June 2008 Newsletter

In This Issue
1. Building Up to November
2. 2008 Book Chosen
3. Announcing Film Competition
4. Designing Community

1. Building Up to November

It's happening for the third year ... Mountain View Reads Together!

• Buy the book on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View at Books Inc. or East West Bookstore, and 10% will be donated to the MV Public Library
  
• Read the book over the summer
  
• Mark your calendars for November activities

2. 2008 Book Chosen!

Read Three Cups of Tea, the multiple award-winning book and #1 New York Times bestseller, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.  This true story starts with Mortenson's failed attempt to climb Pakistan's K2, the world's second highest mountain. After receiving life-saving help from villagers, Mortenson vows to repay that kindness by helping those villagers build a school. Mortenson's passionate determination enables him to successfully build schools and promote education and peace in some of the most remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

3. Announcing a Film Competition

Produce a film, ten minutes or shorter, inspired by Three Cups of Tea and compete for publicity, cash, and other prizes. Films will be judged according to relevance to the book's themes, creativity, filmmaking quality, inspirational qualities, and popularity. First prize wins
$500, the new Flip Ultra video camcorder, and a pass to Talk Cinema Palo Alto.

4. Designing Community

Our logo is a little different this year, thanks to Mountain View High School (MVHS) student Gena Adamo. This year we're working with MVHS Commercial Art students (taught by Lori Nock) to build upon the past two years' designs by Kelly Leong. Jennifer Feeney has designed the flyer promoting the film contest. We have looked at design ideas and interviewed to pick the student who will continue to work with us on the poster and brochures.

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Mountain View Reads Together is run by mostly volunteers.

* Got an idea?
* Want to host an event?
* Want to help?

Contact us!

Mountain View Reads Together Announces 2008 Book; Film Contest Added

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12, 2008

Contact:
Candace Bowers, 650-903-6337, http://www.mvreads.org, email: info(at)mvreads.org

Mountain View, CA -- Three Cups of Tea, the multiple award-winning book and #1 New York Times bestseller, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin is this year’s choice for the third annual Mountain View Reads Together. This book recounts the unlikely journey that starts with Mortenson’s failed attempt to climb Pakistan’s K2, the world’s second highest mountain. After receiving life-saving help from villagers, Mortenson vows to repay that kindness by building those villagers a school. Mortenson’s passionate determination enables him to successfully build schools and promote education and peace in some of the most remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mountain View Reads Together offers a rich variety of activities around one book in order to encourage Mountain View to get together and talk about the book and its themes. Even if you haven’t read the book, families, neighbors, and those in Mountain View can still talk or learn about it and attend activities. For the fullest experience, read the book over the summer and mark your calendars to attend free activities in November based on this true story and its themes of charity, education, and living life to its fullest. Buy the book on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View at Books Inc. or East West Bookstore, and 10% of the sales will be donated to the City of Mountain View Public Library.

To encourage even more community participation and creativity, this year a short film competition is being held. Produce a film, ten minutes or shorter, inspired by Three Cups of Tea and compete for publicity, cash, and other prizes. Films will be judged according to relevance to the book’s themes, creativity, filmmaking quality, inspirational qualities, and popularity. Prizes are provided by sponsors of the film contest: KMVT15, Talk Cinema, and Pure Digital. First prize wins $500, the new Flip Ultra video camcorder, and a pass to Talk Cinema’s Sneak Preview Film Series in Palo Alto. Second and third prizes win a Flip Ultra. The top three films will be broadcast on community television channel, KMVT15. For more details, please see the website.

Tying into the book’s theme of charity, a Pennies for Peace program will also be held this fall. This program created by the Central Asia Institute, the non-profit formed by Mortenson, educates American children about the world beyond their experience and shows them that they can make a positive impact on a global scale, one penny at a time. Contact us if you are willing to run a Pennies for Peace program within your Mountain View-based organization.

Mountain View Reads Together is presented by the City of Mountain View Public Library and planned by a committee of mostly volunteers. More volunteers and ideas are encouraged.

Contact: Candace Bowers, 650-903-6337, http://www.mvreads.org, email: info(at)mvreads.org
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