Good morning, all, I'm writing to request your authorization for the NCL to purchase an Honor Roll level sponsorship for the CEF gala (https://cef.org/wp-content/uploads/2018-Gala-flyer-1.pdf). At $2,500 this is the lowest sponsorship level that CEF offers. The sponsorship would provide a quarter-page ad in the program book and 10 tickets to the Gala. Michele and I have discussed this, and we both feel that the NCL has a great opportunity to increase its visibility and the visibility of the adult ed field with other CEF members this year. CEF itself has already moved in this direction, with the inclusion of Steve Hannum from the Literacy Council of Central Alabama on the budget book briefing panel last April and the election of Jeff Carter as its president. Michele and I feel that the sponsorship represents an opportunity to strike while the iron is hot. The NCL currently has $49,000 in the money market account. Subtracting the $17,500 that has come in for memberships this year, which is designated to cover the 2019 operating budget, and our $12,000 reserve, we have $19,500 in ready money. Let me know if there are questions or concerns about this idea, and whether or not you approve. I'd appreciate hearing back by Monday if possible. Thanks as always for all you do for the NCL. Deborah Deborah Kennedy Senior Consultant / Owner, Key Words President, National Coalition for Literacy office: 202-364-1964 (September-May) office: 603-293-2402 (June-August) www.key-words.us www.national-coalition-literacy.org