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We originally launched the MAM book fairs because we wanted to create a social event as well as provide much needed literature for our members. As it has turned out the fair has been a tremendous success, far exceeding our expectations. However, this has created a problem.
We have raised over 800 euros for charity since the first fair, which we think is amazing. However, as we generate more and more money with each successive fair we have found it difficult to identify charities in Greece to be worthy recipients of MAM members donations. At the last fair, one of our members, Linda, produced a list of charities she had researched, and members who attended were asked to indicate which charity they preferred. It was an interesting poll, and an inner city facility in Athens came out top (with 6 votes, and we estimate less than a quarter of our 160-plus members attended the fair).
At the inception of this idea, we envisaged the money to stay within Messinia, and so after consideration we thought it only right to ask our members how they thought this money should be spent. Previously we have donated to two charities, both local. KAWS (an animal welfare organisation based in Kalamata) and Project Archelon (an organisation dedicated to protecting the turtle popluation in the area). However, we have this dilemma with each book fair which is why we would like to suggest an alternative.
Our new idea for the book fair money is simple. We reinvest your money into new and used books from the likes of Amazon.co.uk. The 242 euros from our last book fair would purchase quite a few books, enough to make our library grow and become more appealing by including some of the latest titles. Of course the ideas for these purchases would, we hope, come from you. So if you fancied a particular read then you could suggest it via email before a certain deadline, and we would do our best to buy the books you want. They will then be available to "borrow" for one euro at the next book fair. We would rely on you to bring the books back to be recirculated around the community at a subsequent book fair.
We have other ideas, such as the creation of an online database so you can pre-order you books or even have them sent to you if you cannot make the book fair. So if these ideas appeal to you, or if you have any suggestions, please leave your comments on this article. The more comments and the more ideas the better!
To offset the loss of money to worthy causes, we would be happy to organise a charity event next year (details to follow), and would support other events via our website. Please let us know what you think.
Regards
Pauline and David
P.S. By the way, the book fair has evolved somewhat since the first one in Koroni back in October 2007, and the range of
items have expanded to include such things as clocks, bags, greetings cards and even a deep fat
fryer!! So. if you have never been to one, then why not come along to the next one? You could be pleasantly surprised at what you might find! By the way, we still hope to have a fair in or near Kalamata, so anyone who is interested in helping us, please step forward!
Readers have left 6 comments. No.1 book fair
i still feel that i would like the money to go to charity instead of buying books. it would be good if it could be a local charity, and i am happy for it to keep going to kaws and archelon unless we can identify a local need we can save for (ask the woman who runs the taverna?). i think we all spend money buying the books we want that then end up in the book fair, so we increase the number, content, of books that are there. if there was nothing anyone wanted to read, we wouldn't keep taking so much money! another suggestion i have is that i have some books i would be happy to put into a library but don't want to let go of. if they could be documented and lent out like a real library so there is a record of who has it, i think i and others would be happy to lend books in this way.
love and thanks for all the energy you put in, linda x No.2 Book Fair
1 There was a list? we saw no list.
2 We are here in Messinia so the money should stay here.
3 As for buying books what a great idea as this will then generate more money the thing you set out to do, that seems simple enough.
Lets keep going down the road you set out on, and not get sidetracked with other charities in other areas.
The Doctor No.3 Book Fairs
How about adopting Archelon as our charity for, say, a year? If the money we raised at each Fair was put into a savings account we could hand it over to them in a grand ceremony at the end of twelve months. They have a local presence here, and from comments made it seems to be a popular choice to support with book fair visitors. It would also give us twelve months to research the next year's charity!
I think a separate subscription library would be a good idea for those of us who devour books at a rapid rate of knots. It would need some careful thought as to the organisation and operation, and viability would of course depend on the numbers of people interested. No.4 Book Fair
We support Linda's comments. Buying in books should only be considered if the existing format starts to deteriorate in interest i.e that people feel there is nothing in the existing library that they wish to read. Hopefully (and by rotating the venue to bring in new/more members) this will not happen for a long time. Like Linda, we also have a number of books that we would gladly lend, but do not wish to part with permanently.
Graham and Afonwen No.5 book fair
I'm happy with the charity idea, but could we include charities that support humans as well as those that support animals (surely they exist in Messinia?).
It might be worth purchasing some additional books if some of the current the stock isn't shifting. But if there is a good turnover, with new titles being donated rather than older ones recycling, then maybe it would be premature.
A library might be difficult to manage, although it is a good idea. No.6 book fair
Hi from rainy Kalamata! I am a new comer in the group and I really like what I see. About the book fair you are bringing in my mind something I always thought it would be a great thing to do! Charities should focus on humans. We live in difficult times and a lot of people in Messinia as well as in the entire world need money! In the states where I lived for 18 years, every year we bought stuff, food in cans and toys and gave them twice a year to kids with no parents. The idea can be applied here in Messinia as well. There is a building where orphans live. In cooperation with the manager we could buy toys or clothes and offer them to those kids. We could do that with older people who are unable to work and support themselves. Thank you for the opportunity, be well and ...see you around! Sotiris |
