Wakefield Grannies

www.thegrannies.org

MayDay Granny Gather

Draft Event Plan

February 19, 2007

MayDay Granny Gather

May 5, 2007 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wakefield Community Centre Entry: free All funds raised will assist grandmothers and orphans in Africa.

Event Description
A day of celebration, of rebirth, spring, family and life while mindful of the struggle of others. Mayday is a distress signal and this urgency informs the quality of our message about HIV/AIDS and the devastation of Southern Africa. The event will be both educational and entertaining. There will be workshops and drumming classes, a food court and a market. In the evening there will be a film showing of THE GREAT GRANNY REVOLUTION, a documentary which follows the growth of a national movement which began right here in Wakefield itself. Venues A large tent, about 30 or 40 x 50 will dominate the space in front of the Wakefield Community Centre where there is ample parking for attendees and easy access to both the center itself and to additional areas in the surrounding fields for activities. If necessary there are a number of possible overflow sites nearby including the United Church and River Echo Language School. Involving Youth There will be a youth public awareness program developed by and with the youth groups associated with the Wakefield Grannies, in particular those at Hadley School under Kay Kerman and Chelsea under Linda Jones. Typical of the programs to be offered are: Drumming classes Beadmaking classes Dancing the Maypole Workshop Activity with young people providing background information on the situation and doing one or two activities like the How AIDS Spreads exercise. Other Involving the Regions Grannies Wakefield Grannies have invited the participation of all 17 Granny groups in the Ottawa Region. At the time of this draft there were already 11 groups working on

plans. It is hoped that MayDay will be an opportunity for the regional groups to meet and share workshop activities as well as being part of the event itself. Tables will be free for Granny Groups as long as all funds raised go to either the Stephen Lewis Foundation or direct to an Africa project (there are local groups who are independently funding specific projects as Wakefield does). Regional Granny Groups and individuals can participate in the following ways: Take a table in the tent to sell fundraising items, plants, cards, etc. Offer a workshop topic specifically for the Grannies Offer an activity or workshop for the general public Attend and participate in the workshops, film showing etc. Donate your underused jewelry and CDs to the sales tables Other Involving the Community Many groups and individuals have offered their support and they will be asked to help out. We will call for help through the Wakefield News and word of mouth. It is important that we encourage and provide space for individual initiative so hopefully by canvassing the community we will receive offers and suggestions we havent thought of. Although tables are free for fundraising Granny groups, with businesses we will request a percentage of earnings be donated to the Wakefield Grannies. For example: Ann Winship who donated the Fair Trade Coffee to the concert will take a stand at the event and sell coffee. Lynn Barwin, owner of Mammamoon the organic, locally made, body care products. Anouk Gregoire and other small caterers may come out and take a table at the food court for their goods. The Recreation Committee normally runs a community clean up program at the centre and they will still do their clean-up. We will strongly support such community minded activities. We have offered to use our stage opportunity to honour the groups who have been most inclusive, innovative, largest number of generations, whatever. We will also need to draw a crew for set up and strike from the community at large.

CD Exchange and the Grannies Jewelry Shop Everyone can donate to these two projects in which the Wakefield Grannies collect used and unwanted CDs and jewelry and then offer them for sale at the event. This is a very good project because it is environmentally friendly, includes everyone through both donations and then later purchases.

Activity Plan
1. TENT: approx. cost $1200 We need a sponsor to pay for the tent, porto-potties and chairs. Approx $3,500. Chairs: Tables: Projector: Screen: Power: Stage: Sound: 250 United Church + some rental ? 20 ? Claude Laroche A white sheet or sheets ? ? Theatre Wakefield stage? the Little stage on site? Theatre Wakefield equip ($150) and Louis Rompr or Peter MacGibbon Porto Potties Nicole Feraud Lewis is costing and booking

2. Workshop Program Peggy Edwards and Mary Jane Sterne are offering a choice of 5 workshops. Peggy did one at the Toronto Conference. The Wakefield Grannies will offer their power point presentation two or three times over the course of the afternoon. I hope the people who make AIDS ANGELS will lead a workshop. 13 year old Charlotte will teach people how to make weave beads for AIDS pins etc.. Additional people are welcome to work on generating this project. Advisors: Norma Geggie, Carol Faulkner, Margo Lemelin, Ilse Turnsen

3. Food Court There is lots of interest in the food court. Already Chapter 2 is working on soup packages and preserves. We need one or two people to oversee this part of the project and determine how many groups and what they require etc. Hopefully some caterers will take a table for the day as well. Wakefield Granny Food Team will take a table. Anne Winship will have baked goods and coffee. More are needed. Organizers:

4. May Pole Organizers: ?

5. Jewelry and CDs Ilse and Hope have offered to continue with the CD Exchange. We will approach Jamboree as a collection point. Edie Jane has offered to pick up jewelry from donors where necessary. The youth will card and bag jewelry. We will have a knowledgeable jeweler help us price the jewelry. Co-ordinator: CDs Ilse Turnsen Co-ordinator: Jewelry Margo Lemelin

6. Marketplace Initial contact has been made and more outreach should be done for the marketplace. There are (2 months ahead) 10 tables booked and 3 addional food tables. Organizers: Kristen Walsh has volunteered to help and she has experience teaching skiing and coaching soccer in addition to her involvement in organizing the Hadley support for a school in Lesoto. She has asked for an organizing job so possibly she could oversee everyone being settled at their tables during set up. Lydia will be meeting with Kristen and a few others so that we can hand over the information collected and they can start direct contact.

7. Youth Program In addition to drumming classes, Charlotte Connolly and her supervisor at Hadley School, Kay Kerman have agreed to work with their group of 7 young people to develop a workshop and to help with the jewelry table. They will need support and assistance. As well we will want to draw all of our other young people into the event and the planning. Probably Sam, Marley, Emma etc can work out a table or help in some role. Linda Jones is another person we have invited to participate. Organizers: Nina Gorka, who has worked extensively with the Youth Centre and the community has generously offered to assist with this program. In addition to her input on the activities I see her as an Youth Program MC on the day. Drumming with Kathy. Norma and Nicole are discussing workshops Co-ordinating the youth groups: Annick Hardie.

8. Film Showing Equipment: In the church, projector and screen Rooney Productions will look after the showing from a technical point of view. Publicity etc. will be incorporated with the event publicity. $10 tickets will be sold in advance through our normal outlets. Organizers: Brenda Rooney, Kristen Walsh plus ?

9. Publicity We will first use email and press announcements to encourage people to donate to the CD and Jewelry exchanges. Then sponsored ads in the Low Down and WQP. An event announcement for events listings in Ottawa to go out April 1. A press release to the Ottawa media three weeks before the event and the offer of stills from the film. Post flyers throughout the area and use the Granny news network to generate publicity.

Communications Committee: Nicole Feraud Lewis, Cordula Podehl, Brenda Rooney.

Facilities
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Tent Tables and Chairs Small tents Washrooms Breakout rooms for workshops

Budget
Publicity Rentals Materials Total $ 500 $3,500 $ 500 $4,500 plus 1,000s of volunteer hours.