Press Release - For Immediate Distribution

Non-Profit Organisation Sappho’s Pride Changes Name

As our world becomes smaller and local communities are becoming increasingly international, national organisations have to reconsider their roles, their purposes, their images, their identities, their “branding,” and, consequently, their names. This is such an occasion for Greek non-profit organisation Sappho’s Pride as it embarks on its second year of operation.

In June 2010, the formation of non-profit organisation Sappho’s Pride was approved under Greek law and as such they organised the 10^th International Eressos Women’s Festival in the village of Skala Eressos on Lesvos Island in September the same year. Originally envisioned, created and financed by local travel agency Sappho Travel since 2000, this community-driven festival in the birthplace of the poet Sappho has been formally incorporated into the formation agreement of the non-profit organisation Sappho’s Pride and is currently their biggest project.

In October of 2010, the company Sappho Garden, also operating in the village of Skala Eressos, trademarked the name Sappho Pride. As a result of this conflicting trademark a private meeting was arranged, mediated by an independent party, between the representatives of the non-profit organisation and the owner of the Sappho Garden in April 2011. The goal of the meeting was to discuss a proposal for purchase of the trademarked name by the non-profit organisation. Additionally, the Sappho Garden made a request during this meeting for inclusion of their venue into the existing September festival of 2011. As per suggestion by the mediator, both parties agreed to avoid a discussion on who used the name first, as this would not be beneficial for the negotiations.

The executive board and steering committee of the non-profit organisation came to the following conclusions and decisions:

Decisions

1) Trademark Name of Sappho-Pride

The members of the steering committee of the non-profit organisation have unanimously decided against the purchase of the trademarked name Sappho Pride. As a result of this decision the non-profit organisation will not continue operation under its current name Sappho's Pride and will instead start the procedures to change its name.

The main reasons for this decision are:

*) the organisation has been advised by its legal representatives that trademark registration costs are considerably lower if the organisation does such a registration on its own for a new name.

*) the organisation does not have a competitive or for-profit character, and it is therefore not in the interest of the organisation to make a purchase that doesn’t meet the priorities of our goals, aims and philosophy.

2) Request for inclusion Sappho Garden into September festival, and their offer of artists for the opening of the festival.

The non-profit organisation has not had, and does not have, any reason to exclude the Sappho Garden as venue in the festival program of September. As venue, the Sappho Garden will be treated equal to all other venues/businesses in Skala Eressos and they will be invited to meetings of the festival committee in due time. Also the offer for artists at the opening of the festival will be considered. The exact details with regards to programming of artists, number of performances, parties etc. in the festival program, as well as the opening of the festival, will be decided upon by the festival committee, which acts under the umbrella of the non-profit organisation.

Following the above line of reasoning, the executive board and steering committee of the non-profit organisation have subsequently unanimously endorsed the name change, its running logo-competition and “branding” of the non-profit organisation.

More importantly, the mission of the organisation does not change. The new name simply reflects current reality and removes potential conflicts imposed by the old name as we move forward with the accomplishments of our aims and goals.

We have complied with the regulations governing organisations such as our own in carrying out this name change and as a result will make every effort to make sure that these changes are reflected online, on our websites, facebook pages, etc. as soon as possible.

I am delighted to report that, effective May 31st, 2011, our non-profit organisation is now “Sappho Women”, and that the festival we organize in September remains to be the “International Eressos Women’s Festival”.

–Wendy Jansen
President, SAPPHO WOMEN

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS PER 09/06/2011:

Dear friends,

The website www.sapphospride.org and facebook page 'Sappho's Pride' will be taken offline on Friday 10th of June at 12.00.

Our new facebook page can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sappho-Women-International-Eressos-Womens-Festival/113141838717462

We look forward to re-connecting with you again soon.

Thank you,

-Wendy Jansen