Now that we are back on topic after some very interesting diversions; just to clarify Nicola, the 30,000 TL needed to put on the carnival and the associated events would not all have gone to the charity if there had been no carnival and carnival week. Most of this money was actually given by various businesses (after much grovelling and pleading on the part of our committee!) in return for advertising space and publicity on posters, flyers, road banners, Calis maps, carnival parade cups etc etc. etc.... The money we raised from selling this advertising space was used to pay not only for this printing but for hire of stages, generators, sound systems, street entertainers, clowns, bunting, flags, balloon decorations and so on and although most of the artists at the concerts performed for free, (there were a few exceptions) there were associated expenses that we had to meet. Fortunately some kind supporters did provide us with sponsorship in kind or the week would have cost even more to put on. We saw the Carnival not only as a great family fun event and a boost to tourism in Calis but also as an income generator for the children, as it enabled us to stage specific fundraing events such as the Promises Auction and the Craft Fair during the week and also to collect money on parade day. Also any money left over from sponsorship, after expenses were met, went to the children. This is all detailed in the Calis Carnival Committee annual published reports and financial statements.
Now that we are no longer responsible for organising the carnival, our new charity committee, the 3C's, which evolved from the former Calis Carnival Fundraising Committee, is able to concentrate all it's energies on raising money for the children and as most of you know, we raised a record 75,000TL last year (220,000 TL in total - around 80,000 pounds) which all went to fund projects for local children and we are really happy and proud of this. However, personally Pete and I still miss the carnival (can't speak for the rest of the committee

), but unfortunately at the moment we do not have the energy or time to commit to both.