Helen Cook

Survey Results — Cultural Care Au Pair Gets Great Reviews!

Posted by: hcook on January 22, 2010

THE RESULTS ARE IN ….  The results from the 2009 Host Family Survey are in … and the consensus is that our Host Families are overwhelmingly happy!  To share a few of the statistics:  - 96% of Host Families are satisfied with the quality of childcare that their Au Pair         provides  - 95% are satisfied with the support provided by their Local Childcare Coordinator - 97% are pleased with the choice they made to use the services of Cultural Care Au Pair - 96% would recommend the services of Cultural Care Au Pair to other families Thank you to our current Host Families for participating and for helping us to further improve our program! Host family feedback gathered through our customer satisfaction survey has contributed to several changes at Cultural Care Au Pair including:    - An improved Host Family and Au Pair matching process    - Increased new and repeat Host Family discounts    - New payment plan options    - Better online and phone support for Host Families. In addition, Host Families are able to provide direct feedback to senior management at face to face meetings held throughout the country, and they may participate in an online forum (www.community.culturalcare.com) created just for program participants. We are thrilled with these results, which are certified by independent survey company Discovery Surveys, Inc.  In fact, our participation rate (52% of active Host Families this time around) and the results themselves have improved each of the four times we have administered the surveys (spring and fall of 2008 and spring and fall of 2009).   For more detailed survey information, visit our website.

December Au Pair Meeting - Thai Thai II Dinner & Gift Exchange

Posted by: hcook on December 12, 2009

   Reminder:  Cultural Care Au Pair —  Lehigh Valley Au Pairs — December Au Pair Meeting is scheduled as follows:

     Date:   Sunday (That’s Tomorrow), December 13, 2009

     Where:  Thai Thai II Restaurant, 509 Main Street Bethlehem, PA — Downtown Bethlehem — “The Christmas City”

     Time:   5:00 p.m. (Do Not Be Late)

     Cost:   $13.00

     Bring:   A gift wrapped ($10 limit) with no name on it and give the gift to Helen for the gift exchange when arriving at Thai Thai.   We will have a Thai Dinner, Christmas Cookies and a Gift Exchange.  

     Parking:   Parking in Downtown Bethlehem is limited this time of year — plan your time to come early — and best to find Parking in one of the Parking Decks near downtown.  Car Pool .. it is the easiest way to park!

     Pre-Meeting Activities:   Although the weather sounds like it might rain, The Christmas City is still fun to find many items for Christmas .. Plan to come early / shop downtown Main Street — Don’t miss “The Moravian Book Store” and other wonderful little and unusual shops.  There may be carolers on the streets and, of course, the horsedrawn wagons.   Come early for the fun before our dinner (Au Pair Meeting)

DECEMBER AU PAIR MEETING - “Thai” Dinner and Gift Exchange!

Posted by: hcook on December 1, 2009

Lehigh Valley Au Pairs will gather for our December Au Pair Meeting in “Downtown” Bethlehem — “The Christmas City” for a “Thai” Dinner (Da and Jick — our Thai Au Pairs — will especially like this)!

Restaurant:   Thai Thai II Restaurant, 509 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA.   The Thai Thai II Restaurant is located in downtown Bethlehem .. near the Hotel Bethlehem and on the same side of the street as the Hotel Bethlehem.

Time:   5:00 P.M.  (Please be AT the Thai Restaurant no later than 5:00 p.m.)

Cost:   $13.00 Per Au Pair (Dinner will be served family style) 

Payment:  You will pay Helen at the dinner (please try to have the correct money)

Gift Exchange:   Please bring a WRAPPED Gift that will be exchanged with the other Au Pairs.  Please remember that we have a few “Male Au Pairs” in the Group so that should make your shopping more interesting.  Please spend about $10 for the gift.  Wrap the gift (do not put your name on the gift) and bring the gift to the restaurant in a bag (don’t tell the other Au Pairs what you bought or are bringing).  Upon arrival at the restaurant, give the bag with the present to Helen and later we will play a “Gift Exchange” game!   At the end of the game - everyone will receive a Christmas present!

Note:  There is sooo much to do in Bethlehem this time of year.  Please visit the following website for ideas:   http://www.christmascity.org/thingstodo/

This might be a good time for you to come early to Bethlehem — park and shop before our Thai Dinner and Gift Exchange.   The shops are interesting - not all that expensive and fun!  Bundle up if it is cold!

Parking:   Parking can be a little difficult — so plan your day accordingly.  There are two main parking decks near Main Street and Broad Street in Bethlehem.  You would park — take a ticket — and if you buy something at some of the local shops (like Moravian Book Store, etc.) you can have the ticket stamped and get some hours of parking for free.  There are also parking spots along the streets .. but please be sure to put money in the parking meters so you will not get a parking ticket!  Put in enough money to cover the time you are in Bethlehem!!!  (Parking Lots are better)

Main Street of Downtown Bethlehem is bustling with shops decorated for Christmas and there are carolers and brass choirs playing traditional Christmas music.  Don’t forget to look in the side streets (Donegal Square for English traditions) and other areas for interesting items.   Just walking around the area should be fun (weather permitting) .. so take some time to do this before the dinner.

The Moravian Book Shop — http://www.moravianbookshop.com/ — is a wonderful place to just look around and you might find a gift for that special someone.  It has so many different items in the store and something for almost everyone.  It is open on Sundays from Noon until 5:00 p.m.

Christkindmarkt – This is a German-type Holiday Market that has been rated as one of the best in the country.  http://www.christmascity.org/ckm/  The cost to enter Christkindmakt is $8.00 .. so you might want to think about that before you go .. but it is an interesting place to buy little things.

Again:   Au Pair December Meeting at Thai Thai II Restaurant AT 5:00 p.m.!