2018-07-30

Reviewing the brochure by a small group


Adrian   to meSueDavidElizabeth
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29 Jul
Hi Sejin, Sue (subject to consent), David (subject to consent) and Elizabeth,

Reviewing the brochure by a small group
I understand your haste Sejin, - I share it - but in the flow of things I would suggest you contact Sue, Elizabeth and David about this.  If they are happy to take a look at the brochure, as I suggested yesterday and others appear to support them doing, they will need a little time.  

Although there is urgency, if the brochure is reviewed that way, by people in the group who are not  in comprehensive possession of all the facts, it means  that if there's a clear question that's not answered, they can spot it.  

It will be obvious to them, but not necessarily to you, Sejin as someone who has all the facts at your fingertips!.  They can also bring Quaker insights, some of them subtle but important, to the group's brochure.  

If they don't happen to read their emails by midnight tonight, it would be best not to assume that they are okay with it as is.  

Suggestions for brochure
For my own part, I would suggest the brochure
  • include meet-up information for the 11th or 12th or 13th October
  • we also need to have a precise way of contacting people and precise dates for payment
  • delete the already crossed-out material in the 20180807 itinerary, 
  • do we need a third page to fit all the info in?
  •  I like the impression Sejin'sr photos give that we are going to encounter ordinary North Koreans. Perhaps we need to have additional photos, including ones of typical monuments we would visit.  Because of Australian social anxiety about child safety, a dark history of tourism in Asia by some Australians (I was an aid worker in The Philippines and others have experience working in Cambodia) I would prefer the photo of the girls not to be the first pic the reader sees.  I may be oversensitive.  I like the photo, which is entirely innocent, just further down. 
  • Sejin's title as coordinator has not been addressed by the group, and it should be - but there is no time before the brochure goes out..  Clearly, as Sejin is learned about NK, and instrumental in initiating the tour, it makes sense for his role to be noted.  Rather than coordinator, can we note the tour is initiated by Sejin, and that he is contact?  We should clarify roles at our next meeting.
  • in the brochure maybe address the safety issue - something for prospective participants to show their family?  eg Safety: many insurance companies covering Asian travel do not require extra insurance for travel in North Korea.  Since we will be travelling as a special study tour, we expect that we will be well regarded and treated with kindness by our hosts. If the political situation changes suddenly, this group is committed to peacefully relying on Quaker processes for making decisions.


At the heart of Friends' steady, patient approach is our willingness to discern well together.  I hope these comments are heard as kind efforts "to get it right" asap.  There is a lot happening in short time, but it appears doors are opening for us; there is a flow about it!   
Warm regards,

Adrian


Susan   to AdrianmeDavidElizabeth
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29 Jul
Dear Elizabeth, David  what do you think of these
CAPITAL CHANGES- corrections welcome


Study Tour of North Korea 
for Australasian Friends 


Purpose: 
 An Introduction to North Korea FoR SOME AUSTRALIANS FRIEnDs [?]


 TO DEVELOP DEEPER UNDERSTANDING  OF North Korea and  POSSIBLE peace roles that Australasian Friends COULD CONSIDER [ok]


Itinerary: 
 7 nights, 8 days from Oct 13 to 20, 2018, 
 starts and ends at Shenyang, NORTHERN China. [ok]


MEETING Time at Shenyang airport (where) at 10 am Sat OCT 13

SuGGESTED Hotel Shenyang. Xxxxx approx cost paid for by self. 

Costs: 
 All inclusive from Shenyang US$2,270. 
 Approximate return cost to Shenyang 
from Sydney is about A$1,000 excluding 
hotel fee. 


 Minimum number of the group: 10 

Application date: 
 Deadline to the NK agent: Sept 10; 
 for the purpose of our group: Aug 20, 
but the earlier the better since we need 
to count the number. 


Deposit: 
 US$270 to Sejin’s account xxxx 
 the earlier the better since this is the 
actual sign of commitment. 


US$2000.cASH ..... 


RETURN DATE
Book flight after xxx from Shenyang back to Australia

Organiser & Contact Detail: 
 Sejin Pak, 0415144254, 
 Sejin is in Adelaide meeting, an ethnic 
Korean, a retired Asian Studies 
academic, has relatives in both North 
Korea and South Korea, beside in the 
US and Canada, speaks Korean, will 
provide the role of guide beyond the 
guides provided by the NK side

Decision Making: 

We will MAKE DECISIONS AND conduct ourselves in the manner 
of the RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS ( Quakers) 
((((Question what about the non Quakers will they have to  know what this means and agree with this- prior to coming)))???

Thanks Adrian and Sejin


Sent from my iPhone
Sue 

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