A note to Self

A note to self, because as always unless documented the lessons will be forgotten with time.

Last weekend I was part of a team of people volunteering at the Art of Living US ashram. We were helping with the transportation of people and luggage for the navaratri course. Our team lead had made bookings for the vans/cars and all we had to do was pick passengers up and drop them off at the Ashram.

There are certain things I felt that we could have handled better or lessons learned.

• We need more support from local people of Texas (Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and Houston)
• People are more comfortable driving mini vans than 15 seat vans, and from my experience minivans can hold more luggage for their size
  When there are N people coming from out of town, be prepared to provide transportation to all the N people and their 2 luggage (1 check in and 1 carry on)
• Even if we need to book an extra van/car, to be picked up the same day please use websites like orbitz instead of calling individual rental agencies
• Ask people to assemble at 1 spot for ex: Terminal 1 Baggage claim number 2. (SA airport has a link between the 2 terminals)
  People who are driving the vans, instead of circling terminals, park the vans/cars in short term parking and take the N number of people you think you can transport with you.
• One more note for people driving, make sure you submit the tax exempt form before picking the van/car
• Co-ordinate with people who will be driving by themselves to the course and see if you can arrange rides for the people who need ride
  It is always a good idea for the coordinator to be at the airport
• Email people who need rides and ask them for their cell phone numbers (not their office and not their land line numbers)