FAQ 2013 TED Fellows Retreat [Note: all details subject to
change]Please read through this document carefully before
completing your survey or asking questions of the team.
1. What is the TED Fellows Retreat?
Its your chance to get together with (most) all of the other
fellows around the world, for conversation, ideas sharing,
projects, workshops, Fellows talks and more. 2. When is it taking
place? August 17th through August 21st, 2013 Arrivals: Saturday,
August 17th (by 4pm preferably, well begin with an opening dinner)
Departures: Wednesday, August 21st (anytime) 3. Where is it taking
place? In gorgeous Whistler, Canada, two hours from Vancouver
International Airport (YVR) at the Chateau Whistler Resort Hotel.
The gorgeous city of Vancouver, British Columbia is 1 hours away.
4. What is the setting? Whistler is Canadas premiere ski resort and
it is also stunning in the summer. Its set in the mountains at a
modest 2,200 feet elevation (700 metres). 5. Why should I attend?
To meet all the Fellows you dont know. To reunite with all the ones
you do. To make new friends and potential new collaborators, to
give or listen to new talks, to exchange new ideas, to build your
skills, to work on cool projects, to contribute your unique gifts
to the community, to enjoy one of the most stunning outdoor
locations in the world the list goes on. 6. How do I complete my
survey? Click this link but NOT before reading the rest of this
document. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FellowsRetreatQ1 and fill
out your initial survey. That will give us an idea of how many
people are coming, and several other details we need. 7. Why should
I complete my survey right away? We only have room for 200 out of
300 total Fellows. We need to hear from you soon. 8. I dont know my
schedule this far in advance. Still, fill out the survey and choose
Im coming, schedule permitting. 9. How do I know if I have a
confirmed place at the retreat? After we receive your completed
survey, we will tell you if you have a reservation OR a place on
the wait list (we dont anticipate a wait list right now, but we
cant be sure). Then youll submit a copy of your paid airline ticket
or receipt and of your visa application, if any. At that point we
will issue you a confirmation. You have until May 17,
2013 to submit your documentation. If not, your reservation will
be released and the next person on the waitlist will be offered a
place. To be fair to every Fellow who wants to come, the May 17
deadline will be strictly enforced. Those receiving financial aid
will have a slightly different procedure. 10. Your confirmation
system seems strict. Why is it designed this way? We believe that
all Fellows will respond with honor and keep their commitment to
attend. But, traditionally at any other event, a person is
confirmed when they pay, and in the Fellows program, we know people
are coming because we pay for their airline tickets. Thus, we need
an objective way to make sure that you are coming, as not showing
up will deny someone else a place and cost thousands of dollars.
11. I know that I cant come. Will that hurt me in the program?
Absolutely not! Its impossible that everyone can come. We love you
no matter what. Still, please complete the survey. 12. Whats the
schedule? The retreat starts Saturday (the 17th) evening with
dinner. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are full days, then Wednesday
morning goodbye. Basically, programming will be in the morning from
9am until 1pm, lunch 1 to 2pm, indoor/outdoor activities from 2pm
to 5pm (all chosen for being conversation friendly), downtime,
dinner, late night. In other words, only 4 hours a day are
programmed, the rest is activities, meals and conversation. You
dont need to attend everything. This is meant to be more mellow
than a TED Conference, though still extremely valuable. 13. How
much does it cost? From the moment you arrive at Vancouver Airport
until the time you return there, the Fellows program pays for
virtually everything. You are expected to pay for your airline
ticket as well as for your visa, if applicable. More on help in
paying below. 14. Whos invited? All TED Fellows, TEDs directors
(Chris, Tom V, June, Kelly, Lara, Katherine, Janet, Ronda, Bruno
and Gavin), the TED Brain Trust and special guests. Unfortunately,
we cannot accommodate partners, spouses or children, BUT its a
great place for a family vacation. We recommend you consider having
them meet you at the end of the retreat, and we have a special
post-retreat rate at the hotel. We anticipate that some of you will
arrange your own post-retreat events. 15. I have an idea for the
retreat Excellent: the design premise for the retreat is Of, By and
For Fellows. We hope everyone will contribute something.
Photographers may volunteer to take pictures; filmmakers make a
documentary; designers, a logo; or software developers, a retreat
app, for example.
However you dont HAVE to do anything. This is also a place to
practice skills no one knows you possess. For example, in our midst
we have an extremely gifted shiatsu therapist and a hardcore
scientist who is also a tarot card reader. Use the Fellows retreat
survey (same one as attached to the invitation, you only need to
complete once) [Insert LINK ]to contribute your ideas initially,
and after at [email protected] 16. You mentioned TED Fellows talks.
Do I really have to give one? NO! Talks are not the main goal of
the retreat. Those who want to give a talk will be able to submit
their ideas later in the fall. From those, well choose only about
25. And, for those who do want to speak, the talks take place the
very first morning so that you can get them over with and then
relax with everyone else. And yes, were recording these at full
quality to consider for TED.com. 17. I have an idea for a TED-Ed
talk. (TED Education) Thats great! Logan Smalley, himself a 2009
TED Fellow, is our director of TED-Ed. You will have an opportunity
to record an audio track to be considered for pairing with an
animator to make into a TED-Ed Talk. Look at Greg Gages talk to see
the first Fellow who has one (though his is live/animation hybrid.)
Learn more at ed.ted.com. 18. I have an idea for a TED Book Great!
You will be able to meet with TED Books editor Jim Daly and pitch
your idea. We have TED Books from Fellows Rachel Armstrong and
Alanna Shaikh so far, but by next year there will be more. 19. I
have an idea for a TED Prize application. The director of the TED
Prize, Lara Stein will be there. 20. How do I get there? You fly to
Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which is reachable as a
direct flight from hundreds of Asian and Western cities, and is one
or two stops from the rest. A TED Fellows shuttle will meet you for
the two-hour drive to Whistler. Well have snacks and water in case
youre hungry or thirsty. 21. I cant afford an airline ticket. Can I
still come? Everyone is expected to contribute something towards
their flight and visa. There is a whole year to fundraise
creatively towards the costs. However, we recognize that some folks
are from economically disadvantaged parts of the world or earn
little from their work. Therefore we will offer limited financial
aid to those who demonstrate need. Because the event is so
expensive, we will only be able to assist those who need help most.
We may award partial or complete plane/visa scholarships. If you
indicate in your response survey that you are interested, we will
reach out in September 2012 with more information. 22. I have to
get a Visa. As always we will provide the necessary letter of
invitation to the retreat for the Canadian immigration officials,
and do our best to
assist you. We plan to have legal assistance and senior
governmental help to assist should there be any issues. Because
there are sometimes delays, please start the process to obtain your
visa at least six months in advance if not sooner to give us a
chance to appeal. Well put out more information about visas
Sept/Oct, 2012. 23. Where do I apply for a Visa?
http://www.migrationexpert.ca/immigration_canada/ 24. Who needs a
Canadian Travel Visa? In general, if you are NOT from one of these
exempt countries, you will need a visa:Andorra, Antigua and
Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana,
Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National
Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania(biometric passport holders), Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco,
Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea,
Poland(biometric passport holders), Portugal, Republic of Korea,
St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore,
Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia,
Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom (including British Overseas
citizens who are re-admissible and citizens of some British
Dependant Territories), United States (including persons lawfully
admitted for permanent residence and Green Card holders) Western
Samoa.
25. How much do travel visas cost? USD$99 at standard speed. 26.
How did you choose the location? We wanted a place on the
West Coast of North America for the first event, a place that
has lots of flights from India, Europe, Latin America and the US.
We were looking for an immersive escape, and considered the beach,
wine groves and mountains. In the end, mountains seemed the best
choice. We also needed a superb venue where everyone and the event
could be under one roof. The Chateau Whistler, located at the base
of one of the two main mountains, is such a venue. 27. Tell me more
about the Fellows Retreat venue. The Chateau Whistler Resort Hotel
is a Fairmont property, a four-star resort with excellent food and
service. It has several advantages: beautiful rooms with
comfortable beds, delicious food, lots of space, a big pool,
multiple hot tubs, a spa, tennis courts, a golf course, walking
distance to every venue and, most importantly, meeting facilities
on the ground level that are all on one floor, a HUGE convenience.
Oh, and for the geeks, because of the Winter Olympics in 2010, the
hotel is on a special fiber-optic access loop, so its super fast,
even in the rooms. Also check out: Oyster.com on the Chateau for
more info and Oyster.com resort photos for 156 hi-res photos of the
CWR. 28. Whats the weather like? In August, the weather in Whistler
is on average quite sunny. The average high is 27C/80F, and like
all mountain resorts, after the
sun goes down, the evenings are cooler: 10C/50F. You will need
at least a fleece at night. There are 15 hours of light per day,
about 6am to 9pm. Rain is always possible, but usually brief. 29.
What else should I bring? Well have lots more information on this
subject when we get closer to the event. But youll want a
waterproof shell (light rain jacket) and two sweaters or a fleece
for evening. Sunglasses are a must, and youll want sneakers,
walking shoes or hiking boots. Some will want sandals or TEVA-type
open shoes. You dont need to buy anything new to come unless you
dont have any warm things. If you live close the the equator, you
may want extra clothes even during the day. 30. Will I get altitude
sickness? Because the valley is only at 2,200 feet/700 meters above
sea level, you are unlikely to feel the same effects as, say, Aspen
or European resorts or the Himalayas, which start at 8,000
feet/2,400 metres. 31. Tell me more about hotel rooms? Like your
fellowship, you will be sharing rooms. Details to come. The rooms
are well-appointed and slightly bigger than the fellowship hotels.
High-speed internet, TV, hairdryers, safes, refrigerators (not
mini-bars) and more are in each room. More pix here: (These are of
a king room but otherwise identical.) 32. I have to have a single
room. If you are willing to pay the difference between a single and
a double AND we have space, which is not guaranteed, you can do
that. 33. What are you NOT doing in order to produce this event?
Because the event is very ambitious, we had to figure out how to
have the time, energy and money to produce it properly. We decided
that for TEDGlobal in June, 2013 only, we will not select a new
Fellows class, bring 2012/2013 Senior Fellows to the retreat, or
hold a Fellows pre-retreat. 34. Im a 2012 or 2013 Senior Fellow.
What happens to me instead of TEDGlobal 2013? You have a choice. We
will add another TEDGlobal Conference on at the end of your term,
or you can choose to come to this event and well pay for your air
ticket and visa, and you will not get another TED. It may be in
your interest to elect another TED, but its your choice. 35. But
wait, wont it be bad if there are no Fellows at TEDGlobal? Yes,
that would be bad, and it wont happen. Well be back to you later
with ways you might participate in that, too. There will be at
least 15 existing Fellows and Senior Fellows at TEDGlobal 2013,
mostly as attendees. They can still apply to speak at TEDU. Given
limited time and money, if you can only do one of these two events
which are only two months apart, please come to the Retreat.
36. Can I deduct this as a work expense?
Depending on where you live, maybe. As far as we understand, it
meets the US IRS definition of a working trip vs. a pure vacation,
as we have 4 hours a day of programming. 37. How will you keep me
informed over the next year? Anything important will be emailed,
but we suspect a lot of the brainstorming and information sharing
will take place in our private Facebook group. If you are not a
member, please visit
http://www.facebook.com/groups/186939828017079/ and request
membership. 38. I have a question that is not listed here. Email us
at [email protected] 39. How do I complete my survey? Click this
link:.https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FellowsRetreatQ1 Airlines and
Destinations from YVR
Destination
Airline
Code
Airline Reservations
Amsterdam Amsterdam Anahim Lake Anchorage Anchorage Atlanta
Auckland Auckland Barcelona Beijing Beijing Bella Coola Calgary
Calgary
Air Transat KLM Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd Air Canada Miami
Air Delta Air Lines Air New Zealand Air Canada Air Transat Air
Canada Air China Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd WestJet Air
Canada
TS KL 8P AC GL DL NZ AC TS AC CA 8P WS AC
(877) 872-6728 (800) 447-4747 (604) 273-8666 (888) 247-2262
(800) 221-1212 (800) 663-5494 (888) 247-2262 (877) 872-6728
(888) 247-2262 (604) 685-0921 (604) 273-8666 (800) 538-5696 (888)
247-2262
Campbell River Campbell River Campbell River Cancun Cancun
Cancun Cancun Cancun Castlegar Chengdu Chicago Chicago Comox Comox
Comox Copenhagen Cranbrook Cranbrook Dallas Fort Worth Dawson Creek
Denver Denver Detroit Dusseldorf Edmonton Edmonton Fort
McMurray
Air Canada Central Mountain Air Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd Air
Canada WestJet Air Transat CanJet Sunwing Airlines Air Canada
Sichuan Airlines United Airlines WestJet Air Canada Central
Mountain Air Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd Scandinavian Airlines SAS
Air Canada Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd American Airlines Central
Mountain Air SkyWest Airlines United Airlines Delta Air Lines Air
Berlin Air Canada WestJet Air Canada
AC 9M 8P AC WS TS C6 WG AC 3U UA WS AC 9M 8P SK AC 8P AA 9M OO
UA DL AB AC WS AC
(888) 247-2262 (888) 865-8585 (604) 273-8666 (888) 247-2262
(800) 538-5696 (877) 872-6728 (800) 809-7777 (877) 978-6946 (888)
247-2262
(800) 241-6522 (800) 538-5696 (888) 247-2262 (888) 865-8585
(604) 273-8666 (800) 221-2350 (888) 247-2262 (604) 273-8666 (800)
433-7300 (888) 865-8585 (800) 701-9448 (800) 241-6522 (800)
221-1212 (866) 705-9127 (888) 247-2262 (800) 538-5696 (888)
247-2262
Fort St John Frankfurt Frankfurt Frankfurt Guangzhou Gulf
Islands Gulf Islands Hong Kong Hong Kong Honolulu Honolulu Houston
Huatulco Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Kahului Maui Kahului Maui Kamloops
Kelowna Kelowna Kelowna Kona Hawaii Kona Hawaii Las Vegas Las Vegas
Las Vegas Liberia CR Lihue Kauai
Air Canada Condor Flugdienst Lufthansa Air Transat China
Southern Airlines Saltspring Air Seair Seaplanes Cathay Pacific
Airways Air Canada WestJet Air Canada United Airlines Sunwing
Airlines Air Canada Air Canada WestJet Air Canada Central Mountain
Air WestJet Air Canada Air Canada WestJet WestJet Air Canada
Philippine Airlines Air Transat WestJet
AC DE LH TS CZ 101 21 CX AC WS AC UA WG AC AC WS AC 9M WS AC AC
WS WS AC PR TS WS
(888) 247-2262 (800) 524-6975 (800) 563-5954 (877) 872-6728
(877) 537-9880 (604) 273-8900 (604) 606-8888 (888) 247-2262
(800) 538-5696 (888) 247-2262 (800) 241-6522 (877) 978-6946 (888)
247-2262 (888) 247-2262 (800) 538-5696 (888) 247-2262 (888)
865-8585 (800) 538-5696 (888) 247-2262 (888) 247-2262 (800)
538-5696 (800) 538-5696 (888) 247-2262 (800) 435-9725 (877)
872-6728 (800) 538-5696
London Gatwick London Heathrow London Heathrow London Heathrow
London Heathrow Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los
Angeles Madrid Manila Manzanillo Masset Mazatlan Mazatlan Mexico
City Miami Minneapolis St Paul Montego Bay Montego Bay Montego Bay
Montego Bay Montreal-Trudeau Montreal-Trudeau Munich Nanaimo
Air Transat Air Canada British Airways British Midland Virgin
Atlantic Airways Alaska Airlines Air Canada United Airlines WestJet
SkyWest Airlines Air Transat Philippine Airlines CanJet Pacific
Coastal Airlines Ltd Sunwing Airlines WestJet Air Canada Miami Air
Delta Air Lines Air Canada Thomas Cook Canada WestJet Air Transat
Air Canada WestJet Air Transat Air Canada
TS AC BA BD VS AS AC UA WS OO TS PR C6 8P WG WS AC GL DL AC QK
WS TS AC WS TS AC
(877) 872-6728 (888) 247-2262 (800) 247-9297
(800) 862-8621 (800) 252-7522 (888) 247-2262 (800) 241-6522
(800) 538-5696 (800) 701-9448 (877) 872-6728 (800) 435-9725 (800)
809-7777 (604) 273-8666 (877) 978-6946 (800) 538-5696 (888)
247-2262
(800) 221-1212 (888) 247-2262 (888) 926-6582 (800) 538-5696
(877) 872-6728 (888) 247-2262 (800) 538-5696 (877) 872-6728 (888)
247-2262
Nanaimo Nanaimo Harbour Nanaimo Harbour Nanaimo Harbour New York
Kennedy Newark New Jersey Newark New Jersey Nome Orange County -
Anaheim Ottawa Ottawa Palm Springs Panama City Paris Penticton
Phoenix Phoenix Port Hardy Portland Portland Powell River Prince
George Prince George Prince Rupert Prince Rupert Puerto Plata
Puerto Vallarta
Orca Airways Harbour Air Ltd. Seair Seaplanes West Coast Air
Cathay Pacific Airways Air Canada United Airlines Miami Air WestJet
Air Canada WestJet WestJet Air Transat Air Transat Air Canada US
Airways WestJet Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd Air Canada Alaska
Airlines Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd WestJet Air Canada Air Canada
Hawkair Air Transat Air Transat
ORK H3 21 8O CX AC UA GL WS AC WS WS TS TS AC US WS 8P AC AS 8P
WS AC AC BH TS TS
(888) 359-6722 (800) 665-0212 (604) 273-8900 (800) 347-2222
(604) 606-8888 (888) 247-2262 (800) 241-6522
(800) 538-5696 (888) 247-2262 (800) 538-5696 (800) 538-5696
(877) 872-6728 (877) 872-6728 (888) 247-2262 (800) 428-4322 (800)
538-5696 (604) 273-8666 (888) 247-2262 (800) 252-7522 (604)
273-8666 (800) 538-5696 (888) 247-2262 (888) 247-2262 (800)
487-1216 (877) 872-6728 (877) 872-6728
Puerto Vallartap Puerto Vallarta Puerto Vallarta Puerto Vallarta
Punta Cana Punta Cana Qualicum Beach Quesnel Quesnel Regina Regina
Rome Salt Lake City Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco San
Francisco San Francisco San Francisco San Jose Del Cabo San Jose
Del Cabo San Jose Del Cabo San Jose Del Cabo Sandspit Santa Clara
Saskatoon Saskatoon
CanJet Sunwing Airlines Air Canada WestJet Air Transat Thomas
Cook Canada KD Air Corporation Air Canada Central Mountain Air Air
Canada WestJet Air Transat Delta Air Lines SkyWest Airlines Air
Canada Air Canada United Airlines WestJet SkyWest Airlines Air
Canada Air Transat Sunwing Airlines WestJet Air Canada Air Transat
Air Canada WestJet
C6 WG AC WS TS QK XC AC 9M AC WS TS DL OO AC AC UA WS OO AC TS
WG WS AC TS AC WS
(800) 809-7777 (877) 978-6946 (888) 247-2262 (800) 538-5696
(877) 872-6728 (888) 926-6582 (800) 665-4244 (888) 247-2262 (888)
865-8585 (888) 247-2262 (800) 538-5696 (877) 872-6728 (800)
221-1212 (800) 701-9448 (888) 247-2262 (888) 247-2262 (800)
241-6522 (800) 538-5696 (800) 701-9448 (888) 247-2262 (877)
872-6728 (877) 978-6946 (800) 538-5696 (888) 247-2262 (877)
872-6728 (888) 247-2262 (800) 538-5696
Seattle Seattle Sechelt Sechelt Sechelt Seoul - Incheon Seoul -
Incheon Seoul - Incheon Shanghai Pu Dong Shanghai Pu Dong Shenyang
Silva Bay Smithers Smithers Sydney Sydney Taipei Taipei Terrace
Terrace Tofino Tofino Tokyo Narita Tokyo Narita Tokyo Narita
Toronto Toronto
Air Canada Alaska Airlines Tofino Air Harbour Air Ltd. West
Coast Air Air Canada Asiana Airlines Korean Air Air Canada China
Eastern Airlines Sichuan Airlines Tofino Air Air Canada Hawkair Air
Canada Air New Zealand China Airlines EVA Air Air Canada Hawkair
Orca Airways Tofino Air Air Canada All Nippon Airways Japan
Airlines Air Canada WestJet
AC AS 25 H3 8O AC OZ KE AC MU 3U 25 AC BH AC NZ CI BR AC BH ORK
25 AC NH JL AC WS
(888) 247-2262 (800) 252-7522 (800) 665-2359 (800) 665-0212
(800) 347-2222 (888) 247-2262 (800) 227-4262 (800) 438-5000 (888)
247-2262
(800) 665-2359 (888) 247-2262 (800) 487-1216 (888) 247-2262
(800) 663-5494 (604) 682-6777 (800) 695-1188 (888) 247-2262 (800)
487-1216 (888) 359-6722 (800) 665-2359 (888) 247-2262 (888)
422-7533 (800) 525-3663 (888) 247-2262 (800) 538-5696
Trail Varadero Varadero Varadero Victoria Victoria Victoria
Victoria Harbour Heliport Victoria Inner Harbour Victoria Inner
Harbour Whitehorse Whitehorse Williams Lake Williams Lake Williams
Lake Winnipeg Winnipeg Yellowknife Zurich Zurich
Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd Air Canada Air Transat Sunwing
Airlines Air Canada Orca Airways Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd
Helijet International Inc. Harbour Air Ltd. West Coast Air Air
Canada Air North Air Canada Central Mountain Air Pacific Coastal
Airlines Ltd Air Canada WestJet Air Canada Edelweiss Air Swiss
International Airlines
8P AC TS WG AC ORK 8P JB H3 8O AC 4N AC 9M 8P AC WS AC WK LX
(604) 273-8666 (888) 247-2262 (877) 872-6728 (877) 978-6946
(888) 247-2262 (888) 359-6722 (604) 273-8666 (800) 665-4354 (800)
665-0212 (800) 347-2222 (888) 247-2262 (800) 661-0407 (888)
247-2262 (888) 865-8585 (604) 273-8666 (888) 247-2262 (800)
538-5696 (888) 247-2262
(877) 359-7947
