#2 Need - Educational Presentations

This kit is provided by one of the charter members at her own expense and
is not ready set up for teaching a group of people.

Many of our public outreach events involve demonstrating and giving out printed information about gourds, gourd growing, and gourd crafting. On more than one occasion we have had to choose between a couple requests. Usually we select a school request for a presentation over a gardening club or other public appearance because we cannot be in two or three places at once. This especially happens in late spring and in the fall - two times when the general population is interested in planting gourds or crafting gourds. However, what if we could attend to more than one or two requests at a time?  Especially when the requests are in two or three areas that are at a distance from each other. We can train the volunteers, but we could use several 'kits' ready for them to check out with chapter-approved materials, equipment, and handouts. Right now we use what charter members have, and operate these presentation functions with their generosity.


Our #2 need for the grant is 3 carriers of supplies for a chapter-sponsored presentations - one each for 3 locations at once. Each one would have regularly used equipment for demonstration, informational handouts, gourds to work with, and folding display boards.  Specific breakdown would be as such:

36" Rubbermaid commercial/industrial tool box: 3 x $77 =  $231
Black and Decker drill w/set of bits: 3 x $30 = $90
Set of hole cutter bits: 3 x $9 = $27
Dremel MiniMite drill w/set of bits: 3 x $25 = $75
Black and Decker jigsaw: 3 x $32 = $96
Dremel MiniCraft jigsaw: 3 x $35 = $105
Misc. tools - metal scrubbies, screwdrivers, coping saw blades, locking wrench, wire cutting pliers, needle nose pliers, Xacto knife/blades: 3 x $50 = $150
2-canister respirator: 3 x $28 = $84
Procedure masks w/earloops; pkg of 50: 3 x $8.50 = $25.50
Nitrile Exam Gloves: box of 100 pairs - 3 x $9 = $27
Sandblaster sandpaper - Assortment, value pack: 6 x $6 = $36
Sandblaster sanding sponges/pkg of 3 - 6 x $6.50 =  $39
3M TEKK Protection Splash goggles - 12 x $5 = $60

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Total  = $1,045.5 (rounded up) $1,050

Broken down, that's $350 per kit.  For that, we would be able to conduct 3 presentations on the same weekend, in 3 far-flung areas of the state.  As stated earlier, in spring and especially in the fall, that would be a terrific opportunity to educate many groups: school classes, gardening groups, festival attendees.  We could do the State Fair, AND the Frontier Museum, AND the Galax Heritage days at the same time!! It would allow us more opportunity to make use of volunteer services throughout the week when some work day jobs and others are free to present at various places.