| Plan Ahead
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To get the most out of your
vacation travel, seeking IPA assistance, start planning well
ahead. If visiting another country, send your Travel Form at
least two months in advance. Six weeks notice should suffice
for traveling within Canada. |
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Horror
stories include: |
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The Policeman who phoned up in middle of
the night from tried to join the IPA at that moment so he could
get hosted. |
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IPA members from another country that want
to be hosted and visit Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls and
Vancouver in three Days. |
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People who do not turn up or people who
turn up unannounced and want to be hosted. |
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If you have not visited a
country or city before, do some reading and research so that you
have a clear idea of what is available that may be of particular
interest to you. If you require advice from the Travel
Secretary for that country, write with your request and
enclose a stamped self-addressed business size envelope for
reply, (Someone has to pay the postage and YOU want the
service!). |
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A lot of IPA members in
different countries have computer E-Mail addresses. Also a number
of them have a Fax number that costs the same as postage or just
a little more, and take maybe 2 minutes compared to 1 or 2
weeks for a letter to arrive by mail. When a Fax is sent,
you know the person has received the coorespondence. |
| Home Hosting and Appreciation
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If you want to be home
hosted, please supply a short profile of yourself and
your spouse, including details of age, work and recreation
interests, smoker or non-smoker, and allergies or medical
problems (if any). If you are being met and home hosted try
to be considerate of your hosts, and their family routine.
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If your aircraft is delayed or
your travel schedule changes remember to let them know of the
change. Nothing is more frustrating than to make a fruitless
journey to an airport to meet guests who fail to arrive), make
sure that it does not cost your host a lot extra to have you stay.
Do not make toll calls on a hosts phone without clearing it
first and offering to pay for the cost of the call. Try to
make it a pleasure for your host to have you. Smile and
express your pleasure at what has been done for you. There are
various ways of showing that you care -- no hard and fast rules,
but here are some suggestions. |
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If you are staying for several
days buy some groceries or insist on contributing to the
housekeeping costs. If your hosts are both working during
your stay, buy the ingredients and offer to cook them your
favorite ethnic meal. Treat your hosts to a meal out at their
favorite restaurant. This is a universally appreciated way
of saying "thanks for having us." Buy them a bottle of wine
or other liquor that you know they will enjoy. |
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If your host is running you
around in his car, insist on paying for some fuel in his
tank which will go some way towards offsetting his running
costs. Buy a lunch on the road etc., and observe the Golden
Rule "Do for them what you would have them do for you" and you
will be OK. |
| Prepare In Advance
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Begin your planning by gathering
suitable things to give away us gifts of appreciation. Police
and IPA souvenirs are very acceptable as are pictorial books,
calendars and diaries, specially of your own country.
It is important to promote your home area and country. The
spirit of friendship and remembrance should be more important
than the value of the gift. Handmade items are individual and
usually every acceptable. |
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It is worth while to have
your business calling cards printed with your contact address,
phone and IPA numbers which you can exchange with your hosts
and other IPA members. |
| Invite Reciprocity
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Perhaps the most important
aspect of being hosted overseas by an IPA member is the
opportunity to issue an invitation to your host to visit
your country. Never neglect this invitation for if your host
has been a good host, they will also he a good guest. |
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Make the most of your trip by
listening and learning. Your host will think you are a
brilliant conversationalist if you throw him the occasional
question and then sit back and listen attentively. If your
host asks you questions, by all means show national pride and
think of a positive answer. Nothing will turn a host off quicker
than a poor listener who cannot wait to get a word in to brag
about how things are back home. |
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Never forget that you are an
ambassador for your own country and your IPA Section. |
| The Global View
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In smaller countries it is
natural that its citizens look outward at the rest of the
World and in the process acquire a more balanced view than
perhaps those citizens of a very large country. Concerns
will more likely revolve around what happens internally within
their country, rather than adopting a "citizen of the world"
view. Remember that IPA membership exceeds 250,000 in over 50
countries and that one of our IPA objectives is improved
understanding and friendship among police members without
any distinction as to rank, sex, race, language, culture or
religion. |
| Seek Help but Don't Impose
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If you request IPA assistance
with hotel or motel bookings on your behalf, establish contact
far enough ahead to enable you to send any required deposit to
secure that booking. NEVER request that a reservation be made
for you that may require a monetary deposit, without sending
the money. |
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If you have enjoyed IPA
hospitality, why not share your pleasure with others by
writing of your experience for your local IPA publication,
giving credit where credit is due, to those who have helped you.
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| Letter of Thanks
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Even if you have shown your
appreciation at the time by a gift and thanks, do not neglect
the simple but effective courtesy of writing a sincere
"Thank-you" note to all those who hosted you or gave you
significant help. It can mean so much to the recipient.
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| Afterwards
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If you appreciated being hosted
and assisted overseas by someone who accepted you on trust
purely because you were an IPA member, then you can do the
same for them. Even if you cannot afford to travel as often
as you would like, you can still enjoy the satisfaction and
joy that comes from providing a "home away from home" for IPA
visitors. |
