Rosetta for Relief!

Hello my coffee friends!

I am announcing, on behalf of my friend Sam Penix at Everyman Espresso, the Rosettas for Relief Project & Events for Haiti disaster relief. Please respond to her directly at sampenix2008@gmail.com.

Please share this information with anybody you think might be interested!

Rosettas for Relief brings together baristas from all over NYC and throughout the country to raise funds and awareness for those in need. Photos above are from the Rosettas for Relief event after Myanmar’s 2008 Tsunami.

What: 

We’re having a SUPER THROWDOWN for Haiti!!!

Rosettas for Relief 2010 will be two events: First, 10 individual latte art throwdowns held at different times all over the country.  Contestants will need to raise $100 in sponsorships from their shops/regular customers/friends with contributions going towards the charity. This goal will go towards an unparalleled effort by the barista community to raise funds for relief after the earthquake in Haiti. Please note the buy in is a goal of how much each barista could raise. Please don’t be discouraged. The winner of the each city throwdown will go on to the final round held on March 5th.

Then, one large country-spanning coffee party on March 5th with the winners of each throwdown competing for a TBD prize, with celebrity judges from both the coffee industry as well as the general public.  The competitors will each pour 3 lattes, choose the best and load it to Flickr. Judges will then deliberate and determine the best pours at the end of the March 5th party.

Each individual event will be at the discretion of the individual city (more details below if you want to participate!).  The National/New York City event on March 5th will be held during Coffee Fest NY/NJ to take advantage of the influx of out-of-town coffee industry people.  We hope to have a large location in a music venue with music and alcohol, with proceeds going to charity (Please let us know if you have access to a venue that will accommodate us!).

About the Charity:  

REBATI is a new organization aimed at rebuilding a long-term, sustainable mental health system in Haiti after the earthquake disaster.  REBATI is a partnership of community and professional Haitian organizations outside of Haiti, mental health and psychosocial providers and community caregivers inside of Haiti, and academic medical and psychological centers.  REBATI hopes to organize international mental health professional to provide support in Haiti after the disaster and help train current and future mental health professionals, teachers, and clergy to build back a better, sustained, system to manage mental health and psychosocial needs.

Rosettas for relief plans to help REBATI at this event and then continue to build and grow a “response system” so the barista community can act quickly when other disasters/emergencies occur throughout the world, donating to other charities as is needed/appropriate. We would love advice on how to structure this organization and welcome any volunteers seeking to help.  If you have questions about REBATI please feel free to email the founder Gary Belkin, a professor at NYU’s mental health department at Gary.Belkin@nyumc.org

What is a Latte Art Throwdown? A latte art throwdown is a barista event where by “throwing down” an entry fee, contestants compete to pour the most beautiful latte art possible.  Read about them here: http://thursdaynightthrowdown.wordpress.com/

Read more about the last Rosetta for Relief, held in NYC after the Myanmar Tsunami disaster in 2008 here: http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2008/06/the_latte_art_t.html

How Can You Help? 

WE NEED:

VOLUNTEERS (with event coordination pre-event, and tech support the day of event)

SPONSORS (we would LOVE some great prizes for both winners and big contributors who are supporting cause in Haiti. Let us know if you can help!)

JUDGES (for each local event and the grand finale. Think you know a great candidate for a judge? Send them to sampenix2008@gmail.com)

Rosettas for Relief is seeking cash and in-kind prizes for the event, as well as seeking high profile judges, a large venue to host the event, musicians to perform, volunteers to help us organize the event, and of course, competitors and donations. Please be in touch with the event organizer, Sam Penix (Sam Penix sampenix2003@yahoo.com), right away. All proceeds after expenses will go to
When & Where: 10 cities: please contact the city’s contact below for up-to-the minute info:

NYC & National Event Mastermind – Sam Penix – Everyman Espresso 136 E. 13th Thursday February 11th at 8p.m. sampenix2008@gmail.com. RSVP for the event at the Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=288999551543&ref=ts). Also, please see the attached sponsorship sheet you can use to raise money from owners, fellow baristas, customers and friends.

DC – Jeremy Sterner – jeremysterner@gmail.com
Chicago – James Liu – jamesliu@coffeespoons.org
Seattle – Sarah Dooley & Daniel Humphries – sarahdooley7@mac.com
Durham – Lem Butler - lbutler@counterculturecoffee.com
Charlotte – Brent Hall - bhall@counterculturecoffee.com
  Atlanta – Ben Helfen – ben@octanecoffee.com
Vancouver, BC – Sammy Piccolo – sammybarista@gmail.com

Do you want to host a city event? Great! Just email Sam Penix to coordinate the logistics.

National Event hosted in NYC: Location TBD (if you have a space, venue, basement or any room at all for us we’d love to hear about it!), Friday, March 5th at 8pm EST National Broadcast on UStream, after Coffee Fest/MARBC Day 1. 

Why: So the barista community may step up and benefit those affected by the Haitian disaster through REBATI today, and help others in need in the future.

Please also see the attached poster and sign up sheet for your contributions!