I hope this brochure will provide you with most of the information you will need for our trip to Ukraine in January. Feel free to call me or anyone else whose numbers are listed on the back, if you have any additional questions.
Travel Information
Prior to the trip:
Please let me know ASAP if you are going on the trip. I will start a file on each person- and make sure everyone is kept up to date with trip info, forms, etc. My name is Sue Johns- additional info on back.
You will need a current passport. Apply now for one if you do not have a current one. A visa will also be necessary. Mission Nazareth will be our host organization in Khust, Ukraine. They will issue an invitation to each person participating in the trip. We need to know who is going to have an invite issued with your name on it. I will forward your invite to you, along with your visa application and the other info to send along with your visa application. Last year this type of humanitarian visa was $20- I assume it is the same this year. Please apply for your visa as soon as you receive your info.
For the trip:
Our entire group will leave JFK in NY on Wednesday, January 27 at 5:45 PM (EST) arriving in Budapest at 8:50 AM Thursday morning. The return flight on Feb. 10 (or whatever day you return) leaves Budapest at 11:30 AM and arrives JFK at 3:35 PM. To get the group rate we must travel over together. The return trip will be open ended, you can return anytime after one week or with the entire group on February 10. The return trip will be slightly (around $25) more if you return on Fri. Sat. or Sun. Some may stay on even longer- to vacation in Europe or elsewhere. Each person will make their own travel arrangements. Call or email Mrs. Brenda Hogg of DFW Travel (info on back), and tell her you are with the Ukraine trip. She will book you on the group flight on Jan. 27. She will book your connecting flight to JFK and your return flights as well.
We will fly Malev airlines (the Hungarian branch of Delta) into Budapest. It is a very good airlines. Round trip will be $490, including taxes. Your deposit is due into Brenda by October 15. Full payment is due by December 13. Brenda is still negotiating-trying to get the cost lower. At the airport in Budapest, we will be met by a bus which will drive us to Khust. It is about a five hour bus ride. Cost of the bus ride-approx. $35-$40 each way. Arrangements will be made to return you to Budapest to catch your return flight to JFK. You will have to check with Brenda for cost of your connecting flight to JFK.
Arrangements are being made in advance to make the border crossing as hassle free as possible
Housing Arrangements
Team members will stay in homes of those of the Khust community. It would be appropriate to give a gift to your host family of $50- $100 per person per week. We will let you know the exact amount we suggest when we have received some additional info. This will offset the expense we cause them.
While Ukraine is not a third world country- it is very poor. Expect some hardships. You will be treated extremely hospitably and be fed extremely well.
If you are taking electrical items you will need to take a 110/220 converter.
Conference
There will be a one day conference on Sunday, Jan 31. Each Doctor is encouraged to give a short presentation (about 1 Hour) on a condition or technique that Doctors in Ukraine might find new and helpful. Dr. Silverman will take a slide projector if anyone has a slide presentation- please let me know if that is the case. Your presentation will be translated. Try to avoid technical terms which may not be translatable. If you would like to submit a transcript or outline for your translator to review ahead of the presentation, please have it typed up and ready when we arrive in Khust. Dr. Maria Rivis, a Ukrainian Orthodontist will be organizing the conference.
We will let each participating Doctor know what licensing info they need to present, when to present it and to whom.
Mission Overview
We are working with our host organization: Mision Nazareth. The dental operation will be based at Mission Nazareth. The medical and optometry operations will be based at a nearby clinic. The VOSH group (optometry) will distribute 750+ pairs of eyeglasses to needy pensioners. Dr. Silverman and the dental team will provide much needed dental work. The medical team will set up a free clinic- treating whoever comes and assessing the further needs of the community. The members of Mission Nazareth, working with others in the community, will provide translators, and other support staff. They will provide housing, meals and transportation during our stay.
Mr. Victor Kubik of Indianapolis, IN will act as the Host Organization's contact person. He is an American of Ukrainian descent and speaks fluent Russian and Ukrainian. Victor has been sending aid to this community for several years. He is on the committee at Mission Nazareth to distribute that aid. He will be in Khust a few days before the rest of the team, making sure all arrangements are made for when we arrive.
I hope this brochure will provide you with most of the information you will need for our trip to Ukraine in January. Feel free to call me or anyone else whose numbers are listed on the back, if you have any additional questions.
Addendum
At the end of our stay we will have a "trading post". Bring a few USA items you think Ukrainians would enjoy, such as logo T shirts, candy, USA logo items (flags or hats), team hats toys for kids, etc. These you will trade for whatever they offer- your souvenirs of the trip.
Names, Numbers, Addresses
Robert Silverman (Team
Organizer) (Dentist)
Home: 717-867-1679
Work: 717-272-8201
drbob@lebmofo.com
John Gehrig (VOSH group
leader)
Home: 407-678-8396
Work: 407-836-7328
FAX: 407 836-5888
orlandoeye@worldnet.att.net
Victor Kubik (Host
Organization Contact Person)
Home: 317-216-0802
Fax: 317-216-0804
kubik@lifenets.org
Sue Johns (info
organizer)
Home: 717-626-0612
Work: 717-626-6618
sljjwj2@aol.com
Brenda Hogg (travel
agent)
Phone: 972-488-1997
Fax: 972-488-8116
Brenda@brenda.org