seeking organizers to join together for a road trip

Hello everyone!

I have had great success asking Southwest Airlines to donate 2 round trip tickets for us to get to NOLA for the big celebration! Might I suggest you try the same thing? On your organization's letterhead, write a letter talking about what the event is about and ask them to donate 2 tickets for someone from your group to get there - we said we would raffle them off at an event we were holding so that two people could attend. If you go the www.southwest.com website you can click on community and there will be information on where to send your letter. They do ask that you request at least 60 days before you need them, so get going! Let me know if you'd like a sample of the letter I sent and I can email it to you! Hope to see you all in the Big Easy in April!

Hello I know of at least three of us who would like a ride down to New Orleans from New Paltz, NY (an hour south of Albany).

Hello! I'm looking to share a ride to NoLA from anywhere in the NYC area... I can drive, navigate, stay up late, help the driver stay up late, etc...
Let me know if you want to team up!
Nancy Schwartzman
fancynancynyc@gmail.com

Anyone interested in leaving together from Maine?
I could pitch in for gas, rally the troops, etc.

(Central/Eastern, myself, for what it's worth.)

Hey gang,

I'm a Mainer who is currently living in Montreal...I could probably meet up with people in the New England area if there is anyone headed that way...let me know. vdaymontreal@gmail.com

emily

hi! is anybody here planning on driving or are we all looking to catch rides down there?
what about lodging? anybody planning a hostel stay?

I too would love it if you would not mind sharing a sample of the letter you sent. I am one of the organizers for the campaign at SUNY Purchase College and we would love to give a couple of people the chance to go to this event!

my email address is margo.vanhoy@purchase.edu

Also, myself and perhaps one or to other organizers are looking to go to the event. I have a car and would be willing to drive or share the driving responsibilities with someone else who has a car.

I am in the Hudson Valley/Westchester/NYC area

Peace,

Margo Van Hoy

Hey everyone, I am extremely interested in seeing if Southwest (or another airline) could donate tickets! What a great idea! I live in Queens, and would love to share a ride down, but I am in school and I feel it would take up to much school time. I'm doing the show at Marymount Manhattan College. Anyway, I was wondering whoever posted the first Southwest comment, if you could let me know what you said in your letter! I would really appreciate it! Also, I would love anybody's advice on how to get donations for either plane tickets, or money to buy plane tickets! Thank you so much!

Carly

cfilbin@mmm.edu

Hello all -

Sorry to be so late getting this letter to you but I encourage you all to try to get airline tickets donated. Please feel free to use the following letter as a template - good luck!

Southwest Airlines
Charitable Giving
P.O. Box 36611
Dallas, Texas 75235

Dear Southwest Airlines:

I am writing to request a donation of two round trip airline tickets from Providence, Rhode Island to New Orleans, Louisiana.

Our agency, the RI Crisis Assistance Center, offers services to women, men & children who have been affected by sexual assault and domestic violence. We offer counseling services, resource information and educational services to all Rhode Islanders and as part of our work we are involved with another non-profit organization called V-Day, based out of New York City.

V-Day’s mission is to end violence against women and girls around the world, and on April 11 & 12, they will be hosting an international event called V to the 10th, celebrating the 10th anniversary of The Vagina Monologues. Activists from all over the globe are traveling to New Orleans to take part in this once in a lifetime event, and we’d love the opportunity to send 2 people to represent our agency.

Because we are such a small organization, I’m sure you can understand that we do not have the budget to afford sending staff to something like. We have done some fundraising on the side to offset costs of hotel and food, but having 2 Southwest tickets would secure their trip. We hope you’ll help us thank our staff for all the hard work they do all year to end violence against women in our state by donating two tickets so that they can experience this once in a lifetime event. I’m sure they will come back energized and ready to help us reach our goal of ending violence in Rhode Island.

I appreciate your time and effort in reading our request, and hope that I can count on Southwest Airlines to help us end violence against women and girls around the world.

In peace,

Nancy Rafi
Executive Director
RI Crisis Assistance Center 401.714.2388

Ladies and Gents,

Its Ella, one of Shael's assistants. Many of you probably just opened an email from me about getting down to New Orleans in April. I've been contacting organizers from all over New York and New Jesey not to mention states in the midwest, the south, and the Northwest!!!!

I traveled with members of my V-Team in 2004 to Mexico for the March on Juarez so I know how tough it can be to make travel plans all while trying to rehearse TVM, and / or plan your V-Day eVent.

We are really hoping to have a huge delegation of V-Folk in New Orleans to Spotlight Katrina Warriors!! I'm going to post links to cheap flights from the Northeast to New Orleans on the ride share board in hopes of making it a little easier for our V-Teams to make the trip.

Is anyone in New York/ Northeast interested in chartering a Bus!!?? Its something I can look into if there is interest.

If anyone needs some help planing their travels don't hesitate to call or email me.

914.409.7485 or ella.vday@gmail.com!

V-Love

Ella

Heres some cheap flights Ladies and Gents!!!

If the links don't work just enter the airport codes (in parentheses) and the dates Thursday 4/10 and Sunday 4/13 are the cheapest days to fly on as far as I can tell.

Round Trip $164, with taxes $211 total on Expedia.com!!!!

United Air Flight departs Thursday April 10th from White Plains Airport (HPN) 6:56pm. Arrives in New Orleans (MSY) 9:36pm.

United Air Flight departs Sunday April 13th from New Orleans (MSY) 7:00am and arrives in White Plains (HPN) 2:06pm
http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?tovr=-1294657289

Round Trip $241 NYC to New Orleans on Priceline.com

Norhtwest Air Departs LaGuardia (LGA) @ 4:30pm and Arrives in New Orleans @ 8:55pm Thursday April 10th

Northwest Air Departs New Orleans (MSY) Sunday April 13th @ 4:00pm and arrives at LaGaurdia (LGA)@ 10:14pm
http://www.priceline.com/travel/airlines/lang/en-us/details_ret_bk.asp?s...

RoundTrip New York to New Orleans $250 on American Airlines!!

Departs New York (LGA) @ 3:25pm and Arrive at New Orleans @ 8:15pm Thursday April 10th.
Monday April 14th departs NewOrleans (MSY) @ 12:45pm and Arrives in New York (LGA) @ 7:45pm.
https://www.aa.com/aa/reservation/processReturnSelection.do

I am so glad to see so many people interested in this. I think that everyone who has posted so far should join a google group, so that we can start e-mailing each other. If we can get a rough head count going, we can try to figure out how big a vehicle we need. I think there is already enough to fill a van. There are 2 in my group.

Looking forward to making this happen!

Lauren

Hi I'm from the Boston Area and my friend and are really hoping to go to VDAY! Is anyone else from the area interested in going? If so please e-mail me at: sweetfortay@aol.com
Hoping to hear back!
~taylor

hey peeps,

temple unitversity students are VERY interested in making it down to N. Orleans, we might have a budget to work with givin by the school...not sure yet. right now we are looking for other colleges in the area who are interested in teaming up for a MASSIVE philly arrival. please contact me if you are in the area and looking for a way to attend.
speakurmind2me@yahoo.com

Hello all,

A bunch of students from Amherst Regional High School's Women's Rights Club, which recently performed The Vagina Monologues, are hoping to attend V to the 10th. We're looking into taking a bus, as there may be as many of 20 of us attending. Anyone from the area interested in carpooling / renting a bus?
Please email me at ARHSwomensrights@hotmail.com, or call (413) 262-0680.

Thanks, and best of luck!

Juliana Morgan-Trostle
Co-President, Women's Rights Club

Hello all,

A bunch of students from Amherst Regional High School's Women's Rights Club, which recently performed The Vagina Monologues, are hoping to attend V to the 10th. We're looking into taking a bus, as there may be as many of 20 of us attending. Anyone from the area interested in carpooling / renting a bus?
Please email me at ARHSwomensrights@hotmail.com, or call (413) 262-0680.

Thanks, and best of luck!

Juliana Morgan-Trostle
Co-President, Women's Rights Club

Hello! I'm so psyched to see everyone coordinating ride shares and am hoping to join in on the action. I'm from Madison, NJ but could easily pair up with people departing from NYC if needed. I don't have a car but would be willing to rent one or share in driving duties if someone is already planning on making the trip. Please email me at rfriebur@gmail.com if you're interested! I'm hoping to meet up with my sister once in New Orleans. She just performed in the V-show at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC. So proud! Hope to hear from you soon! Thanks!

Robin
rfriebur@gmail.com

Hello All,
My V-day crew and I are trying to get to New Orleans and are willing to pitch in for transportation. There are about 10 of us and we are in the Utica/Syracuse area. Please let me know ASAP if we can go with anyone from New Pualtz, NYC, or NJ???

Please feel free to call me on my cell at 516-425-0321 or email me at gabby62885@yahoo.com.

Thank you very much.

Gabrielle Hudson

Hello all! I was wondering if anyone from the Buffalo/surrounding areas was thinking of doing a rideshare. I, myself, am carless and without license, but I think the idea of a random group of people driving with each other to New Orleans for such an awesome event is an opportunity not to pass up. Email skarhapsody@gmail.com if you are interested.

-Chris

Hey Nancy,

I was just wondering if Southwest called or wrote to you in response. My organization had requested 2 tickets and I was just wondering how you found out. Did they mail the tickets to you?

Thanks so much!

Carly

Hey!
This may be short notice but I really really want to go. It would be a group of 3 (including myself) We are all in Wellesley College. How much would it be? What would we have to do?

cvaldes@wellesley.edu

Thanks!

I live in CT..near New Haven..and I need a ride! Im willing to share in the driving, costs. I cant use my own car. It wont make it!
Dawn

Hello Lovely Ladies & possible Gentlemen,
I am feeling strongly motivated to attend this event at the last minute...
I am looking to manifest affordable housing, as well as transportation-as my current budget is small...I have a portable air mattress, some money to work with and a strong desire to be of service, bond, network and commune for the journey, as well as the event. I'm a make up artist, hair stylist, actress, singer, dancer, jewelry designer, salsa instructor-all around Renaissance Woman...
I look forward to connecting with you out there for this celebration of women, men, humanity, peace and life...
Take care,
~Kiela

My AA flight was canceled, I can't even call AA because the call volume is so high. I have a ticket for Saturday. Any one have any ideas.
Dawna

I am riding down with a filmmaker i found though craigslist who is going home to New Orleans & leaving tomorrow morning at the latest. Aaron has made the drive 2 times before He has 4 spots in his car for $50 each. Let us know ASAP

Eileen: ModestDweeb@gmail.com
Aaron 646-529-8203

I'V BEEN CHECKING AROUND IN NEW ORLEANS FOR FREE TICKETS FOR SATURDAY NIGHT EVENT,BUT CAN NOT FIND ANYONE WITH FREE TICKET. THE FREE TICKETS IS ONLY FOR POEPLE WHO IS OUTSIDE OF NEW ORLEANS.WHAT ABOUT USE WHO ARE HERE AND WOULD LIKE TO UNTIN ALL THE EVENTS. I FOR ONE WOULD LIKE TO UNTIN ALL EVENT ON SATURDAY NIGHT, BUT I CANNOT UNFFORDED TO BUY A TICKET. COULD YOU PLEASE SEND ME 6 TICKETS FOR MY MOTHER,4 SISTERS AND MYSELF.

THANK YOU
PENNY ALEXANDER
504-666-8539 OR
504-284-5393