ACTION ITEMS (Now that I’m joining, what needs to be done quick?)

Upon acceptance into the program, the following items must be sent to us by Wednesday, June 1, 2005 to ensure sufficient time to reserve your place in the Campaign.

PICTURE
As part of the application process, we will need 2 passport size pictures or an electronic version in jpeg format. This will be used as a reference for our records.

VISA
Upon acceptance into the program, please make sure to obtain your e-visa from the official website. Armenia is one of 2 countries that offer this service. It is fast, efficient and accurate. Unlike past years, we insist that all applicants take care of their own visa through the internet or the closest Armenian Embassy/consulate. We will be glad to guide you through this process. Please contact your Campaign Coordinator with questions regarding this issue.
NOTE: Remember, the expiration date of your passport must be later than the date of your return.

Medical Form
We recommend you make an appointment with your doctor soon to have the enclosed Medical Form filled out in a timely manner. As stated in the form, we recommend that you bring your immunization shots and prescribed medication. This process is necessary to ensure a safe and secure environment for ALL participants.

Waiver Form
While we take every precaution to make our work sites safe, we cannot guarantee against accidental injury. Enclosed is a Waiver releasing the LCO from any liability in the event that you are injured during your trip. Please execute this personally and have it witnessed.
Before signing this form, it is mandatory that you read the attached Rules of the LCO Campaign . Returning the signed waiver verifies that you have read the Rules in their entirety and affirms your commitment to abide by these Rules as a condition of participation in the LCO Campaign.

Payment
In order to process your action items, payment must accompany your completed application form. Please send us a check in the amount of $1,400 made payable to Land & Culture Organization. Mark your check "2005 Campaign." (For those of you participating for two months, the Campaign fee is $1,800.) This price covers:
Round trip airfare from Paris-Yerevan-Paris, or Paris-Kessab-Paris.
All expenses in Armenia or Syria (transportation from/to the airport, all meals, work site lodgings, seven hotel nights in Yerevan for those of you going to Armenia or Mountainous Karabagh, group trips, workshops, etc ).

Refund Policy
As mentioned earlier, LCO scouts take great pride (and pains) to go on fact-finding missions in order to select sites that demonstrate a need for development. They then prepare work programs and set up lodgings that are specific in the number of people these areas can accommodate. As a result, we select applicants carefully. This is also why we must maintain a strict policy regarding trip cancellations once spaces have been secured. With this in mind, we do, however, understand that family emergencies or medical mishaps may occur. If you are unable to participate in a Campaign after you have committed to the program, fifty percent (50%) of your payment may be refunded, AS LONG AS you notify us at least two weeks prior to the date of departure. If you must cancel your trip for non-emergency or non-medical reasons at any point before the departure date, we’re sorry, but absolutely no refunds can be made.
Membership
Membership in the LCO includes discounts on future Campaign costs, a free subscription to Tebi Yergir, access to merchandise such as LCO T-shirts and videos, notifications about year-round events and reunions, eligibility to vote at our annual General Assemblies, and peace of mind that your membership dollars are going toward programs that preserve cultural and territorial integrity! All American Campaign volunteers must be current members of the LCO. If you have not yet paid your dues or are not yet a member of the LCO, please send an additional check payable to the Land & Culture Organization when you mail us your action items. Membership dues are $50 for adults and $25 for students with valid ID Please mark the check "2005 Membership". Your membership dues are fully tax-deductible.
Reminder Checklist of the Action Items you must send us by JUNE 1, 2005:

• 2 Passport size photos (could be electronic)
• Signed check or money order for $1,400 (or $1,800 for two months)
• Membership dues ($50 for adults, $25 for students with valid ID)
• Medical form (completed AND signed)
• Waiver form (signed)

Please send these Items to:

Land & Culture Organization, Inc.
2005 Summer Campaign
P.O. Box 1386
Hoboken, NJ 07030

NOTE: Once we have received these action items, we will make arrangements for obtaining a plane ticket for your round trip flight from Paris to Yerevan or Kessab. (Your airline ticket will be distributed to you at the Charles DeGaulle/Paris Airport immediately prior to boarding the flight.)


RULES OF THE CAMPAIGN (What is expected of me?)

Please remember that abiding by the following rules is a precondition for joining our Campaign. As prepared as you may feel for the experiences that lie ahead, you must also be prepared to live within the structure we have established. Here is a list of affirmations for you to read and accept. A waiver of these rules will not be tolerated.

I Will Pace Myself
Remember to take it easy for the first few days, no matter what great shape you think you’re in. You’ll be amazed at what new muscles will be aching after the first day or two. Those with bad backs should be especially conscious of pacing themselves and the stance used when shovelling and hauling heavy loads. While we encourage you to socialize with each other and the locals, do not stay up all night so that you are too weak to work the next morning. Your Group Leader has the right to establish a "lights out" time. All volunteers must be responsive to morning wake-up calls. It is not the responsibility of the Group Leader to drag you out of bed. You must be out of bed no later than 8:30 a.m. and must eat something for breakfast.

I Will Practice Safety Precautions
We know Armenian skin does not typically burn, but at the altitudes we will be working, it will. So, even the most olive-skinned of us need a high-level protection sun-screen (use an SPF 15 at the very min.) and a hat. Remember, at approximately 2,000 meters above sea level, the air is thinner than that to which you’re accustomed.

I Will Monitor My Consumption
Whether the food tastes amazing or not (we think it does), it is wholesome and you need your strength. We cannot afford to have people faint at the work site, especially in the hot sun. This is not the time to diet. If you want to lose weight, you will do better by eating hearty meals and getting your workouts from the programs. Try to never eat any unwashed fruit or vegetable. The local residents will often invite you to eat and drink with them. Accept the invitation only after work hours. (Your primary reason for volunteering with the LCO is to work on a designated project. Entertainment is secondary.) Local alcohol is very potent, so temper your intake. Excessive behaviour associated with alcoholic consumption is cause for immediate dismissal from the group. Likewise, possession and/or use of narcotics will NOT be tolerated. All meals are included within the price paid to the LCO, however you must take the meals with the LCO. If you decide to eat meals at different times or at different locations then those set by the LCO, you do so at your own cost with the permission of the Group Leader. LCO shall not reimburse you for any cost associated with such meals.

I Will Be Sensible
Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh are in a transitional period. Learn to be patient. Keep your cool if certain things do not go exactly as planned. No matter which site you select, remember that we are guests of that country. Be flexible and open-minded. We all love adventure—as long as it is safe. Do not associate with radicals or shady characters. We do not wish to cause the LCO trouble and potentially make it difficult for other volunteers in the future. Even though Armenians from all over the world feel a special attachment to the historic Armenian homeland, remember that every ethnic group has a few bad apples—even us. NEVER give anyone money (even if it is in exchange for Dram). Be wary of those who ask for gifts. Typically, those who ask do not need and it is the humble ones who need it the most. Please see our comments about mementos in the section called Recommended Gift Items.

I Will Be Adaptable
This experience will be whatever you make of it. Seek out special memories, mingle with the locals, explore the village, and get to know everyone in your group, not just the ones with the same background as you. Even if you don’t speak Armenian, you will be surprised at how well you can get to know each other using gestures and phrases you pick up. It gets to be fun and, in the end, you’ll make amazing lifelong friends from all around the globe. Since you will be with each other twenty-four hours a day, you will get to know one another very well—and that means living with everyone’s good points and bad ones. Be open-minded and work over any differences in each other’s daily habits. Do not be a “stubborn Armenian”. Seek out friendships with your fellow volunteers and work to overcome any problems the language or cultural barriers may cause. Avoid creating a clique. Finally, remember you are a representative of the Western world and/or Armenian Diaspora. Carry yourself accordingly. Act maturely and responsibly. Avoid conflicts with local residents. When traveling outside the work site, especially to temples of worship and the city of Yerevan, be respectful.

I Will Take Initiative
Even though the LCO is an organized Campaign with Group Leaders, we expect every volunteer to take initiative to make the Campaign run smoothly. Do not look to the leader to always answer your questions…try to find some yourself. Although our leaders are veteran volunteers, they may not have previously served at your location, so remember, they do not have all the answers. They are there to guide and assist the volunteers, and deal with emergencies. Please keep in mind that the representatives of LCO Armenia, LCO France, and LCO USA that help you throughout the pre-Campaign and Campaign time-frames are volunteers just like you. They do not work for you, but with you. Therefore, they are not expected to clean up after you or cater to your every need.

I Will Take Responsibility
All of us must roll up our sleeves and pitch in together for the Campaign to run successfully. We work with the general philosophy of a cooperative venture. Every volunteer must pitch in and help each other. If the tools need to be carried back, do not wait for the leader to ask you; pick them up and take them. If you see dirty cups around the site, take them to the stream and rinse them off, even if you only used one. If water bottles are empty and you hear running water in the middle of the night, get up and fill all the water bottles—not just yours. Keep up a strong work ethic. Slacking off not only reflects badly on you, but on the entire LCO organization. Take your commitments seriously or else, in future years, our host countries will not take the LCO seriously.

I Will Communicate
Test your Armenian-language skills! As you know, the LCO attracts volunteers of Armenian descent who hail from all over the world. As a result, Armenian becomes the universal language. If you know it well (eastern or western), try not to rely on your English at all. If you know a little, use it as much as possible and you will be amazed how much you will improve in one month. If you do not know it at all, ask your fellow volunteers how to say certain key words and phrases. That will be enough to get by. For those of you not fluent in Armenian, please take a look at our section on Communication Tools for information on how to prepare for the language barrier. You may also visit our Links page for interesting sites on Armenian Language.

I Will Observe Visitation Policies
If you have relatives or friends in Armenia, be aware of visitation rules: Relatives and friends can pick you up at the site on Friday afternoon through 9 p.m. on Sunday. Before departing, you must inform the Group Leader of where and with whom you are going. While friends and family can visit mid-week after the work day is complete, they cannot take you off-site, and it is forbidden to hitch a ride to meet someone at a designated location. No LCO member can leave work and the group Monday through Friday. Please observe these rules. Make friends and relatives aware of the rules so they do not waste hours driving and be disappointed. We are responsible for you. The LCO Campaign is not like a backpacking trip through Europe, nor is it a tourist adventure. Your number one priority is your Campaign and commitment to the group.

I Will Observe Excursion Policies
LCO plans hikes and day trips to nearby locations. If you have a special request, talk to your Group Leader so we can try to incorporate them in the few weekends we will have. The Program Coordinator and Group Leaders will discuss itineraries with you during the Orientation session on day one of your trip. We are flexible and can adapt certain aspects of the program. As we’ve said before, this is not a tourist junket, and there simply is not ample time to see and do everything.

I Will Observe Gift-Giving Policies
If you want to give a small personal memento to a villager or a child that you become close to during your stay, feel free to do so. We do ask, however, that you save gift-giving until the last day. While it is a nice gesture to give, you are not obliged to and should not feel pressured by anyone. Many veteran volunteers have found that when they start giving early in the month, they were hounded every day thereafter. It will pay to take your time getting to know people. By the end of the month you will have a better feel for who is truly a friend and who needs. That’s when the beautiful feeling of giving is worthwhile. Please consult our section on suggested gifts in the What to Bring category.

I Will Observe Duty Policies
Please note that the purchase of all antiques and valuable art (carpets and paintings) must be registered with the Ministry of Culture if you are to transport them out of the country. While you are in Yerevan, your Program Coordinator will advise you on the procedure for obtaining the proper paperwork. Please remember that obtaining permissions from and making payments to the Ministry of Culture is the sole responsibility of the volunteer. Failure to act on these items will guarantee heavy fines and confiscation of purchased goods upon departure from Armenia’s Zvartnots Airport.

Recommendations For A Fullfilling Experience

I Will Create My Own Entertainment
Remember, you will be in very remote locations, with no modern distractions such as TV sets or video games. We will rely on our own resources for entertainment. So, brush up on your art of conversation, bring a deck of cards, a musical instrument, or a Frisbee. Avoid bringing anti-social items such as a Walkman. Your fellow volunteers rely on you to entertain them as much as you will rely on them for the same. You may bring along a Polaroid camera and snap pictures of children and families in the village and hand it to them on the spot. You will make many of them happy with this type of gifts. You may also choose to teach a group of young children some crafts or a game of football. The key is to be creative and open-minded.

I Will Document My Trip
Keep a journal. Many of you will come home and write articles or give talks and slide shows about your experiences. Having it all written down or tape-recorded will help save every small memory and experience. It will also help when the time comes to complete your LCO Campaign evaluation, and contribute to the LCO newsmagazine, Tebi Yergir. Please check our website to find out more. One volunteer video taped his experience with the assistance of the LCO made a 30 minute film entitled Tebi Yergir, 2002 Datev Experience.

I Will Regulate My Finances
Do not exchange a lot of money at once. You may end up with excess Dram that you may not have time to exchange upon departure.


FORMS TO FILL OUT

1- Application Form

2- Medical Form

3- Voucher

4- Armenian E-Visa

"LCO experience was a revelation for me. It gave me the opportunity to expand my horizons both personally and professionally. One of the most important experiences of my life and an important factor in determining my future goals."
Lara Aharonian, August 1999, August 2001, Montreal, Canada