University of Wisconsin - Sheboyga

Active in 2003. Want to restart this campaign?

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

January 7, 2003

I was not able to conduct a children's campaign as the school's principal nixed my request speak to the 8th graders. My own children then became my children's awareness group.

The actual coffee/chocolate campaign was conducted at the University of Wisconsin - Sheboygan campus in December. I drafted a classmate and we spent two lunch hour days on a petition drive, passing out information and free coffee while collecting signatures for Fair Trade coffee on campus, the Folgers campaign, and the M&M campaign.

I also wrote an article for the school's newspaper and presented info & signatures to the campus' business manager. The business manager indicated that she doubted that the campus would ever mandate Fair Trade coffee as she would have to raise overall student fees. I personally felt that that was an erroneous statement. However, the coffee shop manager indicated that she would be willing to purchase Alterra's fair trade blends and give it a try as long as student reaction was favorable. I consider the whole event to have been a great success. My goal was to disseminate the information and foster awareness.

Expanding on the children's campaign is a great idea. I'll review the new campaign information and see where it leads.

November 20, 2002

I have tentatively set-up to have a table available for my use in the University's common area to advocate for Fair Trade sometime during the first week of Dec. Thought I'd give away some free fair trade coffee too. I've drafted a co-worker from class and have been talking to the woman who runs the lunch counter. I thought some more of the tri-fold flyers would be helpful to pass out. Is it possible to send me some? I thought I'd put in an order from your web site for some coffee and chocolate products that represent fair trade. Finally, I thought I'd copy some of the pages from the action kit and ask for signatures on the petitions. Are there things that you could send -- and are the tri-folds available? I'll pass out anything you have a mind to ship me -- if you can.

November 11, 2002

I just found out the middle school principal thinks the chocolate campaign is too controversial. I was afraid of that. It's no wonder that college inspires so many protest movements as the public schools socialize such compliance to the status quo -- but I don't have to tell you that, do I :) I'm still going to do this project with kids, however -- just not in a school setting. Hmmmm... although I might try my youngest son's 4th grade class if your material targets that age range. (it's worth a try!) I also plan to bring this to the college campus as well.

November 9, 2002

I am student at the University of Wisconsin - Sheboygan and a new member of Global Exchange. As part of an applied project for a Contemporary Social Problems course, I would like to participate in your chocolate campaign and I'd like some help. One of the things I thought I might do is to visit my oldest son's 8th grade 1st period class and talk the the kids about it and find ways to get them involved or a project we could do together. I have to do this very soon and I was hoping that you might have some bright ideas to reach 13-year-olds. As future voters and mega-consumers, I think this is a good time to plant the seed of social justice -- but I want to do with lots of hope.

Bringing awareness to the UW-S campus was another idea -- an arena for fairly traded coffee as well. As I just downloaded the Action Kit, I have quite a bit of reading to do. Many thanks for your great website and all the wonderful work that you are doing! I look forward to hearing from you! Many thanks.