Home | Announcements |  Schedule | Participant List | Organizers | Camera Crew | Travel Information | Formation Info | Jumpsuit Orders | FAI Information | Fundraising Ideas | Fundraising Totals | F.A.Q. |

2009 Event Announcements

09/07/08
greetings to all the wonderful JFTC crew and supporters


I don't have much more to add since last month. Applications for JFTC continue to stream in and now we have over 170 women who have formally expressed interest in being part of Jump for the Cause. The lists are updated regularly on both Dropzone.com (women's forum), the Jump for the Cause Facebook group and on the Jump for the Cause website at www.jumpforthecause.com if you have sent in an application and have not received a response from me please check to make sure your name is listed.  Remember that the completed application form (Available for download on the JFTC website) is the ONLY way I know you are interested in this event. You NEED to apply to be considered.


The first round of invitations--guaranteeing a slot on JFTC 2009--should go out in October after the upcoming BWC and 100 way camps in Perris. The majority of invitations will be issued throughout this year and into next year after each qualifying event. In order to receive one of these invitations you NEED to send in an application. The first invitations will go to the select group of women who I KNOW are the best of the best and are ready RIGHT NOW to do a 175 all woman world record. As women accept their personal invitations and send in registration forms and deposits they will have their personal donation pages and photographs available on the website. If you do not receive one of these initial invites do not despair. There will be MANY opportunities to show your skills over the next year.


A few women have indicated to me that they will not start seeking funds without a guaranteed slot on the event.  This puts me into an uncomfortable moral dilemma where I am being asked to choose between money for the charity and selecting the best possible roster for JFTC.  I could easily withhold all invitations until 6-8 months before the event (as we have done in years past) but I would like to start the process earlier this year. Any invitation to JFTC will go out to women who I feel will improve JFTC both on the ground and in the air. I recommend that ALL woman and men start raising funds for this event. If you do not feel ready to raise money to help find a cure for breast cancer without a guaranteed slot on the record then may I suggest that you get pledges from family, co-workers, potential sponsors and friends pending your eventual selection. If for any reason you cannot attend the event then the sponsorship gained and funds pledged could still be added to the money raised for City of Hope through Jump for the Cause.


We are planning the schedule for Tryouts and Camps for next year, both in the USA and in Europe so most women should have access to a camp or formal tryout prior to JFTC 2009. I'll get these events up on the JFTC website once we have confirmed the dates and organizers. I sent out an email last week about some events--and there are already some changes. The California State Record NOT be 19-22 February as I indicated earlier.  We are working on alternate dates now and I will inform you when they are confirmed. I also let you know about Fusion 50/50 scheduled for 1-4 January. The price will actually be $700 for the event, not $800 as indicated in the mail. Please contact Paula Philbrook <pphilbrook@skyjump.com> directly for information on this event.


The exciting job of planning the first All Male 100+ way during JFTC is now in the capable hands of Larry Henderson, Randy Garman and Jason Russell. They are working out the details and should be able to formally announce this event in the next few months.


I would also like to turn your attention to www.peoplejar.com a new networking site specifically tailored to let you find people with similar skills and tastes to you.  The designer of this site is a skydiver, and he is planning on supporting Jump for the Cause by including our event on his project pages.


I hope this letter finds you all as excited about Jump for the Cause as I am and I look forward to seeing most of you in the following months. I am on the way to Perris, California to coach at the P3 Big Way Camp and 100 way camp there and look forward to seeing many of you soon! As usual, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.


blue skies, pink suits
kate cooper-jensen

08/12/2008
Greetings!


We are now looking at just under 13 months until we all meet in Perris, California to build the next Women's record. I have been jumping in many locations this summer and have met women from around the world--many of whom are interested in joining the JFTC team. I anticipate many new countries being represented in the 2009 record line up, once again making JFTC '09 a truly global effort. A special congratulations to the women of Russia who completed a color coded all female 70-way last month. We look forward to welcoming a strong group of Russian women to JFTC '09.


If you have not visited our website, www.jumpforthecause.com then please check it out. Our wonderful Webmistress, Dawn Suiter, has redone it for 2009 and is putting a ton of new information on it. You can now download the Participant Request form directly from the site. If you have NOT filled out this form then please take a moment to do so and return it to me at your earliest convenience. Do not worry that you feel you aren't ready--this form is the ONLY way I know that you are interested in participating and there is an area on it where you can list your plans for the rest of 2008 and 2009. You will have plenty of opportunities to update your information and data throughout the next year.


It is looking like we will be able to set the price for JFTC at $3,500 for the event--this includes jumpsuit (if you do not already have one in your assigned color), accommodations (for non local participants), jumps, some meals, tons of goodies, and the most exciting week EVER in skydiving. Because of escalating fuel costs this higher amount actually contains a LOWER amount to donate to the charity so I ask that all women consider raising a minimum of $4,500---a full $1000 more than the minimum amount. Of course those dynamite women who raise FAR in excess of the minimum are, and will continue to be, the heroines of JFTC. We will have a fuel cost clause incorporated into the registration form that will basically state that any increase in fuel costs from August 2008 to September 2009 will need to be borne directly by the participant and paid upon arrival at the event. I am sure no one wants City of Hope to receive a lower amount of money because of fuel cost increases. Likewise I am sure everyone can understand the need for this clause as it is becoming common place in many different areas.


I have, as of today, received 118 completed participation request forms and I can tell you that if these applications are any indication of the talented women out there then this event will be the best JFTC event either--and quite possibly the best large formation event ever. Many women have asked when they will be notified so they can formally start requesting donations. I anticipate sending out the first wave of invitations in October of this year--after the summer and fall events. The invitations will include a registration form that will ask for more data so we can prepare you for your job on JFTC. More invitations will be extended as women qualify for JFTC at different events world wide. Some women may receive "provisional" invites--this means that they can join the team and start raising funds but they will be expected to complete qualifying events satisfactorily to actually join JFTC. The May events in Perris will also be qualifying events, and I expect many women to receive positive nods to JFTC after the 100 ways then.  I recommend you register on www.bigways.com This is a great website that will inform you automatically of many different big way events and camps held throughout the country. There is also a facebook group for JFTC that can be found at http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18186680967&ref=ts I will try and post newsletters and updates on that site as well but be aware that the www.jumpforthecause.com website is the OFFICIAL website and is the only one I can guarantee to be kept updated.


We are looking to add to the very empty sponsor page on the website. If you work for a company that would like to be associated with a great event like JFTC then please contact Richard richard@jumpforthecause.com with your ideas and leads. The best way we can insure that the MAXIMUM amount of money gets to City of Hope is to defray as many expenses as possible for the event. Corporations can take advantage of the non-profit status of Jump for the Cause and donate money, products or a combination and receive a tax write off. Items such as free or highly discounted airfare, rental cars, hotel rooms, and food/beverages can all be used to help the cause. Companies can also sponsor individuals who are participating in the event, or match donations raised by participants. The sponsoring corporations will, in return, receive recognition on the webpage, during the event and more--who knows how far we can go? But the time to start working on this is NOW--not later. Many corporations require a lengthy lead time to plan for sponsorship of individuals or events. The only thing that is a 100% certainty is that companies or corporations will not sponsor our event if they are not approached so get out there and work it!


It is also never to early to start working on media contacts. Our very own Mallory jumprun@earthlink.net will work as the liaison for any domestic or international media.


There are still slots available on the September Big Way Camp and 100 way camps being held in Perris. Contact Jen at jen@square1.com.  A great performance at the September BWC and 100 way events could very well give you the invitation to JFTC many months in advance of those waiting to qualify in May--do not delay!


In addition to these events we are once again planning Big way camps in Eloy and Houston in November, a Fusion 50/50 (50 men and 50 women) event in January, a California State Record of 150+ (dates to be announced), possibly a less formal camp in Thailand for Thai Sky Festival in March, the Texas State Record in Spaceland in April, and a Big Way Camp and 100 way camp in May--again at Perris. While not a mandatory requirement the camps -- both big way and 100 way -- are an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the style of organizing that you will experience at JFTC. As new events are planned we will notify you and put them on the website. Check back often.


The men's support team is also coming together and we are tentatively planning a first--the all male 100 way--at the same time as Jump for the Cause. Larry Henderson, a P3 coach and familiar face world wide--has agreed to stand at the helm for this event along with Randy Garman. They  will be laying the groundwork for the Men's 100 way and will be collecting interested names over the coming months. The Men's 100 way will also be a fund raiser to benefit City of Hope--perhaps even for Prostrate Cancer so if you know any qualified male jumpers they too will have a chance to enter the record books during JFTC. Registration and applications are NOT yet open for the support event but interested men are encouraged to contact me and I will add them to this mail list.


So--keep working on your FS big way skills, start planning on ways to raise money for JFTC, fill out your participation request form, and prepare for a WONDERFUL journey in the next year that will end in September in Perris. Let's make this Jump for the Cause be the BEST ONE EVER!!

Blue skies, pink suits
kate

Big Way Camp – September 11-14, 2008:
Come join Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, Kate Cooper-Jensen, Tony Domenico, Larry Henderson, Doug Forth and Tom Jenkins as they lead you through a four-day camp structured to enhance and improve your big way skills. You will learn and apply the techniques of diving, floating and base work in this four-day, 18 jump camp. For detailed information and to register, go to www.skydiveperris.com/expert.html and click “Calendar of Events”. Or you can go directly to: http://www.skydiveperris.com/calendar/bigwaycamp0908.asp.

100-Way Camp – September 18-21, 2008:
Join the P3 organizing team for another successful 100-Way Camp designed to PRODUCE RESULTS! Participants will consist of veteran large formation skydivers – including many World Team members – as well as qualified new up-and-coming big way enthusiasts. For detailed information and to apply, go to www.skydiveperris.com/expert.html and click on “Calendar of Events”. Or you can go directly to: http://www.skydiveperris.com/calendar/100waycamp0908.asp.

NOTE TO 100-WAY APPLICANTS: If there is any way you can participate in BOTH events, it is highly recommended you do so for two reasons: (1) Big Way Camp participants have PRIORITY for slots on the 100-Way, and (2) the Big Way Camp will give you the opportunity to fly in different slots every day in a “no fault” skill building atmosphere.
To register for either or both events, you will need to submit a registration/application form and deposit for each event you are interested in. Registration/application forms can be downloaded from the above web addresses in .doc (MS Word) format. If you have any questions regarding registration, contact Jen McGowan: jen@square1.com
We hope to see you there!
The P3 Organizing Team
 
<note from kate>--the May camps filled VERY quickly. I urge you to register as soon as possible. Note that I do not have the list of people who have already registered so do not panic if you get this from multiple people or multiple times, we just want to make sure that you do not get left out! Hope to see you soon...  </kate>