Dear Hospice Festival Tree Decorators, It is time to turn our thoughts to Christmas trees and our final Hospice Festival of Trees. The 2012 Festival will be our 25 th and last Festival event. Mark your calendars, reserve your trees, and plan to attend this final and most glorious Christmas celebration in support of Charles County Hospice, Inc. So many of you have generously decorated a tree or wreath year after year; the Society for the Friends of Hospice recognizes the dedication and financial commitment that this represents. It is always difficult in economically challenging times to continue to support charities; however, this is when they need us the most! Through the tireless efforts of many in the community like yourselves, the unselfish donations of hundreds and the dedication of the Hospice staff, Board of Directors and the Friends of Hospice of Charles County, the Hospice House is about to open its doors to its first patients. Hospice will need us more than ever to continue to support the House s operational costs and the entire Hospice program. In addition to the Festival, The Friends of Hospice sponsor an Easter Egg Roll, a Preakness Event, and a two day Oktoberfest Event (Oct. 13-14, 2012). The Festival will be replaced with a new signature event for 2013. As you consider decorating again this year, please remember, Hospice of Charles County never turns away a patient and their family regardless of their ability to pay. This year s theme is Silver Traditions: Celebrating 25 Years of Memories. It suggests to me silver elegance and traditional Christmas themes or maybe you have a favorite theme from a Festival in the past that you want to recreate. Make your last Festival tree or wreath something special and magical. Tree and wreath purchasers appreciate the time, talent, creativity and energy you put into your Christmas creations. Traditional colors and sophisticated themes are most requested. We will only have green traditional trees and wreaths. There are 73 total trees in the following sizes: 3 (White and Multi-colored Lights), 4.5 Full and Slim, 6.5, 7.5, and 9.5 feet (slim). All the trees are pre-lit. Just take them out of the box, fluff and decorate. All trees that are 6.5 feet and above will have rolling stands. We will have 42 Ashley Spruce pre-lit wreaths measuring 30 in diameter and 5 unlit. We are looking for individuals/groups that would like to decorate a matching wreath and tree or two matching wreaths.
Tree Tree # of #of Ft. of Selling Price Height Inventory Lights Decorations Garland of Trees 9.5 Green 2 1300 285 110 $1,350.00 7.5 Green 15 750 225 70 $800.00 6.5 Green 16 300 150 65 $700.00 4.5 Green Full 16 200 100 50 $500.00 4.5 Green Slim 4 200 85 50 $450.00 3 Grn Wht Lts 16 100 50 15 $300.00 3 Grn Col Lts 4 100 50 15 $300.00 30 Gr Wreath 47 50 35 5 $125.00 Decorators are encouraged to supply a matching tree skirt to their design. Decorators are required to fluff their own tree. Tree fluffing and decorating will begin on Sunday, November 18, 2012 at the Jaycee Hall from 9:30am till 6pm. Please plan to attend the Decorators Kickoff scheduled for Monday, September 24, 2012 at 7pm at the Jaycees Center in Waldorf, MD. We are asking that you try to Recruit for Hospice and bring a friend, co-worker or family member to the workshop and introduce them to idea of decorating a tree or wreath. You and members from your group are strongly encouraged to come and learn from the old pros even if you have decorated a tree in the past. The workshop will be presented by long-time premier tree decorator and Country Florist owner, Lorrie Anderson along with Bonnie Baldus Grier and myself. Great door prizes will be awarded. Bring a bolt of wired ribbon to practice making bows. If you have your ribbon for your tree or wreath, bring it and leave with beautiful bows ready to go. Bonnie Grier has a selection of ornaments that meet all the Festival guidelines for sale at a discounted rate. Please contact Bonnie at 301-807-1400 (cell) or 301-753-1514 (work) if you are interested in purchasing ornaments. The trees are not stored at the Jaycees Center. If you would like to decorate your tree prior to November 18, you will need to make a reservation to pick-up your tree on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. ***** To reserve a tree to decorate, you must return the attached form by October 15, 2012 ***** The trees will be voted on by the public throughout the event. Winners in Most Elegant, Most Creative, Best in Keeping with the Theme of Festival, etc. will be chosen. Then on Sunday, November 27 th the winners will be announced at a reception for all the decorators.
Light refreshment will be served from 1 2pm. Good Luck with your decorating, we look forward to seeing all of you! Important things to remember about decorating a Festival tree: 1. All ornaments and decorations must be secured on the trees (i.e. wired) so they remain in place after being moved several times. It is best to use moss green chenille stems. Hot glue is not suggested. Please also check the weight of your ornaments. 2. The decorated trees are sold to individuals, businesses and organizations. These buyers expect to purchase a tree decorated to the value they are paying (i.e. 4 1/2 foot tree sells for $500.00). Purchasers prefer trees decorated with Christmas colors with more elegant, sophisticated themes instead of nontraditional colors or juvenile themes. 3. Ornaments and decorations can be handmade, but should be of excellent quality. We can t allow any styrofoam or paper. We encourage carved or hand painted ornaments. 4. Make sure the tree is FULL with fillers, garlands, fabrics, decorations and ornaments. We have had some complaints from buyers about the trees looking too sparse. 5. Glass ornaments and other fragile items are not allowed. Again, please check the weight of the ornaments. 6. Decorating trees should be a fun time for families, groups and organizations for the benefit of Hospice of Charles County. 7. The trees are not stored at the Jaycee Center, reservations for pick-up will be necessary. Please call Leigh Ann Keller @ 301-645-1770 for an appointment. 8. Please bring your own step stool or small ladder for decorating the tall trees. We have been asked by the Jaycees not to stand on their tables/chairs. It is important that each group come prepared with all the tools needed to decorate their trees. You will also need scissors, wire cutters, glue gun, chenille stems, 3 prong extension cords for larger trees, etc. Tentative Work Calendar for the Hospice 2012 Festival of Trees Monday, September 24 - Decorators Kickoff, 7pm at Jaycees Center in Waldorf, MD Monday, October 15 - Last Day for Tree Reservation Forms Friday, November 2 Decorator s name and theme information due for sign on tree Sunday, November 18 - Decorators can start fluffing and decorating trees, 9:30am 6pm Mon., November 19- Decorators may work on tree or return decorated trees 10am 6pm Tues., November 20 Decorators may work on tree or return decorated trees 10am 9pm ALL TREES MUST BE RECEIVED BY TUESDAY AT 9PM Wednesday, November 21 - Trees are moved to Main Hall No Decorating Wednesday Thursday, November 22- Thanksgiving Day Jaycee Center Closed
Friday, November 23 Friday Night Event Saturday, November 24 - Santa Lunch, General Admission, and Saturday evening Black and Blue Gala Sunday, November 25 - Decorators Reception 1-2pm, General Admn. Monday, November 26 - General Admission, Senior Luncheon Point of Contact: Leigh Ann Keller 301-843-0887 3290 Old Washington Road 301-645-1770 Waldorf, MD 20602 301-843-1158 fax actiontravel@olg.com 301-643-3639 cell If you would like to purchase the tree you are decorating, please contact Tracey Messick at (301) 934-1268 or tfmessick@verizon.net. If you have any questions about the Festival of Trees or decorating, please feel free to call. Thank you for giving your time and creative efforts for such a deserving charity. Sincerely, Leigh Ann C. Keller Chairperson Decorator Committee 2012 Hospice Festival of Trees
2012 Hospice Festival of Trees Tree Reservation Form Due October 15, 2012 Name of Individual, Group or Organization - as it will appear on Festival Tree Sign: Name: Theme of tree - as it will appear on Festival tree sign: Theme: Tree decorated in memory of (optional) as it will appear on Festival Tree Sign: Name: Description of tree decorations and colors - does not appear on sign: Description: Check the size tree/wreath you would like to reserve. If more than one, indicate # per size: 3 wht lts 3 multi lts 4.5 full 6.5 green Wreath green 4.5 slim (For Hospice House) 7.5 green Group or individual point of contact information: Is this a new address, email or point of contact info? Yes: No: Name: Address: Phone Numbers: Email Address: Are you interested in attending the Decorator s Kickoff September 24, 2012? Yes If yes, # of attendees No Return to: Leigh Ann Keller, 3290 Old Washington Road, Waldorf, Md 20602 301-645-1770 or 301-843-1158 fax actiontravel@olg.com