The end of 2009 is upon us all and time to make any last-minute, tax-deductible donations you may need to make this fiscal year!

We urge you to consider the Meriwether Lewis Memorial Eisteddfod Foundation , the non-profit corporation created to put on the Left Coast Eisteddfod .

In 2009, we presented our inaugural event, not without its growing pains but still successful for our first year. Niall Griffiths, Chris Keil and Chris Needs appeared at our first authors' event and read from their work to a very appreciative audience at the Portland Central Library as part of Welsh Literature Month in the library system. Chris Needs charmed the mayor of Portland, Sam Adams, and seminars and readings at the event were very well received and we've gotten a lot of great feedback.

With the 2010 ( Oct 3rd -10th ) event, we plan to repeat and expand on the success of the author's events. Both Chris Keil and Niall Griffiths have kindly said they'll come back and we hope to add more authors to this list. We're looking at possibly adding film and live theater to 2010's events, as well as educational components

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 are particularly concerned to work with accomodation providers, tour companies, cultural, artistic and technologies ventures. Contact Ceri Shaw or Gaabriel Becket to create your tailored sponsorship package at americymru@gmail.com. Act now to ensure maximum exposure.

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.

ALL DONATIONS ON BOTH THE AMERICYMRU AND MLMEF SITES GO TOWARD FINANCING THE 2010 LEFT COAST EISTEDDFOD ( OCT 3-10 2010 ). WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AND SEEING YOU ALL AT THE LEFT COAST EISTEDDFOD IN PORTLAND NEXT YEAR. DIOLCH YN FAWR, AMERICYMRU!