[Eenc-board] Want to Make a Difference at the NC State Fair?

[Info -TFF]

Dear Friends:

It is time for the annual North Carolina State Fair and The Forest 
Foundation(TFF) will have its booth again (11th year running) in 
Commercial Building II. As a local non-profit, TFF supports sustainable 
livelihoods, promotes fair trade, initiates “Green Business” 
development--such as helping in formation of Carolina Biodiesel and 
Greenway Transit. For its space at the well attended Fair, TFF receives 
some sponsorship from other fair trade businesses, and for the past 5 
years TFF has shared its location with other local environmental 
organizations, creating both a retail and informational booth to 
fair-goers, "walking and talking the talk." (A brief summary of TFF’s 
mission is included below. Also check-out our website for more 
information about us, visit www.theforestfoundation.org 
<http://www.theforestfoundation.org/>.)

This year TFF is sharing the booth with North Carolina Conservation 
Network, who will be offering information and activities regarding 
*drought and water conservation issues* effecting North Carolina. The 
Forest Foundation will offer fair trade items for sale, and provide 
handouts on fair trade, biodiesel and Greenway Transit Services, 
including the famous pedicabs.TFF invites you to come share time with us 
and a bunch of like minded folks, educating the masses (a "target rich" 
environment), having fun and engaging in open debate and dialog.

We need folks to help with a shift or two throughout the 10 days of the 
event. TFF will provide free entry passes for volunteers that will allow 
you into the Fair and you can enjoy all that it offers before or after 
your shift. What is involved is selling hand-made, fairly traded crafts 
along with handing out information and talking with people about the 
various issues or ones that you may hold dear. Shifts are in 3 hour 
segments, yet we can be flexible as necessary.

This year the event runs from Oct. 12^th through the 21st and the hours 
are from 9:00am to 9:45pm each day. We would like for volunteers to take 
at least a 2 hour shift. We can email you a calendar to fill in your 
desired time or let me know what shift you would like to work. For more 
details, please email or call MK Williams:

mkw at theforestfoundation <mailto:mkw at theforestfoundation> or (919)957-1505.

*Our Mission*

TFF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes sustainable 
livelihoods around the world, and provides both environmental education 
and “green” business development through a number of ongoing programs 
and projects. The mission of The Forest Foundation is to assist 
artisans, producer groups and other entrepreneurs living in and around 
areas of high biodiversity.

Our goal is to develop model programs in sustainable business and rural 
development. We use market-based initiatives to create not only 
incentives for sustainability, but also products that internalize the 
costs and benefits of protecting, conserving, and restoring these 
natural areas. We want to enable everyone to make conscientious choices 
that create opportunity, protect these “last great places,” and build a 
better world.

Rapid loss of biodiversity, globalization and overpopulation are rapidly 
affecting communities tied to these important resources. It is 
imperative that we understand how we are connected to these areas, 
through our consumptive behavior, and to consume more sustainably, 
properly valuing both human and natural capital.