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| Crew Members on cycling events make it all happen. From the time the team wakes up, to the time they go to bed, it is the crew who provides full support to the cyclists, volunteers and community partners. This trip would not be possible without its crew and any cyclist will tell you how much he really appreciates his crew being there to meet the team’s needs while on the road. |
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| Cycling is an extremely difficult physical test, but being a crew member presents equal challenges that develop management, communication and leadership skills that stay with you for the rest of your life. The sense of accomplishment you feel as a crew member comes from your great leadership and selflessness to support others in meeting Push America’s mission. So, whether you are looking for an amazing adventure or a summer internship you need not look any further than becoming a Journey of Hope crew member. |
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Crew Benefits:
• Paid position
• College credit for internship
• First-Aid/CPR certification
• Training in management, communications, and leadership
• Advanced individual training for crew position
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What are
the different crew positions?
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| CREW POSITIONS |
MAIN RESPONSIBILITY |
| Project Manager |
Overall team operations. |
| Logistics Coordinator
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Coordinating events with sponsors. |
| Crew Chief |
On the road operations and team nutrition. |
| Equipment Manager/Finance |
Manages equipment, team expenses, donations and sales. |
| Public Relations |
Coordination of media interviews. |
| Community Relations |
Team journalist and maintains volunteer/sponsor relations. |
| Corporate Sponsor Relations |
Corporate sponsor relations and event demographics. |
| Historian |
Team photographer. |
| New Media Coordinator |
Team videographer and manager of team's social media accounts. |
| Leadership Development Coordinator |
Facilitates service learning, disability education and organizational awareness. |
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| Is Journey of Hope open to Pi Kappa Phi Alumni? |
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All Push America team events are open to alumni. Alumni participation has greatly increased and has also
added very strong and experienced leaders to our teams. Alumni are highly
encouraged to participate in Push America’s team events.
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| I'm putting myself through school or have a career, how can I afford this or get time off? |
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| Journey of Hope is an experience
that you can't afford not to do! More than half of the Journey of Hope team members
have part-time jobs, some even full-time. You have to plan ahead and save up
some of your hard earned dollars so you can participate in something that will
change your life! Most employers are very understanding when it comes to
commitment to service, so ask early and get them involved in your experience. |
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Fundraising
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| What is
the fundraising minimum? |
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| Cyclist: $5,500 Crew: $2,500 |
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| How hard is the fundraising? |
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| Raising thousands of dollars may be
an incredible challenge, but it is possible! If you are like 96% of our team
members, you will raise a lot more than that! Push America has the resources to
help you reach your goals - we just need team members willing to do the work. |
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| How have
team members raised their money in the past? |
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| The average contribution is $25;
meaning you need to ask almost everyone you know in order to meet your
fundraising goals. The following areas have been the most successful: family
and friends, civic clubs, local businesses, sororities, churches and fundraising
events. Once on the team, team members will be provided a manual which includes even more fundraising ideas. |
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| What if,
despite his best efforts, a team member falls short of the fundraising
requirement? When is the fundraising deadline? |
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| If team members are having problems
with fundraising, they need to contact the Push America office as soon as
possible. The staff can provide resources to be successful, but ultimately it
takes time and effort. Two weeks prior to orientation each team member must reach the fundraising minimum. If a team member does
not meet the minimum two weeks prior to the first day of his orientation, Push
America will hold a credit card number as collateral and set up a fundraising
extension date. If the minimum is not met by this date, the card will be
charged the remaining balance. |
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| When do
team members find out their route assignment? |
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| Route selection takes place no later than April 1 each year. A team member needs to turn in his completed forms and pay his
fees before his route is revealed. |
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| How much training does it take? |
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Cycling across the country is
extremely difficult. While you do not have to be a serious cyclist to participate
in Journey of Hope, you will have to train hard to get in shape. The majority
of past team members have never done any serious cycling, but upon acceptance,
a strong training program must be followed to prepare yourself for the ride.
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| What if a team member doesn’t have a bike and has not been on one in years? |
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| Most people who are accepted to
Journey of Hope don't have a bike. There are resources to help get you
outfitted for your ride. Most team members have not been on a bike since they
were kids. Team members need to get started right away, so they will have no
problem getting in shape by Regional Team Training. |
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| When do
team members need to be at the opening event? |
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All CREW MEMBERS must report to Seattle, WA (SEA) by 3:00 p.m. PST on Monday, May 27, 2013.
Cyclists on TransAmerica route must report to
Seattle, WA (SEA) by 3:00 p.m. PST on Saturday, June 1, 2013.
Cyclists on North route must report to Oakland, CA (OAK) by 3:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, June 5, 2013.
Cyclists on South route must reports to Los Angeles, CA (LAX) by 12:00 p.m. PST or Long Beach, CA (LGB) by 3:00 p.m. PST on Tuesday, June 11, 2013.
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| Is there
a list of recommended supplies and clothing to pack? |
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Team members can find a detailed list of needed
and/or recommended items in their Participant Center, or one can be acquired by contacting the director of team services or office manager.
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| Are there
certain items that others have found to be very important or helpful to have on
their journey? Are there any suggestions to add to a birthday gift list? |
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These often depend on what a team member
already has. If you have a specific question, please contact the Director of Team Services, Andrew Matznick at teamservices@pushamerica.org or (980) 318-5388.
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| How much money
should a team member budget for the summer? What costs are team members
responsible for? |
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Team members are responsible for travel to and from
orientation and arrival and their bike expenses. Three meals a day, snacks during cycling
and lodging each night is provided for the event. What team members spend over
the summer is proportional to their spending habits now! Previous team members
have spent from $20 to $1,500! A good number to have access to is around $500
for emergencies. We do not recommend team members carry large amounts of cash in their luggage. Listed here are a few of the expenses you may have: bike
repairs, entertainment, souvenirs, phone calls and laundry.
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| Do the
riders have to supply their own uniforms? If so, what are the costs of the
uniforms? |
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Each team member will receive a set of sportswear for the summer.
Cyclists will be provided with a cycling jersey, a pair of cycling shorts and team t-shirts to wear during programmed events. Crew members will be provided with
polos and team t-shirts to wear during programmed events. Additional sportswear will be available through
fundraising incentives or for purchase if team members want to have extra sets.
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| What is the
best way to send the bike? |
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You can either box up the bike
yourself or take it to a bike shop and have it done professionally. The easiest
way to transport the bicycle is on the flight to orientation. Make sure to
look at each airline fee prior to booking travel, as they do differ. Try to
pitch the airlines before arriving as well as at check-in to see if they will
give you a discount. Make sure to explain what your trip is all about.
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| Do team members need to arrange their own flight and bike transportation to the start of the event? |
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Yes, each team member is responsible for
his flight out and back. Team members need to arrange their own flights unless
they receive the incentives that include flight travel. Route selection takes
place no later than April 1, 2013. Travels plans should not be made until after routes are
announced.
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| Are team members responsible for paying for their flights or can they use donations for that? |
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If someone makes a donation to a
team member’s campaign, the donation is not allowed to be used for flights.
Donations to Push America are tax deductible, but donations for flights to
individuals are not. Team members should ask for help on travel, and they should
focus that ask on people who travel often. See if that frequent flier has extra
miles to give before asking for monetary donations.
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| Where do
team members leave from in their kick-off city, so family/friends can stay
nearby? |
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Family and friends are welcome and
encouraged to attend the kick-off; however, it is important that any family or
friends planning on coming understand that orientation is a
very busy time and team members have meetings and training taking up a large
portion of their time. Most family and friends take this time to see some of
the different sites around the city. Check out the links for more information:
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Seattle Kick-off
San Francisco
Kick-off
Long Beach Kick-off
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| Do most
participants fly and arrive the day before orientation? |
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The majority of participants arrive
the day orientation starts. Push America does not provide lodging prior to the
first day of orientation.
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| Is there
transportation from the airport to a designated start point? |
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| Yes, Push America will provide transportation
from Seattle/Tacoma Airport (SEA), Oakland International Airport (OAK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Long Beach Airport (LGB), depending on the route, to the place of orientation.
If a team member arrives at a different airport or time than the designated one, he
will have to find his own transportation to orientation or to the designated airport. |
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| Where do
the teams eat? |
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| Three meals are provided each day:
two on the road and a sponsored dinner each evening. You will eat some of the
best meals of your life! Snacks are available in the support vehicles during
each day's ride. |
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| Where do
the teams stay? Is lodging included in the money the team member raises? |
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| Lodging will be provided by all the wonderful
Push America volunteers across the country. Teams will be sleeping on gym
floors, in hotels, in church basements, etc. Team members will not have to pay
for any lodging during the event. |
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| What is
an average day? |
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| This schedule will vary from day
to day, with different local events being planned with many different
organizations. Journey of Hope is a very fast-paced event with a good amount of
programming involved in every city visited. Expect to be very active and to
meet a lot of very nice people along the way. |
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| Time |
Event |
| 5:30 a.m. |
Wake up |
| 6:00 a.m. |
Breakfast (crew meeting & team circle up) |
| 6:30 a.m. |
Departure to destination city (80-85 miles cycling) |
| 12:30 p.m. |
Stage-up (team gathers for media arrival) |
| 1:00 p.m. |
Arrive at destination (media, lunch, Friendship Visit) |
| 3:00 p.m. |
Depart for lodging |
| 3:30 p.m. |
Bike shop runs, Wal-Mart, laundry, crew errands |
| 5:30 p.m. |
Depart for sporting event, Friendship Visit or other activity |
| 6:00 p.m. |
Dinner with local organization |
| 9:00 p.m. |
Depart for lodging for much needed rest/free time |
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| What kind of roadside support is provided? |
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| Journey of Hope has a trained crew
that is responsible for general roadside support. The vehicles are set up every
5-10 miles, so at any point in time a cyclist is never more than 5 miles from
assistance. Safety is a top priority on our teams. |
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| Is it
safe cycling across the country? |
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| Push America's Journey of Hope has
trained crew members that are responsible for general roadside support and
coordinating the logistics of the program. Each crew member is trained for
specific responsibilities pertaining to the program and has been certified in
basic first aid and CPR. Safety is paramount on the road. Each cyclist must
have proficient skills upon arrival at orientation. Each cyclist must wear a
helmet! Failure to cycle in a safe manner or not wearing a helmet may lead to
dismissal from the team. While we cannot guarantee a person’s safety, their
protection, health and well-being are a top priority of Push America. |
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| Can team
members be contacted in case of an emergency? |
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| Team members can be contacted on
their cell phones during the summer, but they are not allowed to use them while
on the bike or during programming events. If there is an emergency, the project
manager may be contacted to relay a message. Parents will be given phone
numbers of their son’s project manager before the trip begins. |
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| Can team
members receive mail over the summer? Are there ways to send inspirational
notes or little gifts along the way to let him know we’re thinking of him and
supporting his progress? |
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| There will be scheduled mail drops
on Journey of Hope for family and friends to send well wishes, notes,
postcards, letters, and/or packages. They will be listed on the website prior
to the start of the event. |
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| Can team
members be visited out on the road? |
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| Meeting with family and friends
along the route is encouraged. The project manager must be notified at least 48
hours in advance of the visit by the team member. |
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| At what
point is it advised for the families to come out and participate? |
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| Families can come out and
participate at any point, as long as it is coordinated with your son’s project manager
because we need a final food count. |
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| If parents,
family or friends want to treat the group to a dinner along the way, how does
that work? |
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| Contact Push America's Director of Logistics, Tom Schmidt, to
sponsor a meal for the team at logistics@pushamerica.org or (980) 318-5390. |
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| How can someone
follow the teams’ progress during the summer? |
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| Go to www.pushamerica.org and click on the
specific event. You can check out the links for the Itinerary, Routes and
Rosters. |
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| When the
teams stop for the night, will they have towels/washcloths/bedding provided? |
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| Team members need to bring a towel,
wash cloth, an air mattress and sleeping bag. Make sure to check the packing
list for other needed items. |
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| How can family
be of most help? --- What is the ideal family participation? |
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| Team members start their journey when they sign up for a team event. Preparation
for the event can be very challenging, so encouragement or assistance with
fundraising and training is very important. Another important time is the
arrival. The arrival is an exciting and emotional experience for everyone
involved. We suggest if you can make it to only one event during the summer,
this would be the event. |
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| How are
team members treated for medical issues? |
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| All crew members have had training and are
certified in CPR and First Aid. There are crew vehicles with the team
in case of an emergency and these can be used to transport someone in need of
medical attention. |
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| What type
of shelter is available during the inevitable thunderstorms that happen so
quickly? |
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| Crew vehicles are available in case
of inclement weather. |
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| Where do
teams keep their bikes at night and when eating, so they are safe? |
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| Most of the time bicycles are kept at
lodging next to each team member while they sleep, but it depends on the
location. The bikes will be watched or locked up at all times. |
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| What
happens if team members have difficulty keeping up with the pace? |
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| Training ahead of time is very
important so this does not become an issue. Cycling is not the only important
aspect of the event, and there are time requirements each day to reach events
in the next city. These requirements should be no problem for someone who has
done the necessary training. No one will be left behind, but if someone is
having difficulty with the required pace for the day, actions will be taken to
get the team to the next event on time, including having them ride in the
support vehicle for varying distances. |
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| On the
days the guys aren’t riding, will they have free time to see family or friends? |
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| It depends on the day, but a “day off”
is a day off from the bike. This does not necessarily mean a free day. Often
times there are Friendship Visits and/or sponsored events, these “days off” are
referred to as programming days. Make sure to check the itinerary and
coordinate with the project manager on time away from the team. |
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| Are family members able to join the ride and what is the cost? |
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| Yes, family members may participate
in a ride along with the team. For safety reasons, each rider must be able to
perform certain skills before riding with the team. There are fundraising
requirements of $100 for one day, $250 for two days or $500 for three days.
Check out the Push America website for more information and requirements. |
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| Where do
team members finish in D.C., so family/friends can be there to cheer them on? Do
parents/family/friends stay at a certain hotel in D.C.? |
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| Team members will arrive on
Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. on the west front lawn of the Capitol
in Washington, D.C. Make sure to arrive at the Capitol by 10:30 a.m. to get a
spot to see the teams, as they will arrive promptly at 11:00 a.m. There will be
time to take plenty of pictures following a short program. |
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| Parents, family and friends need
to make their own hotel arrangements through the room block set aside at the same
hotel the team members are staying. More information will be available on the
Push America website. Push America will
arrange and pay for the lodging of team members on the night of arrival. |
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