The expenses involved with putting on a conference of this size are immense, the majority of which are covered by your registration fees. Many costs, however, such as site rental and promotion have to be paid long before the first ticket is sold. This is why individual and business Sponsorships are so vital to grassroots events like these. The TWHC began as a dream with zero funding and zero credit. That we were able to get rolling initially is only thanks to the contributions of the few choice Sponsors who believed in us and our conference mission. “Few” and “Choice” Sponsors, we say, not only because of how tight everyone’s budgets are these days, but because of how particular our standards as to what kind of support we will accept. The Sponsors of TWHC are also people and businesses that had already earned our respect, whose principles we largely share and products we can generally recommend.

Sponsorships involve donations of either financial assistance or in-kind services such as advertising. There are five levels of Sponsorship based on the value of the contribution, beginning with the basic $500 “Wild Rose” package, then “Red Cedar,” “Wild Sage” and the most generous level of all, “Indian Root.” If you might be interested in helping sponsor the 2011 Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference, please click on, fill out and return application below:

We’re more than happy to do all we can for our supporters in turn, by acknowledging their role at every opportunity, and by sharing their information with you here. You can indirectly help make it possible for future TWH conferences, by directing your business and your expressed thanks to the individuals and enterprises listed on the Our Sponsors page.

Your TWHC Audience:

The TWHC audience will be composed of creative, progressive thinking individuals of above average intelligence and discernment, with interests in issues and products related to a holistic or green lifestyles, herbal and alternative healing, self care and nourishment, healthy eating and exercise, gardening and permaculture, ecology and the environment, community building and the needs of women, home building and care, outdoor sports and nature related activities. It will include not only people in the herbal and healing professions, but a percentage of the general public with art least a side interest in self empowerment, self healing and self care. Thanks to the conference’s inclusion of tribal and land-use concerns, it will also draw those interested in species conservation and indigenous perspective. As many as half of the attendees will herald from the Mountain and Pacific West, including a large contingent from the progressive Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas, with the other half flying in from as far away as Alaska, Vermont, New Zealand and Great Britain.

Location & Dates:

New Mexico and Santa Fe in particular has a cachet and draw of its own. Our location is the especially stunning Ghost Ranch in nearby rural Abiquiu, a beautiful conference center with lodging and camping. Turn to this site’s Location page, and/or go to www.ghostranch.org

The dates for 2010 will be Sept. 17th-19th, when the weather is most lovely in N.M., after the main event season but early enough that there will still be plants flourishing for guided plant walks. We are still considering scheduling options, but included will be pre conference intensives Friday, a welcome and possibly music Friday night, presentations and hands-on workshops Saturday, hopefully live music as well as feature presentations Saturday night, and the more Sunday teaching slots until 3.

Needs:

We’ve gone to great lengths to determine expenses and needs ahead of time. No wages will be paid at this point, but volunteers will receive free registration for their efforts. TWHC needs are only the usual conference costs, substantial but fairly simple including: Event promotion tools such as this website, a bulk mailing program, printing of flyers and brochures, postage, magazine ads, etc. Rental of facilities. The cost of registration, transportation, meals, lodging and an honorarium for Featured Presenters, and at least registration and meals for the Guest Speakers and Workshop Facilitators. And possibly entertainment Sat. night.

Besides your essential cash donation, we would very much appreciate offers of food, printing services, help getting out announcements, obtaining discounts on magazine display ad space, loan of a shuttle vehicle for the length of the conference, or other precious assistance.

Types of Sponsors:

A broad spectrum of related Sponsors are welcomed, including but not limited to:

1. Reputable herbal suppliers, herb stores and herbal schools

2. Natural health stores

3. Natural health and body care suppliers

4. Natural Health Practitioners

5. Natural food markets

6. Authors & Book Publishers

7. Related Magazines and Online Publications

8. Educational, Cultural and Ecological NonProfits and Associations

9. Land Restorationists, Permaculturists & energy-efficient Home Builders

10. Solar/Alternative Energy and Green Lifestyle enterprises

11. Plus Local New Mexico and Southwestern businesses of many kinds,

supportive of attracting new visitors to this state and region

Sponsorship Levels, & What You Will Receive:

There are 4 levels of Sponsorship for you to choose from, depending on your level of interest and ability to contribute. In appreciation of any gifts, sponsors receive free registration and a vendor or information table, plus varying degrees of high profile acknowledgment and promotion in brochures, ads, registration packets, on the Conference Website and any display banners at the event. Complete details are found on the TWHC Sponsor Application.

Proceeds:

Standard registration is set at $250 for the “early bird” rate, or $275 thereafter. For your information, event proceeds go first to the organization, improvement and promotion of the 2nd Annual 2011 Conference, secondly to increasing the amount given to presenters the next year. If there are ever any extra funds, they will go strictly to support the work of the Animá Lifeways and Herbal School and especially its associated wilderness restoration project and herbal/botanical sanctuary.

Apply Soon:

Please apply early, in order to be included in the first batch of brochures or posters.

There will likely only be a limited number of Sponsors, and signing on for 2010 will ensure your position and prominence in 2011.

What we hope for is not simply your onetime funding and support to make this happen, but a real and lasting relationship that both further the Conference and its values and goals, and also bring more support to your school, enterprise, products or cause.… for many years to come.

Thank you so very much,

Jesse Wolf Hardin & Kiva Rose

Click here to download your Sponsor Application

and then please return it completed in full to: TWHC <Kiva@TraditionsInWesternHerbalism.org>

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