As Global Union prepares to celebrate five years of offering free top-notch international music at its two-day festival in Bay View's Humboldt Park, Alverno Presents -- which organizes the event -- is asking for help.
The event, which takes place Sept. 25-26 this year, drew more than 10,000 fans last year.
"Unfortunately, in this economy, some of the corporate sponsors that gave us our start cannot continue the journey into 2010," wrote Alverno Presents' David Ravel in an e-mail this morning.
The message noted that although some sponsors are still on board, another $15,000 is necessary to ensure a future for the annual event.
They're hoping to raise the money via Kickstarter, a Web site that helps people garner grass roots funding support for their projects and ideas.
"That's right," added Ravel, "we are taking a risk in asking you to help us reach our $15,000 goal through Kickstarter; your pledge is not deducted from your credit card or bank account until our goal is met."
If the goal is not reached, no pledges are collected. If $15,000 is promised, then your donation is a go. The message went out to more than 10,000, according to the e-mail, suggesting that it could potentially be successful. And that will give Global Union a big push.
"If you help us reach our goal of $15,000, our good friends Bob and Pam Klein, Julilly Kohler, Lightburn Design, Diablos Rojos, Rishi Tea and Direct Supply will collectively match your gift." As I write this 23 folks have donated a total of $1,335. Forty-four days remain on the Kickstarter campaign.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
