Final preparations

So no moonbounce, but I have managed to build what I like to call a Reverse Dunk Tank! It dumps the water on you instead of dumping you into the water. I'll have to find some volunteers to sit in it...
This is the time that we're doing the final preparations, making lists, gathering supplies. There's a great line up of volunteers committed to serving the fair. Some of them have been helping out for quite a few years, but the only person who has earned the distinction of being a volunteer for all ten fairs is my brother Ian. He was only 6 when we started doing this, but he was there, helping me hang up posters and mix lemonade. This year he has his sights set on the cotton candy machine.
I'm feeling pretty good about where we're at right now. At this point, most of it is routine. I hang up flyers, send press releases, and just generally get the word out.
I just love doing all of this so much, the run-up to fair day gets really exciting!
Hope to see you all there!
Catherine

The Work Continues

Alright, so sponsor letters have been sent, I have redone the Information poster, and plans have been finalized with the bands. Next week will be some early press releases to my "reach" media outlets (to borrow a phrase from the college-search lexicon): national news outlets, the Associated Press, Oprah and other major talk shows. You know me, I like to aim high. On the off chance that one of these places agrees to feature the Craft Fair, it will mean a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of these diseases.
I'm thinking about creating some sort of video of the Craft Fair to serve as a retrospective since this Fair will be our tenth (!). In addition, I have been adding bits and pieces to the book I'm working on about the fair... it's in the very early stages, but I'm enjoying writing about the little things I've learned from the Fair.
I'm also making crafts, which is quite fun. We have a ton of materials accumulated over the years.
If you know a crafter or are a crafter, I can hook you up with materials if you would like to make stuff for the fair. If you have items already made, we welcome donations. Also, if you have small toys that can serve as prizes, we would love those too.
One exciting tidbit: we may be getting a Moonbounce this year! More details to follow.
Thank you all once again for your support.
Catherine

And So It Begins...

Well, now is the time of year when planning for the Craft Fair starts in earnest. I have tentative confirmation for the musical groups this year: the Jazz Combo and Distant Sun are both planning on returning. They have been amazing supporters of the fair and have donated their time to perform. The live music really adds another dimension to the fair, and I am so grateful to them.
I'm working on getting the word out about what donations we need and the need for volunteers by updating the website and this blog, and submitting the Fair as a community service event on serve.gov, President Obama's site promoting his "United We Serve" campaign. I'm hoping to get people to donate crafts, supplies, and publicity work through these sites.
In the next few weeks, letters will go out to our regular sponsors and donors. I will start talking to Craft Fair cabinet members about the plans for this year's fair. I'm excited to once again be starting the planning for the Craft Fair, because it is work I really enjoy doing.
Thank you all once again for your support.

Early planning...

Well, although it is the dead of winter, planning has started for this year's Craft Fair. In all likelihood, this year's fair will be the last, since I will be starting college in the fall of 2010. Just the thought of not working on the Craft Fair anymore is weird for me, since I have been doing it every year for the last 9 years. I'm trying to focus on planning and not getting too bogged down in the details...
Anyway, recently I started writing a book about my experiences with the Craft Fair. I realized that I have learned a lot from the Craft Fair about hard work, perseverance, the power a written letter can have, and lots more. I'm hoping to find a way to sell the book to raise money for AAMDSIF.
I have also recruited several friends and family members to what I like to call the "Craft Fair Cabinet". These are people who have volunteered at a lot of Craft Fairs, and who will be helping me keep track of everything that needs to be done, and they will help bring new ideas to the Fair. I'm really excited about working with them.
Soon I plan to begin mailing some early letters out, mostly to national media outlets and other larger-name donors. My hope is that I will be able to raise awareness about bone marrow failure syndromes and AAMDSIF through media coverage of the Craft Fair. I did not get any reply from the shows and organizations I wrote to last year, but I am hopeful that I will get a reply this year.
Thanks to everyone who reads this site, and contributes to the fair! I am very excited for this year!