Fair Trade Festival

I just received this in my mail the other day: 

QUICK RESPONSE NEEDED!

Dear Fair Trade Fans,

The time has come to commit to the Fair Trade Festival!

The festival this year will be at WATERSIDE!!!!

Same time frame, Sat December 5, 10am to 10 pm,  and Sunday Dec 6 12:00 pm-5pm.

The good news: BEAUTIFUL venue, lots of space, built-in sound system, dedicated poetry space, indoors, but with a giant window to the outdoors!  Great publicity help! Additional table space: I am planning on 50 tables rather than 40.  Dinner tentatively planned for Friday night... 

The bad news: Slight increase in table price to $50, and... we can't leave merchandise over night.  Your tables, racks, etc can stay up over night, but they said we absolutely could not leave merchandise set up on the tables over night. Sigh.  Apologies. I will try to have additional volunteer help available for pack-up Saturday night.

If you are a previous vendor or a performer, you want to be included in the festival, and you have the first weekend in December available, please drop me a quick email right away saying "YES", and I will assume you are coming.  I need to get the press release written in the next week, and will only be able to mention people who have said they are coming!  New vendors, we'll handle applications later- right now I just need to know you'd like to come.

Immediate needs:

A FUNDRAISER

A VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

A FESTIVAL "INTERN" who'd like to learn how to do this!

Thanks, y'all!

-Susan Posey, 

Fair Trade Festival Coordinator

cel (757) 581-5672

fairtradefun@gmail.com

Last night Susan and I talked extensively about what is still needed to get this off the ground. She *really* needs someone who is good at fundraisers. The festival needs companies that jive with the Fair Trade mission (like a donation from Wal-Mart won't work) and/or individuals who are willing to donate anywhere between $50 to $1000. Obviously the more money she is able to raise, the more she will be able to pay the performing artists as well as just make things happen. Speaking of performing artists - she is in need for musicians, poets, dancers, etc. Anyone who can perform during the festival is what she is looking for! 

Oh! Don't know why Fair Trade is important? Then check these links out to learn more: 

http://www.fairtradefederation.org/

http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/coffee/

Looking for local stores to purchase Fair Trade items? Check these places out: 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Norfolk-VA/Elliots-Fair-Grounds/135203385931#/pages/Norfolk-VA/Elliots-Fair-Grounds/135203385931?v=wall&viewas=0

http://www.greenalternativesstore.com/

http://newportnews.tenthousandvillages.com/php/stores.festivals/store.homepage.php