Do you have a potential sponsor for Grapes & Apes? Sponsor packets have been designed and an initial quantity has been printed for distribution. Please contact Randy Kurt or Michael Orden to get one to pass along. If you do make a contact, please inform Randy so he can log the information to avoid someone else doubling the effort and for future reference as we build a database of prospects. 

Among the hindsight items we had on our list from last time was the lack of shade in the parking area for reception members and patrons waiting to enter at 6PM. We have purchased four 12 foot by 12 foot commercial grade collapsible canopies to use at reception and five 10 foot by 10 footers to use at volunteer check-in as well as our raffle sales locations and our new merchandising locations. The new tents will add to the function and appearance of G&A.  The larger ones are forest green and the others are coincidentally "merlot" in color.

These canopies in the lot will go a long way in keeping our volunteers comfortable and we will allow patrons who arrive early this year early entry to a holding area inside the venue where they can browse some displays, hear some music and wait for the rope to drop and the corks to pop.

Having our raffle and merchandise locations under the tents will allow us to light them as it gets dark and put signage up above the crowds where they can be easily seen. This should help to generate some additional interest.

As the night goes on and volunteers are no longer checked in and reception diminishes, the tents can be rearranged to use for our 2013 ticket sale location and also for merchandise and auction pick up for our patrons' convenience. The canopies are also bought and paid for so we will see a return on investment in less than two years!