I just received this update from the Handmade Toy Alliance that I wanted to share with you:
Dear friend of the Handmade Toy Alliance (HTA),
Back in 2008, after learning that the future of handmade children's products was threatened by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), we reached out to you as fellow citizens. It was our hope that if enough people became aware of the situation, together we could keep handmade toys, clothing, and other wonderful products for children legal, and available in the United States. About 15,000 people signed our petition, and many of you have worked hard to spread the word. Thanks to you, Congress has heard loud and clear that Americans do not want our crafters and cottage industries to disappear!
Now I'm writing to ask if you would please help us as we continue our mission to keep handmade children's products available, and small businesses thriving in the United States. Though we are being heard, there is still much work to be done. Until now, the expenses we've incurred have been paid out of pocket by just a few HTA members. As we grow, this is not a sustainable option. With your membership we can continue our important work. Please read on or visit http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/join-the-handmade-toy-alliance to become a member.
We joined together out of necessity, in what was felt by many to be an emergency situation. Since that time, it's become obvious that it would be beneficial both to small business owners and lovers of handmade, if we continue our mission to support handmade, as an official organization. The HTA is now a non-profit, committed to working for change to the CPSIA, and also helping crafters and small businesses succeed in the children's industry. If it weren't for the cottage industries producing these innovative products, parents and children would be limited to mass produced products in big box stores. We are working to ensure that American children continue to have the option of playing with, wearing, and using unique handmade items, and our economy is strengthened by the ongoing employment of thousands of crafters.
Whether you're a small business owner, or a concerned citizen, please consider joining the Handmade Toy Alliance. You can do so for as little as $30. If you're not able to join at this time and can make a small donation--even $5.00 would help--we would be so grateful. Visit http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org to donate, or http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/join-the-handmade-toy-alliance to read about the benefits, and join the HTA. Thank you for your support of small batch children's products!
Yours truly,
Cecilia Leibovitz
Craftsbury Kids
President, Handmade Toy Alliance
You are receiving this email because you signed the Handmade Toy Alliance mailing list or signed the Handmade Toy Alliance petition to Save Handmade Toys from the CPSIA.
Our mailing address is:
Handmade Toy Alliance
882 tatum st
St Paul, Minnesota 55104
Our telephone:651-251-7586
Add us to your address book
Copyright (C) 2009 Handmade Toy Alliance All rights reserved.