The education committee is presently putting all of its effort into the symposium. We have not done any work on developing a speaker's bureau. The committee considers itself as the aTLC Symposium Subcommittee.
The Symposium Subcommittee is well on its way in developing the first bi-annual symposium. (see Symposium Announcement (Word Document). We have contacted and received verbal commitments from all but three of our invited speakers. We are presently in the process of sending them invitation letters and contracts.
The Symposium committee is in the process of completing the final draft of the Announcement and website description. Action plan is to have this completed by July 6, 2002.
Fundraising
Ray is working to raise funds for this project and is currently setting up a meeting with potential private funding person who requests that he remain anonymous. This could also lead to sponsorships from major natural food market chains in the US plus other ecology-based industries.
At our next meeting on July 16, Margaret Horton and I are going to introduce a method for existing committee members to raise funds when they are approaching community invitees. We plan to create a promotion package that includes: The Proclamation, the Blueprint, Symposium Description page, Website address, and individualized letter from the committee member.
Any help the Fundraising Committee can give us will be helpful. Sharron has suggested that we hire a professional fundraiser for a fee.
Future Financial Needs
- La Casa de Maria $2200 due in October
- Jack $3000
- Site coordinator $3000
- Video project/Interviews $5000
- Cost for website production
- See Business Plan
Next Steps
- Complete the Symposium Announcement
- Get the Symposium Announcement on the website.
- Send out invitations to Symposium invitees
- Raise funds to support the project
- Create a Symposium PR Sponsor's Package to include: Proclamation, Blueprint, Symposium Description (See below)
- Procedure for collecting tuition
- Develop Model Community teams (see attachment of Santa Barbara County team development plan)
- Invite Alliance Members and other interested people (50 to 75 people)
- Interface person for invitees for follow up and questions. Margaret Horton is willing to do this if no one else shows up for this important job.
- Interface person for speakers for follow up and questions
- Create a press release package
- Plan post conference workshops
(From #5 above) Standard package of materials that makes it easy for anyone to spread the word about aTLC and to become a 'fundraiser.' (Like giving them examples of letters others have sent out to their friends informing them of work with aTLC and asking for contributions.) encouraging all involved to have printouts of Proclamation and Blueprints available to pass out at all times, etc.
Closing Comments
The Symposium Subcommittee is making continuous steady progress, meeting twice a month by phone. The members are doing what they commit to do. It is a good working cooperative team. The main thing that has yet to happen is fundraising. We have yet to attract members to the committee who are strong fundraisers.
Ray Castellino