Help sponsor SW Washington ‘Tools of the Trade’ exhibit

VANCOUVER (May 15, 2013) — The Southwest Washington Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, is working with the Clark County Historical Museum to bring labor’s history in Southwest Washington to light and to the public. The museum is preparing to open an exhibit on July 11 entitled “Tools of the Trade: A History of Labor in Southwest Washington,” which will be on display for 18 months.

An open house hosted by Washington Young Emerging Labor Leaders (WA YELL) is planned from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 24 — see the event flier — which is the evening preceding the start of the Washington State Labor Council’s 2013 Convention in Vancouver on July 25-27.

But the museum needs financial support in order to finish the exhibit. To that end, Executive Director Susan M.G. Tissot sent letters to local labor leaders seeking tax-deductible contributions for some exciting sponsorship opportunities, both for union organizations and rank-and-file members:

Union organizations that donate $500 will be featured in the exhibit gallery on an interpretive panel that is printed solely to represent the combined Union Shop support. Each organization donating at the $1,000 level will be represented on the interpretive panel and have their logo featured on an exhibit banner that will hang on the front of the museum building. Businesses that contribute $2,000 will be represented on the interpretive panel, have their logo featured on the building banner and have their logo featured on media advertising that the museum produces in conjunction with the exhibit. Deadline to participate: June 1.

Union members are also being asked to contribute whatever dollar amount they can afford to give at this time ($20, $50, $75, $100 or more). In exchange, the museum will create a “Rolodex” type of acknowledgement that will be featured in the exhibit gallery. This unique Rolodex will list the union members grouped by their donation amount and by union affiliation. All members of a specific union would be featured together on a Rolodex page to show their combined support of the labor project.

You can donate online via PayPal — just indicate in the comments that it is for the “Tools of the Trade” exhibit and what your union affiliation is. You can also print, fill out and mail in this donation form with your contribution.

“In these times when labor is under attack, the need to remember and celebrate our history and share it with the community becomes all the more important,” wrote WSLC President Jeff Johnson and Secretary-Treasurer Lynne Dodson in a letter to affiliated unions urging them to contribute to the effort. “We urge your assistance with this beautiful exhibition and are grateful to the Southwest Washington CLC and the Clark County Historical Museum for putting it together for all of us, our families, and our communities to enjoy.”

If you have questions about the sponsorship opportunities, email Susan Tissot or call her at 360-993-5679.