Scared in the city

I had hoped to get together with one of my friends who lives here today, but it looks like I'll be seeing her Tuesday.  So, while the students did the architectural boat tour and other sightseeing, shopping, and dining excursions, I took myself to a movie this afternoon.  I intended to see A Serious Man, the new Cohen brothers film, but I got confused about the time and ended up seeing Paranormal Activity instead.  It is super scary, sort of along the lines of The Blair Witch Project.  The end was absolutely horrifying, so much so that I almost couldn't look and put my shawl over my head and peeked out from beneath the fringe.  It is unlikely I will sleep tonight and highly possible that I will never sleep again thanks to this deliciously frightening movie.

The students had a great time last night.  One attended a fashion show, a lot of them found cool restaurants, and some visited the House of Blues.  I, however, proved to myself and the students that I am officially a boring grown up.  While they enjoyed  Chicago's nightlife, I walked to Whole Foods and bought a salad and then came back to the hotel for a hot bath.  After my bath, I ate the salad, drank some orange/mango juice, read a little bit of Reading Lolita in Tehran, and fell asleep in front of the TV while I watched a documentary about Bob Dylan.

Our agency visits start tomorrow, so we'll all be up and running early in the a.m.  Hopefully, the students will log on and blog a bit about their impressions of the places we visit.

We're here!

We got to Chicago at about 11:00 this morning, and took the shuttle to our hotel. We're staying at the Hampton Inn Hotel and Suites on W. Illinois St. again this year, so we're pretty much in the thick of things downtown (and a mere three blocks away from Whole Foods!). Once we arrived, the hotel needed a bit more time to get our rooms ready before we could check in, so we all went to Rockit Bar & Grill, right around the corner on W. Hubbard St., and had a nice lunch. Jeff Epstein from the Chicago Portfolio School recommended Rockit to us the last time we visited, and it was just as yummy this time around. Note: the servers were incredibly wonderful to us, considering we laid an unexpected party of 21 on them as soon as they opened.

Now we're all checked in to the hotel, and people have gone their separate ways to explore the city. It's cold here!!!

Our agency visits begin on Monday. This year we'll be making stops at Novus Media (thank you, Karen King!), Draft FCB, Rise Interactive, Starcom, Leo Burnett, and Laughlin Constable.

Finally, today's most efficient flier award goes to Thomas Pulliam. The kid is amazing! He brought all his stuff in just one carry-on rolling bag, and the only thing he carried in his hands was his umbrella.

We leave in two days!

 The students and I depart early Saturday morning, really early Saturday morning.   I'm not sure what all the kids are up to at the moment, but I have begun to wrestle with the demon called "packing."   Do I need 15 or 16 pairs of shoes for a five day trip?  What books should I take on the plane?  And, most importantly, is there any way that one small rat terrier can be rolled up to fit snuggly and safely inside a suitcase?

Chicago Advertising Agency Trip
October 24th – October 28th, 2009

Get a first-hand look at Chicago advertising agencies and what life in Chi-town is all about by participating in the 2nd Chicago Advertising Agency Field Trip, scheduled for Saturday, October 24th - Wednesday, October 28th, 2009.

THE AGENCIES
Some of the places we're considering visiting are Leo Burnett Worldwide, DDB Worldwide, Starcom Worldwide, Tapestry, Ogilvy Mather, and Chicago Creative Partners. In addition to dynamic presentations and agency tours, you'll get advice on internships and how to break into the advertising market. Plus, you'll gain great insights into current advertising trends.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO!
The trip is designed not only to tour the agencies, but it also allows you to enjoy the sights and attractions of Chicago itself! The initial weekend and every week night during our stay are yours to do as you please. We'll be staying at the Hampton Inn Chicago, just two blocks away the famous Magnificent Mile. Plus, our central location will allow you to enjoy all the wonderful restaurants and shopping along Michigan Avenue…Burberry, Cartier, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Prada…did I mention the shopping? Note: There is also an H&M! Chicago is a town rich with stunning architecture, culture, and nightlife too. See the Sears Tower, explore Millienium Park, or tour the Art Institute of Chicago in this city of endless possibilities!

Act quickly! Most conference rooms in the agencies we’ll be visiting hold only a small number of guests. Therefore, participants for the trip will be limited, so sign up now! Seniors, majors, first-time travelers, and those with the highest GPAs will be first on the priority list. Scroll down this page to the registration form that you can copy and paste into a word document and then fill out, print, and submit. Your reservation form and deposit are due in full no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 30th, to Room 215 Journalism, the ADPR Department, with the Secretary, Ms. Donna LeBlond. (Please note that deposits are NOT refundable under any circumstance, due to the fact that all money will be paid immediately to the vendors (hotel, airlines, bus company, etc.) and will no longer be available to give back to you).

If you're interested in working in the Chicago job market, this is a great investment in your career! For further information please contact Dr. Jennifer Griffith, Room 247 Journalism, 706-542-9128, or e-mail jenni11@uga.edu
**NOTE: For all of those going on the trip, there will be a MANDATORY meeting on Monday, October 19th at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the details. At this meeting our agenda will include safety, room assignments, the specific agencies, and you will receive you airline tickets. So, make sure that you are available on October 19th!!!**

COSTS PER PERSON ARE ESTIMATED AS FOLLOWS:
COSTS
•Airfare, round-trip, Atlanta/Chicago Midway $187.50
•Bus, round-trip, Chicago Midway/Hampton Inn $50.00
•Hotel, five days, four nights:
Quad (4 persons per room) (includes taxes) $283.00
Triple (3 persons per room) (includes taxes) $377.00
Double (2 persons per room) (includes taxes) $610.00
Single (1 person per room) (includes taxes) $1130.00
•Hotel baggage handling fee $10.00
•Faculty escort fee $100.00
•Approximated cost for meals, five days @ $25 per day $125.00 Take in cash or traveler’s checks
•Surface transportation (bus, subway, taxi) $50.00 Take in cash or traveler’s checks
•Optional bus, round trip, Athens to Atlanta Airport $75.00 (This amount is OPTIONAL and
Note: If we do not have enough interest in the shuttle is ONLY paid if you wish to take the
it may be cancelled and your money refunded. Athens/Atlanta shuttle)

TOTAL COST: $805.50 (quad) +$75 if opting to take Athens/Atlanta shuttle
$899.50 (triple) +$75 if opting to take Athens/Atlanta shuttle
$1132.50 (double) +$75 if opting to take Athens/Atlanta shuttle
$1652.50 (single) +$75 if opting to take Athens/Atlanta shuttle

***We will be flying on AirTran, so, if you plan to check a bag, the baggage fee will be $15.00 for the first bag. Please factor this cost into the equation if you know you will be checking luggage.

*** Also, please note that it is possible to opt for only a portion of the above reservations. If, in an effort to cut costs, you wish to book your own airfare, stay offsite with family or friends, or make your own arrangements for ground transportation, you may do so. Simply add up the services you DO wish to pay for AND BE SURE TO INDICATE WHAT YOU ARE AND ARE NOT PAYING FOR ON YOUR RESERVATION FORM. All students are still responsible for the faculty escort fee despite special travel arrangements.


COST BREAKOUT/DEPOSIT DUE DATES
TRIP DEPOSIT IN FULL Due April 30
(Make checks payable to UGA AdClub)

QUAD: $630.50
TRIPLE: $824.50
DOUBLE: $1057.50
SINGLE: $1577.50
***Please add $75 to the above totals IF you intend to take the Athens/Atlanta shuttle (and please note this appropriately on the reservation form).

$ TO TAKE On October 24th $175.00
(Estimated $ in traveler’s checks
for food & ground transportation, etc.)

TOTALS
QUAD; $805.50
TRIPLE: $899.50
DOUBLE: $1132.50
SINGLE: $1652.50

***Also, plan on spending an additional $15.00 if you know you will check a bag.


Deposits and reservation forms are due NO LATER THAN 4:30 p.m. April 30th, 2009. HAND DELIVER to Ms. Donna LeBlond, ADPR Department Secretary, Room #215, Journalism between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. M-F. DO NOT LEAVE MONEY AND FORMS UNDER THE DOOR OR ON A DESK UNATTENDED.

If you have any questions regarding special booking arrangements please contact our Travel Agent, Tiffany Hines at Global Escapes, located at 697 S. Milledge Ave. Tiffany's contact number is 706-549-1164, ext. 208.

..........................................................................................................................................................
COPY THE INFORMATION BELOW AND PASTE INTO A WORD DOCUMENT, FILL OUT FORM, PRINT.

RESERVATION FORM
Chicago FIELD TRIP
October 24th-28th, 2009

STOP!!!!!! BEFORE YOU FILL OUT THE INFORMATION BELOW LOOK AT YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE (I.D. YOU’LL BE USING TO TRAVEL)--THE NAME YOU LIST BELOW MUST MATCH YOUR I.D. OR YOU MAY BE DENIED TRAVEL PRIVILEGES. PLEASE BE SURE TO PRINT LEGIBLY!!!
Name: ________________________________________________
Campus Address: _______________________________________
______________________________________________________
Phone Numbers: Campus ______________ Home ____________
Home Address: ________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
E-mail Address: ________________________________________
Emergency Contact Name and Number: _____________________
______________________________________________________
Class Standing: Junior Senior Grad (circle one)

Names of Preferred Roommates (be sure they agree) [To create a total of four persons in quad rooms, three persons in triple rooms, two persons in double rooms, not applicable for a single room]:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

PLEASE NOTE: So that we may reserve space for those interested in the Athens/Atlanta shuttle, please commit to one of the following at this point:

______I opt to take the Athens/Atlanta shuttle as transportation to and from the Atlanta airport. (Be sure to include an ADDITIONAL $75 in your deposit amount.)
______I will be finding alternative transportation to and from the Atlanta airport on my own.

I understand that this is a voluntary extracurricular activity. In case of mishap or accident, neither the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, nor the University of Georgia, nor the faculty escorts can be held responsible.
Signature: ______________________________________________
Printed Name: ___________________________________________
Date: ________________

Deposit Amount: _________________

Received by: ____________________________________________