The Meriwether Lewis Memorial Eisteddfod Foundation is appealing for your support in the Chase Community Giving contest on Facebook. The Meriwether Lewis Memorial Eisteddfod Foundation (MLMEF), is an Oregon non-profit corporation, recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity. MLMEF was organized to raise public awareness of Welsh heritage in North America, to celebrate Welsh-American culture and preserve its works and to foster and encourage art and creativity in the Welsh tradition.
An Eisteddfod [eye-STETH-vod] is a Welsh performing arts festival, held in Wales since at least the 12th Century when bards competed for the favor of the Lord Rhys at his court in Cardigan. Today, the National Eisteddfod of Wales celebrates dance, poetry, music, theater, prose and visual arts. Eisteddfoddau are held all over the world, wherever Welsh people settled.
The Meriwether Lewis Memorial Eisteddfod Foundation organizes the Left Coast Eisteddfod, a modern eisteddfod for the west coast of North America. The Left Coast Eisteddfod includes live events and on line events and competitions on AmeriCymru , a Welsh social network.
Why Meriwether Lewis? Many people don't know that Meriwether Lewis' ancestors came to the western hemisphere from Wales, that Lewis spoke Welsh and was chosen by Jefferson to lead the expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase in part because Jefferson and Lewis could write to each other in Welsh and trust that their letters would remain secure from non-Welsh speakers. Today there are Lewises, Davises, Griffithses, Jenkinses, Williamses and more who have no idea that their own ancestors came from Wales and are in danger of losing or have lost their families' cultural heritage. Canada, the United States, Argentina, Uruguay and many other places in the west are home to treasures of Welsh heritage and the rich traditions of imagination, creativity, song and story Welsh emigrants brought with them around the world.
The Chase Community Giving initiative gives us the opportunity to win a $20,000 grant which will be used to increase the range of activities and events at this years Eisteddfod. We hope you will support us in our effort to secure this grant.

HERES WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
1. If you are not on Facebook.join and vote here:-

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/263243673-meriwether-lewis-memorial-eisteddfod-foundation
2. If you are on Facebook VOTE NOW! Voting directions can be found in 'Comments' at he bottom of the page.

3. Persuade a friend to vote.

4. Post on group walls and ask group admins of Welsh/Celtic groups to message their members to ask for their support.

5. Put our voting link banner on your website or blogpost. You can cut and paste it from the voting page:-
http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/263243673-meriwether-lewis-memorial-eisteddfod-foundation
6. Consider getting together with a friend ( if both of you have already voted ) and exchanging Gift Votes. This will enable both of you to vote for us twice.

Diolch yn fawr for your kind consideration and support