North East RatFest 2009

If you are interested in attending RatFest, please CAREFULLY READ the
following notice. Yes, it's long, but it's PACKED with information! Plus,
there is some NEW info.

Also, please check out our web site at:
_http://www.geocities.com/neratfest/home.html_
(http://www.geocities.com/neratfest/home.html)

RatFest 2009 will be held on Jul.18-19, in Gales Ferry, Conn. It will
start at noon on Saturday and the 'Closing Ceremony' is at 10 PM. On Sunday
we will go out to brunch about 10 AM and then do crafts and/or just visit
until everyone has to leave -- usually 4 or 5 PM.

This is an alcohol and drug free event.

Saturday's festivities are for those 12 and over. Children under 12 are
invited to join us for crafts on Sunday.

NO RATS!!! My adorable ratties will be available for you to cuddle, but
NO outside rats are allowed. NO EXCEPTIONS. Also, PLEASE don't stop at a
pet store or breeder on your way here -- let's keep my rats safe!

Beverages, paper plates and flatware will be provided.

Can you believe this is our EIGHTH year??? Jessica will once again be the
co-hostess. She was the original hostess and is the MASTER of Rationary!
Without her, RatFest would not exist.

Speaking of Jessica, she will once again be doing her beautiful Rat
Portraits, drawn from photos that you bring. She is charging $10 for color and
$5 for black & white; for this you get a 9 x 12 portrait. This is a
wonderful way to commemorate a special rat!

Everyone should bring a Pot Luck dish to share. Please contact Laurey at
_schipper@..._ (mailto:schipper@...)
to let her know what you are going to bring. Check the website to see
what others have brought in the past.

We will be having fried chicken for dinner, courtesy of the wonderful Jane
Adamo, so please do NOT bring that as your Pot Luck dish!

Bring a gift item for the Yankee Gift Swap. This is a time honored
tradition and a LOT of fun! Your gift should cost NO MORE than $10 and it
should
have a 'rattie' theme, but it can be for rat or human. Homemade gifts are
encouraged!

There will be a Photo Contest so bring your most adorable, interesting
and fun pictures of your rats! You may bring as many photos as you want --
within reason! There will be prizes in 5 categories to be named later.

As always, there will be a great Raffle! Half of the money made will go
to defray some of the cost for Brunch. The other half will be donated to
Mainely Rats Rescue.

There will hopefully be many items to purchase, so do bring some money.

Donating
If you plan on donating items for the prizes, it would be a HUGE help if
you sent them ahead of time. That way we can see what and just how much we
have and decide which prizes go for what games. I realize this is asking
a lot, but it makes running RatFest VASTLY easier! Contact me at
_Pharohel@..._ (mailto:Pharohel@...) for my mailing address. Thank
you!



WE APPRECIATE AND NEED DONATIONS FOR PRIZES!!

Even small items are needed. Thank you!

Management reserves the right to decide how best to use any donations.

Speaking of donations... We have already received some AWESOME stuff.
And I've obtained a FANTASTIC cage to raffle off! A Martin's 680, almost
brand new. Really big, barely fit in my car! It will be LOADED -- dishes,
toys, houses, hammocks, even a wheel. If you need a new cage, here is your
chance to get one for the price of a few dollars and to help out a good
cause as well.

If you are interested in staying overnight, Groton is the closest town,
Norwich and New London are also nearby. Mystic, Stonington and Waterford are
not far. There is more information about local hotels on the RatFest web
site: _http://www.geocities.com/neratfest/home.html_
(http://www.geocities.com/neratfest/home.html)

The Olympic Best Western on Rt. 12 in Groton is very close and people who
stayed there last year liked it. We will be having Brunch on Sunday at the
attached restaurant, so it will be quite convenient for anyone who wants
to stay there. I suggest you make reservations as early as you can. The
number for that hotel is: 860-445-8000

You are welcome to bring you Rattie Products to sell at the RatFest Mall.
We love having things to buy! I can supply a few tables on a first come,
first serve basis. Otherwise you will need to bring your own table and
please bring sign which can stand by itself (nothing can be taped to the
house) with your NAME on it and prices.

Bring your unwanted rat supplies or other rat related items to sell at the
RatFest Yard Sale Table! Make sure to affix a sticker/tag with the price
and your name on your items before you come.

If you coming from NYC or Boston, there
are some very inexpensive buses to the nearby casinos (Foxwoods or the
Mohegan Sun), but you will have to arrange your own transportation from the
casino to my house. Sorry, but I simply can't provide transportation.

Contact me _Pharohel@..._ (mailto:Pharohel@...) for directions to
RatFest or if you have any questions.


We are planning a weekend FULL of games, food, gifts, raffles, information,
fireworks, crafts, stories and FUN! We hope you can join us!!

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