Welcome to first glimpse of Spring Conference 2008 delegate mailer!
Please read the following logistical information. It's important!
Logistical Information
Airport Pick up and Drop off
Due to the limited number of drivers and cars, the OC may not be able to pick you up from the airport. Therefore, you will need to arrange your own transport to the backpackers, or conference venue.
You can take the City Flyer Bus (number 29 and 10) that departs outside the International Arrivals Terminal, to the city center. It takes about 20-30 minutes to the city. It costs $7, and will drop you on Cathedral Square (approximately 200m from Base Backpackers). City Flyer Bus operates from 6:35 to 23:35 Monday to Friday, and 8:05 - 23:05 Saturday and Sunday.
Base Backpackers also have a $5 shuttle bus with the Base Logo on the side. It is parked outside the International Terminal around quarter pass the hour for about 5 minutes or so. If you arrive at that right time, just go up to the driver or jump in front of him, he will bring you into Base for $5. Otherwise, just catch the City Flyer Bus as mentioned above.
Pre and Post Conference Accomodation
Pre and post conference accommodation have been arranged for by the OC at Base Backpackers, 56 Cathedral Square, Christchurch, for $25/person/night. The backpackers was chosen based on its strategic location, accessibility, and quality standard.
Just walk in to the reception desk and tell them you are from AIESEC so that you can enjoy the discounted rate. You will be staying together with other AIESECers in 4-6 bed dorms, where all will be staying at the same area on the same floor on pre-conference night. Female, however, can choose to stay in The Sanctuary of Base Backpackers (subject to availability). But you'll be separated from the group.
Base will do wake-up-call on the morning of 20 November!
For post-conference night, you will be staying in the penthouse of Base Backpackers, with private kitchen, lounge, tv, ps2, deck... Also at $25/person/night.
Click on "How to get to backpackers?" for further information. If you are still lost (which is unusual!), call Base at + 64 3 982 2225, Freecall 0800 2273 69 within New Zealand.
Transfer to and from the Conference Venue
Opening plenary and external day of Spring Conference (20 Nov 2008) will be held in University of Canterbury.
One bus will be leaving at 7.30am from Base Backpackers on Cathedral Square, which will get you to UCSA, University of Canterbury, in time for registration and opening plenary. Please leave your luggages in the bus, as the same bus will be picking you up to conference venue after that.
If you are making your way to University of Canterbury, please be at Shelley Common Room, UCSA Building, University of Canterbury by 8.30am for registration. If you have luggages, please leave it in AIESEC Office, Room 104, Central Lecture Theatre, University of Canterbury by 8am.
Please make sure you're on time. If not, egglies will be awaiting you.
2 buses will be picking you up from UCSA, University of Canterbury, to conference venue at Blue Skies Conference and Training Center, 12 Williams Street, Kaiapoi after the opening plenary.
The conference ends at 5pm on Monday, 24 November 2008. A bus will be leaving Blue Skies Conference Training Center to transfer you to airport; while another bus to transfer you to UCSA or Christchurch CBD.
Piece of Advice
If you have not booked your ticket yet, please book your flights to arrive in Christchurch on Wednesday evening (19 November 2008), so that you are in time to catch a bus for opening plenary. Take time to tour around the Garden City of New Zealand and chill out with other AIESECers before the conference begins!
There is Saints & Sinners Bar in Base Backpackers, with awesome fun as following:-
Tue (18th Nov): Happy hour 5-9pm, and street performers in from 7.30pm.
Wed (19th Nov): Happy hour 5-9pm, street performers in from 7.30pm, and a live band from 9pm.
Mon (24th Nov): Happy hour 5-9pm, and street performers in from 7.30pm.
So, a great hang out to catch up with other AIESECers and have heaps of fun!
Housekeeping Rules and Code of Conduct
Keep quiet when not in the plenary rooms so we don't disturb other guests.
Don't disturb the other guests. There are people residing in and around Blue Skies Conference and Training Center.
Show respect for the property and keep your rooms and surroundings clean and undamaged.
Alcohol
Tui is Spring Conference only beer sponsors, and it is the exclusive beer for Spring Conference. This means, Tui is the only beer consumed throughout Spring Conference.
Each Tui stubbies will be sold at $1/bottle. The amount collected will be used to subsidize other drinks. Please bring cash for the alcohol.
Alcohol run will be carried out by the OC. You can, of course, bring your own alcohol!
Delegate fee
Please pay $250 delegate fee to Finance Director in your LC. Finance Director please bank in the amount into AIESEC Canterbury account. Please email James or Laura once you've done so.
Otherwise, payment can be made in cash during registration. However, the earlier method is still preferred.
Items to bring
Comfortable clothes
Sleeping bag
Toiletries and towel
Pyjamas, pillow, soft toy.. we have Pyjamas Party on the first night!
Costumes, accessories, flags, foodstuffs for Global Village
To celebrate the end of term, just the weekend before study break, OC went to Hanmer Springs! The alpine spa village is just about 90 minutes drive north of Christchurch.
Pictures say a thousand words. So lets enjoy the photos and some captions! :D
For a start, we had coffee and cards in Waipara cafe while waiting for Lisa, a visitor from AIESEC UK who joined us to Hanmer Springs.
Looks like the owner of the cafe is an avid caps collector! ;p
We've been getting many inquiries on how go get to backpacker from the airport. So, here's the info...
For those who indicated that you need pre-conference accommodation (18 and/or 19 November 2008) or post-conference accommodation (24 November 2008) in SpringCo registration form, you'll be staying in Base Backpackers.
56 Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand. + 64 3 982 2225 Freecall 0800 BASE NZ (0800 2273 69) within New Zealand.
Base Backpackers is centrally located in the heart of Christchurch on Cathedral Square. Just minutes walk to shops, cafes, bars... close to Canterbury Museum, Arts Center, Botanical Garden... and with airport bus stopping outside the door! So it's very convenient to everything you need.
Upon reaching Base Backpacker, remember to inform the reception desk that you're from AIESEC. Then you'll be able to get a discounted rate at $25/person/night, for dorms with shared facilities. There's also Saints & Sinners bar at Base where you can chill out with other AIESECers.
Now, how to get to Base?
Christchurch airport is situated about 10.7km from the city center. You can catch a taxi, shuttle, or bus. Depending on the number of passenger, the price for taxi and shuttle vary. As reference, taxi cost between $25-35; whereas shuttle cost approximately $14/person.
The cheapest way of traveling is by City Flyer Bus. It only cost $7/person. The bus departs outside the International Arrivals Terminal, and arrives in Cathedral Square - approximately 150m from the Base Backpacker.
There are two bus services that run from the airport to the city center.
OCs are not just about work and no play. In AIESEC, we always make sure that we get our work done, and have fun all the time!
So, after our weekly meeting last Tuesday, we pour a surprise birthday celebration for Michael. We have chocolate mudcake, candle, and birthday song! Isn't that sweet?
From left: Chris, IngChia, Sandie, James, Michael, Shane, Althea.
Workshops, and seminars - developing your leadership, personal and professional skills, maximize learning opportunities, to make a real, positive change in the society!
Global Village - an evening of diversity and celebration of cultures.
Boat Race - who will win the Fitzherbert Memorial Trophy (the Fitz)?
Mascots, Gobo, Chappie, Racy Gracey... who are the awards winners?
Parties - fun, fun, heaps of fun!!!
What's more?
The highest percentage of members attending SpringCo from your LC will get a special recognition from the MC!!
Check the right column for the most updated number of members registered for SpringCo from your LC!
During the registration, you might be asking how am I going to get to Christchurch. Don't worry, OCs are here to give some tips...
Obviously, there are many ways to travel to Christchurch. It's all depends on the time that you have!!
The fastest way is of course, by flight. You can travel domestically by...
Search for cheap flights within New Zealand. You can get domestic flight deals at Grab a Seat, or Happy Hour (Mon-Fri 12-1pm only).
If you're adventurous, and have more time to spare (take a break after all those exams!!), you can take a road trip down South to Christchurch. Self-drive is always so much fun with friends. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery, strengthen the bond among members... what more can be better than that? After all, it's the beginning of summer holidays! Google Map is always there to help!
Alternatively, you can take...
or train journey!
Yes, Canterbury is the only LC (LC=local committee) in South Island. So, all you need to do, is to cross the Strait between Wellington and Picton.
and
connect the inter-island, and will ferry you through Cook Strait. Do check out its student rates.
The earlier you sort out your ticket, the cheaper the ticket will be. There are also group rates available. So, go to its respective website and check this out.
So all set. You're ready to go. No excuse for not-knowing-how-to-travel-to-Christchurch!! Have fun, and see you in The Garden City of New Zealand!! =)
Successful in obtaining grant application from Pub Charity is the best news for all OCs. The best kick-start for the beginning of second semester. Hooray!! Pub Charity is a charitable trust that makes donations to community groups and organisations, both locally and nationally, throughout New Zealand.
Being rejected by a few grant applications, pending for some others... since we spread out to quite a numbers of applications, each in smaller amount... We were absolutely thrilled and grateful to Pub Charity for considering and approving our application. A motivational boost for us to persevere! Way to go guys!!
Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiam.
-Winston Churchill-
So last night, we have an OCs celebration cum get-together dinner. It was great to see everyone having fun at the table: ate (obviously!), talked, laughed, caught up... and most importantly, strengthen the bond between one another. Friendship, is the one that lasts for a life time. A thousand gratitude to all who made an effort to the dinner. You guys rock!!
All for one, and one for all.
Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.
