Tips

For

Destination Imagination California’s

Global Finals Team Managers

By Rosemary Bognar Pinney

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Global Finals Guide for Team Managers

Contents

Introduction 3 Additional Resources 3 Guide to Global Finals 2016 3 Global Finals Power Point 3 Global Finals websites (www.globalfinals.org and www.caldi.org 3 Experienced People & Who to Contact 4 CA Global Finals Team Managers’ Information Sharing Group 4 Before Global Finals

Paperwork:

What Is All Thing Paperwork and things to do On-line????? 5 Immediate Paperwork 5 Additional Paperwork 7 Confirmations from Destination Imagination, Inc. 8

People: Attitudes (Teams/Coaches/Families/Public) 8 Teams From Your School - Not Going To World 9 Parents and Siblings of the World-Bound Team 9

Costs: Global Finals Cost Worksheet 10

Fundraising: Fund Raising 11 Publicity 12 Formal Pictures 13 Demonstrations for the Public 13

General Info about Global Finals

Trading Pins 14 Room Assignments 14 Medical Releases 15 Team’s Membership Sign 16 Prop Shipment Options 16 Send-Off Crowd 16

Coordinator at Home 16

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At Global Finals General Schedule 17 Team’s Schedule 19 Etiquette and Attitudes 19 Registration 19 Pre-Competition 20 Storage of Props and Rehearsal Space 20 Team Managers’ Tuesday Evening Meeting 21 The Day of Your Team’s Competition 21 Study Time 21 Recreation 22 Opening Ceremony 22 Graduation Ceremonies 22 Parents - How They Can Help 23 Transportation on Campus 23 Awards Ceremony 24 After Closing Ceremonies Parties 24 After Global Finals

Ways to Recognize the Team after World 24 Thank You Notes 24

Survival Tips for Team Managers 25 Parents of World DI Team Members (Handout) ` 26

Note: This document contains many “helpful hints” from experienced Global Finals Team Managers. The Global Finals Guide gives you times and places. This document gives you suggestions on how to prepare for Global Finals and how to enjoy it while you are there. It takes you from how to get through an airport and not lose a child’s luggage to the many jobs a parent can do that will make your life a lot easier. Enjoy! And enjoy Global Finals!!

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Global Finals Guide for Team Managers By Rosemary Bognar Pinney

Introduction Congratulations!! Your team is among the final 1,200+ teams in the World! What Do You Do First???

• Celebrate with your team!! • Get some sleep. • Use the resources listed below to make Global Finals a wonderful experience.

You and your team SHOULD BE ecstatic! You are going to participate in one of the most memorable weeks of your lives. In the midst of all the preparations, fund raising, traveling, the logistics of the week at Global Finals, the significance of Global Finals (GF) can get lost. Savor as many moments as you can. In the months and years to come, you will repeatedly remember the thrill of Global Finals as one of the highlights of your life! And yes, you are right! - - Going to Global Finals is a lot of work, but it does have incredible rewards. CONSIDER YOURSELF FINALLY GETTING TO SOLVE A DESTINATION IMAGINATION PROBLEM (and you can even accept Interference). Tackle getting ready with an optimistic, open mind and you will have a very rewarding experience. Read the official Global Finals 2016 book (given to you at the meeting after State Finals Closing Ceremony), this Tips booklet and the additional resources listed in the next section. It usually takes several readings to make sure you didn’t miss something. There is a lot of help for you in all these resources. The information will answer a lot of your questions and make the process a lot easier and even enjoyable.

Additional Resources The Destination Imagination Global Finals 2016 Official Guide Book is invaluable! Also, the Global Finals 2016 Power Point (available on the CADI Global Finals website. There will also be a lot more information on the Global Finals sections of both the CA Destination Imagination website in the Global Finals section (www.caldi.org) and/or Destination Imagination, Inc.’s Global Finals website (www.globalfinals.org) as the information becomes available. Check the sites often as they have content added to them on a weekly, if not daily basis.

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Experienced People:

• Experienced Global Finals Team Managers

Name _________________________________________ Phone No. _________________ Name _________________________________________ Phone No. _________________ Name _________________________________________ Phone No. _________________

• Your Regional Director

Name _________________________________________ Phone No. _________________

• State Director: Dick Pinney – pinney@netnet.net - 858-864-7172 • Global Team Advisor: Elizabeth Flores – lizyflores@comcast.net – 925-202-1463 • Fundraising Advisor: Genee McMahon – redlandsdi@hotmail.com – 909-227-5478 • GF Pin Shipment: Elizabeth Flores – lizyflores@comcast.net – 925-202-1463 • GF T-shirt Shipment: Genee McMahon – redlandsdi@hotmail.com – 909-227-5478 • Donation Assistance: Rosemary Bognar Pinney – rbognar1@att.net – 858-243-9340

These people will be of great help. They can talk to you about what hasn’t worked as well as the many things that have worked. They can save you a lot of trial and error and time. They are MORE THAN GLAD TO HELP! NOTE: Do not wait to accumulate a list of questions. Call as you have questions. Do not consider any question too small. If you get answers to your questions as you go along, you will be able to move forward much more quickly in getting ready for Global Finals. A California Global Finals Team Managers Information Sharing Group You will be sent an “Invitation to Join a Yahoo Group” on your email a few days after State Finals. Please follow the directions and “Accept” the invitation. That will put you into a group of Global Finals-bound Team Managers that can “talk via email” back and forth – asking questions, getting help, etc. All the GF-Bound Team Managers received an Invitation to join a few “Go-To-Meetings” on your computer. There will be a combination of questions and answer (help) sessions and specific sessions on things like:

Getting Signed up for Global Finals Fundraising – How to do it What do they mean by Publicity – I’ve never written a press release or article in my life!! Transportation – What it takes to get a team to Global Finals and how to do it. Please make sure to join the Yahoo Group when your invitation comes via email. Simply “Accept” the invitation and you will become a member. The other participants, particularly the ones who have done this for years, can be of great help to you.

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Before Global Finals

Paperwork What Is All This Paperwork and things to do On-Line?????????? You received a packet from your State Director after your State Finals Awards Ceremony. It looks intimidating and at the first reading - - it is! It contains:

• Letters of congratulations • The Official Global Finals Information Booklet

• Registration Information o Global Finals Team Registration Information o Room and Board Registration Information

• Required information forms – General Consent, On-Site Event Contact, Photo Release, Parental Consent, and the Tennessee Law Form

• Transportation Information • General Maps • Touring Information • Global Finals Events Information • Lots of General Information

Immediate Things to do • Go into the CA Registration system and MAKE SURE all of your team’s information is

correct. MAKE SURE you have all of our Team Managers and their contact information listed. This is the information used by California to communicate schedule information, etc. If the Team Managers contact information is incorrect, you will miss receiving a lot of valuable information.

• Read the Global Finals Guide (and then reread it 2-3 times)

• NOTE: DEADLINE to register for GF online and to pay your $1,500 deposit: 2 weeks after your tournament – APRIL 15, 2016

NOTE: If your team has more than one Team Manager, include all the names in the Team Manager Information section NOTE: This is your first decision point – Are you going to stay on campus? If you plan to stay in the dorms, you do not pay a Registration Fee as it is included in your Room and Board rates.

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If you are going to stay off campus, you MUST pay the Registration Fee to keep the team on the schedule. The Registration Fee is to defray a team’s portion of the facility rental, etc. NOTE: If your team or a team member has ANY type of special need, YOU ABSOLUTELY need to let the Destination Imagination Global Finals personnel know. That includes any physical or dietary needs. It also includes if a team member is on more than one team. If there is no special need, mark the space with “None.” This is done on your Team’s registration section of the DII website. Room and Board Reservation Form This form should be filled out on line as soon as you decide where you want to stay. If you wish to stay in a hotel you can ask for that on your online Registration Form. If you wish to stay in the dorm, you are to indicate that on the online Registration Form. If you do not start getting receipts from Destination Imagination, Inc. (DII) showing you have paid the registration fee, CALL THEM. Have them check that your information is in your file. They are glad to help you out. However, please be aware you will probably not get a human when you call as they have hundreds of calls a day. However, they are very good at getting back to you. PAYMENT AND/OR PURCHASE ORDERS CAN FOLLOW. HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE THE DEADLINE ON THE FORM. NOTE: Yes - Parents and siblings, and all supporters can stay in the dorm with the team. Yes - They can arrive on different days than the team. Destination Imagination allocates space in the dorms based upon how many people (team members, Team Managers, coordinators, parents, siblings, and supporters) are coming in total from each state and wish to be housed in the dorm. Usually, an entire state is housed together first. Then, based on the number of rooms in each building, it is then determined how many states can be accommodated in each building. What does “Staying in the Dorm” mean to you, the team, parents, and siblings? It means:

• Two to four people to a typical dorm room or suite (provided with basic linens, blankets, and towels).

• The possibility of a bathroom “down the hall.” • Already prepared food – lots of it (No need to continually find restaurants). • An opportunity for your team to experience dorm life. • An opportunity for your team to be with hundreds of other Destination Imagination kids in the

cafeteria, etc. (trading pins and getting to know each other). • An opportunity to meet and talk with people from across the U.S. and the World!

Example of a team experience: A first-year, mid-western fifth-grade team was housed in the same dorm with the teams from its State PLUS teams from Georgia, Maine, Minnesota, and Arizona. What an experience for the kids (and the adults too). Talk about just the difference in

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accents! Those fifth-graders were absolutely amazed that all those kids came from the same United States.

• An opportunity to fully participate in the atmosphere of Global Finals. This is a VERY important point! There is an aura about the campus all week. It will give you goose bumps. All over campus will be groups of teams, Team Managers, supporters in colorful Global Finals shirts, going here and there, trading pins, saying “Hi,” and feeling a part of the whole. It is worth it!!!

• An adventure. Everyone just laughs and puts up with everything. NOTE: Again – if you and/or your team have a special physical or dietary need, please let them know. Additional Paperwork Each year the paperwork in the Global Packets varies slightly. However, there a usually the following forms:

• Parental Consent Form: 1 for each participant. • Photo Release Form: 1 for each participant and spectator. • On-Site Event Contact Form: 1 per team • General Consent Form: 1 for each person 18 and over • Tennessee Law on Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse; 1 for each person 18 and over

Other Information: Team Manager and Official’s Competition If you – the Team Manager(s) – would like to compete in the Team Managers’ and Officials’ Competition, you should fill out this form. This is a hilarious event where Team Managers and Officials FINALLY get to solve a Challenge and “show it off” at their own competition. Many times, various Team Managers from the same State “team up” together and build something to solve the Challenge. It is a great way to get to know your “fellow” Team Managers within your State. Graduation Registration Form If you have any graduating High School Seniors on your team who will be missing their Graduation, they can participate in the Destination Imagination Graduation Ceremony by filling out this form. The Seniors should bring their caps and gowns. This is a very dignified Graduation Ceremony with appropriate pomp and circumstance. Your State T-Shirt and Pin Order Forms (on line – on the caldi.org website) Each State has its own official Global Finals T-Shirt and its own official Global Finals Pins for trading. California’s information and electronic order forms can be obtained on April 6th-forward for both California’s Global Finals Pins and T-Shirts. It will tell you where to go on the California website to order your shirts and trading pins. Please note that there are some very tight deadlines for ordering from their suppliers. Therefore, the cutoff for orders is a HARD CUTOFF.

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Confirmations from Destination Imagination, Inc. Team Registration Confirmation When Destination Imagination receives your official on-line Team Registration information, you will start to receive various communications from them. The first mailing will include your official notification of registration. If you DO NOT receive this official notification back within a couple of weeks, PLEASE call them immediately (1-888-321-1503). Room Confirmation If you choose to stay on campus, after registering your lodging preferences, you will receive a Room and Board Confirmation from Destination Imagination. If you do not receive one within two weeks of Global Finals – CALL THEM.

People Attitudes It is VERY IMPORTANT to recognize that it is a privilege to be one of the teams advancing to Global Finals. With the many teams competing, it could just as easily have been another team. There are many other teams out there that would have loved to be in your place. Good sportsmanship is the mark of a quality team! If your team is from a strong Region and/or State, you have probably left behind some good teams from other schools or even from your own school back at the Regional level. It is equally important to exercise good sportsmanship around them. Remind everyone that it is VERY HARD to get to Global Finals. It is even harder to go back a second time. Going to Global Finals is an honor and a privilege. Those who have tried, gone, and did not return will tell you this. Cherish this time with somewhat of a humble attitude and you will be in good stead. Teams from Your School – Not Going to Global Finals Advise your team and their parents to PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE! Other teams from your school would have loved to go on to the State Finals and/or Global Finals. They were and are just as proud of their solution(s) as your team is of its solution. If there is any way you and/or or your team can think of to include them in your pre-Global activities, many of them would be delighted. They are part of the whole (your total Destination Imagination program in your school). If you exclude them or not give them proper recognition, it could hurt your team and/or your school’s Destination Imagination program. Many teams are willing to help your team with a car wash, a garage sale, hiring out, etc. High School teams are willing to help Elementary or Middle School teams with a car wash. Talk to your coordinator and/or your fellow school’s Team Managers (They are more rested than you are. Do NOT do this alone!!!!).

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Parents and Siblings of the Global Finals Team Parents - They will start asking what they can do to help. Let them!! Put them in charge of ordering shirts or pins or candy. Put them in charge of the garage sale. Put one in charge of taking pictures. Reminder - You have a team to manage and get ready. You need some sleep too. Delegate and let them do the legwork. They are glad to have a way to help out. There is a handout for Parents at the end of this Guide. Siblings - Try very hard to find something special for them to do. They are going to live in the shadow of this GF Team for several more weeks. The family may be taking its vacation to go to Global Finals and will be spending money to do so. Siblings get VERY tired of hearing about Globals (day and night). See if you can give them an Assistant-something job. Some teams have let the

siblings become honorary tripod carriers, video camera case carriers, banner makers, etc.

One elementary sibling was made the “Official Assistant” of a Global-bound team. His job was to carry the lucky stuffed mascot for the team and to be with the team whenever it performed. He was also presented with an official State Team T-shirt by the team (with great ceremony). He loved it! It made a world of difference to one little eight-year-old boy.

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GLOBAL FINALS COST WORKSHEET Total Cost Transportation (Options): Air Fare $________ (per person) x _____ (# of people) = $_________ Charter Bus $________ (amount/bus x _____ (# of busses) = $_________ Tip for Bus Driver = $_________ Van/Car $________ (cost per vehicle) x ______ (# of vehicles) = $_________ If driving: Motel Costs $ _______ (cost per room) x ______ (# of rooms) = $_________ Food Costs $ _______ (avg cost per day) x _____ (# of people) x _____ (# of days) = $_________ Gasoline Costs $ _______ (est. cost of gas/day) x _____ (# of days) = $_________ Room & Board (at Global Finals) On Campus – Tues/Sun $_______ (Room & Board pkg) x _____ (# of people) = $_________ On Campus – Wed/Sun $_______ (Room & Board pkg) x _____ (# of people) = $_________ Extra Charge for either Arriving Early on Monday and/or Departing Late on Monday $_______ (Room & Board pkg) x _____ (# of people) = $_________ Transportation (at Global Finals) Van/Car Rental $________ (cost per vehicle) x ______ (# of vehicles) = $_________ IF YOU AR GOING TO RENT A VAN(s) THERE – DO IT NOW!! Costs from State Global Finals T-Shirts $________ (cost per shirt) x _____ (# of people) = $_________ Trading Pins $________ (# pins/team member) x _____ (# on team) = $_________ Trading Pins $________ (# pins/other people) x (# of people) = $_________ Team Managers/Siblings/Parents/Supporters Prop Shipment Large Bicycle Boxes $________ (cost/box) x _____ (# of boxes) = $_________ (for taking the props on the plane) Federal Express/etc. $________ (cost/box) x _____ (# of boxes) = $_________ Prop Van $ ________ (costs/day) x _____ (# of days) = $_________ Other Potential Team Expenses Donation request letters and postage $_________ Thank you letters and postage $_________ Pictures (taken right after State Finals & just before Global Finals $_________ (See Formal Pictures Section under Fundraising) Transportation/Room & Board expenses of a Prop Van Driver $_________ Total Estimated Costs - - - - $_________

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Fundraising

There are many places and many ways to obtain funding for the trip to Global Finals. Here are a few: Board of Education and/or Principal’s Discretionary Funds Schools have Discretionary Funds to pay for the cost of an athletic team, the band, etc. going on to the next level of competition. If you approach your School Board (sometimes directly and sometimes through your Principal, depending on your school district), you can get thousands of dollars. School systems are VERY PROUD of academic type teams going on to a “Global Finals” versus just sports teams. However, ASK NOW – IMMEDIATELY – NOW!!! If the monies are to come through the Board of Education, the Board must approve the expenditure at a public Board Meeting. You don’t want to miss that date! Sometimes a Superintendent has a separate Discretionary Fund, just for circumstances like this, which does not need prior Board approval to have funds allocated from it. These Discretionary Funds have $$$$$ in them. ASK FOR THEM. IF YOU DON’T ASK, THEY JUST MIGHT NOT BE VOLUNTEERED! As a norm, schools can only pay for students and employees. If the Team Manager(s) are not school employees, separate funding much be obtained through other sources, such as those listed below. PTA Groups, Service Organizations, Local Businesses PTA’s will usually donate $200 to $1,000. Service Organizations (e.g. Kiwanis, Rotary, etc.) will usually donate $100 to $500. NOTE – ASK NOW – IMMEDIATELY – NOW!!!

PTA’s and Service Organizations dispense their funds in the spring as they approach the end of their fiscal year when they are required to reduce their available funds. If you wait, you may not get a donation because they gave their donations to groups that have already asked. Therefore, ASK NOW!

Local Businesses Businesses where the parents, grandparents, friends of family, etc. work will frequently give $50 - $500. Other Options Sell candy bars Garage Sale Bike-A-Thon Sell team member’s time Car Wash Swim-A-Thon Concession Stand at an event Fish Fry Run-A-Thon Spaghetti Dinner Pancake Dinner Call Genee McMahon – CA’s Fundraising Advisor. She can be of a lot of help to you. IMPORTANT – IMPORTANT – IMPORTANT Thank a donor with a Thank You Letter and then Thank them publicly as much as possible (via newsprint, sign in a public place, etc.) THANK YOU’S ARE IMPORTANT!!!

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PUBLICITY

PUBLICITY IS IMPORTANT Without publicity, the community will not know of the team’s win and, therefore, will not contribute. Let them know about your Team (promptly). Let the Community develop a sense of pride in “hometown kids made good.” If the general community knows about the team, they will be more willing to contribute. YOU, THE PUBLICITY PERSON FROM YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR ONE OF YOUR PUBLICITY-MINDED PARENTS – SHOULD CONTACT YOUR NEWSPAPERS/TV STATIONS RIGHT AWAY!! Get publicity out ASAP. Newspapers and TV Stations DO NOT like to report on week-old news! If it is more than one to two days old, they are reluctant to report it. Write the article for them. Newspaper reporters and TV news people are very busy people. They will tend to use (sometimes edit) pre-written material. They will tend to not do an article or read an announcement on the news if they have to write it themselves. If you have a hard time explaining Destination Imagination in 25 words or less, just think what it is like for them. Say in your news release that the team needs contributions and let them know to whom and where they can send money. Let them know who the check should be payable to. If your team is going to have a garage sale, car wash or sell their time to raise monies, say so in the article (with a person and a phone number to call). NOTE: Newspapers and TV Stations WILL NOT release news without it both looking like a proper News Release and having a Contact Person listed at the bottom. Sample:

PRESS RELEASE

Title: ___________________________ Wins State Tournament Global Finals at ______________ University

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. Contact Person: Joe or Jane Doe Address: ______________________________ Phone No.: Day ________________________ Evening _____________________

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Formal Pictures Take pictures of your team (including Team Managers) immediately after winning the State Finals for fund raising and publicity purposes. Newspapers and TV Stations like pictures. Have a photography-interested person (e.g. a parent) take the pictures if a newspaper cannot send a photographer. Have the pictures taken with the team in their State Finals T-shirts, if possible. Otherwise, have the team wear their Regional T-Shirts. If possible, have them all wear the same color of pants/shorts. It is important that they look like “a team.” People like to contribute to “success stories.” If the team looks sloppy, you may have just lost some donation money. Have sufficient copies made of the picture so that your publicity person “back home” (while you are at Global Finals) will have pictures for the Press. If you have been talking to the Press, send them a copy of the team’s formal picture BEFORE you leave. Get a phone number you (or your “at home” publicity person) can call Saturday night of Global Finals or Sunday morning and the Press will use the picture.

Demonstrations for the Public Team Demonstrations (“Dog and Pony” Shows) are one of the BEST ways to get exposure for fund raising. It is also one of the best ways for a team to obtain presentation skills and polish. An Effective 30-40 Minute Presentation Format:

• Pre-pass out flyers to the audience. (Flyers should contain a brief Synopsis of the Challenge, Team Members & Team Manager(s) name(s), Scoring Criteria, and who and where to send the money)

• Team Manager should give a BRIEF overview of what Destination Imagination is. • Team Manager should give a BRIEF overview of the Team’s specific Challenge. • Let the Team talk a little about how they came up with their solution. • Have the Team perform. • Let the audience ask the Team questions. • Thank the audience and let them know you need money.

An Effective 20-25 Minute Presentation Format:

• Pre-pass out flyers to the audience. (Flyers should contain brief a Synopsis of the Challenge, Team Members & Team Manager(s) name(s), Scoring Criteria, and who and where to send the money)

• Team Manager should give a BRIEF overview of what Destination Imagination is. • Team Manager should give a BRIEF overview of the Team’s specific Challenge. • Have the Team perform. • Thank the audience and let them know you need money.

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General Information About Global Finals

Trading Pins

YES – YES – YES – YES – YOU NEED THEM!!

Trading Pins are absolutely the #1 Activity of every kid on campus that week, aside from the Tournament!

Fifty-plus trading pins per team member is the norm. If they only have ten or twenty each, they are out of pins by the end of the first day and they will then not have a way to participate in one of the most enjoyable events at Global Finals. NOTE – When you are fundraising, make sure to ask for money for transportation, room and board AND FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS MATERIALS. This will help defray the expense of the trading pins. NOTE – Please have each team member have some of his/her pins readily available in their checked luggage. They will need them AVAILABLE when they arrive at the airport. Additionally, they will need them AVAILABLE when they first arrive at Global Finals (while you are registering the team). They will make some of their best trades at those two locations. Talk to your team about pin trading. Let them know that they should generally trade one pin for one pin. AND – Read DII’s Pin Trading Guide on the Trading Pin section of their Global Finals website. AGAIN – YES!!! THEY ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NEED TRADING PINS!!!

Room Assignments Room Assignments should be the Team Manager’s Responsibility Confer quietly with a parent(s), if you wish, but YOU should have the final say about who rooms with whom. Remind the team that they are at Global Finals at great expense and sacrifice. Remind them they are there representing their school, their Region, and their State. There is plenty of time for fun. They are in their rooms to sleep and change clothes. They rest of the time they are usually gone. You and the parents are better judges of who should room with whom. Exercise that right! NOTE – Please be prepared. No matter how much you plan as to who is going to stay in which room, it can all be instantly changed as the room configurations your team is given might have four in a room instead of two, etc. Please be prepared to be flexible when you get your room assignment. Just imagine the task the Global Finals people have of assigning 8,000 to 10,000 people to rooms. Also, if you do not like the rooms you are given – on the basis of sex, parent/child rooming together/etc. - consider going back to the Registration Officials and asking if there is any other room combination you

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might have. The Registration Officials are incredibly wonderful, kind, considerate people. Most of them have taken teams to Globals also and they understand. NOTE – If parents are staying with the team, most adults view this as an adventure and “join the party,” so to speak. However, there is an occasional concerned adult. And that’s fine. You would rather know. They might be concerned about shared bathrooms, etc. If so, please assure them that – if they get up just a little earlier than the rest of the people, there will probably not be anyone in the bathroom/showers at that time. And, that is usually the case. It has been found over the years that once a concerned adult actually gets into the situation of living in a dorm, his/her concerns usually go away. They just have to get there first. NOTE – Many dorms now have a bathroom for each room and the privacy issue becomes a non-concern. Additionally, most teams are assigned to dorms but some are housed in surrounding hotels. If the team gets a hotel, then the dorm bathrooms will not be a concern either. NOTE – Some parents of team members have adequate funds for their family to accompany the team to Global Finals, and some do not. If parents become a little sensitive the first week or so after State Finals, money for the entire family and/or even just one partent to go to Global Finals is many times a factor. Lack of funds for more than the team members to go to GF is a factor for many families! Give them time or at least as much time as you can, within the registration time constraints. Each family will come to its own decision. After a family has made its decision and has given you a check or credit card to cover its housing, or has decided not to go, things get much better. Be patient with them.

Medical Releases You are provided a blank Medical Release Form on the DII Global Finals website. You should photocopy the Form and have one available for EVERY person going to Global Finals with you. Have the parents fill them out and give you back THREE COPIES of each person’s Medical Release Form. Distribute them accordingly:

• 1 to the Destination Imagination Registration Desk the day you arrive. • 1 for yourself. • 1 for another responsible adult. A team frequently wants to do more than one activity in the

same time period and the group becomes split on a temporary basis.

You never know. The health centers have seen just about everything from pink eye (a Team Manager), a bruised arm, a broken tooth, a case of mono, a very bad sore throat, a badly scraped knee, etc. The medical facilities at the University are excellent! You are used to caring for DI kids and family members. They understand! You just want to have proper medical releases if you need their services. It is also a wise idea (if a family has a non-routine medical insurance company) to ask the parents to have a signed medical insurance form attached to the Medical Release Form. A copy of the front and back of their medical insurance card is a good idea also.

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Prop Shipment

Prop Shipment See the Prop Shipment page in the Guide to Global Finals. Make sure to follow their instructions EXACTLY! The University of Tennessee Receiving Department people are WONDERFUL! They understand about the hours and hours the Team has spent on their props. UT people do get the teams’ props to the correct prop room. They do take care of them. The props will be there waiting for the Team to arrive. Tool Box Whatever method you use to ship props, it is highly recommended that the team assembles and takes with them a tool box. Props are starting to get extensively worn and they may need some help. Take a look at the props in general at Global Finals. They are all starting to look a little frayed. Send-Off Crowd If there can be a small send-off crowd when the team departs for Global Finals, with Good Luck signs, banners, etc, it is a nice way to start your “adventure.” This is something “teams not going on to Global Finals” can do. (See “Coordinator at Home” in the next section.)

Coordinator at Home This person is invaluable!! It is one person to call long-distance, versus many calls. It is a person who knows what you are talking about and is prepared to call other people back home with whatever news/information you would like to have known. This person should be given a telephone “call list” a few days before you leave. Publicity This is the person that should have the formal team pictures. This is the person who is in contact with the press and has the appropriate reporter phone numbers to call. This is the person with the partially written press release and is capable of writing the rest quickly. Welcome Home Event The “Coordinator at Home” or another person(s) can be in charge of a Welcome Home event. This can range from a simple family gathering when the plane arrives to a full-blown reception. Other Teams left at home can get together to make Welcome Home signs.

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At Global Finals

General Schedule Monday/Tuesday Arrive and Register Trade Pins Put props back together Check out team’s tournament site Get some rest!!! (Tour the area) Practice Team Challenge and Instant Challenges Tuesday - Attend the Picnic in the Park – 5-8 pm Tuesday - Team Manager’s Meeting w/ Challenge Masters – 7-9 pm VERY IMPORTANT TO BE THERE Wednesday Competition begins If you are not competing, go cheer for your State’s Teams Trade Pins Participate in the many activities throughout campus Go to the Expo in the Convention Center – 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Attend a Skills Workshop (sign up as soon as you can) – 9am – 5 pm Tour the Area Practice your Team Challenge and IC’s

Opening Ceremonies 7:30 pm - VERY, VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE Thursday Competition continues If you are not competing, go cheer for your State’s Teams Trade Pins Participate in the many activities throughout campus

Go to the Expo in the Convention Center – 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Attend a Skills Workshop (sign up as soon as you can) – 9am – 5 pm

Tour the Area Practice your Team Challenge and IC’s High School/University Graduation Ceremony – 7:00-8:30 pm Dance Party Under the Stars – 7:30-11:30 pm Friday Competition continues If you are not competing, go cheer for your State’s Teams Trade Pins Participate in the many activities throughout campus

Go to the Expo in the Convention Center – 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Attend a Skills Workshop (sign up as soon as you can) – 9am – 5 pm Tour the Area Practice your Team Challenge and IC’s International Block Party & Costume Ball – 7:30-10:00 pm

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Saturday Competition continues If you are not competing, go cheer for your State’s Teams Trade Pins Participate in the many events throughout campus

Go to the Expo in the Convention Center – 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Attend a Skills Workshop (sign up as soon as you can) – 9am – 4:30 pm

Tour the Area Closing Celebration & Awards – 7:30-9:00 pm - SPECTACULAR! Celebration Party after Awards Sunday Return Home Rest and Reflect

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Team’s Schedule The Team’s daily schedule during the four/five days at Global Finals SHOULD BE SET BY THE TEAM MANAGER(S). The Team Manager(s) should determine when the team eats, sleeps, puts props back together, rehearses, practices Team and Instant Challenges, trades pins, goes swimming, etc. One SOLID LEADER makes for a cohesive team and group of parents and siblings. You will be doing everyone a favor IF YOU let the parents know when and where you would like their children.

Etiquette and Attitudes Nothing should need to be said in this section. It is a PRIVILEGE to be at Global Finals. There will be many countries present. There will be approximately 1,200 teams from 20+ countries. The entire aura of the competition sets the tone. Please have your teams behave with the respect and dignity the situation requires. Respect for the university’s property and good sportsmanship are expected.

Registration The Team Manager(s) are the only people allowed in the Registration area at Global Finals (directions to the Registration location – TRES Building - are in your Global Finals Guide Book). The team, parents, supporters, and siblings ALL stay outside. The team won’t mind at all!! It is a wonderful time to trade pins. There are many fun things for them to do. In fact, they will NOT want to leave when you come out. The parents, supporters, and siblings might just as well sit down and rest or join in the pin-trading fun. Meanwhile, you are inside at Registration. Destination Imagination is very good at Registration. You will be directed to a waiting area (chairs, water, etc. provided for you). When it is your turn to register the team, you will be directed to go several specialized table areas (general registration, identification credentials, housing, parking, etc.) until registration is complete. You will leave with: A housing assignment Keys or with instructions on where to get them Parking information Cafeteria location

Meal bracelets (Required by everyone – even Appraisers) Identification Credentials to get you, the team, supporters, etc. into all events Maps on where to find everything Tickets for the Team Manager(s) Recovery Party If you do not get something you think you should have – ASK! The people at Registration have been to Global Finals many times. THEY ARE THERE TO HELP.

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Pre-Competition (Tuesday) The sooner your team gets their props back together again and gets into a settled routine, the better off everyone will be. Nerves calm down extensively once they are “back together again” and everyone can enjoy themselves. Many teams arrive at Global Finals on Monday versus Tuesday. That extra day of “settling in” is very beneficial. If you arrive on Monday, register, find your housing, and then go to supper, confirm prop arrival, if you shipped them, and their location, trade pins and get a good night’s sleep, you are in great shape for putting props back together on Tuesday, checking out the site, trading pins, go to the Team Manager’s Meeting on Tuesday evening, and then go to the Opening Ceremonies in the evening, rested and refreshed. Contrast the above with flying Tuesday or Wednesday, registering, finding your housing, not knowing where your props are for sure, missing the Tuesday evening Team Manager’s Meeting, trying to eat before Opening Ceremonies, going to Opening Ceremonies, and then putting your VERY TIRED Team to bed. If you can at all afford to arrive Monday, or Tuesday at the latest, please do. Make SURE to take the team to see their tournament site. Configurations can be different than they have experienced in previous tournaments. Seeing their site early will give the team time to adjust. However, most times, the team’s tournament site is usually a very excellent one. However, one caution when you go to see your site. You are welcome to see the site. However, you ARE NOT welcome to practice on it. If you do, your team will receive a deduction.

Storage of Props and Rehearsal Space Global Finals also provides wonderful Prop Storage rooms in the same building as your Team Challenge will be done. They are very safe and very fun! The team is welcome to put their props back together right in the Prop Storage rooms. Bring water! Enjoy the day talking with kids from all over the nation and the world! If the team does not want to store their props in a “general storage” area, they will need to store the props either in their cars or vans, in their rooms or in an area near their rooms. There have been many inventive ways and they have generally all worked. Dorm rooms have very large closets. Props can easily slide inside. Some dorms have study rooms or socializing rooms at the end of each floor and the team sometimes store their props there. Decide where to store your props AFTER you see the rooms and the dorm floor. Another common concern of Team Managers is a rehearsal area. That too has taken many forms. Teams have rehearsed in their dorm rooms, in hallways, at ends of hallways, in socialization rooms, etc. Practice as needed, but also have fun with the team. At one Global Finals, several teams from a State (living on the same floor) performed for each one evening in a dorm lounge. It was wonderful. The teams loved it. And, the teams got to know each other better. And, as much as possible, each of those teams tried to see each other when they actually competed. It was great!

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Team Managers’ Tuesday evening Meeting

It cannot be emphasized enough the importance of going to this meeting! Additional rules, refinements, special considerations because it is Global Finals, are frequently added to your Challenge. This is done to accommodate the conditions at Global Finals or to address concerns that showed up at various State Tournaments. If you cannot go to the meeting, you will not know any of this information and your team could be at a disadvantage. If you cannot go, send someone else, knowledgeable in the Challenge. Or, call one of the other Team Managers from your State (before you leave for Global Finals) and make arrangements to get the information on your Challenge from him/her.

The Day of Your Team’s Competition

• Set your team’s Competition Day schedule the day before and let all the parents, team members, etc, know so there will be no confusion. THIS IS IMPORTANT! A missing team member, for whatever reason, can create a very stressful situation that can easily be avoided if everyone knows the day’s schedule in advance.

• Keep the team to yourself that day until they are finished competing. • Have parents watch the team’s competition, take siblings swimming or pin trading. • Allow a lot of time to get the props out of the dorm. • Allow a lot of time to get the team to the competition site.. • Allow a lot of time for the team to get ready at the competition site or at the dorm. • Remind the team that it is a privilege to be there and how PROUD you are of them. • Create an environment where the team can do its best. • Be proud of them as they perform. • Warm up for Instant Challenge (without parents). • Go to Instant Challenge with the team only. • Tell them again how proud you are of them. • Let them and yourself unwind after the team’s competition is over.

Study Time It is a fact of life that the team members are still students and are probably still in school. If you are the Team Manager of a Middle School or High School team, they may very well have finals the week they return. Some Team Managers set up study time (1-2 hour a day). The best times are usually right after breakfast or right after lunch. See what you can do, depending upon your circumstances. You could assign the list of required school work to a parent and that person could “check off” the finished work.

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Recreation First on the list Trading Pins Second Trading Pins Third Trading Pins Fourth Going to the Expo Fifth Swimming Sixth Swimming Seventh Shopping at the University Book Store Eighth Sight Seeing Unless you have a High School Team! Then the Order goes like this: First Girls/Boys and trading pins Second Girls/Boys and trading pins Repeat, repeat, repeat (A lot of High School team members come away from Global Finals with several email pals)

Opening Ceremony Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday evening is a MUST! It is IMPRESSIVE. It is WONDERFUL. It sets the tone for the week. Have everyone wear their State Global Finals T-shirts. About 2-3 weeks before Global Finals, your State Director will be sending out an email to all the Team Managers. It will ask a team to determine if they would like to march in the Opening Ceremony parade, behind the California flag. If they team decides they would like to do so, they will be asked to pick a number between 0 and 100. A number will be randomly picked and the teams that will be marching will be notified. Allow an hour after the Opening Ceremony for trading of pins. All the foreign teams are usually present and it is one of the best times to get a foreign trading pin.

Graduation Ceremonies The High School/University Graduation Ceremony is with formal cap and gowns. It has appropriate music, words, and ceremony. It is followed by a formal reception. It is very impressive and the Seniors love it. This year’s Graduation Ceremony will be on Thursday from 7-8:30 pm to be held at the World Fair Park’s Amphitheater.

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Parents – How They Can Help! First of all – YOU WANT THEM THERE! Having already read most of this Guide, you can start to appreciate the need for another set of hands and/or several more sets of legs. Put yourself in a parent’s place, standing around waiting and watching for three or four days, trying to not get in the team’s way and wishing to be helpful. Give them something to do, such as:

• Watching the team’s competition • Taking siblings about campus and pin trading • Taking team members pin trading, swimming, shopping, etc. • Taking team members to the Expo • Helping transport the team • Picking up Global Finals T-shirts • Washing State T-shirts for the 3rd time • Taking the kids to meals • Filming the team • Taking pictures/videos for a Memento Album after Global Finals • Riding the Shuttle and finding out where it stops • Going for this and for that • Going AGAIN for this and for that • Going AGAIN – AND AGAIN – for this and for that • Seeing that the team gets to bed on time • Seeing that the team does its homework • Taking care of the team while you are at the Wednesday afternoon Team Manager Meeting • Taking the team to the Saturday Night Team Member’s Parties

At the end of this Guide is a Parents Do’s and Don’ts Section. Copy it for each of the parents.

Transportation on Campus Rental van(s) or car(s) Your own van(s) or car(s) Shuttle Buses Parents of GF DI Team Members (Handout) Walk (Many props are moved that way if the site isn’t too far away) NOTE: At least one vehicle is helpful for the many things a team seems to need form a drug store or a grocery store, etc. NOTE: The UT shuttle buses are great. It is hard to find a parking spot for your car at the various venues. Besides, nowhere else will you have such a great opportunity to talk with people from all over this country and the world! AND – this is the place to make some of the best pin trades.

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Closing Ceremony

It will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life!! Arrive EARLY and wear your State T-shirts. Before you leave the dorm for the Closing Ceremony, spend a little time alone with your team. Tell them again – how very proud you are of them. Remind them that there are 1,200+ teams at Global Finals and only a few first-place winners. Talk about the benefits they received by participating in Destination Imagination. NOTE – Lower-level tickets are for the Teams and Team Managers only. Supporters are to sit on the next level up. Why only a certain number of tickets per team on the lower levels? 1,200 teams x 9 or 10 people per team = 10,800 to 12,000 seats needed plus administration and officials seats. If everyone was allowed down with the teams, there would be many teams in the upper levels trying to get down to the floor for their awards. For safety reasons and time constraints, only teams and team managers are allowed on the lower level. Credentials WILL BE checked.

After Closing Ceremonies Parties There will be a Closing Party for the Teams and Team Managers. Take your kids and/or have some of your parents do it. They can be a lot of fun and a nice ending to the week. AFTER GLOBAL FINALS

Ways to Recognize the Team after Global Finals

Newspaper Publicity School Announcements School Reception Parade School Board Acknowledgement Town Council Acknowledgement

A private dinner with you and the team A private dinner including the parents

Thank You Notes To all donors To all the people who helped with anything To the extra helpful parent To the kid who made all the signs And on and on Thank you notes can be as simple as the standard hand-written note. Or, it can be as complex as a formal picture of the team (mounted on a card) with a poem below the picture and then signed by all the team members. The most important thing is to thank everyone – PROMPTLY.

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Survival Tips for Team Managers

• Get enough sleep. • Ask for help. Do NOT do it all yourself.

• Keep a sense of humor.

• Take a few minutes (several times each day) to savor the week at Global Finals.

• Enjoy yourself.

• Keep your papers organized by making a 3-ring Team Manager’s Notebook. If you get a set of

dividers, you can sub-divide all your papers, e.g. medical releases, confirmations, etc.

• Have your team bring swim suits and swim towels. If the team members use their room towels for the swimming pool, they won’t be available for routine use.

• If you like coffee first thing in the morning, before the team can get to breakfast, take a little

water heater or a coffee pot with you for coffee/tea in your room. (Don’t forget the coffee, filters, cups, sugar, stirrers, etc.) (If you forget filters, paper towels work.)

• Your team will need laundry soap for washing their T-shirts and pants. Take some laundry

soap divided up into little sealable bags (double bagged!). Also take a roll of quarters for the washers and dryers in the basement of each dorm.

• Take an iron to un-wrinkle the costumes.

• Have each team member bring some money for sightseeing and souvenirs.

• Health and Safety- Both UT and DI take health and safety very seriously! Technically, Global

Finals is a “closed event.” Everyone MUST have a wristband to enter a building. There are uniformed and non-uniformed officials throughout all the buildings on campus. The food safety standards are extremely high. If you have any concerns, please contact either someone from the UT staff and/or the DII staff as they are there to help, serve and make this a memorable week for both you and your team.

• How to do luggage the easy way at the airport – Have an adult traveling with the team (You

have enough to do) make neon-colored tag board tags (with rubber hands for attaching) or just colored yarn to place on each piece of team, coach, supporter, and parent luggage. Have that person make three per person and then a few more. When the families start arriving at the airport, have them line up all luggage (to be checked through). Put the neon tags /yarn on each piece to be checked. When everyone is present and accounted for, COUNT ALL THE TAGGED BAGGAGE and then RECOUNT THEM. When you reach your destination, and the luggage comes onto the turnaround, simply pull off the luggage and line it all up. RECOUNT it and you should have all the luggage. Have them keep the tags on their luggage for the return trip home.

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Hand-out for

PARENTS OF GLOBAL FINALS TEAM MEMBERS Things you can do to help your team before Global Finals:

Help order shirts or pins or whatever else they need Help with fundraising Help with taking team pictures Fix your child’s Team Manager’s supper one evening Hug your child’s Team Manager Help get boxes for packing props Have your child to practice on time Get all forms back to the Team Manager in a timely manner Things you can do to help your team at Global Finals: Be a Driver, a Cheerer, and a Hugger Be a Go-for-this and a Go-for-that person Be a Door holder Be a Prop carrier and/or a prop watcher Take siblings about the campus and pin trading Wash the never-ending dirty team T-shirts Take the kids to meals Take pictures/videos for a Memento Album after Global Finals Ride the Shuttle and find out where it stops See that the team gets to bed on time Pick up Global Finals team T-shirts Take the team/siblings to the book store Take the team to the Team Parties after Awards Let the Team Manager(s) and Team be by themselves the day of Competition Help keep track of your child’s pin collection Enjoy a WONDERFUL experience Things you should NOT do at Global Finals: Do not fix or change the props in any way Do not help with makeup or costumes Do not talk to any Appraiser regarding your team. That is the Team Manager’s job. LET THE KIDS TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHALLENGE SOLUTION.

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!