Staff Writer
EASTON – Fifteen of the original 22 Easton residents – including seven high school students – who lost their money and trip to France due to tour company Voyageur Tours’ bankruptcy, are preparing to go on a similar trip thanks to another educational travel company and financial support from citizens who have heard about their plight. According to Georgette Ireland, Easton Junior-Senior High School principal, officials found out May 14 that the original trip to France was in jeopardy.
“On May 14, tour organizer Mary Ruth Nichols became aware of the potential problem through several e-mails,” she said. “The school’s lawyer, Jeffrey Piampiano, was able to verify the bankruptcy very quickly and we began to notify the student and adult participants.
“While participants did purchase trip insurance from the company and the company purported several protections, such as being bonded and placing our money in escrow, it appears that this was not the case and that our students’ money cannot be recovered,” said Ireland. “Several other educational travel companies, hearing about Voyageur’s bankruptcy, have contacted us to offer the group a discounted trip in an effort to help our students. One travel company has a trip going to the same cities at the same time as the original trip with 19 seats available. Our students have been offered these seats as a ‘rescue’ trip at a greatly reduced price of $1,200 each. Seven students are planning on this new trip.”
Originally 22 people – including 11 students – had registered to go to France June 22 on the Voyageur Tours trip.
Ireland said there are three chaperones going on the replacement trip.
“The other adult participants are going for vacation and an educational experience just like the students,” she said. “That has been the practice in Easton all along. When the students go on one of these educational tours, it’s opened to the community members, as well.”
To help ease the financial burden for students, the school held a spaghetti supper May 28.
“We raised close to $3,000 with the cost of the dinner and donations,” said Ireland. “We certainly won’t be able to cover everyone’s loss or cost, but we’re hoping to help each student. It would be nice to help everybody that’s been affected, including the adults, but we’ll have to wait and see. Needless to say we’re helping the students first.”
Superintendent Frank Keenan said Monday that fund-raising efforts have been successful and donations have been pouring in including $5,000 from Michael Haenn, a lawyer with the Bangor firm Lambert Coffin Haenn. To date, more than $12,000 has been raised to help with students’ expenses.
Haenn, who is not from Aroostook County, read about Easton’s travel woes on the Bangor Daily News Web site.
“I read newspapers every morning for about an hour online and found the article in the BDN,” said Haenn, who hopes his donation will spur other businesses to do the same. “It bothered me a great deal what was probably going to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many of these kids was essentially stolen from them. I came from a very modest upbringing, and if that had happened to me, I’m sure it would have been demoralizing beyond comparison.”
Recognizing that fund-raising efforts raised the necessary money for the initial trip, Haenn said he felt bad for the students.
“It’s like they were robbed,” he said. “They worked hard for the money and all of a sudden it’s gone. It’s worse than being robbed, it’s being taxed. To me it’s only money, but to the kids I’m sure it was a dream. I’m glad I could help.”
Participants will depart on the new trip June 22 and return home June 30.
“There’s a slightly different itinerary,” said Ireland, who is also going on the trip. “We still go to Paris and we’ll see the southern part of France, but there are a few changes to the cities. It’s unfortunate that this happened, but it’s been a life lesson for the students.
“The students are learning that when you have something happen and there’s a bump in the road, you keep on pushing and working through it,” she said. “The support we’ve received has been amazing. It’s nice to see and we’re very grateful.”
Anyone who would like to contribute to the “Rescue” trip may send donations to “Europe Trip Rescue Fund” at Easton High School, P.O. Box 66, Easton, Maine 04740.
