MSP - Minneapolis, MN

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News

2021 MSP Fantasy Flight to the North Pole Changes and "GivingTuesday"

Last updated 10 months ago

Greetings All!

I wanted to make you aware of a change to our Fantasy Flight event this Saturday, 04 DEC 2021. Due to guidance from Delta’s medical team and advisors related to COVID concerns and the fact that some of our guests and kids may have special needs, we have made the decision to not provide a full meal during the event at this time. There will still be beverages and some pre-packaged snacks for guests available at the event but a full, sit-down meal will not be happening this year. We hope to bring it back next year in 2022.

On another note, today is “GivingTuesday,” a day that follows “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” and that bills itself as “a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world.” From the GivingTuesday website (https://www.givingtuesday.org):

“GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past nine years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.”

And from another website (https://www.trackinghappiness.com/why-giving-makes-you-happy/), the idea of giving is discussed and the positive benefits it has on the giver.

“There is a lot of scientific evidence that giving in practically any form has enormous benefits for the giver. This includes a happier mood, a greater sense of wellbeing, lower stress levels, lower blood pressure, and even better longevity.”

By volunteering to serve at the 2021 Pilots For Kids Fantasy Flight to the North Pole this Saturday, you have already started down the path of “doing good” for others that hopefully makes you feel good as well! And I want to again say “thank you” in advance for your service!

Of course, another more tangible way of doing good is by helping to support the local MSP chapter of Pilots For Kids financially with a simple donation. These funds are used to purchase decorations, supplies, activities, food, snacks and more and also to provide gifts to the children and families we serve at the event each year.

If you have already donated, thank you! And if you haven’t done so already, please consider donating now to support this and other future PFK events at https://www.pilotsforkids.org/dues-donations/donations.php?group_code=msp

Be sure to direct your donation to “MSP – Minneapolis, MN (Coordinator: Rossing)” on the drop-down menu. All donations are tax-deductible and 100% of your donations go directly to support children in need. Thank you in advance for your support!

We look forward to seeing those of you who can attend Saturday as we get ready to usher in the Holiday Season with our Fantasy Flight to the North Pole! Have a great week!

Cheers,
Chris

2021 MSP Pilots For Kids Fantasy Flight to the North Pole RETURNS, Saturday, 04 DEC 2021

Last updated 11 months ago

Greetings All!

I apologize for the tardiness of this note but wanted to let you know that the Pilots For Kids Fantasy Flight to the North Pole at MSP is BACK for 2021! After taking our first-ever forced hiatus last year in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, we are pressing forward full-steam ahead with planning for an outstanding event once again this year!

The date will be Saturday, 04 DEC 2021 from 1000-1500 that day. Location will be the same as in years’ past, Gates C4 and C5 by the Delta Employee Event Center (EEC) at MSP Airport. One change to this year’s event is that we will not have full use of the EEC as it has been converted to a more permanent computer training center for the Delta ACS employee workgroup. Therefore, serving and seating for the meal portion of the event will be set up outside the EEC in the general concourse area. Fortunately, we have a lot of good, useful space in that area and with the C4/C5 gates not in active use that day, we will be able to take advantage of spreading things out a bit more. This will also help from a COVID protocol standpoint by ensuring we incorporate good “social distancing” too.

Speaking of COVID protocols, the other change for this year’s event is that we must, of course, ensure everyone is wearing a mask properly at all times while in the MSP airport in accordance with local, state and federal policy. To that end, we will be making a few modifications to our activities for guests and their families by, for instance, replacing the “face painting” station with a mask (KN95 style) decoration station. Kids will be be able to make their own animal or otherwise funny/creative face on the mask for wear later.

In addition to OTG Management at MSP who will once again be providing the meal for our guests, we are fortunate and grateful that a new partner is joining us this year, the MSP Management team of HMS Host that oversees operations of several eateries within MSP including the Bottle Rockets restaurant located next to the C4/C5 gates. They are graciously allowing us to use the seating area in Bottle Rockets that can accommodate up to 40 people for our guests during the event. This will be a big help as it assists in making up for loss seating in the EEC. In addition, we’ll have other tables available to set up as needed to accommodate additional seating in the concourse area.

Our guests for the North Pole flight will once again be coming from MN Children’s Home and Lutheran Social Services and we expect to have about 220 people (kids and adults) in total. In addition, as we refreshed and renewed the traditional carnival aspect of the event in 2019 to the great delight, enjoyment and satisfaction by all, we will once again be having back our friends from the Science Museum of Minnesota and the 3M Visiting Wizards to provide interactive and astounding science-themed activities and presentations before the flight. Volunteers will be trained on several of these activities to help facilitate interaction with the guests.

Of course, the highlight of this event is not only boarding the Delta jet with accompanying “trip around the airport” to the North Pole, but also the appearance of Santa Claus himself upon the plane’s return to the gate that has suddenly been magically transformed to the North Pole! We are also looking forward to having appearances by MSP’s own Animal Ambassadors and mascots Victor, TC Bear, Crunch, Nordy and Goldy from MN sports teams Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Wild and Gophers respectively.

This event is open to anyone who would like to volunteer to help including pilots, flight attendants, etc. and any employees from other organizations as well as spouses and friends too. There is a potential limit on total number of helpers so if you are interested in volunteering, please register at our new Eventbrite weblink here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2021-msp-pilots-for-kids-fantasy-flight-to-the-north-pole-tickets-85721089085

If you have any further questions, please contact contact Clayton Leith (clayton.leith@gmail.com) or myself, Chris Rossing (vikingskipr@yahoo.com). Also be sure to bid-off on your schedule for Saturday, 04 DEC to be available.

Thanks in advance for your help and enjoy the upcoming holidays!

Cheers,

Chris

Chris Rossing
Captain, Delta Air Lines
Pilots For Kids and MSP Fantasy Flight Coordinator

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