L.U.N.C.H.L.U.N.C.H.LOCALUNITEDNETWORK toCOMBATHUNGER

Fall 2007 -- Issue #18

continuing the legacy of Harry Chapin

Founded 1989 by Bill PereMENUMENU

TheThe

Using the power of popular music to produce positive social actionSince 1989

There Are more than 100,000 Hungry

Children Under the Age of 12 In Connecticut

Looking Back, Looking Ahead...

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE 100,000 HUNGRY CHILDREN IN CONNECTICUT,

THANKS FOR CARING.

LUNCH's MISSION: (1) To show kids that they can make a difference in the lives of others; (2) To raise money for fighting hunger and poverty though local social service agencies (3) To provide fun-filled family entertainment events for the community

COMING UP

Our 12th summer music camp at Camp Wightman was another whirlwind week, with 50 campers, counselors, and Ensemble members coming together for a great time of music, learning, and camping experiences. One of our campers, Elisa Crane, has joined us as a regular member of the Ensemble.

It's hard to fathom that the first groups of kids we worked with in LUNCH are now in their thirties, and that ALL of the kids we now have in the Ensemble had not yet been born. But here we are 19 years later, having done hundreds of concerts large and small, stage plays, recordings , and special events. More than 2,000 kids have been a part of our programs, and we've performed on the East Coast, West Coast, and Canada. I still get the occasional surprise e-mail which goes something like " I was in one of your shows many years ago and I just found your web site. I'm glad to see you're still going strong ! " Of course, the reason we're still going strong is, quite simply, all of YOU!. Those of you who have supported our community outreach for so many years with your contributions, your attendance at our shows, and your help in spreading the word about our programs. We thank you for all you've done to enable us to make a difference in the lives of others.

November 10 - 7pm, Union Baptist Church, Mystic A Veterans Day Tribute with special guest Tom Callinan. Tom is Connecticut's first State Troubadour. Tickets: $10

December 01 - 7pm Union Baptist Church, Mystic. (pre-show music begins 6:15pm) A LUNCH Holiday Concert to benefit local social service agencies. Tickets: $10 at the door; $8 in advance (call 860-572-9285 to reserve)

April 5, 7pm - St David Episcopal Church, Ledyard. A Hunger Awareness Concert to benefit local social services. Tickets: $10

April 12, Old Saybrook --- A Chapin Tribute Concert to Benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchen . First Church Congregational, 366 Main St., Old Saybrook.

The highlight of our season was the June 1 concert at the Shubert Theater with the Steve Chapin Band. LUNCH

received a standing ovation from the almost 700 Chapin fans in attendance.

2007 NEWS BITS !

• LUNCH was a partner in the international UNISONG songwriting competition. We had a special category for songs about hunger and homelessness, bringing in entries from around the world. We chose the top songs and awarded more $3,000 in awards and prizes. The winners can be heard on our website.

•Our 2007 Voices For Hope competition was a great success, with auditions held at the Granite theater in Westerly, RI. This year, we partnered with Angels on Horseback to raise awareness of the benefits of therapeutic riding. The winner, Julie Lavery of Massachusetts, received a $500 scholarship, and she recorded the song "Angels on Horseback",written by Bill and Kay. The CD is now available, with proceeds to benefit therapeutic riding programs. Visit Voices For Hope at our website.

including some from our 2006 Voices For Hope winners. The songs range from intense to humorous, always thoughtful and reflective. Heard for the first time anywhere are the two songs written about Bill's experience as a young teenager, watching his father's slide into the grip of Alzheimer's at a time when very few people had even heard of it. The Ensembles provides backup vocals on many of the songs. And Kay's soaring performance on "The Sound in the Space" is truly memorable.

•Bill Pere is pleased to announce the 2007 release of the long-awaited new CD, "Dare to Dream". Thirty new songs on 2 discs look at life through our dreams, hopes and aspirations covering the full panorama of human experience. Bill and the Ensemble have worked for three years on this project. There are several great guest lead vocals,

•On February 14, Kay was named as the winner of the Spirited Woman jingle contest. Her entry received the most votes by a margin of 5 , so thanks to all of you who voted or her in this contest. Kay's song and an interview with her are posted at the Spirited Woman website.(www.thespiritedwoman.com)

•On Sept 15, the Ensemble joined with several artists from the CT Songwriters Association to present "A Day of Praise", songs from the spiritual

compilation CD "Along the Road". The event was a benefit for Heifer International as well as for local agencies.

In March we held a benefit at the Bradford School in RI, raising $2,300. Above, we present a portion of the proceeds to the Jonnycake Center. Delaney Silvestri (3rd from left) has joined us as a regular member of the Ensemble.

At the national Independent Music Conference in Philadelphia, Kay was named as one of five recipients of an Immie Award, recognizing her accomplishments as an Independent Artists, and her social activism through music. Presenting the award is Philly radio personality Melissa St. Jude, and Director of the Conference, Noel Ramos. Bill received an Immie in 2003 as the national Indie Artist of the Year. Bill and Kay will be heading down to New Jersey in the Spring , and West Virginia in the Summer, to present at music conferences.

2007 NEWS BITS !

OUR 2007 COMMUNITY

SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP

AWARD WINNERS

In May, the Ensemble returned for their 4th appearance at the University of Hartford's "Music For a Change" series, presenting "A Tribute to Harry Chapin".Community Service Awards were presented to Stefanie Schaufler, (left) and Samantha Schaufler (right), for their 5 years of service as members of the Ensemble. They are the youngest persons to receive the 5-year $100 scholarship award.

At the Harry Chapin Tribute at the Shubert Theater on June 1, graduating senior Anna Buehler received a Community Service Award for her outstanding volunteer efforts with the Ensemble through her entire four high school years. LUNCH will be back at the Shubert Theater for another Harry Chapin Tribute in 2008.

LUNCH AWARDS - 2007LUNCH AWARDS - 2007

The 2007 Voices For Hope winner Julie Lavery of Whitman MA, receives a $500 scholarship prize for her rendition of "Angels on Horseback," written by Kay and Bill Pere. Proceeds from the recording will help support therapeutic riding programs. To learn more visit the Voice For Hope section of the LUNCH website. We will hold our third Voices For Hope event in 2008.

You're probably wondering "where's the information about the annual Holiday Show ? Well, with so many things going on and with people's busy schedules, a confluence of logistics has conspired such that sadly, we cannot do a full Holiday Show production this year.

Before you gasp in disappointment -- well, okay, you can gasp in disappointment -- we are going to have a Holiday Concert with all of the favorite holiday songs, both serious and silly -- just not the full stage play that we usually do. However, next year there will be an even bigger and better Holiday Show as we partner with the Stonington Community Center to present two performances on their full stage. The 2008 production will be "A Hogwart's Christmas: Harry Shopper and The Order From Phoenix !"

But that's next year -- so back to now: For 2007, come join us at

Union Baptist Church for the LUNCH Holiday Concert Event -- it will be a fun time for the family.

DECEMBER 1, 7pm (preshow beginning at 6:15)Tickets: $10 at the door, $8 in advance.

To reserve tickets call 860-572-9285

More details are posted at the website.

And of course there is a serious side to us not having the full Holiday Show production this year -- Since it is a major fundraiser for us, it is going to make it more difficult to provide support for all the agencies that we usually help out. With all the cutbacks going on in the region and nationally, we still need to do our part to help our neighbors , especially during the Holiday Season.

If you can't come to our events, there are still several ways you can help:

1. Sponsor seats at $10 each for families who otherwise could not afford to attend the shows.

2. Send a contribution - any amount is appreciated.

All donations to LUNCH are fully tax-deductible.

3. If you have not yet gotten a copy of the newest LUNCH CD release "Dare to Dream", there's no better time to give the gift of music. It's available at the LUNCH website, or from www.CDBaby.com, or from i-Tunes.

HOLIDAY SHOW NEWS ATTENTION ANYONE WHO

HAS EVER BEEN IN A LUNCH

PRODUCTION (or parent of someone who has been in

LUNCH production)

ATTENTION ANYONE WHO

HAS EVER BEEN IN A LUNCH

PRODUCTION (or parent of someone who has been in

LUNCH production)

We are hoping to have a special event to celebrate our 20th (yes 20th ! ) anniversary in 2009. All folks who have participated in any LUNCH production over the years are invited.This will be a big celebration.

In order for us to be able to send invitations and updated information, we need your e-mail address. So if you are interested in being part of our 20 year celebration PLEASE send us an e-mail indicating your interest, however tentative it may be, so we can get an idea of how much space we'll need.

Also, we will need your current e-mail address so that we can send you invitations and updated information as it becomes available. We have not yet set a specific date, but we hope to have lots of folks there and we hope to see you again after 5. 10, or 20 years !.

We are very pleased that the list of social service agencies that we have been able to support over the years continues to grow.

In addition to the many local Connecticut and Rhode Island programs we regularly support, we have been able to do special events and provide support for agencies on the West Coast, and Globally. And of course we continue to support World Hunger Year in New York, which is the organization founded by Harry Chapin. On June 1 at the concert at the Shubert Theater in New Haven, we presented a $1,000 check to World Hunger Year, our 17th consecutive $1,000 donation to that organization.

Two Decades of Supporting Social Services

COME JOIN THE CELEBRATION

COME JOIN THE CELEBRATION

L . U . N . C . H .L . U . N . C . H .PO Box 511 Mystic CT 06355 860-572-9285 e-mail: info@lunchensemble.com web: www.lunchensemble.com

LOCALUNITEDNETWORK toCOMBATHUNGER

Local United Network to Combat Hunger

Full Size 1/2 size 1/4 size business card)

___ Full Size Display plus Web Site banners ---- $500 [ Platinum]

___ Half Size Display plus Web Site banner ---- $300 [ Gold ]

___ Quarter Size Display - $250 [ Silver ]

___ Showcase Display (1/6) - $100 [Benefactor ]

___ Business Card Display - $50 [Patron]

___ Other Amount: __________________

___ SEAT SPONSOR: I would like to sponsor ____seats at $10 ea,

for families who cannot afford to attend events.

Contact Person: __________ ______________Title:________________________

Business or Group Name____ _______ _ _

Address:_____ ____________ ____________ __________ _

City/State/Zip _____ ________________ _ E-mail __________ ____

SPONSORSHIP FOR INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND INSTITUTIONS

Send your electronic copy (jpg file) via e-mail to info@lunchensemble.com, or send hardcopy, (camera-ready copy or business card ) to : LUNCH, PO Box 511 , Mystic CT 06355

Support community outreach through the arts. Proceeds from our shows benefit local family service agencies, and provide community outreach opportunities for kids through music and theater. LUNCH is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. All contributions are fully tax-deductible

.

Join the ever-growing

community of LUNCH

Sponsors!

Enclosed is my check or money order to LUNCH for $ ___________.

Credit Card Number : __ Visa __ Mastercard Expiration

MasterCard

MasterCardVISA

OR Name on Credit Card: _________________________________

Using the Power of Popular Music to Produce Positive Social Action

THE HARRY CHAPIN LEGACY SHOWS

1991: "30,000 Pounds of Bananas"

1992: The School that Made America Famous"

1994: "Dance Band on the Titanic"

1995:-98 The Chapin Legacy with The Steve Chapin Band

1997: "Daily Planet"

1999: "May the Farce Be With You"

2001: "Excaliburger!"

2004: "Dance Band on the Titanic - The Next Generation !"

2007: The Chapin Legacy with The Steve Chapin Band

THE LUNCH HOLIDAY SHOWS

1995: The X-mas Files: The Search for Santa"

1996: "A Christmess Carol"

1999: "Christmas on Gilligan's Island"

2000: "A Dilbert Christmas"

2001: "The Three Scrooges"

2002 "Santaplicity !"

2003: "Survivor: North Pole !"

2004: "Gift of the Madguy"

2005 : "A Mall and the Night Visitors"

2006 :"Xmas with the Super Heroes"

2007: LUNCH Holiday Concert

OTHER SPECIAL CHAPIN LEGACY EVENTS

1997: "The Chapin Legacy " at Cheney Hall

2000-05 Music For a Change - "A Tribute to Harry Chapin" at University of Hartford

2005-present: The Voices For Hope program

GE

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If you read the local news, you know the need this year for basic human services is quite severe. Food pantries are at risk of shortages, and shelters are at capacity.

Become a Program Sponsor

(For web site banner ads, we can design it for you or use your existing graphics)

of the 2007-2008 LUNCH Hunger Concert Series to Benefit Social Service

Programs in CT/RI

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED !

Sponsors will appear in our program book and you will be listed on our website

LUNCHPO Box 511Mystic CT 06355

MARK THAT CALENDAR --- !

<-> DEC 01 -- The Holiday Concert - Union Baptist Church. Mystic" <->

Friday November 9 and Friday November 31 are the next official LUNCH Shirt Days. These are traditionally the day before a show. If you have a LUNCH shirt, wear it on those days. The more people that see the logo and ask about it, the more the word gets out about our community service outreach. Do you have a friend or know anyone who might like to participate in our activities? Let them know about us. Wearing your LUNCH shirt helps people learn about who we are and what we do. Please help.

If a man tried to take his time on earth and prove before he died what one man's life could be worth, I wonder what would happen to this world? -- Harry Chapin

NEW FACES

. . .LUNCH ON THE WEB.... . .LUNCH ON THE WEB...

E_MAIL: info@lunchensemble.com

One-Stop Shopping for information about LUNCH at

www.lunchensemble.com

LUNCH SHIRT DAYS

Check the Website Calender for the most current information about upcoming

performances

www.LUNCHENSEMBLE.COMwww.LUNCHENSEMBLE.COM

L U N C H -- Using the power of popular music to produce positive social action

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 0053

MY TS I C

CT

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

In the first years that LUNCH did live performances, we had less than 10 core members in the Ensemble -- meaning those who were always there and who came to all the practices. This year we have almost 30, and most of the Ensemble members are in their 2nd-7th years with us. WE have some new faces joining us this year: Elisa Crane, from Niantic; Delaney Silvestri, from Westerly; Rose Serra, from Westerly;Julia Burgos, from Mystic; and more to come...

A NEW WAY TO HELP !

Whenever you do a search on the Internet, use .goodsearch.com. It's like Google, except that every time you search, your designated non-profit agency gets a penny. It adds up. Just 200 people doing ten searches a week is more than $1,000 in a year. School projects, comparing products, vacation plans, general information - it's easy to amass lots of pennies.

To help LUNCH while you do your Internet searches, go to the LUNCH website and click the GoodSearch link in the left-hand column, (you may have to scroll down a bit) .

That will bring you to GoodSearch with LUNCH's name already set as the designated organization. you can bookmark it and use it whenever you search the internet. This is an easy way for you to help us expand our community outreach in this time when so many people are needing assistance to provide food, shelter. and basic necessities for their family. Your willingness to help is greatly appreciated and very much needed.

<-> NOV 10 -- Veterans Day Tribute Concert - Union Baptist Church, Mystic " <->

Help LUNCH While You Search the Internet

WELCOME !

DON'T GOOGLE WHEN YOU CAN GOODSEARCH !