Thank you for considering being a Sponsor for Agriculture & Forestry Education Foundation’s “Celebrating our Connection to the World” gala benefit on Friday, October 27, 2006, starting with a sampling of wine, beer and savories at 5:30 p.m. and family styled dinner starting at 7:00 p.m. – at the Fisher Pavilion in Seattle.

Here are some of the ways you and your organization can participate as a sponsor:

Participation	Amount	Benefits
Grande Pomme Level	$20,000	Grande Pomme Sponsors will receive two tables of 10 and VIP seating and your name prominently displayed in all communication material both the day of the event and in all P.R. leading up to October 27th along with preeminence in signage/visibility in the venue. Event planning experts will work with your marketing specialists to deliver maximum cross-promotional opportunities. Jolie Papier Level
Jolie Papier Level	Starting at $2000.00	Jolie Papier Sponsors will receive a table for 10, with VIP seating. Recognition will be provided in all communication material and prominent display in the program and venue on the day of the event. Event planning experts will work with your marketing specialists to deliver cross-promotional opportunities consistent with sponsorship level.
Pomme de Terre Level	Goods & services at no cost to the Gala	Do you grow plump, juicy oyster or clams? Do you provide beautiful trees and flowers to customers? Do you produce world-class wine? Does your farm produce delicious fruits, vegetables, or dairy products? Could your hardwood doors be featured? Could we showcase Washington-grown beef and chicken as appetizers or the entree? Could your paper products make our venue magical? If in-kind contributions equal a sponsorship level, the sponsor receives a table of 10 along with signage to describe products.

The Sponsors are the most essential elements of the success of this event. As a Sponsor, you may agree to fill a table of 10 people, including yourself. We recommend that you begin by making a list of all potential guests, including personal and business associates who might have an interest in our leadership development program.

Our goal for the 2006 benefit gala is to have at least 500 guests and raise $100,000 to support participant scholarships. We are counting on you to fill a table with guests prepared to donate. We encourage you to select a giving level standard for your table that is an achievable stretch for the guests you intend to invite as there will be ample opportunity for fundraising during the evening.

Remember, all funds raised from the benefit gala will support AgForestry Education Foundation’s ongoing efforts to develop leaders dedicated to advancing natural resource industries through enhanced understanding, education, and empowerment of future leaders. This benefits all of us. Please fill your table with guests who can be generous and we promise a special evening that will help them become even more generous than they intended! Your job is to invite – our job is to inspire!!

AgForestry is willing to mail invitations on your behalf. To make this happen, we will need your guest names and addresses by Thursday, August 31st. Please send contact information to Shari Cushman by email: shari@agforestry.org, or fax: 509-926-6993. Guests may RSVP directly to AgForestry at 509-926-9113. We will follow up with all registered guests to provide additional details about the event, and we will contact you to finalize your table guests by October 18th. Please feel free to contact Ann Goos, Director of Development at 206-285-1211 or email at agoos@seanet.com at any time should you have further questions or need additional materials.

Please click here for a printable registration to fill out and send to Shari: by e-mail: leaders@agforestry.org by fax: 509-926-6993 by mail: 9211 E. Mission, Ste. J, Spokane, WA 99206

For comments from last year’s inaugural event, read on...

"We would try to attend depending on availability. Otherwise, nothing would hold us back. It was quite a party! The event was incredibly attractive. Our fixed income (retired) may not allow us to participate each year. We were very impressed by the food and product display".

"Elegant, well organized, great food & company. One of the best in terms of decor, food & drink, and organization for a crowd of 450 I have ever been to (and I have been to many!)"

"My congratulations to you for producing an outstanding event this fall that showcased agriculture in our state. I believe the dairy producers who were able to attend not only enjoyed themselves, but also recognized the value of promoting agriculture in a collaborative way".

"Actually, I would have to rate very highly the overall program. Enough social time is very important and that was sufficient, the food was great, the atmosphere was wonderful, the length of the program was just about right. Not over done ... even the fundraising portion, which is what the event is really about, did not completely dominate the evening."

"From an outside perspective, I think the event was one of the most successful I've ever attended -- the decorations, food, # of people were all over the top -- it was fun to participate in the various auctions and dash."

"Simple -- it was great".