to them is not correct.

And -- if you have made a room reservation at the Marriott and your plans have changed, or you are going to share a room with another educator, or you are no longer available to attend, be SURE that you contact the Marriott to cancel your room reservation. Per our contract with the Marriott, "individual cancellations must be made at least more than 5 days prior to arrival. After that time, they will be charged for the first night of their reservation or forfeit their individual deposits." The Marriott can be reached at 888.364.1200 -- be sure to mention the KINDERMUSIK room block.

There's loads of information available in this blog, so keep on reading -- and don't forget to put your name in the hat for FREE CONVENTION PARKING!

Until then,

"Convention Connie"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KINDERMUSIK!

All -- Cindy Bousman asked that I post this message to the blog -- so read on!

Hopefully by now you're all hard at work creating your Happy Birthday Kindermusik Video! Here's an update -- Let’s hear it for Nova Scotia! They sent in the first Kindermusik Birthday Video for the convention and it is great! Who will be next? Help us celebrate Kindermusik's 30th birthday with a 1-2 minute video featuring your one-of-a-kind Happy Birthday song. We plan to highlight a 30th Happy Birthday Video Montage of your entries at Convention November 5-8 in Raleigh, NC and then share it online with all educators. So, blow up the balloons, light the candles, and strike up the creative juices!

All you have to do is submit a 1 to 2 minute video of your one-of-a-kind Happy Birthday song, poem, dance, or even dramatic creative rendition. The boundary of creativeness is unlimited!

Here's how to submit your Kindermusik Birthday Song:

1) Post your 1-2 minute video on YouTube

2) When creating video add tag "Happy Birthday Kindermusik"

3) Send us an email at birthday@kindermusik.com with the YouTube link.

4) Save the video to a DVD and mail to: Kindermusik International, PO Box 26575, Greensboro, NC 27415 Attention: 30th Birthday.

NOTE: When making a Kindermusik Birthday Song submission it is your understanding that Kindermusik reserves the right to use all or any part of the 30th Happy Birthday Kindermusik videos submitted.

How do you upload to YouTube?

1) Go to http://www.youtube.com/

2) You will first need to create an account by clicking the "Sign Up" link in the upper right corner of the screen.

3) Complete the information (including email address, create a password, your location). Then select "Create an Account."

4) From the links in the upper right corner of your screen, select "Account."

5) In the bar at the top of the screen, click the button that says "Upload."

6) On the following screen, name your video, and provide a brief description/category.

7) Select the "Upload a video" button to select your video from your computer.Your video will begin to upload. Once it has completed the upload, please allow several minutes for the video to process within YouTube before it will be available for viewing.

NEED A ROOM AT THE MARRIOTT???

Yep -- as I've been saying -- our block is nearly full! In fact, I just got off of the phone with the revenue manager at the Marriott, and here's what we have left:

20 rooms for arrival Tuesday, 11/4; check out Friday 11/7
6 rooms for arrival Tuesday, 11/4; check out Sunday, 11/9

BUT -- now here's a bit of GOOD news -- for some reason, the Marriott reserved SIX rooms in MY name that already have CONFIRMATION numbers! These six rooms are for arrival Thursday, November 6 through Sunday, November 9. So -- email me today at cschor@kindermusik.com and let me know if you're interested in one of these rooms. You'll need to call me with your credit card information to guarantee the room, though.

I hope this helps! By the way, can you guess who the cutie is in the picture found below? You'll certainly be meeting her in person at Convention -- and, many, many of you have already met her! Post a comment to the blog with your "guess." She still has that cute smile today -- cause as you very well know, "a good beginning never ends!"

Oh -- and don't forget the drawing for the FIVE parking passes that we'll be giving away on September 30! Email me at cschor@kindermusik.com and I'll put your name in the hat. One entry per educator, please.

Thanks for all YOU are doing to make this convention the best ever!

Until then,

"Convention Connie"

If You're Happy and You Know It, And You REALLY Want to Show It, Come to Convention!