Un Segundo (2nd) Update

Hello to you this afternoon,

I have a bit of news for you, the Cucuyo supporter that you are, so that you would get an idea of the way in which things have progressed and the people who are now involved. If you are new subscriber to this newsletter and want to know a bit more about Cucuyo and its vision, see the attached document. Dominican Relations Director Amy Demmer is now married! We will let her breathe for a second and then she will take over the finances and the research within Dominican communities. Here in Athens, we are working to establish relations and possibly cooperate with local community theatres. Already, Jeff Morris, president of student theatre group the Thalian Blackfriars, has agreed to do a fundraiser for us in the spring during one of their shows!

In other exciting news in the fundraising arena, (Really! Fundraising can be exciting!), we are now taking orders for t-shirts until the 17th of October. We will have a second round of pre-holiday ordering. Everyone loves t-shirts and especially when combined with philanthropy! So let us know if you’d like to order one or two. An enormous thanks to all who have already ordered one from us! The monetary and moral support that this gesture affords us is truly treasured by all of us here. They will be printed at the end of October by Joe Gabler, Cucuyo’s Theatre & Programs Director, who is a screen printer by day. Simultaneously, Joe is planning a big fundraiser–a very creative, theatrical and artsy one of course–for next spring after the staff returns from their research trip to the Dominican Republic. If anyone has any ideas or wants to be involved send an email to moreplease@cucuyo.org with Joe’s fundraiser in the subject line.

Cucuyo’s logo, lovingly designed by the talented board member Jen Carter, is what will be printed on the t-shirts. Jen is also in the process of getting us business cards, designing our letterhead and hashing out some informational material for Cucuyo. What a lady!

Soon we will be delving into grants. Volunteer Lauren Stephenson has put together a database of possible grants for us. We have also had a few private donations (marvelous, right?!), and now, it’s even easier because Cucuyo has an online donations account. One can donate online by sending an email to moreplease@cucuyo.org that states the amount to be donated. Then the donor is sent a secure online invoice and directions for entering their credit/debit card information. So all this is yes, so very exhilarating. If anyone knows of a business who might be interested in a philanthropic donation please let us know.

On the subject of research, Laura Vaughn, director of Cucuyo, has just returned from a trip to Nicaragua where she had an opportunity to research and speak with organizations that function similarly to the way Cucuyo will in the Dominican Republic. The directors of these various theatre groups, women’s cooperatives, and cultural centers of international exchange were extremely insightful, knowledgeable and generous. The teenage participants were absolutely delightful and helpful with their feedback as well. Here in the States, volunteer Matt Baca is getting input from parents of high schoolers’ by surveying in area schools. Joe Gabler has undertaken the same task in the Atlanta area.

A chunk of our time has also been spent appeasing various government divisions by sending them many papers loaded with legal jargon accompanied by a check (or 2…). We have submitted the required documents for becoming a legal incorporated entity. Oh yes, it feels good to have done that! The monster 501c3, which gives an organization its non-profit status was recently undertaken by Stephen Davis, Administrative Director. Boy is he brave.

The project keeps growing and the staff is happy to follow along behind it as it morphs and takes on its own personality. This character is really just a reflection of all the people who support it; people who offer suggestions, buy a t-shirt, or read all the way to the end of a newsletter. Thank you.

Laura Vaughn, executive director

(Joe, Amy and Stephen send out their gratitude as well for supporting their efforts!)