Greetings CAMNation!
This is the first of the BioBlast emails you will receive as I mentioned in the CAMN newsletter earlier this week. I encourage everyone to read THIS email, even if you are not planning to attend BioBlast this year as it represents both a need and an opportunity.
But, before I go into that, I want everyone who IS planning to attend BioBlast know that the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute (WRI) is now accepting reservations for lodging on site on a first-come, first served basis. If you wish to stay at WRI, give them a call at 501.727.5435 or 866.972.7778 for information or reservations. Be sure to mention AMN/BioBlast as the event.
Now, back to business. Last year, BioBlast registration costs were $100/person. With the added expense of fuel and lodging (if the member stayed a night or two), we feel a lot of folks made a choice not to come due to cost. This year, we are also focusing on making BioBlast simpler by eliminating the selling of pins and raffle tickets, and reducing the Silent Auction to fewer, nicer items (no offense to anyone...some of the items donated last year were very nice, indeed!). Our goal is to make BioBlast registration FREE (or as close as possible, not including lodging) so more people can attend this year. To do this, we are turning our efforts towards seeking more Corporate Sponsorships. To that end, we are asking for ALL AMN member's help by approaching just 1-2 local businesses. To make this easier, we are providing you the following four documents that can be printed and shared with potential sponsors:
1. A letter to members with instructions on using the packets and tips and tricks on approaching businesses.
2. A "customizable" Letter of Introduction in WORD format that you can personalize for a more personal approach. This is the Letter of Introduction that is preferred for use.
3. A "generic" Letter of Introduction than can be printed and then your your name and phone number hand-written at the bottom.
4. The Sponsorship Packet itself. This full-color document is as much a 'marketing tool' as it is a request for donation, helping potential sponsors understand the who's, what's, why's, where's and when of AMN and BioBlast.
With everyone's help, we can get more people to BioBlast more affordably this year. Please think of this not so much as fundraising (which it is), but as an opportunity to share the good works that AMN./CAMN does with the public, just like we might do at the State Fair or other event. Be sure to log any time spent working on this as BioBlast Planning. If you are unable to print the documents or to print them in color, please email me back and I will print them for you. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of all of AMN.
Yours in Service,
John Sommer
CAMN President |