For Immediate Release

CONTACT:
Nicole Paulus, Communications Director for Harvest Fest 2012
608-574-2082

norml.nicole@gmail.com
http://madisonhempfest.com/

42nd Annual Harvest Fest in Madison

Madison, WI, October 4 – October 7: Join us for the 42nd Annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival in downtown Madison, WI. Always on the first weekend in October, thousands gather to learn about cannabis and hemp, listen to speakers, enjoy national and local artists, shop a variety of vendors with cannabis related merchandise and enjoy the atmosphere while calling for an end to Cannabis Prohibition in Wisconsin.

With the April 2011 passing of Ben Masel, the lead organizer for 39 years, Masel’s friends and colleagues continue to carry the torch and this year’s Harvest Fest touts several fresh additions such as the very well received Pre-Harvest Open Disc Golf Tournament which took place in Madison’s Heistand Park on September 22. Over 60 participants raised over a thousand dollars to help cover insurance costs for the fest. Teams competed for cash prizes and a complimentary goodie bag full of cool stuff including a stamped tournament disc, mini disc set, t-shirt, lip balm, wrist band, can coozie and more.

Events roll out Thursday, October 4 with a free Harvest Fest Pre-Show Warm Up at Mr. Robert’s on Atwood Avenue beginning at 8pm featuring Notorious, The Material Boys, Mexican Coke. There’s also late show at 11pm featuring AFGM.

Friday night, 6-8pm, features a Madison/WI NORML Benefit Concert/Fundraiser at the Frequency with Mexican Coke and River Water Tribe.  Donations accepted. Also, this year we are pleased to announce our first National act in many years, Sho Tunez (rap/hip hop) from Orlando, FL playing a free show at Mr. Robert’s on Friday night, October 5, at 10pm with Mt. Horeb’s own The Earthlings and others.

Saturday October 6, festivities begin at 11:30am at Library Mall on the campus end of State Street. New this year is a silent auction which will take place all day Saturday, with generous donations from a variety of shops and artisans, featuring a 1914 ten dollar federal bill in good condition from an anonymous donor. This bill features a depiction of the hemp industry on the back. Expect many vendors, food, educational booths, speakers, live music, a fashion show and camaraderie until 6:30pm. Crystal Corner Bar will host an Official Harvest Fest Evening Event beginning at 9:45pm. A $7 cover will get you in to see The Mustache and The Big Payback. Mr. Robert’s will also host a free Official Event beginning at 10pm with Ifdakar and Recalcitrant.

This year’s speakers will educate fest-goers about the many diverse and beneficial uses of hemp and cannabis for industrial, commercial, medical, nutritional and a plethora of other purposes.  Viewpoints range from professional, practical and personal aspects. We welcome back Farmer Bill from Nebraska, and are pleased to include Dan Solano of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), and many more. On Sunday we welcome Dan Goldman of Students for Sensible Drug Policy in NYC (SSDP-NYC), David Karpe, a Wisconsin attorney, Dr. Angela Jannis from Janesville, plus others.

Sunday October 7 activities begin at 12:30pm on Library Mall with artists including The Dave Band, Venice Gas House Trolley and The Material Boys. Beginning at 4:20pm is the traditional parade up State Street to the Capitol steps. Be there as hundreds join the march, protesting cannabis prohibition, urging state government to practice compassion for medical marijuana patients as a growing number of other states already have, and improve Wisconsin’s economy by allowing an industrial hemp industry to thrive here again.

Madison’s Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival began as a marijuana smoke-in in 1971. Forty-two years later, Harvest Fest is still promoting hemp and cannabis legalization and free speech. We join this year to celebrate the City of Antigo, Wisconsin who approved an ordinance decriminalizing 10 grams of marijuana this year, developed at the request of Police Chief Eric Roller. Harvest Fest brings together a greater community to cooperate and celebrate in a safe and friendly atmosphere.

For more information: http://madisonhempfest.com/

WHAT: First NORML Women’s Alliance of Wisconsin Meeting
WHEN: Monday, October 1, 2012 from 6:30pm until 7:30pm
WHERE: Shorewood Village Center, 3920 North Murray Ave, Shorewood, WI

The NORML Women’s Alliance of Wisconsin Facebook Page posted and created the Facebook Event:

Our first meeting is planned! Please meet us on Monday October 1st at the Shorewood Village Center on Murray Ave just south of Capitol Dr. More details to come.

 

Organizer and chapter leader, Jackie Burhans had this to say when I asked her why she was involved in the movement:

I helped organize the NORML Women’s Alliance of Wisconsin because I believe there is a real demand for a safe outlet for all types women to take action regarding this controversial, yet very important issue.

It’s difficult for women- including myself- to come forward because of the societal pressures for us regarding marijuana.  By educating our state on the truth about cannabis and getting people talking about it, we can help Wisconsin evolve a more sensible approach to marijuana that’s safer for everyone and ensure that our state will not be left behind as our country explores the fiscal, environmental, anti-criminal and health benefits of regulation.

There seem to be so many women out there who are upset about marijuana laws and who want to do something but don’t know how. The NWA is a diverse, supportive community of strong women who can help drive the change we need.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact the chapter administrators NORMLWomenWI@gmail.com or attend the meeting on Monday, October 1st, 2012.

Northern Wisconsin NORML meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month for food, fellowship and public meeting.  The next meeting will be held on Thursday, September 13th, 2012.

The Northern Wisconsin NORML T shirt Design contest is still underway.  We would like to do this on a monthly basis but we need more design submissions by artists.  This project just might be a quarterly T-shirt contest without your input and activity! We are planning on printing a limited edition of each design and then moving onto the next! But, we need your help!  So artists, you have free reign. People sitting in a circle with good ideas, submit your designs also! We will pick a winner once per month (or quarter).

Check the calendar of events often for updates, things to bring to the meeting and to confirm agendas.

Join us from 4:20pm to 5:30pm as the chapter board of directors, along with members and supporters enjoy fellowship as an informal group gathering together prior to our meeting. The meeting location is the Harmony Cafe, 233 E College Ave in Appleton, which has food and beverages available for sale.

At 5:30pm we begin our general meeting, which is expected to last until 7:00pm, sometimes finishing early, but we have the room reserved up till 8pm in case we need to go longer.

Meetings are open to the general public and you need not a be a member to attend.

Meetings are also broadcast over the Internet via Google + Hangouts. NOTE: YOU WILL NOT BE ON CAMERA UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE, ONLY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MODERATING THE MEETING ARE BROADCAST.

The chapter will post the link once live on the Northern Wisconsin NORML Facebook Page, but it should be this one below:

https://plus.google.com/hangouts/extras/talk.google.com/northernwinorml?authuser=0&hl=en&shxp=1

Please consider joining our chapter (http://www.northernwinorml.org/Join) or print some membership forms, gather support locally through a membership drive and bring the memberships back to the meeting!

NOTE: Membership is the key to being a strong chapter and we are currently looking for field directors to work with the Treasurer and fundraising team on specific projects, please contact us at NorthernWiNORML@gmail.com if interested in assisting with this project.