Sponsorship Proposal

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.1 Overview

1.2 Who We Are

1.2.1 SPOKE - Students Promoting Organic Kinship with the Environment

1.2.2 COG - Canadian Organic Growers Inc.

1.2.3 COG SPOKE relationship

1.3 Requesting Sponsorships

1.4 Sponsor Recognition & Benefits

1.5 The Project Summary

1.5.1 Duration

1.5.2 Distance

1.5.3 Mission

1.5.4 Goals

1.5.5 Objectives

1.6 Future plans - Teaching Community Gardens

1.7 Appreciation

1.7.1 Contact

2.0 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

2.1 Need for The Project

2.1.1 Reducing Environmental Impact & Uncertainty

2.1.2 Increasing Awareness & Accountability

2.1.3 Providing Alternatives

2.2 SPOKE Objectives

2.2.1 Provide venues for focused media attention.

2.2.2 Promote the local organic food suppliers in communities across Canada.

2.2.3 Eat only organic food to demonstrate Canada's growing organic food market.

2.3 Sponsor Recognition

EcoSphere details - $10,000 or more

EcoZone details - $5,000 -$9,999

EcoRegion details - $1,000 - $4,999

EcoSite details - $100 - $999

2.3.1 Media Coverage

2.3.2 Event T-shirts

2.3.3 Web Page

2.4 Evaluation Plan

2.4.1 Measuring Results - SPOKE Campaign

2.4.2 Presenting Results - Dinner Gala & Documentary

2.4.3 Use of Donation

2.5 Project Work plan

2.5.1 SPOKE Team

2.5.2 Supporting Organizations

2.5.3 Other SPOKE Volunteers & Contributors

2.5.4 Project Events

1.0 Executive Summary

1.1 Overview

SPOKE (Students Promoting Organic Kinship with the Environment) is requesting financial support for their 70 day, cross-Canada cycling venture occurring June 20 to August 28, 2000. The purpose of the project is to raise awareness about Organic Farming and alternatives to Genetically Engineered foods. Support through donations of money and/or equipment will be recognized across Canada through media events, Internet advertising, a video documentary, and a project photo album publication to be released in 2001. Future plans are to develop community garden projects at Universities and public schools through the organic network. In keeping with our mission, SPOKE is approaching organizations associated with respectful use of the natural environment. Your business has been identified as such, and your support would be greatly appreciated.

1.2 Who we are

1.2.1 SPOKE - (Students Promoting Organic Kinship with the Environment)

SPOKE:

is organizing a national organic farming awareness campaign promoting sustainable food production and Canadian Organic Growers Inc. (COG).

is traveling across Canada by bicycle through farming communities and major urban centres this summer to document the historic change of Canada's food production systems meeting consumer demands.

is a nonprofit organization of former and current students of Environmental Studies, Natural Resource Sciences, Performing Arts and Humanities from Ontario who share a common concern for the natural environment and support the advancement of sustainable technologies.

was founded in February, 2000 to develop and represent a common, national organic voice for sustainability in the new millennium.

1.2.2 COG - (Canadian Organic Growers Inc.)

Canadian Organic Growers Inc. (COG) is an organization (charity #: 0860585-56) dedicated to assisting organic farmers through education, demonstration and research. COG is collaborating with over 20 other NGOs, headed by The Council of Canadians and Greenpeace, in the campaign against genetically-engineered food, and the compulsory labeling of genetically modified components in food.

1.2.3 COG SPOKE relationship:

SPOKE is a member of COG (membership # 9876) helping to unite COG's common voice across the country. The Canada SPOKE awareness campaign will educate Canadians about the need for supporting sustainable agricultural practices and act as a fund raising vehicle for COG. However, SPOKE is a separate organization also geared to promoting organic producers, the Natural Food retail market, and sustainable farming practices.

1.3 Requesting Sponsorships

SPOKE is requesting financial support to fund vehicle and equipment expenses, communications and advertisement for their national organic farming awareness campaign. SPOKE is requesting sponsorships as financial support and/or equipment donations which will be used to provide cycle & camp gear, cover vehicle & fuel, media & communications, photography & video documentary expenses.

1.4 Sponsor Recognition & Benefits

SPOKE's organic farming awareness campaign is a nationwide project with connections across Canada. Because SPOKE's purpose is to achieve coast-to-coast recognition of the organic food sector and to inspire the democratic movement of Canada's mandatory food labeling system, SPOKE sponsors will gain local, regional and national media recognition.

The opportunities for exposure will vary as SPOKE travels through the many Canadian communities. Sponsors of SPOKE will benefit through four possible levels of recognition exposure. The four levels are*:

1. EcoSphere Any goods, services or funds donated which have a cash equivalent of $10,000 or more. Platinum sponsorship is oriented to corporations.

 2. EcoZone Any goods, services or funds donated which have a cash equivalent of $5,000 -$9,999. This sponsorship is oriented to organizations and small business.

 3. EcoRegion Any goods, services or funds donated which have a cash equivalent of $1,000 - $4,999. This sponsorship is designed for small businesses and private supporters.

4. EcoSite Any goods, services or funds donated which have a cash equivalent of $100 - $999. This sponsorship is designed for private supporters.

(* refer to 2.3 in Comprehensive Plan for recognition details)

1.5 The Project Summary

1.5.1 Duration

70 days, from June 20 to August 28, 2000.

1.5.2 Distance

SPOKE will travel approximately 130km per day, from the Pacific Ocean - Port Renfrew, BC - to the Atlantic Ocean - St. John's, Newfoundland.

1.5.3 Mission

To cycle across Canada through expecting communities where public forums, farmer's markets and press conferences will be held to educate Canadians about alternatives to genetically engineered foods and the human & environmental health benefits of organic food production.

1.5.4 Goals

• To increase consumer demand for organic products.
• To promote organic farms, Community Shared Agriculture, food co-ops and retail food outlets selling organic food.
• To raise funds for Canadian Organic Growers (COG) research and publications.
• To increase government support of the organic sector.

  1.5.5 Objectives

  To provide 15 venues across Canada - with media coverage - where organic farming markets, COG resources distribution and fund raising, presentations on sustainability issues, and film/photo documentation will be conducted.

  To promote the local organic food suppliers in communities across Canada.

  To eat only organic food throughout the journey to demonstrate the growing availability of Canada's organic food market. (details of objectives in 2.2 of Comprehensive Plan)

1.6 Future plans - Teaching Community Gardens

After the cross Canada bicycle tour, SPOKE plans to work with the information network of organic farms, environmental organizations and community gardens to help Universities, Colleges, and public schools develop programs geared towards sustainable land management & development. Programs will be designed to help develop community organic teaching gardens, community composting, and Solar Ecology waste water treament projects. Peterborough GreenUp, Toronto's Community Gardens, and The Civic Garden Centre Teaching Gardens are examples of organizations geared towards sustainable land management and the development of organic farming in urban areas.

1.7 Appreciation

We appreciate your interest and consideration in the Canada SPOKE project and welcome your support of this national organic voice.

It will be our great pleasure to work collectively, while respecting diversity, with food producers, distributors, equipment suppliers, communication coordinators, environmental organizations, farmers, consumers, students, the media and our sponsors to support the advancement of sustainable technologies and the improvement of human and environmental health safety.

We feel that democracy and freedom of information are fundamental rights of every Canadian business and consumer.

1.7.1 Contact

Christopher Gooderham Canada SPOKE Founder, Executive Director	33 Leacock Cres Don Mills ON M3B 1N8 (416) 445-2798 spoke@ecoexplorer.com

2.0 Comprehensive Plan

2.1 Need for The Project

2.1.1 Reducing Environmental Impact & Uncertainty

Conventional agriculture consumes fossil fuels faster than any other industry, contaminates groundwater and reduces biodiversity. In contrast, organic farming, which incorporates human, soil and ecosystem health, endorses practices that promote maintenance of long-term soil fertility, reduce fossil fuel use, reduce pollution, recycle waste and conserve nonrenewable resources. Organic farming intensifies, rather than controls, natural processes in order to increase production and gain higher yields (COG).

Through the elimination of synthetic chemical inputs, the use of crop rotations, cover crops, and the recycling of organic waste, organic farmers produce high quality food and fiber while reducing environmental impact. Sustainable soil and land management is achieved through cropping patterns, integrated pest management, and the encouragement of bioregional food self-reliance. Because organic practices exclude the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and the use of biotechnology, they do not contribute to the pollution of soil and water, do not require the energy intensive processes used to manufacture these chemicals, nor threaten the physical health of farmers (OMAFRA).

There is growing uncertainty over the integrity of Genetically Engineered (GE) foods -produced through biotechnology - and the objectives of the corporations selling the seed/chemical combinations. The growing demand from European and Japanese markets for GE-free foods has influenced several major Canadian food exporters to request only non-GE foods from Canadian farmers. H.J. Heintz, the largest buyer of Ontario white beans, has made it known that it doesn't want to jeopardize Heintz sales in Britain, where the company enjoys over half the market (Roberts, W. 1999) The Canadian agricultural sector will recognize that the decision to go Organic is profitable as more consumers make educated decisions to reduce their environmental impact.

2.1.2 Increasing Awareness & Accountability

Accountability to human and environmental health must be a priority of all businesses and government in order to achieve sustainable development. While the agricultural industry uses pesticides and biotechnology to manage more acres, increase crop yields and produce cheaper foods, its systems fail to consider issues of biodiversity, soil, air, and water quality. Consumers are lead to believe pesticides are required to produce enough food to sustain our population. Until recently, consumers were presented with few alternatives to conventional farming practices, which include the inadequately researched biotechnology increasing insect resistance to pesticides and the threat of triggering transgenic mutations and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Consumers are not getting the full story.

Genetic engineering has created social and economic disruption that threatens traditional agricultural practices for farmers around the world. Farmers, who have maintained the consumer's trust by producing safe, reasonably priced and nutritious food, now fear losing that trust as a result of consumer rejection of genetically engineered foods. Many scientists believe genetically engineered organisms have been released into the environment and the food supply without adequate testing. Farmers who have used this new technology may be facing massive liability from damage caused by genetic drift, increased weed and pest resistance, and the destruction of wildlife and beneficial insects (Farmers' Declaration on GE in Agriculture, 1999).

Due to growing public concern of GE foods and environmental health, the demand for organic food will increase, requiring government support of the organic farming sector. The consumption of organic foods is increasing in Canada by approximately 20% percent a year and demand is beginning to outstrip supply (Heise 1999). There is growing consumer support of organic agriculture as demand for corporate responsibility, through mandatory labeling of food products, and public awareness of environmental health issues increases.

Through education, consumers will demand pesticide free, environmentally safe, organic food. Such demand will ultimately reduce the health risks and degradation of the environment associated with conventional agriculture.

2.1.3 Providing Alternatives

The future of agricultural biotechnology is in serious jeopardy, as consumers, grain buyers, processors, and supermarket chains around the world refuse to buy genetically engineered (GE) products (E. A. Clark, 1999). Consumers appreciate the fact that GE foods simply don't taste as good as organic foods. Consumers will buy natural, healthy alternatives to GE products when they learn about the associated environmental health risks of biotechnology. As the consumers stop demanding genetically engineered foods, the farmers will stop planting genetically modified crops. By demanding organic foods we support the further development of sustainable agricultural practices in Canada and around the world.

 

2.2 SPOKE Objectives

In keeping with our mission, SPOKE will educate consumers about how organic farming benefits the environment. The three main needs for the project:

1. Reducing Environmental Impact & Uncertainty, 2. Increasing Awareness & Accountability, and 3. Providing Alternatives, will be presented throughout the campaign as the following project objectives are accomplished.

2.2.1 To provide venues for focused media attention.

At the 15 media events across Canada COG, organic farmers and local environmental organizations will gather to present information on organic farming, current issues on sustainability and the threat of Genetic Engineering. COG will provide literature for sale, receive memberships and donations, and give out receipts. Press releases will accompany each event, providing location information and local contacts. SPOKE's webpage, www.ecoexplorer.com, will list all events and promote local, regional, and national supporters. These venues will increase the awareness of the challenges that conventional and organic farmers face in their respective food production system. SPOKE will take video documentation and photos to record this historic campaign to improve Canada's food production system.

2.2.2 To promote the local organic food suppliers in communities across Canada.

Donations of fresh, local, organic food from producers along the route will be recognized at media events and on SPOKE's webpage, www.ecoexplorer.com. As SPOKE receives food donations from farmers, video and photo documentation for future coverage will occur, logging the contributions in SPOKE's event history. Local community events will be promoted throughout the tour.

2.2.3 To eat only organic food to demonstrate the growing availability of Canada's organic food market.

With the support from COG, Ontario Natural Food Co-op, and retail natural health food market, SPOKE cyclists will have access to organic food all across Canada. The support vehicle will coordinate delivery and pickup of foods donated along the way from farmers, retailers, and at regional promotional events. This demonstration will promote the growing availability of organic food in Canada and present the alternatives to products containing GM (genetically modified) foods.

2.3 Sponsor Recognition

This Cross Canada Cycle cannot become a reality without sponsorship. The level of Sponsorship recognition will vary with the amount of support.

EcoSphere details - $10,000 or more
Individual banner with sponsor logo at every scheduled media event (15 in total).
Thanks to sponsor at every scheduled media event.
Sponsor logo displayed on support vehicle.
Sponsor logo displayed on Team Shirts.
Sponsor recognition in filmed documentary.
"National" level advertising with EcoExplorer.com.
Directed product links/advice/recommendations on Internet with Ecoxplorer.com
Corporate profile and information on Internet/and in Media Kit.
Listed as EcoSphere supporter of SPOKE on web site.

EcoZone details - $5,000 -$9,999
"Regional" level advertising with EcoExplorer.com.
Directed product links on Internet with Ecoxplorer.com.
Shared banner with sponsor logo at every scheduled media event.
Sponsor logo displayed on support vehicle.
Sponsor logo on Team Shirts.
Listed as EcoZone Supporter of SPOKE on web site.

EcoRegion details - $1,000 - $4,999
Sponsor and logo listed on group banner at every scheduled media event.
"Local" level advertising with EcoExplorer.com (for small business).
Listed as EcoRegion supporter of SPOKE on web site.

EcoSite details - $100 - $999
Name listed on shared banner at every scheduled media event.
Listed as EcoSite Supporter of SPOKE on web site.

2.3.1 Media coverage

Press releases through local and national newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations will ensure adequate advertising opportunities for our sponsors. Sponsor names and logos will be visibly displayed on an accompanying support van, and any equipment or clothing donated. Promotional pamphlets including sponsor lists will be distributed in communities across Canada. Eco-Farm and Garden, a national quarterly magazine put out by Canadian Organic Growers Inc. and distributed to members across the country will also be used to recognize and promote our sponsors.

2.3.2 Event T-shirts

Trip T-shirts with sponsors listed on the back will be worn and distributed/sold to supporters along the way.

2.3.3 Web Page

The SPOKE web site -- http://www.ecoexplorer.com -- will also be used to promote sponsors through recognition pages and the creation of links from SPOKE's page to supporter's web sites.

2.4 Evaluation Plan

The project outreach results will be measured as follows.

2.4.1 Measuring Results - SPOKE Campaign

1. Monitoring of COG membership and donations received throughout the event: New members will be surveyed as they join COG and numbers will be totaled. The distribution of memberships and funds raised will also be monitored regionally, as will any changes to the economic success of organic growers encountered across Canada.

2. SPOKE will maintain a multimedia file throughout the trip, measuring numbers of public and media in attendance at each event location: Web site visitors will be asked to sign a guest book. Web site stats will be logged including a hits sum for each event date. Video and photo documentation for future release will also show numbers of public attendants.

3. Signing the SPOKE national petition: At each of the media events SPOKE will seek public supporters of the common organic voice for sustainability and mandatory labeling of foods. The petition will accumulate signatures across the country and be presented to the Minister of Agriculture concluding the campaign.

4. Making purchases count: Organic food sales will be monitored at the end of the year to compare changes in the growth rate of consumption.

Presentations of the results will occur at SPOKE's celebration event.

2.4.2 Presenting Results - Dinner Gala & Documentary

As listed in Executive Summary, the concluding celebrations of the awareness campaign will be an Organic Dinner Gala in Toronto, held September 15. This evening will serve as final thanks and recognition to all Sponsors, supporters, farmers, family, friends and media. It will provide a venue for:

1. an equipment auction - (where profits will go to COG charity),

2. to document participants in the production of a video documentary, and a photo album publication.

3. presentations of project summary and observations of the journey, and

4. speaker presentations from major environmental organizations.

Throughout the Organic Gala, members of SPOKE will make presentations, share favorite stories, show a brief slide show, and auction the touring equipment. Money from Gala tickets and auction sales will go to COG as SPOKE's celebrational donation to support the ongoing organic farming research.

2.4.3 Use of Donation - Budget Summary

Food	$16800
Bicycles	$15700
Human Resources	$9500
Cycling equipment	$8656
Vehicle	$7500
Communications	$5400
Advertisement	$5000
Outdoor accessories	$2338
Total	$70894

2.5 Project Work plan

The SPOKE team will coordinate the support from many contributors.

2.5.1 SPOKE Team

Christopher Gooderham	Executive Director
Nicholas McGowan	Dir. of Marketing & Communications
Ava Richardson	Dir. of Research & Education
Leslie Menagh	Dir. of Media & Documentary
Nancy Klenavic	Dir. of Administration
Mark Held	Dir. of Food & Nutrition
Audrey Lapenna	Dir. of Fitness & Safety
Glen MacVichie	Event Coordinator

2.5.2 Supporting Organizations

The following organizations are dynamic parties involved with organizing and coordinating the SPOKE project events and have donated and will be continuing to contribute time, labor, and valuable food support throughout the project.

Name of Organization	Contact Name
Canadian Organic Growers Inc	Eleanor Heise, President
Ontario Natural Food Co-op	Randy Whitteker, General Manager

2.5.3 Other SPOKE Volunteers & Contributors:

The commitments of time, labor and event planning through environmental networks, educational institutes, and individual efforts are numerous and continue to grow.

Randy Whitteker	Ontario Natural Foods Co-op Manager
Carl Freeland	Trip Itinerary & Planning Consulting
Elizabeth Irving	COG Ecofarm & Garden Editor
Colin Field	Journalist
Andrew McKae	Organic Farming Research
Geoffrey Gooderham	Internet Media Consulting
Andrew Gooderham	Illustrations and Artistic Consulting
Fraser Johnson	MEC Gear Consultant
Andrew McKae	Organic Farming Contact Coordinator
Joe & Jessica Klein	Event Support, The Homestead, BC

2.5.4 Project Events

The following schedule is a list of dates and locations when SPOKE will be traveling into Canada's major urban area where SPOKE media events and documentations will occur.

Organic Dinner Gala - Friday, September 15, 2000

To conclude and celebrate the completion of the organic awareness campaign, SPOKE will host an Organic Dinner Gala in Toronto. This evening will serve as a final thanks and recognition to all Sponsors, supporters, farmers, family, friends and media. It will provide a venue for:

1. presentations of SPOKE's project summary, observations, and petition.

2. speaker presentations from major environmental organizations,

3. an equipment auction - (where profits will go to COG charity), and

4. to encourage participants in the development of SPOKE's future production of a video documentary, a photo album publication, and plans for community garden projects.