Getting to Your Clinic or Competition
Competition or clinic hosts are responsible for the cost of transportation from Medway, Massachusetts to the event location. I’m sensitive to the fact that clinics and competitions can be expensive to organize, and I’m always willing to work with organizers to make getting me to your competition as economic as possible. I generally prefer to make my own travel arrangements, since I have a great deal of experience getting around the country. I prefer to avoid travel arrangements that require that I leave Medway, MA before 5am, or return home after 12am.
For clinics, it is generally most efficient for me to travel in the morning and teach on the same day. In other words, I travel to your location in the morning (leaving Medway no earlier than 5am), and teach in the afternoon. Likewise, I prefer to travel home the evening of the last day of the clinic if I can be in bed by midnight. In such instances, there is NO additional fee for my travel time. Your day rate has covered that time.
As a judge for a competition, I should be on site at least a day before a competition officially begins. I usually prefer to travel home in the afternoon or evening after the conclusion of competition.
Travel Day Fee
When I must travel a day ahead, or after a clinic or my duties as a licensed official begin or end, there will be a travel day charge of $350 for each 6 hrs of travel time.
Travel by Car
For clinics or competitions in New England and the surrounding region, travel by car is the most sensible. Mileage is determined with Bellingham, MA (02019), as the start and end point. The cost is 75¢ per mile, round trip. If the location is more than 6 hours from me it’s usually most economic that I travel by air.
Air Travel
I prefer to book my own flights out of Providence, RI (PVD), but can just as easily fly out of Boston (BOS), or Hartford, CT (BDL). Clinic or competition hosts are responsible for airfare, baggage, and parking fees. As a regular traveler, I can usually find the most cost efficient combination of flights bearing all these factors in mind.
Since most economy airline tickets are non-refundable I must have the funds for the flight before I book it. If there is someone in your organization willing to donate airline miles to defray the travel expenses, I’m happy to coordinate with them on making the travel arrangements.
The least expensive way to get me from the airport to your location is to have someone local pick me up at the airport (just make sure we each have the other’s cell phone numbers ahead of time). Alternatively, you can arrange for a rental car for me to drive myself to your location. I’m happy to coordinate with the other clinicians or judges for your event to arrange ride sharing to and from the airport if needed.
Accommodations
Whenever possible I prefer to stay in a reputable hotel that has handicap accessible rooms. This means that the bathroom and shower are set in a way that makes it easier for me navigate on one leg. When this is simply not available (or the hotel options are a little dodgy) I am happy to stay with a host family that can provide similar accommodations. I prefer an attached private bath where I can leave my prosthetic equipment set up for the weekend. The biggest threat to my leg is infection. So it is essential that I am able to leave my equipment to dry where it will remain clean and undisturbed.
During competitions, it would be considered a conflict of interest for me to be hosted by a competitor in the competition if I am a member of the jury. If a competitor is to host, they would have to enter as a non-competing “HC” entry (also known as “For Honors”) without eligibility for placing in classes or divisions.
Meals
Feed me! During clinics or competitions, the event hosts are responsible to see to it that I can maintain that life supporting habit. I am not a vegetarian, and I don’t have any food allergies that I know of. I love trying new foods, especially if they are spicy. I’m generally a pretty light eater in the evenings.
If you’re curious about more specifics about my meal preferences, please see my Care & Feeding page.
