BACL Burlingame Elderhostel Program
Elderhostel Host's Manual
Revised 12/24/08
Note: Recent changes will be in Red!
INSTRUCTIONS & PARTS OF THE BURLINGAME MANUAL:
Introduction
We are very pleased that you are going to be our Elderhostel Host(s) soon.
We have prepared this manual to give you all the information you will need to
feel confident about being in charge. It is important that you visit the Elderhostel
site before the program to acquaint yourself with the hotel and with the surrounding
area. If you have any questions
after reading the material, please call the office at (415) 566-3444.
If there is any problem during the week or on weekends, call the office, or
call the Kleinbergs at (415) 584-9225 before or after office hours*.
Please call the office during your
first morning class break (415-566-3444) on the first, third,
and fifth mornings of the program to let us know how things are going (except
for three-night programs, no call on fifth day). If the call falls on a weekend,
please call the Kleinbergs at (415) 584-9225 (or in Cloverdale- see below).
These are the important facts that we need to know from your first morning
call to the office, on Day 2 of program: 1) How many people have
not arrived, and their names; 2) Your accurate head
count of how many are there; please say a real number! Saying "everyone
has shown up" is not sufficient. These two things are necessary, so we
know how much to pay the hotel for the program. David Kleinberg makes the payment
to the hotel based on your report, by Day 2 of the program. Note:
Since the bus company always uses 55-seat buses, and beginning in September
2007 we will no longer be doing private docent tours at the Cantor Museum, you
do not need to tell us how many people are going on the bus tours.
*If no answer at their San Francisco number, please call the Kleinbergs in Cloverdale
at 707-894-0774.
*Note 1: We would greatly appreciate it if those of you who
own mobile phones could bring yours to use at the program, in case we
need to communicate with you on urgent matters while you are in class, on a
bus tour, etc. We have found that calling the Lobby Desk for someone to find
a host has not always been reliable, and sometimes we need to speak with hosts
before everyone leaves the BACL office for the day. So as not to disrupt class,
please set your cell phone to 'vibrate' (a.k.a. etiquette or silent mode).
*Note 2: In rare cases,
some participants decide not to attend the program, but instead of officially
cancelling/transferring out, they have a friend attend in their stead and don't
tell anybody in charge what is happening. This type of 'substitution' is absolutely
not allowed by Elderhostel (a big reason being that the substitute, not
being officially enrolled, is thus not covered by EH's insurance if anything
happens to them). If you find out this has happened, please inform us at the
office immediately, and inform the substitute participant that they MUST
contact Elderhostel to officially enroll and pay their tuition. We will take
care of calling EH to inform them which participant(s) did not show up, so they
can take care of any refund issues.
AN IMPORTANT NOTICE! It is essential to us to work cooperatively with the management and staff of the Embassy Suites Hotel. If there is a problem that involves the hotel during the day, you can call our hotel contact person, Sarah Atilano, Sales Manager, at ext. 154 (Sales Office on the Second Floor, Room 234) or ask at the front desk to speak with someone from Conference Services. At night also see the manager at the front desk in the lobby. Simply state the problem to her/him. If the problem is not resolved, please let us know immediately so that we can speak with the hotel management. We and the hotel want to work toward a positive experience for everyone.
Occasionally, a participant will injure himself/herself, feel ill, or leave the program early. Please let us know promptly (by phone) if this occurs. We also want you to send us a completed Incident Report filled out in ink (located in your Host's All-in-One packet). If any medical professional (such as a paramedic) is called to the scene, or if the hosteler visits a doctor, urgent-care center, or hospital, we definitely need an Incident Report faxed immediately to the BACL office (fax: 415-566-6344). If the hosteler seems not to have suffered any significant harm, no medical professionals were involved, and the hosteler remains at the program, we still need a Report, which you may send to us at the end of the week enclosed with the recycled name tags in the pre-stamped addressed envelope (send evaluations in a second pre-stamped addressed envelope to Barry Adler). It is very important that you fill out the form completely, and that you complete it yourself. The Elderhosteler should NOT fill out an Incident Report themselves. If a participant shows up at the site and then leaves early for any reason and wishes to receive a refund, they must write to Elderhostel, Inc. in Boston to request a refund explaining why they left early. The address is: Program Assessment & Evaluation, 11 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111-1746.
Note: All Elderhostel Participants are covered with Emergency Traveler's
Insurance provided by Elderhostel. NOTE: This coverage is not intended
as a primary source of insurance (only supplemental to patient's own insurance,
and does not automatically pay for any medical costs). In case of an accident
or emergency, either the participant, their travel companion or you must
call AIG Assist at 1-800-626-2427 to find out what help can be provided
depending on the nature of the emergency. IMPORTANT! If a participant is admitted
to the hospital during the program, you MUST call AIG Assist and have them open
a file for the person, in case they need emergency assistance of some kind.
Please see the fact sheet about AIG in the Host All-in-One Packet included in
the Host's Envelope.
Prior to Session's Beginning
This is the Host's manual for opening-day set up, registration and orientation, and the remainder of the week. Please go through it and review the procedures. We will prepare a box of materials you'll need during the program, and will mail it to the hotel directly, in time for the start of the program. If you live in/nearby San Francisco and would prefer to pick up your box at our office (300 Taraval Street) before the program, call us to arrange a pickup time (415-566-3444).
General Information Applicable Every Week
Meals - Breakfast will be buffet style and served in the hotel atrium (note: the hotel begins serving breakfast at 7:00 am on weekends and 6:00 am on weekdays). Participants will need to show their room keys. Dishes will be taken away by hotel staff. Lunch and dinner will be served in Rings Restaurant in the hotel and dishes taken away by the hotel staff. Therefore, there will be no need to monitor the food except to make sure the lunch and dinner is as listed on the menu you'll receive. Important: It is regrettably not possible to ask the kitchen to prepare boxed lunches "to go" for those who plan to leave the program before lunch on Closing Day. If they want lunch, they may stay on for the scheduled lunch or buy food on their own.
Note: Our group will no longer be eating a box lunch on Sundays. We'll eat in a regular dining area as for other lunches (menu items remain the same).
Guests of Elderhostelers Dining with the Group
-- (For lunch or dinner): If a participant has a friend or relative ("guest")
who wants to have a meal with them at the hotel, the guest is considered a Rings
Restaurant customer and therefore will order food from the regular menu
only. The hosteler will eat with their guest at a non-Elderhostel table.
Please have hosteler tell
you the number of guests, what days they will visit, and exactly
which meals on those days they'll be eating. Then pass this information
on at least one day in advance to Lani Saavedra, Catering Events
Coordinator, so she can inform waitstaff to have the right number of chairs/place
settings. For breakfast: Guests should
buy a ticket for $10 (all-you-can-eat) at the lobby desk; they may sit
anywhere to eat.
AV Equipment -- The standard AV set up is: portable lectern (with light
for reading notes) & microphone, VCR & monitor, a carousel slide projector with
long distance remote that has automatic focus. (Note: Screen pulls down from
wall), "boombox", and whiteboard attached to wall. We will let you know if there
will be any changes for your week. All should be set up by the time you arrive
at 1:30 pm on Opening Day.
Morning Announcements -- Go through each day's schedule and make any announcements necessary; it's important to start and end class on time. (Tell the instructor you'll hold up your hand when class is due to end; class must end promptly at 11:45 am.)
Instructors' Breaks -- In general, each class of 2 1/2 hours should have a 10-minute break every 45 minutes (or one longer break). Ask the instructor if you should let him/her know when it's time for a break. However, use your own judgement. If the class does not want a break, don't insist on it. Please make it clear that they will be given a break no later than 7:15 pm during the evening class to get cocktails before the Manager's reception is over at 7:30 pm. We hope to keep to a minimum the amount of disruption caused by people getting up and leaving class while the instructor is lecturing.
Cold Water, Glasses -- There should already be pitchers of ice water and glasses waiting on the table in our room for registration and every morning and evening. If these are not there, notify the clerk at the desk in the lobby. He/she will ask someone to assist you.
Classroom Temperature – If the temperature needs to be adjusted, you can go to the Lobby Desk and ask that a houseman take care of this.
Refreshments -- No refreshments will be provided during class or at any other time. However, participants may bring drinks and snacks from the buffet breakfast and from Happy Hour (5:30-7:30 pm) to the classroom. In fact, let the group know that they can take fruit, yogurt, etc. from the all-you-can-eat breakfast for snacks later. Perishable food can be kept in their guest room refrigerators. Note 1: The hotel is now allowing us to bring drinks from Happy Hour into Rings Restaurant for dinner! Note 2: As of November 2005, we have changed all evening class times to 6:30 - 9:00 pm (used to be 6-8:30 pm). This is to allow people to have time to go to the manager's reception to get their complimentary cocktails. They have half an hour to drink, mingle, or do other personal business after dinner and before the evening class. Hopefully this will prevent people from arriving late to class, or leaving on class breaks for extended periods while they get drinks, thus causing disruption to the instructor's lecture. Please ask them to be in class on time at 6:30 pm. Note 3: If there are other groups holding activities in the conference areas, and they have set out snacks for their participants, please be sure to remind the group that we may NOT poach food/drinks from these groups! This has happened and it upsets the hotel staff.
Double Sessions - If you are going to host a program that is a double session (that is, a double group of participants), we will send you the week's schedule several days in advance so that you can become familiar with it as it is different than a regular session in a number of ways.
Three Night Programs - If you are going to host a program that is a three night program, we will send you the schedule several days in advance so that you can become familiar with it as it is different than a regular session in a number of ways. Main Differences: The majority of the participants will be first-time Elderhostelers. Our focus will be a little more on what Elderhostel is all about. Therefore, we have included a sheet with information about Elderhostel. Please become familiar with the information on the sheet and summarize it in the Orientation. Please show the Elderhostel video "Adventures in Lifelong Learning" after Orientation ONLY if there are enough first-time Elderhostelers; it is approx. 12 minutes long. It gives a good overview of Elderhostel.
Closing Program: We will usually have live entertainment or standup comedy. If not, hostelers may informally discuss what they've learned and enjoyed about their Elderhostel experience. Closing night entertainers will do a 45-min. performance: 35 mins. of material and up to 10 mins. of question-and-answer with the group afterward (let them know beforehand so they have time to think of questions). Performers are welcome to do a longer set if people seem to be enjoying it. Participants may bring their drinks from Happy Hour (if they wish). You can pass out certificates after this, or before or after live entertainment.
Health & Safety Forms - Health forms will be used by paramedics in case of medical emergency. Be sure to file in alphabetically the ones that you receive directly from individuals on Day 1. Our final policy as of Oct. 23, 2006, is that Hosts will now be the sole keepers of the Health forms, NOT the Lobby Desk or Manager on Duty. There will not be a second set of photocopied forms to give to the Lobby Desk.
Pool, Jacuzzis, Sauna - The pool, jacuzzis and sauna are open from 6 am to 10 pm. Access is by using your room key. Showers and towels are available there.
Using Telephones - There are public phones located near the front desk; this is the least expensive way to make a phone call. It costs 75 cents to make a local call, and 75 cents to make a long distance call in addition to the rate charged for long distance. There is no charge, however, for using a phone credit card. If a person does not want to activate their phone, they can still receive phone calls and call within the hotel. To make a call in the hotel just dial 7 followed by the person's room number. There is a flashing light on the phone when a message is waiting.
Classroom Socializing -- Sometimes people like to socialize in the classroom during the afternoon or night. If the classroom door is locked, tell them that the clerk at the lobby desk will have someone open it for them. You can ask the clerk to arrange to have a table or two brought in if participants want to play any games.
Independent Contractors Agreement -- Occasionally, we may give you independent contractors agreements that new teachers will have to sign. However, most of our teachers have filled one out by now.
Teacher's Checks -- We have enclosed checks for teachers. Please give each teacher his/her check at the start of their final class. We will write checks to take care of all other aspects of the program (i.e., entertainers' paychecks). Of course, for last-minute changes or additions, David will sometimes simply mail the teacher's or entertainer's check directly to their home (we'll do our best to let you know when this is the case).
Bus Tour of San Francisco - There will be a free bus tour of San Francisco on one afternoon from 12:30 to 4:30 pm. The bus trip will include seeing the sights of San Francisco, but will stop briefly several times. The bus has a bathroom on board. It is possible for people in wheelchairs to come if they can walk up several bus steps. Their wheelchairs can be stored onboard. For three night programs, bus trip is to San Francisco only.
Bus Tour of Stanford University -
(Since October 2002): You will also have a second bus tour of Stanford University
(for five night programs only). Due to the availability of docents (who are
students), we will often have a docent tour of the Quad area (but sometimes
not). Note:
Starting September 2007, we will no longer have a private docent tour of the
Cantor Center for Visual Arts (formerly known as the Stanford Museum). Please
see separate itineraries (mailed to you) for details on the options at the Cantor.
Also: Starting October 2006, whenever there is NO Quad tour,
the bus company will try to assign Don Williams (or Charles
Prince) as our bus driver, to do a half-hour commentary while touring
the Stanford campus. On these days, you should have the group assemble at the
bus and be ready to leave the museum by 3:30 pm for his tour. If
we DO have a Quad tour, we may or may not be assigned a bus driver who
can do commentary. The Stanford bus tour will take place on various days
according to the availability of the docents (in other words, it's not a fixed
day). We will send you detailed information and itineraries for your specific
program, usually along with your host materials. We also
have some very detailed informational articles about Stanford (printed from
their website), if you are interested in learning on your own. These articles
are located in a three-ring binder in the plastic supply box. IMPORTANT:
Please be sure to bring all the Stanford info sent in your host packet with
you to the program!
--> A note about the Cantor Center: If anyone in
the group uses a wheelchair and/or cannot walk up stairs, you may use the elevator
to get into the Center. At the grand entrance steps, go to the left of the steps
and there should be an elevator at the side.
Notes on bus tours:
1-
Please be proactive if you notice that a bus driver is cutting short a bus tour
and/or skipping major destinations. This should be brought to the driver's attention
as soon as possible; check with driver if he is having problems due to traffic,
or is running behind schedule, and encourage him to follow the itinerary
as fully as possible. Call the office if you have a mobile phone to let
us know, should we need to speak with the bus company before the tour is over.
San Francisco tours are about 4 hrs. long, and Stanford tours about 4 ˝ to 5
hrs.
2- If
you have a San Francisco bus tour scheduled on a Monday, the
bus company knows that they should NOT make a stop
at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park (as it is closed Mondays). On all
other days, this stop would include at least a half hour for participants to
enjoy looking at the new building's stunning architecture, view some sculptural
art in the inner art garden, browse the gift shop, or take a trip up into the
viewing tower (which has an elevator). All these are free and open to the
public.
3- IF BUS IS LATE:
Call SFO/Compass
Transportation dispatch office at 650-246-2768. If you can't
reach someone there, please call Scott Longaker in the business office (during
normal business hours) at 650-246-2734. If possible, call the BACL office
(415-566-3444) ASAP if the tour is on a weekday, and let us know of
any problems. If on a weekend, please call the Kleinbergs (San
Francisco tel: 415-584-9225; if no answer, call them in Cloverdale
at: 707-894-0774). Should you be more than ten minutes
late for the Quad tour at Stanford, PLEASE CALL THEM TO LET THEM KNOW
as a courtesy. If you do not have a cell phone, the bus driver should allow
you to use his cell phone, or he can call his dispatch office who can then call
the tour destination. The number for the Quad tours is 650-725-3335
(staffed during business hours, 7 days a week). Please remember to bring your
Host Manual with you on the bus so you have this information at hand if the
situation calls for it. Thank you very much!
4- Due to Elderhostel policies, we
do not pass around an envelope to collect tips for the driver. David Kleinberg
is adding a $50 tip to our invoice for each bus tour (this is our policy now
for all three sites).
5- The charter company
has recently made a change in their policy regarding whether participants can
remain on the bus while stopped at an itinerary destination (for example,
while group is touring Stanford's Quad). They no longer allow anyone to stay
on the bus while parked. The driver is instructed to turn the engine off
to save gasoline, which means the air conditioner will be shut off as well.
Please explain the policy to participants before any tours.
Nearby Facilities -- Laundromats are located on the hotel's third, sixth and eighth floors. The nearest beauty salon is Michael's Hair Salon at the nearby Park Plaza Hotel. The closest grocery store is located on Broadway, but it requires a car to get there. A list of dentists and physicians is at the end of this manual. The closest pharmacy is Walgreen's (open 24 hours); its telephone number is at the end of the manual).
Final Day Hotel Checkout and Luggage Storage - Hotel checkout time is at 1 pm on the final day. Participants should bring their luggage to their cars or they can check it in at the front desk. They can call the front desk to ask for a "bell person" to assist them in bringing the luggage down.
Hotel Shuttle Back to the Airport -- Participants can call or go by the front desk to let them know when they need to leave for the airport. The airport shuttle leaves every half hour.
Setting Up at the Embassy Suites
You should arrive at the Embassy Suites by 1:15 PM (allow 25 minutes from San Francisco). When you arrive, check to see if the hotel has set up a registration table outside of the room we have been assigned for the week. The hotel also should have set up a big refreshment table with pitchers of cold water and glasses in the class room. Also, the audio visual equipment should have been set up. If the hotel has not done so, let the Front Desk know that things aren't set up and that they are needed before 2:30 registration.
Give the front desk a copy of the Week in Review and the Roster.
Set up for maps/literature/games -- A table set up in one part of the room is for maps, literature and games. Set that up with maps on left (open maps, place them on top of each other); literature at center, and games (card decks and Scrabble) on right. The menu for the week should be taped up to the fabric wall (please don't use thumb tacks or push pins).
Elderhostel Registration (2:30 - 4:00 p.m.)
Set up for Elderhostel registration -- Place name tags in alphabetical order on table facing participants. Have orientation packages nearby. Use Admissions Roster to check off names as people come in. There is NO money to collect (unless someone has registered late). Boston collects the entire amount from each Elderhosteler. (If someone still needs to pay, we'll let you know.) Elderhostelers who have single rooms and enrolled just prior to the program's start will pay the hotel for that portion when they check in at the front desk, if necessary.
Sometimes people will arrive late and check in later in the evening. Please take a CLOSE look at the Housing List when you're near the end of the registration process, so you will know whether or not any participants will be arriving LATE, and therefore need to have their guest room held for them until their arrival. Check with front desk about anyone who hasn't appeared by dinner. Sometimes people who have decided not to come will call the hotel to cancel but not let us know. If there is no sign that they have canceled, leave their name tags and orientation packages with the Front Desk. Please let us know the first time we speak if someone has not shown up. We pay the hotel based on the number of participants who show up.
Health & Safety Forms -- You will have all the Health forms. Some few EH'ers will not have returned Health forms to us. We will have marked "HF" (meaning they need to submit a Health form) on the admissions roster. We will have blank Health forms for you to give to them to fill out. When they complete the Health forms file them alphabetically with the others. NOTE: Please be aware that on the front of every Health form, we have an item which requires the participant(s) to sign their initials acknowledging they understand special dietary needs cannot be accommodated by the hotel kitchen. If anyone begins to make requests or demands, or becomes difficult regarding meals, you may pull out their Health form to check their initials, and remind them that they agreed to the condition. Sometimes people who did not receive their Health form prior to arrival at the program do not know about this item; when you give them their form to fill out at Registration, always be sure to point out this item and ask them to read and initial it.
Remind each couple or person that we have changed our itinerary (you may direct them to read a sign that should be posted at the registration table) and will be doing Orientation immediately after the registration period, at 4 pm, and that social time/introductions of everyone in the group will be held at 6 pm onward in the conference room. We expect that people will drift over to the Manager’s Reception to get drinks after dinner, and then drift into the conference room. If you like, you may also announce that formal introductions (led by you, the host), will begin at a certain time (for example, 6:30 pm), so that everyone’s had time to get drinks, go to the restroom, etc.
Orientation (4 -5 p.m.)
Note:
Please cover all the material
in this section in the order given.
{Introduce yourselves.}
Welcoming Participants -- Welcome to Bay Area Classic Learning's Elderhostel Program at the Embassy Suites in Burlingame. (Introduce yourselves.) You may be wondering what is Bay Area Classic Learning. It is a non-profit educational corporation that was formed in 1994 by Pat and David Kleinberg. Besides Burlingame, Bay Area Classic Learning runs a year-round site in the Napa Valley, and as of Fall 2005 we began an Elderhostel program in San Rafael in beautiful Marin County. When Elderhostel began in 1975, it started in the northeast on college campuses in the summer. Today over 1/4 of a million people attend Elderhostel yearly and 50% of the programs are sponsored by colleges/universities and 50% by other non-profit educational organizations such as Bay Area Classic Learning.
Very Important! Emergency Situations and Health Forms -- (As of 10/23/06) Please inform the group that you, the Host(s), will keep the Health forms with you, not the Lobby Desk or Manager on Duty, and that if there is ever any accident or medical emergency, that they should call or find you FIRST, even if it's the middle of the night. Of course, if 911 assistance is required immediately, they should call 911 first, and then the Host(s). This way the Health forms should be available in an emergency, and you can inform hotel management about any emergency situation that arises.
Brief History of Burlingame and Area
1776 Portola Expedition: Discovery of Bay due west on top of ridge,
by Spaniards.
Early 1800s: Spain owned Alta (Upper) California. When Mexico became
independent of Spain in 1821, the land that's now Burlingame became part of
a vast land grant system.
Mexican Land: Following revolution. In 1845, Governor Pio Pico gave all
this Peninsula land around Burlingame to Cayetano Arenas to repay a debt to
his friend.
1860s Early Exploration: William C. Ralston, a prominent banker and partner
in the development of the Comstock Lode, admired the peninsula's warm, tranquil
setting of oak-clad, rolling hills nestled between San Francisco Bay and the
Pacific Coastal Range. He purchased vast acreage for a grand estate.
Burlingame's Name: U.S. Minister to China, Anson Burlingame -- a recent
appointee by President Lincoln -- was an early Ralston guest. He liked the area
so much that he chose a villa site of approximately 1,100 acres for himself,
to be used after his retirement from the China mission. His host, in honor of
the occasion, named the new town site Burlingame and presented the diplomat
with the land he had selected.
Burlingame's Beginning: Burlingame began as a country club -- the Burlingame
Country Club (the first country club in California) founded in 1893. A year
later the Burlingame Post Office opened, making the name official. The exclusive
country club built its own railroad station in 1894. As more and more visitors
and guests came to the area, many chose to remain, and the colony soon became
a flourishing village. In 1901, the first two stores opened for business on
Burlingame Square.
1906 Earthquake: The 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire sent hundreds
of people in search of a safe residential area. Burlingame was the choice of
many. In 1908, the town was incorporated.
Today, Bedroom Community: Burlingame is known as "The City of Trees."
It is located in San Mateo County, which encompasses 45 miles of scenic coastline
and beaches, including panoramic views of San Francisco and the Bay. Here you
may enjoy a Mediterranean-like climate with over 74% open spaces. Known as a
'bedroom' community for San Francisco, its residents boast an education level
second-highest in the nation. In fact, San Mateo County's nickname is "Software
Valley," due to its distinction of having one-third of the Bay Area's biggest
software firms.
Go Over Materials in Envelope
Biogs of Leaders -- We've already introduced ourselves. Briefly elaborate
on teacher biographies.
Week in Review Schedule -- Go over it day by day. Be sure to let everyone
know that check-out is at 1 p.m. on the final day.
Luggage may be stored in their cars or checked in at the front desk.
Burlingame History -- Tell them for more history on Burlingame read the
enclosed history.
What to Do Around Burlingame
*Before discussing free time options, please inform group about an update to the "What To See & Do" orientation packet. Under the section "By Free Trolley" (2nd page) we stated that the trolley does not stop at the Embassy Suites, but the hotel is now one of the trolley's stops. The schedule and route are included for you should anyone want to see it.
Best thing -- Walk along the waterfront, north and south of the hotel. All flat with wonderful views of San Francisco, the East Bay and the South Bay. Part of the San Francisco Bay Trail, which runs a total of 240 miles (400 miles total are planned) around SF Bay. There is a small fishing pier at the south end of the hotel’s parking lot for strolling, viewing the Bay, or fishing. A little way north of the hotel along the Trail are three small parks: Bayside Park (by the north tip of the Burlingame Recreation Lagoon), a Bird & Plant Sanctuary (along the coast side), and Bayfront Park (also coast-side). All have small parking areas.
San Francisco -- Great metropolitan city. Can reach it by taking a car to Anza Blvd. to Highway 101 north into the city. By BART: Take the hotel's free shuttle (runs every 30 mins.) to SF Airport, then take BART into SF. Call BART 7 days a week for specific information (992-2278), or visit their website to see transit maps, fares, and timetables (these are also posted in each station) at http://www.bart.gov/index.asp. Be sure to remind them that when they return to the hotel, to take only the San Francisco International Airport-bound train! Other methods: The hotel shuttle runs every 30 minutes to the SF Airport where you can take SamTrans buses (senior rate 50 cents) into San Francisco, or the shuttle has a drop-off at the CalTrain station (senior rate $1.25). CalTrain stops at the train terminal at Townsend St. in San Francisco.
Downtown Burlingame -- The shopping district is filled with small, interesting shops and walking is enjoyable in this flat area. The Burlingame Avenue CalTrain Station, located on California Drive, is a historic landmark. It was built with funds from the Burlingame Country Club in 1894 in the classic Mission-Revival style. You may still board trains to San Francisco here. New info: Recommend that people take the City of Burlingame's free trolley, which runs on a regular schedule and route. It now stops at the Embassy Suites. The Orientation packet is incorrect; please tell hostelers during Orientation about the update.We will provide for you a printed map of the route and timetables. However, please direct participants to pick up their own copies at the front desk. See trolley website at http://www.commute.org/shuttle_burlingame_free.htm, which shows the route and timetables, or call 650-588-8170.
Coyote Point -- Driving directions for museum, park, marina/yacht club & golf course: Taking Airport Blvd. south to San Mateo, turn left on Coyote Point Dr. and follow the signs into Coyote Point County Recreation Area. The recreation area, a mile south of the hotel, offers many activities. There is a $5 park admission fee per car. Coyote Point, a rocky outcropping of chert, was once an island; the first people to utilize it were the Ohlone Indians. Three shell mounds on the north side indicate activities such as fishing, eating, or possibly religious ceremonies. Stroll (or fish) at the marina breakwater, the beach promenade (watch for windsurfers), or view the saltwater marsh with its shorebirds, just south of the yacht club. There are also many lovely picnicking areas complete with picnic tables and grills, beautiful trees and grassy terrain. Take some time out to chip a few balls at Poplar Creek Golf Course (formerly the San Mateo Municipal Golf Course), 1700 Coyote Point Dr. Club house, Pro shop, restaurant/bar (specializing in Italian cuisine and seafood). Course has 18 holes. Make tee time reservations and ask about fees by calling 650-522-4653. Visit Coyote Point Marina and Yacht Club, inside the Recreation Area, at 1820 Coyote Point Dr.; call 650-347-6730. There is also the Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education at 1651 Coyote Point Dr. Newly refurbished 4,000 sq. ft. walk-through aviary houses over four-dozen native California birds. Landscaped trees and plants, along with pond and waterfall, give visitors an opportunity to view the birds up-close in a natural setting. River otter exhibit; live honybee/hive exhibit; Wildlife Habitat featuring live, rescued native California species; rotating science-related exhibits; rotating art exhibits relating to the natural world. Environmental Hall features six Bay Area/California ecosystems. Themed gardens encompass 1.3 acres including a Hummingbird Garden, Butterfly Habitat and Nature's Marketplace, featuring native plants used by Native Californians. Wheelchair-accessible. Museum entry fee is $4 for seniors 62+, $6 for adults under 62, plus the $5 per car entry fee into the park. Call 650-342-7755. Closed Mondays. Another nearby museum (NOT in the Coyote Point recreation area) is the Hiller Aviation Museum, six miles from hotel, 601 Skyway Road, San Carlos. The museum’s 53,000 sq. ft. complex consists of a main exhibit hall, an entrance atrium, 35-seat theater, 50-seat conference center, and gift shop. The Restoration Shop, with its large picture windows, allows the visitor to witness the ongoing restoration process. Collection includes 50 aircraft exhibits: Vintage and futuristic aircraft, prototypes, photographic displays, and models are on display. Driving directions: Take Hwy 101 south to Holly Street/Redwood Shores Pkwy exit, by the town of San Carlos. Go east onto Redwood Shores Pkwy. Turn right onto Airport Road. Turn right onto Skyway Road. Call 650-654-0200 for more info or visit their website, www.hiller.org. Open 7 days a week. $6 for seniors 65+, $9 for adults under 65.
Evaluation Sheet -- Please fill out and turn in the last night or departure morning. It's important. It allows us to know how to make the program better for you. Please be sure to tell participants to give us feedback on all comedians and closing night entertainers on their evaluation sheets. We suggest that you tell them just before morning class starts on the day a comedian appears, regardless of what time the appearance is. {Hosts now have their own separate Evaluation Sheet (part of the Host All-in-One packet) which we request that you fill out and send to Barry Adler along with the others.}
Miscellaneous Info
Commuters – As of September 2008, BACL is now accepting commuters at all BACL EH sites. Commuters are required to register through Elderhostel's main office.
Housecleaning -- Each day House Cleaning will come into each suite, make the beds, and clean the unit.
Dinner -- And now about dinner: Dinner is in the hotel restaurant, Rings Restaurant, and we will lead you there. We ask that you be on time as it will be served. You don't have to use trays or bus dishes. After Elderhostel introduction video (if applicable), lead group to restaurant. When you've arrived, please introduce the restaurant manager to the group, say their name, and let them know that this is the person they should look for if they have any requests or problems.
Meals -- Breakfast is buffet style and served in the hotel Atrium. Lunch and dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant, Rings. It's important to be on time.
Menu -- We have worked out a menu that we think will be satisfactory to everyone. It is tasty and nutritious. However, no special requests can be made of the kitchen; we cannot accommodate special diets.
Happy Hour -- Free drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are served from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Feel free to bring your drink to class, to dinner, and during break. Show your room key to obtain drinks. Snacks -- You can take fruit and other food items from the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet in the Atrium. You can store perishable food, such as yogurt, in your suite's refrigerator.
Phones -- The hotel no longer has any public pay phones. Even if they did not have their room phone activated, they can still receive calls and call within the hotel. Family members/friends should call (650) 342-4600. A red light will flash on phone when there is a message for them. Be sure to give them your room #. If there are any questions about how to use the phone, refer the participant to the front desk clerks who will help them.
How to call in hotel -- Just dial 7 and the person's room number. Tell them your room number and that they should call you if there is any problem. We feel responsible for them and want them to tell us if they aren't feeling well or if they need to leave before the program ends. BE SURE TO GIVE THEM YOUR ROOM NUMBER.
Mobile Phones -- Please be sure to remind participants to kindly either turn off their mobile telephones, or set them to Etiquette or Silent Mode (in which the phone will vibrate instead of ringing). Also request that if they want to take the call, to please go outside the classroom to speak. We would like to provide a peaceful classroom setting.
Name tags -- Ask people to wear their name tags every day so we can all get to know each other faster. As of Jan. 2007, we switched to name tags with clips instead of strings.
Games -- We have cards and Scrabble for people to borrow. If they need a table to play in the room we've been assigned to, just let hotel staff know so they can set this up in the assigned classroom. We'll have a sign-up sheet for bridge.
Elderhostel passports -- Elderhostel has decided to reinstate their passport program, and is sending out passports directly to participants (BACL will not provide passports to hand out at programs). We will continue distributing our passport stickers.
Elderhostel Introduction Video -- If there are enough hands raised (at least several people), ask them who would like to view the 12 minute intro to Elderhostel video (ONLY DURING THREE-NIGHT PROGRAMS). If they're interested, go ahead and play it after your closing remarks, and let others know they aren't required to stay to watch.
Closing -- You can see we've got a great group of participants here and excellent instructors. We know it's going to be a wonderful week. Tell participants that you know that some of them are very tired because they've been traveling all day. Remind them that happy hour is 5:30 - 7:30 pm, and that during or after dinner, they may get drinks and may return to the conference room starting at 6 pm, after which you will begin formal introductions (see 'Introductions' section below). {Play Elderhostel video.} And now, we'll lead you to the dining room.
{End of Orientation Session}
Social Time & Introductions (6 pm onward)
Introductions -- {Allow time for people to get drinks; begin when
most or all the group has convened in the classroom, or the time you previously
set.} The best thing about Elderhostel is that you meet great people. This
is the time you get to meet this week's people. How many first time Elderhostelers
do we have here? (Welcome them.) We're going to go across the rows. We'd like
each person to stand, face the center of the group and in your loudest voice
tell us 1) Where you are from, 2) your present or former occupation, 3) your
hobbies, and 4) how many Elderhostels you've attended. (Don't let them start
in on children and grandchildren; it takes up too much time. Tell them if they
do start on family, we won't be able to eat until 9 p.m.) This
would be a good time to ask for a show of hands of people who are attending
their first Elderhostel. After Final Introduction -- As you can
see, we have a wonderful group, and you'll have a whole week to get to know
each other better. Good
night, and sleep well!!
{Now announce that people may mingle
freely in the conference room or back out in the Atrium, since the bar will
still be serving drinks until 7:30 p.m.}
The Rest of the Week
7:00 - 8:30 a.m. (6:00 - 8:30 on weekdays) -- Breakfast is served in the Atrium.
Always check the Week in Review for specific times and activities. Times will vary for single session programs and three night programs.
Closing Program
Certificates -- We have discontinued the Certificates.
Evaluations -- Ask that they turn in their evaluations and name tags
in the box you'll provide. Ask that they take their name card out of the tag
before turning it in. Please let the group know that it will be most helpful
to us if they can be as specific as possible about their suggestions. Remind
them that we'd like to have their comments about the closing night performer
as well.
Last Words -- Remind them again that check out is at
1 p.m. tomorrow, so everyone should bring their luggage down to their
cars or check it in at the front desk. They can call for a "bell person" to
assist them. Be sure to tell group how glad you are that they all came and that
you hope they'll come back again.
EH Passports -- You can give them a BACL sticker now if you haven't already.
Final Duties
Returning Health & Safety Forms to BACL Office – Elderhostel (as of October 2006) now requires us to keep all Health forms for six months after a program date. Therefore, at the end of the program, remove the forms from the original envelope and insert them in the included (postage-paid, pre-addressed) new envelope, addressed to the BACL office. Seal envelope and drop in the mail to us.
Returning Admissions Roster to BACL Office – Due to privacy concerns, we have decided that the Admissions Roster, used to check in participants on Day One, must be returned to our office so that we may properly dispose of it (by document shredder). Therefore, on the final day, please put the Roster in the envelope with the Name Tags and send to us.
11:30 am -- Fold all maps and place in map envelope and put along with literature in plastic box. Please put the name tags and Incident Report (if any) in the envelope that we have provided and mail it to us. Please send back any unused blank nametags as well. NOTE: Please do NOT roll up and then rubber band name tags! Please return your name tag to us in the same envelope and we'll save it for you for the next time you host. Put the evaluations in a separate envelope that is made out to Barry Adler. NOTE: If you choose to send your own Evaluation sheet for the program directly to the BACL office, we request that you make a photocopy of it and include one copy along with all the rest of the Evaluations. We'd like Barry Adler to be able to make a complete summary. The return address sticker for the Evaluations has a space where the date of the program should be written in; if it's blank, please fill in the appropriate date. Toss out any extra printed papers such as orientation materials. Please: As a courtesy to the next EH Hosts, kindly tidy up the EH supply box before leaving the hotel! Also, if you notice any items missing from the supply box or items running low (such as tape, dry erase markers, etc.), please inform our office ASAP so we can order and send replenishments. Between programs, the supply box is kept in the Conference Services office, and delivered to our classroom in time for the start of each program.
11:30 - 12:30 -- Lunch. Program is officially over.
Thanks for doing a great job!!
People and Numbers
All area codes are (650)
Hotel address is 150 Anza Blvd., Burlingame,
CA 94010
Hotel Staff
Our contact person at the hotel is Sarah Atilano, Sales Manager. Her
extension is x.154, and she's located in Room 234 (Sales Office) on the Second
Floor. You can also get help from Lani Saavedra (Catering Events Coordinator).
Note: In
case someone at the program needs to make a reservation to stay an extra night
at the hotel (usually they have taken care of this long before their arrival),
you should have them speak to the Sales Office to make the
reservation. That way we can be sure that the hosteler receives the reduced
"conference" rate agreed upon in our contract.
BUS TOUR COMPANY
SFO/Compass Transportation dispatch office (if bus
is late or tour is on a weekend): 650-246-2768.
(our contact is Scott Longaker, during business hours): 650-246-2734
Local Dentist/Doctors
Call 911 for any medical emergency.
PHARMACIES
Walgreens, 1420 Howard Ave at Primrose Rd. (2.8 miles/8 mins. from hotel),
342-2977-- Open 24 hours a day
Broadway Pharmacy, 1300 Broadway at Paloma Ave. (1.4 miles,/4 mins. from
hotel), 343-3651
Open from 9 am - 6:30 pm, Mon. thru Fri.; 10 am - 5 pm on Sat.
GROCERIES
Safeway (also has pharmacy)
1450 Howard Ave. at El Camino Real, Burlingame (2.8 miles/8 mins. from hotel)
344-5601
Open 5 am - 1 am daily
Burlingame Food Market
1236 Burlingame Ave, Burlingame (2.6 miles/8 mins. from hotel) 342-0440
DENTISTS
John Leung, D.D.S. and Teresa Chan, D.D.S.
500 Primrose Road, Burlingame, 343-2120
Hours: 9 am to 6 pm weekdays; by appointment evenings and weekends.
R. Michael Heneveld D.D.S. + Hallsted
500 Primrose Road, Burlingame, 343-1104
Hours: M-Thur 8-5pm (no lunch appt 12-1:30), Fri 7-1pm
URGENT CARE
Immediate Care Center
2905 South El Camino, San Mateo, 570-2273
Walk-in; no appointment needed.
Hours: 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday; 9 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday
Mills Peninsula Urgent Group Clinic
50 South San Mateo Dr. (Next to Mills Hospital), Burlingame, 696-4427
5:30 pm - 9:30 pm; Monday through Friday
11 am to 3 pm weekends and holidays
HOSPITALS
Mills Peninsula Hospital
1783 El Camino Real, Burlingame, 696-5400
Kaiser Permanente Hospital
1200 El Camino Real, South San Francisco, 742-2100