Your Resident Reporter is Back

By André Lachapelle



Hi to all our faithful readers.

Your resident reporter, André Lachapelle, is back.

As you know, Team Kili-2012 is leaving in a few days for the grand adventure. And it'll be my job to let you know where they are and how they're getting on.

I'll try to be as objective a journalist as possible but it won't be easy. You may know that I was supposed to be with them but life decided otherwise and I had to withdraw. I still hope to go one day.

So, how will the news get to you?

I'll be able to communicate with the team by satellite phone and put up-to-date news on the blog.

So don't go too far away, find a comfortable chair, some chips or ... broccoli and, with me, live vicariously.

One thing's obvious - all the team members are in a state of nervous excitement. Not stressed out exactly but on edge, to say the least. All those who are with them during these last few days can feel it.

Checking the luggage for the nth time to be sure they've forgotten nothing - frankly, we're all a bit fed up with hearing about it all the time....

But I understand -  you wouldn't want arrive at the foot of the highest mountain in Africa and discover that you'd left your hiking boots in Montreal. Laugh if you want but you know as well as I do that it can happen so easily.

So, no question of leaving you in the dark for three whole weeks.
I promise to be a faithful and regular reporter, bringing you news of the expedition nearly every day.

A final note: the French blog has been visited over 9000 times since it was started, with people as far away as Argentina consulting it. The English blog has had more than 700 visitors. And that's the truth!

So, on Monday, Labour Day, send an e-mail to all your family, friends, acquaintances and colleagues and ask them to pass the message on and to visit the blog regularly. 9000 visits? We can double that number by the time our adventurers are home again.


Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Air-line Reservations

Two weeks ago, Team Kili had a special moment. It was time to book our air-line tickets! We heard about a super promotion on the Thursday: a return ticket from Montreal to Kilimanjaro and back for just over $1600. Unbeatable!

So we had a message from Sylvain telling each member of the team to ring the travel agents to make their reservation by credit card. We had until the following Tuesday.....

All day Friday and Monday, we kept getting messages from members: "It's done!", "I'm leaving...!", "Hasta la vista baby!", "I'm going too. It's official!", etc.....

All 19 members of Team Kili-2012 now have their reservations...

WE'RE GOING! IT'S OFFICIAL!

Exciting!!!


Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Special People - Guylaine Keable and Jean Pagé

By André Lachapelle

It's now several months since we started our journey to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. The training, the fund-raising, the meetings, our 5 to 7s .... all these activities are an integral part of the journey and the experience of a life-time. I don't remember who exactly, but a wise man once said: "The journey is as important as the destination".  Now I understand why.

Everything we're experiencing at the moment - buying our equipment, going to Accueil Bonneau and so on - builds character. We're still 12 000 Km and around 280 days from Kilimanjaro, but we're already feeling the effects. The relationship between team members is different from that with other colleagues. A special bond of friendship, that I don't have with others, is developing in the team.

I was expecting all that. I was expecting emotional and personal changes in myself. I was expecting to feel uncomfortable with fund-raising.

But one thing I hadn't expected -  meeting special people along the way. We met two of them last night: Guylaine Keable and Jean Pagé. They are also members of the Desjardins family and live in beautiful Quebec City. What's so special about that?  Well, they climbed Kilimanjaro in 2010 and, as if that wasn't enough, they're now getting ready to climb to the Everest base camp. They deserve our profound respect and admiration - special people!
  
It's so remarkable that, although Guylaine and Jean were total strangers before, it only took an e-mail telling them about our project for them to offer us their friendship. It's as if we're now part of a family. There are ordinary people and there are those who have climbed or are going to climb Kilimanjaro. The connection is instantaneous, it feels comfortable, it's so easy. And talk of help - mutual help. I've already mentioned that Guylaine and Jean are from Quebec City. But they had to come to Montreal on business so we arranged to meet - in the evening - late in the evening! I've never known a meeting to be set up so easily. "OK, if  I come to Montreal - I'll have a look at my agenda - perhaps at lunch-time - we could meet for lunch - maybe there'd be more time after my meeting......."
How about Wednesday evening at 7.30? No problem. It's settled! The only way I can explain what's happening is that it's the mountain itself and the adventure that are bringing us together in friendship.

How can I describe their presence last night? Informal, among friends (remember - this was our first meeting), open, relaxed. But what a flood of information.....

Thank you Guylaine. Thank you Jean. We were completely engrossed by your thrilling story, your advice and your pictures. You've given us so much energy - so much, in fact, that I'd be ready to set off tomorrow. But cool it - slow down a bit - you have to take the time....

Good luck for Everest. I'll be one of your most ardent followers throughout your journey.
I invite everyone to follow Guylaine and Jean's adventure on the following link:
http://monteverest2012.com/

And maybe you'd like to encourage them with a gift.


Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Just a Thought

 Good morning.
Just a thought like that ...

don't know if you noticed something ...

... take a good look on the blog ...

... you see?

I leave you a little more time ...

... I give you a hint. Watch the countdown.

IT IS LESS THAN A YEAR!

... Just a thought like that. Good weekend to all. ;-)

From André Lachapelle

Mont Tremblant - Photos

By André Lachapelle

Here are a few photos of our climb up Mont Tremblant last weekend.

Click on: ce lien


As you can see, our training has really started and this, our first excursion, helped to make it all seem real.


Thanks to our project leader, Mathieu, from  Ex-Pé,  for the photos.


Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Breaking the Ice

By Andre Lachapelle 

It was our ice breaker this weekend. We faced Mont-Tremblant. For me, the day before I finally committed. I went to buy a pair of boots and walking sticks. Voila! I have some of my equipment now.

Then we hit the road. We were at Sylvain's by 9:00am. Then, in three cars, we left for Mont-Tremblant.

We met our guide Mathieu in the parking lot. Mathieu is The Main One who will take us to the summit of Kilimanjaro. He made a short presentation on the essential material to have when mountain hiking.

First stage, going through the village. Nothing too difficult there if it wasn't for the delicious smell of the restaurants. Good steaks cooking on the grills, I thought of the meager sandwich in my bag ... Oh well! It's for a good cause.

We took four hours to reach the top. And two hours to descend. We took our time. We wanted to stay together. A united group. And that's what struck me. Complete agreement, without talking about it beforehand. We all conveyed a sense of community. It was really inspiring. I didn't expect this kind of team behavior on our first outing. This is something that normally develops over time I think. However we had it - straight away. What a great team we are!

And what to say about the ascent. Laughter at every turn! Really, we laughed ourselves to tears.

It is often said that walking the path is as important as achieving the goal. While our goal is to climb Kilimanjaro, our training (such as Mont Tremblant) is the path that leads towards this goal. I already learnt a lesson on Mont-Tremblant walking the path. You see, I'm the kind of person who will try once. 

If I fail, I will try again.  If I fail again, I'll say "the hell with it" and I'll move on.

But not Carmen. Carmen never flinched on Saturday. In any case, if she thought about quitting, it didn't show. What strength of character! What struck me most was that, at the top, she arrived at the cottage ... with a big smile! Against all the odds and the elements (it was raining cats and dogs on our heads), Carmen arrived smiling! She was smiling!

Well, what a lesson! In life, in the face of adversity. Again and again to continue without flinching. And in silence. And above all. With a smile!

Carmen thank you for this wonderful lesson of life. I will remember it.

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Mont Tremblant Tomorrow...

By André Lachapelle

Tomorrow's the big day - our first team excursion.
On the menu: Mont Tremblant.

Although I've been there often, this is the first time I've faced the mountain in trekking mode.
I've got somewhat mixed feelings - some excitement and some apprehension. As usual, I'm not ready. I still haven't bought my boots, I have no suitable clothing and no walking poles. Nothing!


If Manon was here, she'd be sure to have something to say about it. She's gets so exasperated by my procrastinating tendencies ...... Happy Holidays, Manon......looking forward to seeing you soon....:-)
As for me, I'll manage somehow....




Translated by Pamela Gauvin

We are in Shakespeare's Mother Tongue now!

By André Lachapelle

Hello people!

We are a group of 22 ordinary people with extra ordinary dreams.  And we are committed to making them happen.

Our objective: Climb Mount Kilimanjaro in September 2012.

We had the idea back in October 2010, we started the project officially in March 2011.  And here we are now, a tightly woven group.

We're going to relate our journey to the Kilimanjaro in this blog.  Not only the trip itself.  But the details of how to get there.  We hope that you will enjoy reading us.  And we specially hope that our action may inspire someone somewhere to take action and make his dream come true.
You can also follow our blog in French by following this link.

Stay tuned!

FundScrip

By André Lachapelle

I'm pleased to announce that our fund-raising scheme FundScrip is now up and running.

  

What is FundScrip? It's a means of fund-raising by buying, through our members, a gift card from one of the member retailers (Ex: IGA, Super C, Canadian Tire....). FundScrip will reimburse Team Kili-2012 with a percentage of the price of the card.
You are invited to look up the complete list of retailers at this link:

http://www.fundscrip.com/Détaillants/liste_des_detaillants.aspx

So, how exactly does it work?
Easy!

Choose the retailer or retailers who interest you on the above list. Then order your cards from a member of our team. We'll fetch your cards and get them back to you. As we pick them up on Mondays, we need to have your orders by the preceding Thursday.
A percentage of the amount you pay will be deposited in our account by FundScrip.
 
Let's look at a concrete example:
Isabelle is a member of Team Kili-2012. Her Aunt Gertrude gives her $100 to get her a gift card from IGA. Isabelle orders the card from the designated person in the team. The following Monday this person fetches a gift card worth $100 from IGA, gives it to Isabelle who passes in on to her Aunt. As IGA offers 3%, FundScrip then deposits $3 in the Team Kili-2012 account. The same procedure is then repeated every week.

So now you and your family and friends can start ordering cards for your everyday shopping or for larger purchases.

It's a simple and easy way to support the Kili-2012 project.

We can also get recurrent cards if that suits you better. For instance, if you always shop at Maxi's, we can get a recurrent card for the amount you choose.

Please ask a member of the team if you have any questions about the scheme.

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Oh My God!

By André Lachapelle

I've just found on the Internet a video about a group that climbed Kilimanjaro.

OH MY GOD! What a group! What determination! If they could do it - so can we!!!

Seriously! You must watch it - it's a real gem.  But don't watch it casually.  Be sure to have about an hour free and watch it carefully, right through. And tell me what you think afterwards.
Here's the link for the first part:

Kilimandjaro, Au delà des limites

Enjoy!!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

The Recipe for Success

By André Lachapelle


Someone has an idea.

He shares his idea.

With people of like mind.

The idea takes shape, moves, grows and takes on a life of its own.

The idea becomes an institution.

But, before that, it has to go through a major transformation where failure is lurking at every step.

How can you tell, on the way to reaching your goal, if you're on the right path or not?

Look for the following ingredients in the recipe for success:

The first ingredient - others like the idea and make it their own.  First sign that you're on the right road.

The second ingredient -  the hangers-on - those who hesitate on the sidelines, expecting you to fail. Then, all of a sudden, when the project starts shaping up, they realize that success is possible, that they were wrong and -  they decide to come along after all.

Finally, the third ingredient -  The "Great American Pessimistic Grumbler".  Quite a bird!
 
He never assumes an active role in a project - he's the ultimate hanger-on, but with attitude. While the hanger-on ends up by joining the team, the "Great American Pessimistic Grumbler" sticks firmly to the sidelines and criticizes everything he can to anyone who'll listen.  He'll always find something to grumble about, with no help from anyone and he'll turn a small incident into a major battle-ground.

Don't worry! When you start seeing "Great American Pessimistic Grumblers" hovering over your project - take it positively!

It's the final ingredient that shows you're ready for take-off and a sure sign of future success.



Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Team Kili-2012 Now Has a Cause.... or More...

By André Lachapelle

Since the beginning of our fund-raising activities, we've had lots of support from Desjardins employees and from our families. The aim of these activities is to get more people involved as our costs are so high: transport, ascent, equipment, vaccinations, etc.. As a way in which to thank everyone who helps us, Team Kili-2012 has decided to volunteer our time and get involved in the community.

Our mission is to volunteer in different charitable, non-lucrative organisations, foundations and clubs. So, during the next 16 months, 30 volunteers (25 from Desjardins) will be giving their time, energy and  talents towards improving well-being in the community. Our first event will be on June 5 when 4 of us will man the phones for the Téléthon Opération Enfant Soleil 2011.

Other forthcoming activities - serving meals to the homeless, giving moral support in children's hospitals and visiting homes for the elderly, etc.. It's nice to receive, but it's equally important to give of oneself, to offer help and support wherever it's needed. Team Kili-2012 members are amenable, open-spirited, generous and full of empathy for others. If you know of a place where our presence could make a difference, don't hesitate telling us about it and we'll be very happy to help on your behalf.

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Another loss

By André Lachapelle


We're sorry to announce that Alexandre Eghtedari has decided to leave us in favour of other projects.

Good luck Alexandre!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Our First Loss

By André Lachapelle

We've just had our first loss from the team.

We're sorry to say that Ismail Sabri has decided to leave us.

Good luck Ismail for the future and thank you for being part of our adventure.



Translated by Pamela Gauvin

The Team's Complete

By André Lachapelle


At the beginning, we established a limited recruitment period for Team Kili-2012, to ensure equity in fund-sharing. We thought it unfair for a late addition to the team to benefit from the fund-raising efforts made before by the other members.
Anybody wishing to join us after May 1st 2011 will be expected to assume full costs.

May 1st 2011 having passed, the team is now complete. Here is the message sent to all the members:

The recruitment period for the Kilimanjaro project ended on May 1st.

35 participants are ready for a unique experience!

It's a pleasure to announce their names:

Alexandre Eghtedari

Amélie Régimbal

André Lachapelle

Bruno-Pierre Lavoie

Carole Major

Catherine Fortin

Chantal Bonin

Daniel Leboeuf

Éric Bélanger

Éric Guay

Gabrielle Sangollo-Viens

Geneviève Rho

Isabelle Privé

Ismail Sabri

Janie Brunet

Julie Foster

Karine Duchesne

Laura Sharp

Line Roy

Louis Hamelin

Manon Fairfield

Manon Marleau

Marilyn Marier

Martine Lussier

Maude Garneau

Mélanie Lauzon

Nadine Lauzon

Nathalie Roussin

Nicolas Castonguay

Pascal Milette

Pierre Gauvin

Pierre Toshan

Richard Barbeau

Rosanna Chechile

Sylvain Thériault

 

WELCOME TO THIS WONDERFUL ADVENTURE!

During the coming months, the team will be inspired by our employer's values:

Team spirit, innovation, confidence, excellence and pleasure and by the motto
Dare to be Bold

For the project to be a success, we must act professionally at all times and in all our activities.
The most important conditions are the implication and enthusiasm of the members in carrying out well-coordinated activities.

The estimated cost of the project is $8000 per member.
To meet some of this cost, a Fund-raising Campaign lasting 16 months is planned.

Various activities will be organised and will be as diverse as possible. Some internal activities have already started but we now have to look at outside sources, such as friends, family, friends of the family and family of the friends - and  more!!!

Obviously, everyone's participation is essential  - that's the first aim of the team.

If you decide to withdraw, please let me know as soon as possible

Thanks for your cooperation.

We've  done it! Team Kilimanjaro 2012 is alive and well!

And now - full speed ahead with fund-raising!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

We Have Our Official Name

By André Lachapelle

In April 2011, the whole team voted on the choice of our official name.

Kilimandjaro 2012 existed already - an organisation connected with Valleyfield Hospital, if I'm not mistaken...

.....anyway, the team has spoken!

And our official name is....... hold your breath..... drum roll!.....

KILI-2012

Nice, isn't it? It connects with the name we'd chosen in the first place, is short, efficient, unpretentious and representative.

A big thank you to Manon Marleau for having thought of it!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

First Team Meeting - March 2011

By André Lachapelle

Time goes quickly. Very quickly....

On Monday, March 28 2011, we held our first team meeting to talk about financing the Kilimanjaro project.

But what a lovely lot of people! I'm not really surprised. It stands to reason that signing up for an adventure like Kilimanjaro means that you're already someone special.

We'd arranged to meet at the Saint-Hubert near the Bell Center in a small private room that was perfect for our discussion. Once we'd eaten, we got on with the agenda. Another nice surprise - everyone stuck to the subject, no going off at a tangent or indulging in futile arguments. Everyone pulled his weight.

We decided to have a fund-raising activity for Easter, another for Mothers' Day. Sell chocolate for Easter and nice gift baskets for Mothers' Day. Other activities were discussed and will take place at a later date.

There was such a good feeling all evening. It was really inspiring. Everybody volunteered so willingly to take part in the activities.

So, the week after the meeting, I carried out a little experiment. I did nothing connected with the project and I didn't contact anyone. I wanted to see if there was any momentum or initiative, if anybody made an effort to get on with the project.

My team passed the test with flying colours. Chocolates had been bought and distributed to the right people for the Easter activity. It seems that team spirit is developing well and everyone feels responsible. It's great to see!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin

The Very Beginning...

By André Lachapelle

This evening is the Kilimanjaro 2012 group's first meeting .

But let's start at the beginning....

When I was little, I dreamt of being an explorer. Like all little boys, I imagine.

I remember that every Saturday evening my mother turned on the TV and we watched Tarzan and Animal Mysteries from Mutuel of'Omaha. I dreamt about Africa, about canoe trips on dark, hostile rivers. About bare-handed fights with powerful crocodiles or bloodthirsty lions in order to save damsels in distress.

As we got older, we learnt to match our dreams to our means and real life began: study, graduate, commute, work and sleep.... Then:  the corporate ladder, staff meetings, yearly evalutions, budgetary planning - all that jazz!

Secretly, however, I still nursed this yen to get away. I was bored to death. Like a lion in a cage, endlessly pacing up and down, unable to escape, remembering the immense, endless plains. Freedom! Real Liberty with a capital L.

As a young adult I had explored the Caribbean, been to Australia, climbed Ayer's Rock and explored the outback. Then the South Pacific: New Zealand, Fiji, then Hawaii. Alone, my packsack on my back, I was the epitomy of Eric Lapointe's song "promised land" - "blown by the wind, with empty pockets, I wander, at one with the seasons..."

On my return to Montreal, I had already started to plan my next trip - Europe. "Every day I wear out my shoes, riding on liberty..."

But fate decided otherwise. I met a girl, got married, had two beautiful children, a good job, a house, a car, a dog. The American dream. Followed by childcare, visits to the Doctor, promotion, a second house (bigger, obviously, with a mortgage to match). Then divorce.... What with one thing and another, 11 years had gone by.

Anyway, I'll spare you more details. At one point, I thought it might be nice get some adventure into my life again and climb Kilimanjaro but time just went on passing by.

....One morning, when I woke up, it hit me -  I was 42. Where did all the time go? Up in smoke!

Something interesting happens at 40. I call it the clock phenomenon. You wake up and you see that, depending on your life expectancy, you've more time in the past than in the future. You get a sense of urgency that gives you a shot of adrenalin. Suddenly, you want to do and experience everything: learn the guitar, take singing lessons, learn to danse the salsa, learn Spanish...

Hang on! Didn't I already have a great project simmering on the back burner?  Of course - climb Kilimanjaro! Why not? I can hardly contain myself - let's do it!

It's funny in life how things sometimes just seem to fall into place. In October 2010 , I was on a strategic planning conference with colleagues from the office. We were talking travel over supper, when I suddenly blurted out: "What I'd really like to do, at least once in my life, is climb Mount Kilimanjaro".

Stunned silence ..... then, an explosion of voices: "What an idea! You have to do it! Hey, if you go, I'll come with you..."

Some more time went by...time's so sneaky. Then, on December 30, 2010, I was at my desk when I suddenly thought that it might be a good idea to contact those people again to see if there was still any interest in the project. So I posted a message on the firm's electronic notice board:

Hi everyone,
Those who share the dream of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania are forming a team.
Team Kilimanjara 2012 - come with us to the top of the highest mountain in Africa.
We're going in 2012 but all other details are to be decided. If this experience of a life-time interests you, reserve now as places are limited to 12 - 15.
To give you an idea, Mont Tremblant is 2 100 ft high. Kilimanjaro? -19 200 ft. Take note!
By the way, if you have any experiences or useful information to share with us, we'd be most grateful.
BE BOLD! BE ADVENTUROUS!

I really wasn't prepared for the reaction. I had messages from all over the firm. Some wrote with encouragement, others with offers of help. And several jumped in and joined the team right away.

Wow! We're off!

At the moment we have a team of 29. This evening, we're going to have our first meeting to discuss finances.

I'm so excited that I just had to share my thoughts and feelings; that's why I decided to start this blog which will document the progress of the Kilimanjaro 2012 project.

Follow on the blog and, in a way, it'll be like coming with us.
BE BOLD! BE ADVENTUROUS!

Translated by Pamela Gauvin