BerkShares Bash July 15th

Dear BerkShares Business,

As of June first 844,000 BerkShares had been placed in circulation. At
current rate of use by July circulation will top one million. To celebrate
this milestone, BerkShares is throwing a Bash! The date is Sunday July
15th. The time is 1 to 5 p.m. The location is the front lawn at Searles
Castle with a special thanks to the John Dewey Academy for extending this
courtesy to the community. The proposed rain site is the Bryant School gym.
Come join us!

Noted author Bill McKibben will be the featured speaker. His new book “Deep
Economy” is drawing wide praise for its recognition of how local economies
can play a vital role in combating global warming. Many local performers
will round out the on-stage offerings including Terry a la Berry and
Friends, Quintessential, The Barrington Jazz Quartet, and the BTUs.
Legendary folk singer Pete Seeger will make a special guest appearance.

But an equally vibrant part of the program will involve businesses like you.
Every business or organization that is signed up to accept BerkShares is
being offered the opportunity to have a table at the event, free of charge,
for selling food, clothes, gifts—you name it—or simply to distribute
literature about what you do.

All trade taking place within the event will be conducted only in
BerkShares. An on-site exchange station for converting federal dollars to
BerkShares will facilitate trade. Admission will be on a sliding scale
basis, starting at just one BerkShare per person.

This is going to be a family-friendly, community-minded event—and great fun!
Because the vendors will be a large part of the attraction (and because no
one can sit still for four hours!), merchants who choose to sell wares at
the event will have a captive audience.

If you’d like to sign up to dispense goods or literature at the BerkShares
Bash, please reply “yes to Bash” by return email. Vendors will be expected
to provide their own tables, shade tents (if desired), and cash boxes
(please come prepared to make change for customers). A limited number of
electric power hookups are available to food vendors; please let us know in
advance if you would like to have access to electricity.

Please let us know by July first at the latest if you want a table at the
Bash. Publicity is starting this week. The earlier we hear from you, the
earlier we can start to use the name of your business or organization in our
publicity materials. We will also be providing one long table for pamphlets,
if you don’t have enough materials to warrant bringing your own table. This
space will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

We are looking forward to spending a mid-July afternoon celebrating the
local businesses, banks, and organizations that have made the BerkShares
program so successful. Mark your calendars. Plan your tables. Tell family
and friends. Call or email with any questions. Join us at the BerkShares
Bash!

The BerkShares Team
P. O. Box 125
Great Barrington, MA 01230
(413) 528-1737
www.berkshares.org