HEAD PALANCA CHA - Tampa Bay Tres Diastampabaytresdias.org/docs/TBTD-Head-Palanca-Cha-Book.pdf · Write a general palanca letter.! Write each candidate a palanca letter.! Arrive at

WEEKEND PREPARATION MANUAL

HEADPALANCA

CHA

Table Of Content

Key Areas For Section Heads ................. Section I

Team Member Commitment................... Section II

The Role of a Team Member .................. Section III

Palanca Time ............................................ Section IV

Palanca Cha.............................................. Section V

Palanca Cha Forms ................................. Section VI

Notes.......................................................... Section VII

Key Areas For SectionHeads

SECTIONI

Key Areas For SectionHeads

Key Areas for Section Heads

Minister to section: Prayer request Share what Christ is doing in your life Team meeting Attendance & Reminders Pray with sections: Start and end all meetings with prayer Take and pray over section prayer requests Provide prayer request to Prayer Chas during weekend Model Christ-like behavior Encourage / Schedule Chapel Attendance Be accountable to ensure that your section duties are completed Help the kitchen (Sat. Palanca—all. Serving meals—dorm, Prayer)

Assistant Head Cha

Minister to Section Heads Ensure that all Section Heads are aware of theirresponsibilities and understand the importance of theirsections to the success of the weekend. Point of contact for all Section Heads during weekend Be proactive to ensure team & rollistas are ready forcandidates Primary Point of Contact for situations as they arise on theweekend. Keep weekend on time with schedule

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Head Chapel

Maintain Spirit of Reverence Set up and arrange Chapel for services Assist with Communication Cha for mikes and music inchapel Check with Spiritual Directors for any special needs

Head Dorm

Maintain spirit of hospitality First to start the bond with the candidates Coordinate sleeping arrangements, color-coding for rooms,candidates, luggage Clean and organize dorms & restrooms throughoutcampground including rollo & kitchen Listen to candidates. You are their main contact duringdown time at night. Meet needs. Go above and beyond.

Head Gopher

Maintain spirit of prayer and service for Rollistas Coordinate prayer palanca for rollistas Attend to Rollistas and their needs/ request Ensure that speakers are ready when appropriate Help Assistant Head stay on time. Once rollista is in auxiliary chapel, stay very close. BETHE HOST.

Key Areas For Section Heads

6

Head Kitchen

Maintain spirit of hospitality Provide good, hot food. Coordinate distribution of labor for prayer, preparation,serving, clean up, and breaks. Encourage assistant heads and chas for fun environment Try to arrange breaks and rest time whenever possible Encourage first time team members to listen to talks whenon breaks

Head Music

Maintain spirit of Praise and Worship Select with Rector appropriate songs for each day Teach praise choruses and De Colores Provide music for Chapel and Rollo Room

Head Palanca

Maintain spirit of Giving Collect, coordinate and distribute Palanca Collect, coordinate and verify Palanca letters for candidates Be ready to “lift the mood” as requested by Rector Have fun.


7

Head Prayer

Maintain spirit of Prayer Your team is the continual link to GOD for the weekend Prayer tent? Coordinate schedule of Prayer Warriors Receive and handle prayer request

Head Rover

Maintain spirit of attentiveness Be eyes, arms and legs for Assistant Head Cha Be proactive for things needed. If we do not have them, getthem. Store runs for additional supplies. Assist in other areas as needed. Update Asst. Head on 3 areas of campground.

Head Supply

Maintain spirit of service


Team MemberCommitment

SECTIONII

Team MemberCommitment

Team Member Commitment

As a team member, you are making the following commitment:

! Attend each meeting on the schedule, including the victorysecuela. Contact the Head or Assistant Head Cha if an emergencyprevents attendance at a team meeting.

! Function as a reunion group within your section throughout theteam meetings. On the weekend, pray together daily as a section.Seek prayer requests from one another and encourage each other inthe areas of Piety, Study and Action.

! Pray daily for the weekend, your area and the candidates.

! Study the weekend schedule and your section responsibilities inadvance of the weekend so you will be prepared to serve well inyour role.

! Fulfill the responsibilities of your assigned section under thedirection of the section leader. Should an issue emerge that yoursection head is unable to resolve see the assistant head cha

! Pay the team and weekend fees by the final team meeting.

! Write a general palanca letter.

! Write each candidate a palanca letter.

! Arrive at the campground before 3 P.M. on Thursday afternoon. (Ifpossible, arrive on Wednesday to help set up, clean up andprepare.)

The following pages review the role of a team member in moredetail.

The Role of a TeamMember

SECTIONIII


THE ROLE OF A TEAM MEMBER

Assistant Head Cha

Chapel Cha

Dorm Cha

Head Cha

Gopher ChaKitchen Cha

Music Cha

Palanca Cha

Prayer Cha/Night Watch Cha

Rollo Room/ Communications ChaRover Cha

Spiritual DirectorSupply ChaTable Cha

Table Leader/Professor

After prayerful consideration, you have been invited by theRector to serve on a Tres Dias team. You have examined yourresponsibilities to God, family, church, work and reunion group. Yourcommitment will probably cover a period of about three months fromthe first team meeting until the post-weekend team reunion.Congratulations!

The Rector has asked you to fulfill one of the following specificassignments on this team:

“If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts sufferwith it; If one part is praised, all the other parts share itshappiness.” (1 Cor 12:26)

When each task is done under the leadership of the Rectorand to the glory of God, then the weekend will be an effectiveinstrument for His grace. Although a team member receives theblessings of the Lord’s grace during this time of service, the weekendand its activities are to be channeled for the candidates.

While each team member has a unique role to fulfill, there aresome tasks, which are shared. These can be divided into threecategories: Pre-Weekend Activities, Participating in the Weekend, andPost Weekend Activities.

Each is an important part of Christ’s body, with a specific task to do:

12 The Role of a Team Member

Pre-Weekend Activities

Each team member is responsible for helping to build acohesive team before the weekend begins. This process takesplace during the formative pre-weekend team meetings and finalpreparation for the weekend. It is enriched when you:

1. Pray without ceasing for the team, candidates, their familiesand the TBTD community.

2. Attend all team meetings.3. Know and prepare for your own team duties.4. Contribute to the sharing times.5. Make an effort to know all team members participate with

love in all team meetings and the weekend.6. Become familiar with the outline for each Rollo.7. Enter into the Rollo critique process with love and caring

for your teammates and the candidates.8. Believe that the Rector is the human leader for the weekend,

but that the Rector is working for God and has been givenspecial graces from Him.

9. Respect and follow the authority that God has given to theRector for this weekend.

But, most importantly, apply to this team the same mind you hadon your original Tres Dias weekend. At that time, your Rector askedyou to:

1. Believe that great things are possible.

2. Have a spirit of openness to God and what He is asking ofyou.

3. Have a loving concern for one another and total trust inGod.


. . . Continued

13

If possible please be arrive early at the campground to help setup forthe weekend

The Role of a Team Member

Wednesday Afternoon and Evening

Many team members are needed in the cleaning andpreparation of the campground, so plan to arrive on thecampground as early as Wednesday morning. (If you wish tospend Wednesday night at the campground, contact the headcha on most weekends there is limited availability for spendingthe night.)

Thursday Afternoon and EveningClean up will continue during the day, and all team

members should arrive as early as possible to help. Pleasearrive at the campground NO LATER THAN 3 PM. The teamchapel and communion will be sometime around 4 PM. Wewill then prepare to receive the candidates for Send-over at6:00 PM and assist them with registration and their luggage.

The Head Cha is in charge of logistics until Send-over.Then the Assistant Head Cha takes over for the remainder ofthe weekend.

Participating in the Weekend

The second area of common responsibility takes placeduring the Tres Dias weekend. You are important in the processof making the weekend effective!

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Helpful Hints for Success at the Campground

After the last candidate arrives, the team will then go to thekitchen to receive them into their weekend. At the reception, the KitchenChas will take care of serving while the other team members minglewith the candidates. Now is the time to start making new friends! AllChas will be introduced, except for Kitchen who will be introduced onFriday.

After making their beds, the candidates go to the Rollo Roomand introduce themselves. THURSDAY EVENING CALLS FORSILENCE -THIS PERTAINS TO TEAM MEMBERS AS WELL (AtRectors Discretion.)

After the candidates retire to their dorm for the evening, therewill be a brief mandatory team meeting for all team members. You willreceive a final copy of the candidate list during this meeting. Althoughit is best that palanca be completed BEFORE the weekend, the RolloRoom area will be available to write last minute notes for last minutecandidates. Please use this area for last minute palanca, and notyour dorm room so that other team members can sleep. Please cleanup after you are finished in the area so that it is ready for the candidatesin the morning.

1. Maintain an attitude of prayer and worship.2. Bring a spirit of cooperation and flexibility.3. Be prompt to all scheduled events.4. Wear your name tag at all times.5. Observe the silent retreat time during the first evening.6. When appropriate during meals and breaks fellowship with

candidates.7. Keep telephone use to emergencies only.8. Inform your Head of your whereabouts.9. Keep your service area covered at all times.10.Honor confidentiality of Rollos. (Members of the Tres Dias

Community should not listen to or hear about details of theRollos)

11. Share in the financial support of the weekend if possible.12.Follow the rules of the campground. (I.e.: Smoking is prohibited)13.No cameras or tape recorders of any kind are allowed. (With

the exception of scheduled candidate photographs)14.Refrain from all gossip and criticism.15.Trust the Rector as God’s chosen leader for the weekend.16.Remember, you will be blessed the most when you are serving

with love!



Friday Begin the morning by lining the walks from the candidate dormsto the chapel. Until Candidates are out of chapel in the morningREMEMBER TO MAINTAIN SILENCE!

The weekend picture will be taken just before breakfast. Thecandidates are to stand in front and team members stand in back.

Team Chapel following the candidates’ chapel service eachmorning, a chapel service will be held for all Chas who could notattend the candidate chapel. All team members are required to attenda chapel worship service each morning. Everyone needs to be feedspiritually in order to serve physically.

Candidates should be loved and treated hospitably at all times.We will go out of our way to meet their every need. Pay close attentionto the schedule. Tres Dias crosses may be worn following the HolySpirit/Divine Aid Rollo. (Note: after this Rollo palanca may be givenand the entire meditation is read. Also, the theme song may be sungfollowing this Rollo.)

SaturdayProfessors, please be first in the chapel each morning.

Table Chapel Visits may be done sometime on Saturday. TableChas lead and pray first with a short 2-3 sentence prayer, i.e. “Wethe table of...”

Sunday

An optional candidate serenade may be done in the candidatedorm first thing in the morning. Everyone is strongly encouraged to bea part of this blessing to the candidates. Due to the early hour, pajamasand robes are fine to wear.

All team members should pack their belongings in the morningwhen the candidates do. It is vitally important that the team BEINCONSPICUOUS while packing up and loading cars, but do not “packup” mentally! Keep the pace up. We will all have a tendency to slowdown, so let us encourage each other to keep moving. Each Cha is toclean up his/her service areas as much as possible before the closing.

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At ClosingKitchen sits on back rowsChas sit on middle rowsProfessors and Table Chas sit on front two rows.

During Each DayAll team members should attend at least one chapel each day.

Professors, Table Chas, Supply Chas, and other Rollo Room teamshould attend chapel with the candidates.

In addition to chapel, each section should pray together regularlyon the weekend as a reunion group.

Everyone is invited to the Rollo Room when your tasks arecompleted. However, no one is to enter or exit the Rollo Room while aRollo is being given. Please check with your Head before leavingyour service area.

Please clean up after yourself as you go along including:keeping your bunk area clean, cleaning up in the bathroom areas andmaintaining a general attitude of thoughtfulness and kindness thatwould not require our brothers/sisters in Christ to clean up after us.

Team Meetings -There will be a brief team meeting in the RolloRoom 15 minutes after candidates return to the dorm each night.Heads, Professors and all Rollo Room Chas must be present;everyone else is welcome, but attendance is optional (Dorm Chascan’t attend so that they can stay with the candidates). Please bediscreet so that no candidate sees you. Lights go out in dorm roomafter team meetings -A WELL RESTED TEAM IS A HAPPY TEAM!


Post-WeekendThe final area of mutual team responsibility is during the post

weekend activities of the weekend including “Take Down”, VictorySecuela and critique of the weekend.


Take DownFollowing the weekend involves packing inventory boxes,

loading them into a truck, tearing down curtains, walls, tables, etc. Italso involves final clean up of some areas on the campground. Thistremendous task requires the help of many people. If your schedulepermits, please try to assist us with task. This usually takes place forseveral hours the Monday following each weekend. Contact the Headcha or weekend couple if you are available to help.

Victory Secuela

Critique of the Weekend

The first activity, which draws new Pescadores into the fourthday community activities, will be scheduled following the weekend.Try to join us in this or other fourth day activities.

Takes place soon after the weekend in conjunction with theTampa Bay Tres Dias Secretariat. The purpose of the critique is toreview weekend experiences so that we may encourage those actionsthat were supportive of the Essentials of Tres Dias, and learn fromthose which were not. If you have feedback about the weekend thatmight be helpful during this critique time, please contact the head orassistant head cha the Rector will use this data as the basis for awritten report to the Secretariat.

It is most helpful when team members review the weekend inrealistic, objective terms. It is a temptation to believe that the Lord ispresent most powerfully only when we feel an emotional involvementin an event. However, in truth, these moments are apt to be thetimes when we are more aware of ourselves than we are of God.


Critique ofthe Weekend

. . . Continued

The team should use the Tres Dias Essentials as a guide formeasuring the value of the pre-weekend and weekend activities.

In conclusion, a Tres Dias team member is one who

!Knows Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.

!Can witness to the life-changing companionship ofJesus.

!Lives a life in grace through regular spiritual direction ofa Reunion Group.

! Is in pilgrimage toward Christian maturity and perfection.

!Can fulfill the assigned role on the team.

The weekend is a team effort. Each team member has a role tofulfill. It is the team working and praying together with Jesus thatproduces the Tres Dias weekend.

PalancaTime

SECTIONIV

PalancaTime

What is Palanca?This Spanish word actually means “lever”. It is introduced in

the Holy Spirit/Divine Aid Rollo on Friday afternoon to illustrate howthe Holy Spirit moves in our lives to show us God’s love, often throughusing “levers” to open the doors of our hearts. In Tres Dias, theselevers come in the form of prayers and “gifts of love”. It greatlyenhances the weekend and richly blesses those involved in thepreparation of these gifts.

The following are different forms of palanca and the examplesgiven are meant only as suggestions; feel free to come up with ideasof your own.

Please remember that there must be enough palanca for everyperson in the area that you are giving palanca or it cannot be givenout.

Prayer PalancaAs a Tres Dias team member, one of our greatest

commitments and blessings is prayer palanca. Prayer palancaopportunities are as follows:

!Prayer for your individual candidate. Use a prayer reminderand put it in a place where you will see it daily to remind you topray diligently for your candidate number. You can use thewooden prayer token that you are given at the first teammeeting.

!Prayer palanca during team meetings and on the weekend.You may be asked to meet with another team member in anauxiliary chapel to intercede during a Rollo. A Gopher Cha willescort you to the auxiliary chapel. Please check the schedulein the team book and in your section on the weekend so thatyou will be ready when the Gopher Cha arrives.

!Prayer watch for the weekend. Every hour of the weekendsomeone in the community is praying for the candidates andthe team. A sign up sheet will be passed around at teammeetings and secuelas to reserve one of the hour-long timeslots. Names will be listed on the “Prayer Banner” which willthen be shown to the candidates on the weekend.

21 Palanca Time

Oven PalancaIf you like to bake, this palanca could be for you. Brownies,

cookies, mini cupcakes or muffins make excellent palanca. Nothingsays lovin’ like something from the oven!

Table PalancaTable palanca is used in the Rollo Room, and comes in many

different forms such as crafts, candy, books, bookmarks, baked goods,written palanca (poems, short stories, or notes printed on pretty paper),cassette tapes, etc. “Shared” table palanca would be a container ofpalanca placed in the center of each table and shared among thecandidates and Professors at the table. One extra container can bedone for the Rector and Spiritual Directors, if desired.

Bed PalancaThis is similar to table palanca, but it is placed on candidate’s

and/or team beds.

Kitchen Palanca

Candidate letters written by the team

These items are usually small crafts, place mats, or little candieswith notes attached which are placed at each table setting in the dininghall. Please note that kitchen palanca must have enough for the entireteam and candidates.

Begin your individual palanca letters soon after the first teammeeting. You will bring them to the weekend. Thursday night you willreceive a final list of candidate names for addressing your letters andenvelopes. Please alphabetize your letters, secure them with a rubberband and deliver them to the Palanca Chas before noon on Friday.The Holy Spirit uses your letters to speak powerfully to the candidate’shearts!

22 Palanca Time

Gift PalancaAll candidates receive the same items. You can have

different colors, shapes, styles, etc. of your palanca, but theymust be the same for everyone. For example, you’re giving asmall key chain to each candidate. The key chains can bedifferent colors or shapes, but they do all need to be key chainsand of the same quality.

Sacrificial PalancaThis type of palanca involves fasting entertainment, food,

sleep, etc. and spending that time in prayer for the candidateson the weekend.

What isPalanca?. . . Continued

23

This letter is read during the Spiritual Director’s HolySpirit/Divine Aid Rollo on Friday afternoon after palanca isintroduced. This is called a general palanca letter because it isone single letter that you write to all of the candidates as awhole. The Spiritual Director chooses a few of these letters toread aloud during his Rollo. Then, throughout the weekend, allof the letters are posted on walls throughout the campgroundfor the candidates to read.

This letter will be an expression of your heart and prayersfor the weekend. Allow the Lord to compose the letter throughyou, making it appealing to the eyes and hearts of thecandidates.

General Palanca Letter

SAMPLE PALANCA LETTER(offered as a suggestion only to help you with your letter)

My Precious Brothers/Sisters,What a joy and a blessing it is to be serving you on

your Tres Dias Weekend. There have been lots of prayersgoing up to the Father just for you on this special weekendthat you are experiencing here.

My prayer for you during this weekend is that youwill see the body of Christ function together as one, just asthe Lord ordained I pray that in your heart of hearts thatyou will hear and receive from your heavenly Father allthat He has for you during these days that we spendtogether in His presence. I pray that you will see andexperience the love of Christ in your life as never before.You are very special to our Father and to each of us whoare serving you on this weekend. May you experience thedepths of Christ and the freedom that is ours in Christbecause of His unconditional love and grace that He hasblessed us with!

Receive Him this weekend as you focus all yourattention on Him and all that He has made available to youthrough His death and resurrection. You are beautiful toHim and to us, too. Grace and peace to you from God; ourFather, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.Your Brother/Sister in C’hrist,Your NameYour Team Position

Palanca Time


24 Palanca Time


How much palanca do I Make?

** Always add a few extras in case of breakage,and please understand that if we come up evenone short the palanca cannot be used.

“When do I make it?”Begin to prepare palanca now so that you are not

crunched for time at the end. As the weekend draws closer,other preparations will need your attention. Palanca parties withyour reunion groups or Tres Dias friends are an excellent wayto have fun and share the blessings of making palanca!

“Once it is done, how do I deliver it?”Palanca needs to be dropped off at the campground

during Send-over. There will be a designated place madeavailable.

Clearly label where and when you would like yourpalanca to be given on the weekend, for example “Friday night,bed” or “Rollo Room, after Reunion Group Rollo”. Clearly writea short note for the Palanca Cha’s or Rector to read to thecandidates along with your palanca. This note is important tolet the candidates know that there are people and love Behindeach piece of palanca and it is not just something included intheir weekend fee. Whatever your gift of love happens to be,God will bless your heart as well as those on the weekend whoreceive it!

Type of Palanca 6 Tables 7 Tables

Bed Palanca (For team and candidates) 128 134

Kitchen Palanca (For team and candidates 128 134

Table Palanca (Individual pieces to be used in RolloRoom – Candidates and Professors) 54 60

Bed Palanca (For candidates only! 4 extra for dorm chas) 38 or 40 44 or 48

Oven Palanca (Shared containers one per table in rollo room/one extra if you wish for Rector’s table) 6 or 7 7 or 8

25 Palanca Time


Special Palanca for RollistasEncourage each Rollista, both at team meetings and

on the weekend, with notes before his/her talk. Label theenvelopes with his/her name (example “before Jane’sRollo”) Sending cards and letters through the mail is anexcellent way to affirm fellow team members. This is also alovely way to begin new friendships and build team unity.

“What about ‘Sponsor Palanca’?”If you sponsor a candidate, be sure their letters are

labeled with the candidate’s first and last names. Indicatein the top left hand comer who it is from: “sponsor”, “wife”,“husband”, “friend”, “family-son (-father, -sister, -etc)”, or“church”. This is to be a letter of blessing, love andaffirmation. Be sure to tell this to each person that you askto write a letter to your candidate.

If you’d like to give your candidate your own personalpalanca, please give it to them after closing, instead of onthe weekend. This way the other candidates are protectedfrom feeling left out.

SECTIONV

Palanca ChaGuidelines

27 Palanca Cha GuidelinesPALANCA CHA The most important role of a team member is to be growing in

your relationship with Christ through Piety, Study and Action. Sharewith other members of your section how the Lord is working in yourlife in these areas. Make prayer together a priority. Pray for thecandidates, the team and your section.

As a Palanca Cha you will be responsible for organizing, sorting,labeling and delivering Palanca for the Tres Dias weekend.

BEFORE THE WEEKEND

1. Team Meetings –

- Assist in providing small, inexpensive Palanca for the entireteam.

- Read Palanca notes. (review before reading aloud)

- Assist in providing a basket/bag for Rollista Palanca collection.

2. Assist in gathering supplies and preparing materials (see HeadPalanca for direction)

3. Assist in planning for skits if appropriate

4. At the campground – plan to arrive early to assist in preparing thePalanca area. Check in with your head to see what you havebeen assigned to do.

DURING THE WEEKEND

1. Introduction of Palanca: Palanca is introduced during the Holy Spirit/Divine Aid Rollo on Friday afternoon. At the end of the Holy Spirit/Divine Aid Rollo, candidates are taken to the chapel. At this time,you will assist in putting up all the general Palanca letters.

2. Table / Rollo Room Palanca – Check the schedule to determinehow many times you will put out table Palanca each day. TablePalanca is usually given out each time the candidates leave theRollo Room. Divide the table Palanca for each day into the numberof times it will be given out. Try to give a variety of types of Palancaeach time (sweet, craft, salty, etc.) Some Palanca will be labeledas to the time it is to be given out. Give out most of the foodPalanca by the afternoon on Saturday. IMPORTANT – To distributeany Palanca in the Rollo Room, there must be enough for SilentTable Leaders and Professors as well as candidates. Count beforeyou begin! If there are a couple of extras, give to the Rector, HeadCha, Spiritual Directors, etc.

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3. Bed Palanca: You will distribute bed Palanca for both theteam and the candidates. Bed Palanca can be delivered inthe afternoons after the point at which candidates will notbe returning to the dorms. You may partner with the dormchas to distribute bed Palanca.

4. Kitchen, Banner or Special (Mug, T-shirt, Bag) WeekendPalanca- See Head Palanca for direction on assisting withthese forms of Palanca.

5. Palanca Notes: Assist in labeling each note with adescription or example of the palanca. Retain these notesduring the weekend and give to the Rector.

6. Assist in picking up Palanca from the team dorms eachday.

7. Assist in sorting Letter Mailbags.

8. Assist in packing Weekend Envelopes.

9. Assist in lining the walks.

PALANCA GUIDELINES

1. Please do not put out Palanca unless there is enoughfor every candidate. Be sure to set out bed Palancasystematically so that nobody is missed. There is to be noPalanca of any kind given to any individual candidate exceptwhat will go in her Palanca bag. This is so that all candidatesare treated with an equal amount of love. If anyone bringsan individual gift for a candidate, please suggest that thegift be given to the candidate on the way home or after theweekend.

2. Wear comfortable shoes with a lot of arch support! This isa busy job.

3. Make sure your head knows where you are at all times.

4. Bring a servant’s heart to the weekend. Deal with oneanother with an attitude of idealism, cooperation and love.

Palanca Cha Guidelines

During The Weekend. . . Continued

29 Head Palanca Cha Guidelines

HEAD PALANCA CHAFirst and foremost your role as Head is to model “group reunion” with

your section. You should begin and end each break out session and each day ofthe weekend with group prayer. Share with the section members how the Lord isleading you in the areas of Piety, Study and Action. Encourage other members toshare as well. Reunion groups are the lifeblood of the 4th day experience. Pleaseencourage “grouping” activities.

Head Palanca Cha is in charge of both pre-weekend and weekend Palancafor the Tres Dias weekend. This includes organizing, giving directions, delegatingresponsibility, studying the schedule, checking on progress, and answeringquestions regarding Palanca. If the rector chooses, you may also be responsiblefor planning, creating and organizing multiple skits for the weekend.

BEFORE THE WEEKEND

1. Team Meetings – Pray together as a section during each section meeting. Ateach team meeting give out small, inexpensive Palanca to the entire teamwith a note of encouragement to go with it. (Each member of the Palancateam should take turns providing this Palanca.)

- You will be expected to read Palanca notes that will come in from teammembers. It’s a good idea to read these notes ahead of time to makesure you can read the handwriting.

- Notes will be given to the Rollistas before they give their practice Rollos.Please coordinate with the Assistant Head Cha to bring a basket, bag, orother container in which team members can place their notes to theRollistas.

- Lead Section Meetings:

- Review details about the responsibilities of the section. (many detailsappear in the Heads description that team members do not see- it is helpfulto review these in advance)

- Make sure each team member has access to their position description

- Plan for how these responsibilities will be carried out

- If a team member in your section misses a meeting- contact them to reviewdetails about both the team meeting and section meeting.

2. Collect General Palanca Letters for the Weekend

3. Gathering Supplies and Preparing Materials

- Palanca Bags for team and candidates(Check with the Weekend Couple to make sure there are plenty of Palancabags in the weekend inventory. Do this early in case the bags need to beordered.)

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- Decorations for the Palanca bags- decorate large bags for candidates,small bags for team. Wait until the weekend to put names on thebags.

- Labels for mailboxes (also check with the weekend couple for themailboxes) Option: you may want to sort team letters right into theirbags rather than using mailboxes.

- Signs for organizing Palanca

- A sign for each Rollista, Spiritual Director, Rector and Rector’shusband’s name and the time their “before Rollo” Palanca should begiven out (you will find Rollo times on both the short and long weekendschedule.)

- Signs to be placed on beds or tables to sort Palanca that read:Friday Bed Palanca – candidates and/or teamSaturday Bed Palanca – candidates and/or teamFriday Table Palanca – list times to be given outSaturday Table Palanca – list times to be given out

Sunday Table Palanca – list times to be given out

- Boxes or Bags for Palanca Collection.(It may be helpful to label these: Team Letters, Candidate Letters,Table Palanca, Kitchen Palanca, Bed Palanca, etc.)

- Optional: Costumes / Props for Weekend Skits. (Before purchasingor making new costumes, ask the weekend couple to let you seewhat is already in the collection of items stored for the palanca section).

- Optional - a children’s wagon or cart is very helpful in deliveringpalanca. One would be good — two would be fabulous. See if theycan be borrowed from someone on the team for the weekend.

4. Planning for Skits: It is the Rector’s responsibility to choose whether ornot skits will be used during the weekend. If skits will be used, consultwith the Rector in advance to determine the number and type of skitsrequested for the weekend. It is your responsibility to plan, create/scriptand direct the skits.

5. At the Campground (Please make sure to arrive early)

- Check in with the Head Cha upon arrival to see if/what you havebeen assigned to do.

- Clean and prepare the Palanca area

- Tape pages of the weekend schedule on the wall for easy reference.

- Arrange the Palanca room to facilitate the sorting of Palanca. Youwill need to have places set up to sort the following kinds of Palanca:

Head Palanca Cha Guidelines

Before The Weekend. . . Continued

31

- Letters for candidates and team. The Set-up Crew will set up themailboxes.

- Bed Palanca for candidates and team on Friday and Saturday nights.

- Spiritual Directors’ bed Palanca

- Table Palanca (Fri., Sat., Sun.) – you’ll probably need three separatetables/ beds to hold table Palanca.

- Paper grocery bags or boxes to hold each Rollistas, Rector’s, Rector’sspouse’s, and each Spiritual Director’s “before Rollo” Palanca. (letterscan be sorted in the mailboxes with the candidate letters; palanca forthe tray is usually provided by the gopher Chas)

- Place Palanca collection boxes in each of the team dorm rooms.

- Once you get the final candidate list, put their names on mailboxlabels and attach to the mailboxes. Write H, F, and S (Husband,Family, and Sponsor) in one corner of each candidate’s label. Goahead and mark off H for all singles so you won’t be looking for aletter that doesn’t exist. The candidate list should indicate their maritalstatus.

- Check with the Head Cha to see if/what you have been assigned todo.

6. At Send-over, at least two Palanca Chas should be stationed in the areato collect and sort Palanca.

DURING THE WEEKEND1. Introduction of Palanca: Palanca is introduced during the Holy Spirit/Divine

Aid Rollo on Friday afternoon. The Spiritual Director will usually begin byintroducing letter Palanca. The Head Palanca Cha should select a varietyof the general Palanca letters and give them to him on Thursday night sothat he can select some to read during his Rollo. (They will usually wantto have some from foreign countries and from other communities such asKiros, Cursillo, etc) The Asst. Head Cha will bring the general team palancaletters to the weekend and the Palanca Couple from the Secretariat willbring palanca letters received from other communities. The PalancaCouple will also bring the 24-hour prayer list that has been enlarged forhanging in the chapel. Make sure this is given to the Head Chapel Chaearly on Friday so that it is ready for when the Spiritual Director asks for it.

2. The Spiritual Director will also introduce other types of Palanca. Beprepared with a banner and table Palanca (check with the Rector/HeadCha before the weekend on which to use). Be ready to carry them into theRollo Room when the Spiritual Director asks for them. At the end of theHoly Spirit/Divine Aid Rollo, candidates are taken to the chapel. At thistime, you will put up all the general Palanca letters – some on the RolloRoom wall, some on the walls of the bathrooms by the Rollo Room, andsome at the dorms (give to Dorm Chas to put up at a specific time). TableChas, Supply Chas, and others in the Rollo Room will help put up theletters in the Rollo Room. This is a very brief chapel visit, so work fast!


Before The Weekend. . . Continued

32

3. Table Palanca – check to see how many times you will put out tablePalanca each day. Divide the table Palanca for each day into thenumber of times it will be given out. Try to give a variety of types ofPalanca each time (sweet, craft, salty, etc.) Some Palanca will belabeled as to the time it is to be given out. Give out most of the foodPalanca by the afternoon on Saturday. In the past much of the foodgiven out on Sunday was not eaten. Not only does this help avoidleftovers, but also facilitates clean up.

4. Rollo Room Palanca: IMPORTANT – To distribute any Palanca in theRollo Room, there must be enough for Silent Table Leaders andProfessors as well as candidates. Count before you begin! If thereare a couple of extras give to the Rector, Head Cha, Spiritual Directors,etc.

5. Bed Palanca: You will distribute bed Palanca for both the team andthe candidates. Bed Palanca can be delivered in the afternoons afterthe point at which candidates will not be returning to the dorms. Avan or wagon may be helpful in distributing Palanca in the dorms.You may partner with the dorm Chas to distribute bed Palanca. Forwomen’s weekend: Work with the Head Spiritual director to determinewhere they would like palanca to be discreetly delivered. Palanca isplaced on the tables after the candidates are in the dorms each night.Items that would spoil or get stale should be covered adequately.

6. Kitchen Palanca- Partner with Head Kitchen to determine whichPalanca should be used in the dining room. Use anything of whichthere are enough for both the candidates and team. This can bedetermined on Thursday and delivered to the kitchen’s area wherethey stage palanca.

7. Banners: Select banners in good condition to be hung in the RolloRoom. Add more each day. If there are extra banners they can behung in the kitchen or dorms.

8. If mugs, t-shirts, bags, etc. are a part of Palanca, they should be givenout at a time the Rector’s chooses. Ask before the weekend when todistribute. (If breakables, such as mugs, are given, wrapping materialsshould be provided to the table Chas in order to assist the candidatesin packing them).

9. Check the schedule frequently to know when you must be ready foraction! Usually table Palanca is delivered each time the candidatesleave the Rollo Room (after it has been introduced on Friday duringthe Holy Spirit/Divine Aid Rollo), or according to directions from theRector and Head Cha.

10. Reading Palanca Notes: The Rector may want to read the notes orshe may have the Palanca Chas do so. Make sure each note islabeled with a description or example of the palanca. (If the professorsare not revealed, please make sure a professor’s name is not read.)



33

11. Pick up Palanca from the team dorms each day.

12. Mailbags: It’s a good idea to begin putting sorted mail into the mailbagsabout 3 hours prior to the time they are to be delivered. Encourage teammembers to get their mail in by Thursday night or, at the latest, on the daybefore it is to be delivered. You’ll need a copy of the Rollo Room seatingchart in order to sort bags by tables. You will probably get a copy of thison Friday morning – if not be sure to get one from the Head Cha and askthem to let you know if there are any seating changes. Team members’bags should be placed along the back wall of the Rollo Room for them topick up at closing. Place them in alphabetical order.

13. Before distributing candidate letter bags read the ‘letter to the candidates’.Coordinate with Head Cha to make sure you have copy (found in Rector’sGuide).

14. Envelopes: Pictures, 4th day booklets, candidate applications, sponsoringinformation, applications to serve, weekend directories, and anything elsegiven to you should be placed in envelopes. This may be partially doneby the 4th Day Couple when they deliver the weekend directories. Theseenvelopes will be given to the candidates on Sunday at their tables (makesure there are enough for both candidates and professors.) It is notnecessary to put their names on them. Give out team members’ envelopesat this time, also. Give a weekend book to the person designated to makecorrections for the Secretariat. These envelopes should be delivered tothe location where the commissioning will be done (usually the kitchen)prior to the candidates arriving. The envelopes are usually ready onSunday morning so they could be moved over there after lunch so thatthey are ready to distribute. Additional ones should be included so thatany team members that are in the room can follow along.

15. Keep all of the notes that come in with Palanca for the Rector to keepafter the weekend. They should be placed on the Rector’s bed.

16. Line the walks when the candidates move from one place to another.Assistant Head Cha will tell you when.



34

PALANCA GUIDELINES

1. Please do not put out Palanca unless there is enough for everycandidate. Be sure to set out bed Palanca systematically so thatnobody is missed. There is to be no Palanca of any kind given to anyindividual candidate except what will go in his/her Palanca bag. Thisis so that all candidates are treated with an equal amount of love. Ifanyone brings an individual gift for a candidate, please suggest thatthe gift be given to the candidate on the way home or after the weekend.

2. All team letters should be sorted after the candidate’s letters since theteam doesn’t get their bags until after closing on Sunday.

3. Wear comfortable shoes with a lot of arch support! This is a busy job.

4. Bring an alarm to assist in your team wake up.

5. You will receive a prayer palanca schedule before the weekend begins.If a team member from your section is scheduled for prayer palancaat a time that conflicts with the preparations in your section, it is yourresponsibility to find a replacement (possibly from another section –check with their head) and communicate that change to the HeadGopher.


SECTIONVI

Palanca Cha Forms

36 Palanca Cha Forms

Inventory Item Trunk #Stock

NeededStock Level

End Invtry Area

Bags - Brown Lunch size 1 25 150 PLBalloons 1 0 50 PLBanners, Misc. Separate 3 5 PLBinder Clips, Big 1 0 2 PLBug Spray for Ants & Roaches 1 1 1 PLEnvelopes - Legal 1 50 87 PLEnvelopes - Regular 1 50 100 PLExtension Cords 1 1 1 PLFabric Paint 1 6 6 PLFinger Paint 1 4 6 PLFinger Paint Paper 1 25 sheets 1 roll PLGlue (Elmers) 1 1 bottle 3 btls PLGlue Gun 1 1 1 PLGlue Sticks 1 12 3 PLGlue Sticks for gun 1 10 49 PLIndex Cards (3" X 5") 1 25 100 PLInsect Repellent 1 1 2 PLLabels - Address (1" X 3") 1 120 1800 PLMarkers - Washable 10 10 PLPaint Brushes 1 4 2 PLPalanca Bags, for Team & Candidate letters 1 125 125 PLPaper Clips 1 100 100 PLPens 1 10 14 PLPost-it tags, pads 1 0 18 pads PLRaffia - Blue 1 1 bag 5 bags PLRaffia - Green 1 1 bag 3 bags PLRibbon - Curling 1 0 5 rolls PLRibbon - Curling 1 0 6 spools PLRubber Bands 1 50 50 PLScissors 1 1 2 PLSigns, Palanca signs to organize Palanca by day) 1 10 10 PLSkit - Angel Wings & Halo 2 0 2 PLSkit - Angel Gown 2 0 1 PLSkit - Aprons (Matches Cumberbuns) 2 0 4 PL

SAMPLE INVENTORY SHEETS

samplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesample

samplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesample

37

samplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesample

samplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesamplesample

Palanca Cha Forms

SAMPLE INVENTORY SHEETS

Inventory Item Trunk #Stock

NeededStock Level

End Invtry Area

Skit - Black Ladies Evening Bag 2 0 1 PLSkit - Boa - Purple 2 1 1 PLSkit - Costume Jewelry (Necklace) 2 0 1 PLSkit - Cumber buns 2 0 4 PLSkit - Dress - Silver “GoGo” 2 0 1 PLSkit - Dresses - Various women's dresses & suits 2 0 11 PLSkit - Elf Ears, rubber 2 0 3 pair PLSkit - Face Makeup kit 2 0 1 PLSkit - Fan - White feather 2 0 1 PLSkit - Gloves - white 2 1 1 PLSkit - Hat - Tam 2 1 1 PLSkit - Hat - women’s flowered visor 2 1 1 PLSkit - Hose - Fish net (1 pink pr, 2 black prs) 2 0 2 PLSkit - Lighthouse dresses 2 0 6 PLSkit - Light hats (Touch Lights) 2 0 4 PLSkit - Music makers (3 drum/whistle, 15 plastic whistle) 2 0 4 PLSkit - Pom Pom’s, red 1 0 7 PLSkit - Pom Pom’s, white 2 0 6 PLSkit - Shoes - Silver “GoGo” 2 0 1 PLSkit - Sunglasses 2 0 3 pair PLSkit - Water Pistol 2 0 8 PLSkit - Whistle - Referees 2 0 1 PLSkit - Wig - Black, blonde, silver, brown 2 0 4 PLSkit - Wig - Red clown wig , black braids, Brown taupee 2 0 3 PLSkit - words to High Caloric, Camo-Floozies 2 0 2 PLStapler 1 1 2 PLStaples 1 1 box 1 box PLString 1 1 roll 1 roll PLTape - Scotch 1 2 rolls 4 PLTape - Masking 1 1 roll 4 PLThumbtacks 1 50 78 PLTissue pack for letter Palanca Bags 1 78 52 PL

NOTE: Trunk #2 is all Palanca Skit Items

Table Cha Rollo room Set-UP

SECTIONVII

Palanca ChaNotes

39 Palanca Cha Notes

40 Palanca Cha Notes

Documents

HEAD PALANCA CHA - Tampa Bay Tres Diastampabaytresdias.org/docs/TBTD-Head-Palanca-Cha-Book.pdf · Write a general palanca letter.! Write each candidate a palanca letter.! Arrive at