Dear Catawba Friends

Catawba Landcare has teamed up with a number of community organizations in the valley, including: Ekklesia Acres, Catawba Valley Ruritans, Catawba Civic League, Roanoke County, Catawba Community Club, Catawba United Methodist Church, Shiloh Union Church, and McDonald's Mill United Methodist Church to host the inaugural Celebrate Catawba event to celebrate the land and lives of the Catawba Valley.

The event will take place on Saturday, August 15th from 10am to 5pm at the Catawba Community Center and neighboring Catawba Sustainability Center. The event is intended to raise awareness of groups and businesses operating within the valley, and to celebrate the resources and people of the valley. The event will be open to the public, and will be advertised throughout the Roanoke and Blacksburg areas. Your participation in the celebration would be warmly welcomed and greatly appreciated.

Participation in the event can take on a number of forms. First and foremost, come out that day to celebrate with the community.

Meet up with family and old friends, and meet new friends and neighbors in the Valley!

Second, if you wish to be a vendor, we will have a section of the community center grounds designated for groups to set up informational displays and activities. There will also be space available for a mini-farmers & artisans market where local producers and artists can display and sell their goods.

Food sales are limited to baked goods, produce, etc (the option for prepared foods is reserved for sponsoring organizations). Spaces for these types of displays and set-ups will be limited to 10x10, though more space can be made available by request. If groups are interested in leading other tours, demonstrations, or activities, we will have space available at the neighboring Catawba Sustainability Center (site of the former Catawba Farm) to do so. There is no fee for nonprofit and church groups to participate; a $10 fee for any vendor who will be selling goods for a profit.

Groups or vendors who live or operate specifically in the Catawba Valley area will be given priority for participation. The application for participation must be completed and submitted by June 30th, 2008. An electronic application is available on the event website at www.celebratecatawba.com.

Completed applications can be submitted at the website or mailed to Frankie and Louise Garman at 8430 Gravel Hill Road, Catawba, VA 24070. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me or Courtney at contact@celebratecatawba.com. Please consider participating and making the first Celebrate Catawba a celebration to remember!

Sincerely,

Christy

Christy Gabbard
Conservation Management Institute
College of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech
1900 Kraft Drive, Suite 250
Blacksburg, VA 24061
phone: 540 357 3744
fax: 509 355 8953
http://www.cmiweb.orghttp://www.CatawbaLandcare.org