In an effort to participate in a global community, support our friends and peers abroad, we ask for your help.
Slow Food Charlotte
Robin and I have been members of Slow Food Charlotte now for 3+ years. We were brought in through friends who showed us that quality also meant good, clean, and fair. Through this time we have matured our world views, understand an inequality and systemic issue is in the air, and have tried to foster a local organization that informs, bridges, and raises up these concerns.
If you are unaware of Slow Food, or the premise, we are a group that defends biodiversity.
We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to pleasure and consequently the responsibility to protect the heritage of food, tradition and culture that make this pleasure possible. Our movement is founded upon this concept of eco-gastronomy – a recognition of the strong connections between plate and planet.
Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.
We consider ourselves co-producers, not consumers, because by being informed about how our food is produced and actively supporting those who produce it, we become a part of and a partner in the production process.
Terra Madre 2008
Terra Madre, a gathering, a convening of the worlds food communities. 30k square feet, over 300 activities, workshops, lectures, educational series over a five day period starting October 23rd to 27th.
By giving voice to all those who are not prepared to accept the standardizing, inhuman, totalizing model that applies the rules of industry to living matter, the event promotes ‘positive globalization’. The Terra Madre communities meet to proclaim food production’s need to maintain a harmonious relationship with the environment and assert the cultural and scientific dignity of traditional practices. When they return home to their countries of origin, they are fired by a positive feeling of being members of a ‘community of destiny’. The end-result is a new form of virtuous globalization that grows from the grassroots, from local identity.
Community Representation
Slow Food Charlotte has 13 delegates that will be attending Terra Madre. To be a delegate is an awe inspiring experience. Once their feet hit the ground they are taken care of. All they have to worry about is absorbing and sharing what information they can before it is all over.
We are extatic for our delegates and if you know one of them make sure to give them a hearty congratulations.
Reaching Out
While our friends and peers are taken care of, Robin and I would like to attend the event for the experience, support, and ability to capture the experience.
Slow Food has granted us observer status so that we may be there and participate when room allows. Our aim is to chronicle the event for our region and work to bring greater exposure to a regional and national level.
We need your help though.
While we support our network we need our networks support. To cover our airfare and stay we need cash to do so and that’s something that is hard for us to afford in this time.
Giving Value for Value
While we love donations and with great honor will accept any amount of kindness, we want to offer some incentives or rewards for helping us.
When the trip is concluded I will be building a book for national sales on our regions Slow Food / Terra Madre participation and the greater picture. Like all my works prior it will be a lovingly crafted photo essay book. A compilation of images and text for you to read, share, enjoy and enlighten with.
In this book we would like to dedicate a series of pages to those who were willing to help us get there, as well as offer discounts or even the book itself when published.
The Tiers of Change
We tried to come up with something equitable, fair, and rewarding for helping us. We truly appreciate anything that you can do. The following tiers are available.
- $15 dollars
- Honorable Friend
- Your name in the book as an honored friend.
- 10% off the printed book.
- $25 dollars
- Pathfinders
- Your name in the book as a Pathfinder.
- 25% off a printed book.
- $65 dollars
- Trailblazers
- Your name in the book as a Trailblazer.
- 50% off a printed book.
- $125 dollars
- Guardians
- Your name in the book as a Guardian.
- A thumbnail picture of yourself, family, or avatar.
- 75% off a printed book.
- A signed 5″x7″ print from the journey.
- $250 dollars
- Defenders
- Your name in the book as a Defender.
- A small picture of yourself, family, or avatar.
- Free printed book.
- A signed 8″x10″ print from the journey.
- Commercial Sponsors
- These will be taken on a case by case basis. If you would like to inquire or participate with our journey please contact us.
Payment
We will accept payments any way you can grant us them. If paying by Paypal you can use our ChipIn widget. No fees apply except my transaction costs with Paypal.
We will also accept checks:
Andy & Robin Ciordia
336 Pine Creek Dr.
Charlotte, NC 28270
If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to ask, contact us.
While it is unlikely these rewards/incentives are subject to change.
Thank you for your time and caring. We hope to make this a memorable event in our lives and turn that around into something we can all take to heart.
Kind regards,
Andy & Robin Ciordia
