It is later than you think! In two short weeks we will be celebrating Saint Stephen’s Annual British Garden Party on Saturday, May 4th. I have it on good authority (Fr Hawtin) that we can expect another excellent day, weather wise, with sunny spring-like temperatures. However, just in case something should fall through, it probably would be a good idea to bring a light jacket or sweater in the event our usually accurate weather forecaster is not quite so.
As you probably know, our Parish Life Committee has been working very hard to put together a wonderful day of festivities, including gastronomic enjoyments, outdoor entertainments, wonderful baked goods for purchase, games of chance and an authentic British tea party.
The used book stall at the Garden Party. (CDs, DVDs, and even a few VHS tapes are also available.) Everything is priced to sell!
Now, if all this sounds like our British Garden Party is all put together, it is not! We need your help and quickly. First out of the box is neighborhood advertising and sponsorship. We would like you to distribute our Garden Party Posters, as well as solicit ads for our Garden Party Brochure from local merchants as you go about your everyday tasks. This needs to be done now in order to get the maximum advertising momentum.
These posters are available now and can be found in the Cadwalader Room. In addition, there are several additional tasks that need to be completed at various stages in our run-up to the big day. These include volunteers for the various food and sales tables, providing fresh baked goods, “white elephant goods for our “Jumble” table, and bottles of wine and spirits to stock the Booze Bros. stand.
You can always find high quality jumble at the Garden Party’s Portobello Road White Elephant booth.
Finally, we need a crew of “deck hands” to help erect the tents, tables and booths the day before our big event. This activity usually takes around three hours, depending on the number of volunteers who show up. It is not hard work, but we need a lot of “hands”. Lastly, don’t forget to consider being a Contributing or an Ad Patron. The following are the levels of patronage:
| Contributing Patron | |
|---|---|
| Imperial Crown | $100 |
| House of Windsor | $75 |
| House of York | $50. |
| House of Lancaster | $25 |
| Ad Patron | |
|---|---|
| Quarter Page | $25 |
| Half Page | $50 |
| Whole Page | $100 |
If you choose to be a Contributing Patron, your name will be printed in the event program. Please indicate how you want your name displayed. Should the Ad Patron category appeal to you, the text of your ad should be included with your check.
Either way, all checks should be made out to Saint Stephen’s Anglican Church and deposited in Cindie Baker’s mailbox which is in the Church Office just off the Cadwalader Room. OK, now let’s all get ready for the Big Day!
—From John Darlington
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