Next year’s Fairtrade Fortnight- Take a step for Fairtrade in 2012
Fairtrade Fortnight 2011 saw a record bunting attempt that reached 3427 metres. 130,000 pieces of Fairtrade cotton were decorated to show support for the ‘Show off your label’ campaign in a bid to raise the profile of Fairtrade cotton.
Following on from this success, the Fairtrade Foundation announced next year’s focus:
"In 2012 we want everyone to take a new step for Fairtrade. Make it a small step, like swapping your tea to Fairtrade, or a bigger step, like getting everyone in your office to do it too. Together, we’ll take 1.5 million steps for Fairtrade in 2012. That’s one for every Fairtrade producer around the world."
Fair Trade on the Fringe
In August 2011 we took part in the Fair Trade on the Fringe event part of the Edinburgh Festival.The event brought together exhibitors selling goods and promoting fair trade issues from as far as Kenya and Zambia as well as across the UK.
Ruth, Supporter Relations Officer, attended the event with three of Shared Interest’s volunteers, Pat, Jan and Charlotte each of whom had an enjoyable (if a little tiring!) day on the stand.
Over the 3 day event we spoke to over 500 attendees.
If you are interested in helping out at events such as Fairtrade on the Fringe or if you would like to meet other Shared Interest members in your local area, please email Rachel.
Brighton Fair Trade Festival
In early August we joined the festivities at the Brighton Fairtrade Festival where new Volunteer Rod ran a stall for us. Rod was also joined by Shared Interest Board member and Ambassador Peter Freeman who gave a short radio interview with local radio station for Brighton & Hove Juice 107.2, you can listen to Peter’s interview by clicking here.
Introducing Valerie
Thank you all so much for the information that was returned after the last Volunteer’s Newsletter. The results of the poll around titles were a very equal split between those people wanting to keep the ‘Ambassador’ title and those wanting to be renamed ‘Volunteers’. It has been decided therefore that the term ‘Volunteer’ will be used when referring to everybody collectively and the term ‘Ambassador’ is to be used when describing somebody who promotes our work to gain new investment. If you would like to become more active in your volunteer role and become an Ambassador then please get in touch to find out how.
We have now updated our new database ‘Valerie’ with all of your details which will enable us to monitor all volunteer activity more accurately and provide information for future planning.
Now, better than ever before we are able track where we get new members from. This is why it is of the utmost importance that all Shared Interest materials are coded with your unique Ambassador code. If you don't know what this is or you need a reminder please see the box entitled 'Ambassador code' on the left hand side of this email.
Volunteer Spotlight
We would like to focus on a different volunteer in every issue of our newsletter to highlight the different types of activities that our many volunteers partake in and to look at volunteer’s motivations. This week it is the turn of Jolanda one of our relatively new volunteers who contributes in a very exciting way to our digital marketing.
Please click here to read more.
Members’ Survey 2011- A Big Thank You
As some of you will already know, we circulated a members’ survey in the last edition of QR. We do this every second year as part of our social accounts process.
The results of the survey will be published at the end of the year and you’ll hear first on Twitter and Facebook!
The social accounts are a useful way of finding out more about Shared Interest for those of you who may wish to know about lending and membership in more detail, and can help to prepare you for challenging questions at events.
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who came forward to volunteer for the data entry of the social accounts. Volunteer help has been crucial in helping us to reduce our costs, and we hope that we will be able to use our supporters again next time round.
Place your orders for QR
QR is the quarterly newsletter. Its an excellent way to keep up to date on what's happening with Shared Interest and a good resource to use at events. Anybody that would like copies of QR posted out quarterly please contact Rachel and let her know the quantity you would like.
Events Calendar
21st September - International Day of Peace:
First celebrated in 1982, the International Day of Peace provides an opportunity for individuals, organisations and nations to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace. www.internationaldayofpeace.org
13th October- Cooperatives East AGM- concern for the community. Our Supporter Relations Officer Sally Reith will be speaking at this event. http://www.cooperatives-east.coop/
15th October- Fairtrade Supporters Conference at Birmingham Aston University. An annual supporter conference.
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved
/news_events_and_urgent_actions
/supporter_conference_2.aspx
16th October - World Food Day:
World Food Day is celebrated annually to commemorate the foundation of the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations in 1945. It is observed in more than 150 countries and serves to raise awareness of the issues behind poverty and hunger.
www.fao.org/getinvolved/worldfoodday/en/
16-22 October - National Ethical Investment Week
http://www.neiw.org/
22nd October- Fairtrade Festival Sunderland. the Celebrate Sunderlands 4th year as a Faitrade City. http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/sunderland/
thingstoseeanddo/event/2011/10/22/fairtrade-festival/
23rd October- 'Why give to charity or invest anyway?' Merry Bells Village Hall, Wheatley, Oxford. Supporter Relations officer Sally Reith will be giving a presentation at this event running from 16.00- 17.30.
7th November- Fairtrade London Campaign Workshops, City Hall. Annual campaign workshops event in November, at which activists and supporters across London come together to be trained up and exchange ideas and best practice.
http://ctt-news.org/t/E3H-HVBI-FD1P815U21/cr.aspx
10th December - International Human Rights Day:
Annual event honouring the UN’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/2010
See our Shared Interest calendar of events for upcoming dates and further information http://blog.shared-interest.com
/calendar-of-events/
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