13 June 2003

Hola Gary thanks again for your nomination of Artcamp for the Tech Museum Awards.
I hope you don't think that all of the work we have done in this direction is vain or foolish.

I have the idea that the promotion of the Artesanas Campesinas
the Mexican women artisans will, in the end, prove to be an important ingredient
in the eventual success of this cooperative.

This year we have put a lot of effort in this direction of qualifying
for some recognition and positioning for eventual grant financing.

The Baramati Conference in India, the Digital Partners Social Enterprise Laboratory
are solid steps that leave us in possession of documentary materials we can use
to represent Artcamp in whatever venue
or opportunity we encounter.

Melissa Hand is a professional in the field of grant writing
and as such she is a valuable resource.

but still no financing has yet appeared;
I think all of this initiative
has to mature and we do need to return to the basics of our business
because if we start thinking that some grant financing will save us
because the handcrafts business in the Third World is hard
you have to keep your eye on the ball

Artcamp is still strung out between the cottage craft industry production
operation and the promise of digital interface with Retailers.
Without an inventory it is very hard to service Retailers.
Artisan-Owned Distribution nneds to become a reality.

We are hoping that there is a way Global Marketplace can continue to assist Artcamp
at this time when still 90 percent of production is going to our Distributor customers.

An obvious and very valuable move would be if GM
could take on more Artcamp product.
But we are thinking beyond that
really want to open this one up Gary to your own ideas,
because Artcamp has a tremendous potential,
if it can get itself untracked and into the market.

Artcamp's gross sales have been less than $150,000usd
each of the past three years and there are 12 or 15 families
living from this operation (representing about 67% of gross sales)

This is not enough sales
the solution is obviously in increased sales or increased margin.

In this way I do try to open a dialog with you Gary
as to how we could work
together to open new opportunities for Artcamp so it can find its way to the kind of
success that their parents once had with the alpaca abalone shell jewelry.

As the Mexicans say: “What strikes once, strikes again.”

I guarantee you Gary that when Artcamp is self-sufficient and successful,
you will always have intimate friends in Guerrero Mexico
and this work we are doing will become a flourishing emblem
of what the Fair Trade Movement should and could still - be all about.

Please let me know your thoughts on what I have written above.

Best wishes from us!
http://www.artcamp.com.mx/pages/Mission.html
Our Mission