As some of you will know, AmeriCymru is holding a major event in Portland, Oregon this year. The Left Coast Eisteddfod on August 21st and August 22nd, 2009 will be a major celebration of all things Welsh and the rich American-Welsh heritage. There will be performances by BBC Radio Wales Chris Needs, tenor Bruce Anderson, Here Be Dragons from Cardiff and Oceans Apart. Also appearing will be authors Niall Griffiths and Chris Keil, lovespoon carver extraordinaire David Western and many more.

This is an ambitious project and it is intended to be the first of many such events but, of course, ambition has a price. In this particular case, we set out to raise $20,000.00 in order to stage this event. We are very pleased and proud to announce that we have raised $15,000.00 of that total. This is a remarkable achievement and we owe it all to you, our members and readers. We do not have large, corporate backers and, until recently, were ineligible for funding by the various grant bodies in the United States. The good news is: that we are now a 501(c)(3) charitable public organization recognized by the IRS, with full tax-exempt status. Further good news is that we are still able to accept sponsors for this event. If you wish to support the Left Coast Eisteddfod, please consider one of the two following options. We need to raise those final, few dollars to complete our preparations. Uncle Dai needs you.

1) Sponsorship: do you have a business based in Wales or a Welsh or Celtic-related business here in the US? If so, please consider advertising with AmeriCymru. We can offer generous sponsorship packages from as little as $200.00, which will associate your name both with the Eisteddfod and with AmeriCymru (the largest and fastest growing Welsh social network in the US). We are particularly concerned to work with accomodation providers, tour companies, cultural, artistic and technologies ventures. Contact Ceri Shaw or Gaabriel Becket at americymru@gmail.com . Act now to ensure maximum exposure, there are only two months to go before the Eisteddfod.

2) Donations: Anything you donate to our non-profit corporation, the Meriwether Lewis Memorial Eisteddfod Foundation, can be claimed as a tax-exempt donation on your 2009 taxes. Every cent you donate will be used to make the Eisteddfod a bigger and better occasion and to prepare similar future events. There is a donate button which pays directly into the Foundation bank account at the top of the left hand column on every page of the site. Any amount, great or small, is appreciated. If you do not feel comfortable using the PayPal donate button, please do not hesitate to contact us at americymru@gmail.com to make alternative arrangments.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AND SEEING YOU ALL AT THE LEFT COAST EISTEDDFOD IN PORTLAND ON AUGUST THE 21ST AND 22ND, 2009. DIOLCH YN FAWR, AMERICYMRU!