Mahone Middle School Bonsai Club Seeks Sponsors

Middle School Bonsai Group Going to Ginkgo Exhibit in Belgium

Can you help the Mahone Middle School Bonsai Club
with their goal to raise money to go to the Ginkgo Exhibition in
September 2007?  To our knowledge we are the only middle school bonsai club in the
United States.

We began the club last year with 18 members and after much hard work
and enjoyment all of the members entered a tree in the 2006 Wisconsin
State Fair exhibit with the Milwaukee Bonsai Society. Members did
service work at the Milwaukee International Folk Fair MBS Bonsai
Display in both 2005 and 2006. These are the kids who did service work
at the Milwaukee MABA Convention in 2006. They are still going strong
at Mahone and this year we have 25 members. We have had a wonderful
two years of bonsai and now are planning ahead for the third. The
members of the Mahone Bonsai Club have been granted School Board
permission to travel to Europe in September, a first for the Kenosha
School District. Bonsai has become a part of the Mahone Middle School
culture and almost any student at the school will tell you that those
are “the cool little trees.” We frequently exhibit our trees in the
library and last year produced an outstanding Bonsai Show for parents,
students, staff and the public that received recognition in the local
newspaper.

Our next goal is to participate at the Ginkgo Exhibit in Belgium. The
trip from NY costs each student $1150.00 plus airfare to NY and
spending money for food and personal expenses. We are doing fund
raising at school and all are willing to pay some of the money
personally, but this is an urban school and not all the families can
afford to pay the whole price. We estimate that the total trip will
cost each student $1500.00.

We are seeking corporate or personal sponsorship to help the kids have
a “chance of a lifetime” bonsai experience. Any assistance you can
give will be appreciated.
If you are not able to help, perhaps you know someone who would and can
pass along this message.

Sincerely,
The Mahone Bonsai Club members
and
Jean L. Sher jsher@kusd.edu or jsher@wi.rr.com
Mahone Middle School Bonsai Club Advisor

Mahone Middle School
6900-60 th Street
Kenosha, Wisconsin 53144
School Phone # 262-605-8111