Original Letter of Saturday August 14, 2010 (plus newer updates)

Hi Everyone,

Greg Brown, Chair of this year’s Harvest Festival asking for your assistance in making this year’s event a success.

Some quick notes:

The 2010 Harvest Festival will be taking place October 16th, the same weekend as the Ennis Fall Festival.  It was discussed and agreed that having it the same weekend would increase our chances of bringing in more event attendees, especially, non-church members.  The more money we bring in from the public and not from our members the better.  That’s our goal this year.

The money raised at the event will be going towards purchasing a new van for the Church.  We will be working closely with the Trustees this year for they are also trying to raise money for vans.  We feel that between the two of us, we should reach this goal quickly.

OK, so where do we go from here?

Well, since last year’s event was a success, I pretty much hold that we don’t change a lot.  At last week’s Harvest Festival meeting, this was pretty much the consensus of those in attendance.  That being said, we need help in the following areas of operation:

Trash to Treasures:  Jerry and Marcey Norman have stepped up to the plate this year and will be team leaders in this area.  Starting tomorrow, we will begin asking for everyone in the congregation to bring in their gently used items to donate to Trash to Treasures.  However, we ask that no clothing items or really used/broken items be brought.  Jerry and Marcey will be busy sorting and pricing items, so the less work they have to do filtering through junk, the better.  I need to find out if any of the above rooms in the Church can be used for storage.  If anyone has any insight into that, please let me know.  Thanks.

UPDATE: Kristi Schmidt will help out by leading the Children’s Corner, and she can be reached by email at kschmidt@balfourbeattyus.com .

Silent Auction: Last year, this was sponsored by the Lord’s Ladies Class and they have decided to step up to the plate again this year!  Last year’s silent auction did very well, but it requires the assistance of all that can help.  This year, we REALLY need help in going out to local businesses in Ennis, Waxahachie, and Corsicana to solicit donations for silent auction gifts.  Also, if you work for a large business in the DFW area and can get them to donate a tangible item, that would be great.  Time is of the essence, though, for last year we didn’t start soliciting donations from vendors until September and many had been “picked dry” by other events (Chili Supper, etc).  If you can help out in this area, please let me know ASAP for we really need it.  We’ll also be pushing for more “gift basket” donations from the Church congregation for those seemed to do well last year as well.

UPDATE: Jill Collins with the Lord’s Ladies will lead this.  Contact her by email if you would like to help, at jilene2@yahoo.com .

Live Auction: Last year, this was sponsored by the Word Class.  Most of the Word Class is on this e-mail so I would think that y’all are good to go on doing this again.  This year, however, we’re going to scale back the Auction and focus on trying to do say 6 really big auction items.  I need a team leader from the Word Class to helm the responsibility of getting this done.  Any volunteers!
UPDATE: There is some interest, so this is back on track, but we need your support...

UPDATE:  New Activity Added: Candle Cornucopia:  This is a NEW addition to the Harvest Festival for 2010.  If you love scented candles, then this is the place to visit.  Peruse through a wide assortment of 12 oz “Short Pint” candles made right here in the state of Texas!

Food Pantry: Last year this was sponsored by the Wesley Class.  Is there anyone reading this e-mail in the Wesley Class willing to take on the role of Team Leader for this section?  Last year, this area did really good, so I’d just say keep up the good work!

Pumpkin Patch: Last year, this was sponsored by the Youth Group.  Mateo and I’ve talked about doing this again this year, and they’re up for it.  However, in order to make it a success this year, we need the help of the youth and their parents to help operate the Pumpkin Patch during the week (evenings only) and during the weekend.  The Pumpkin Patch is the greatest opportunity to advertise for the Harvest Festival.  People come in, buy a pumpkin, and get info on the Harvest Festival.  We’ll have a captive audience  so we need to take advantage of it…

Saturday Noon Live: Last year, we did BBQ and all the fixins and it did great.  I need a volunteer this year to be team leader to make it a success again.  Please contact me if you can be that person.
UPDATE:  Kevin Six will be the team leader, email him if you can help out, at ksix@asag.net .

Finally, I need a volunteer to be Team Leader for the Decorating Committee and the Fall Festival Promotions Committee.  The Decorating Committee Team Leader is in charge of getting the front entryway decorated like last year as well as decorating the Family Life Center the day before the event (they would also be responsible for breaking it down). The Fall Festival Promotions Committee Team Leader would be responsible for setting up a 10x10 ft covered kiosk at the Fall Festival and handing out flyers, small pumpkins, etc, so as to promote our Harvest Festival and push people in that direction.  We did this last year, and it did very well.

UPDATE: Kristi Copeland will be the Decorating Team Leader.  Contact her if you would like to help, at kristi.copeland@Ennis.K12.TX.US .

Finally, if you can help prepare for the Harvest Festival and/or help during the event, please e-mail me. (eklyps@flash.net)

I will be editing this e-mail list so I’m not inundating the rest of you with Harvest Festival updates and such.  Also, if you know anyone that wants to help, please send them my way.  The more assistance we have on this event, the better.  You are what makes this event a success.

Thanks again.

Greg Brown

Chairperson – Ennis FUMC Harvest Festival 2010

List of Contacts:

Greg Brown                                Chair of Harvest Festival            gbrown@whidbey.net

Jerry and Marcey Norman        Trash to Treasures                       marceyboque@yahoo.com

Kristi Schmidt                            Children’s Corner                        kschmidt@balfourbeattyus.com

Jill Collins, Lord’s Ladies          Silent Auction                              jilene2@yahoo.com

Word Class ?                              Live Auction

Wesley Class ?                            Food Pantry

Mateo and the Youth                Pumpkin Patch                            mmmsoccor17@yahoo.com

Kevin Six                                    Saturday Noon Live                     ksix@asag.net

Kristi Copeland                         Decorating Team Leader            kristi.copeland@Ennis.K12.TX.US

Brian Pierce                               Fall Festival Promotions Committee  brian75119@yahoo.com