In November 2009 I will travel to Antarctica with Robert Swan and an international team of corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, teachers, and young people on the 2041 International Antarctic Treaty Expedition. The purpose of the expedition is to significantly enhance my skills in leadership, teamwork, and personal development and to acquire a strong knowledge of Antarctica. I believe that this expedition provides a cost-effective way for me to gain the experience and capabilities I need to be highly effective in supporting the preservation of the continent. I am asking you to help me raise the $26,500 I need to participate in the expedition by investing in my mission.

In return for your investment I will

• Make educational presentations to schools, businesses, and to other private groups;
• Create and distribute environmentally friendly products to raise funds for and awareness of the mission;
• Use my strong technical abilities, especially in Geographic Information Systems, to develop effective ways to teach people about Antarctica, climate change, and renewable resource options;
• Help others with their fundraising efforts by publishing the details of my own experience and assisting them with the production of, for example, websites and information systems;
• Work with you to define and meet deliverables that are consistent with your needs and expectations.

There are several ways in which you can help.

Make a Donation

Please remember that no donation is too small and that all contributions will be very gratefully received. If 25,000 people donate $1, one person can be trained by Robert Swan to raise awareness all over the world and raise funds to support other people. Those 25,000 people can then tell people they know about the mission and they can tell people they know too. You can see how quickly it adds up. So, please make a tax-deductible donation of whatever size you can afford by clicking on the Donate now button above or by visiting the How to donate page for further instructions.

Sponsor Me

We can come to a mutually beneficial sponsorship arrangement in return for your investment in my mission. Possibilities include me making a presentation following the expedition in a venue of your choosing and/or taking your company flag or other products of importance to you to Antarctica where they can be used for publicity purposes. I am based in Seattle, Washington in the USA, but I am sure we can work together to make arrangements that are as agreeable and convenient for you as possible, wherever you are.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at dhowesantarctica@gmail.com to make arrangements or if you have general questions or comments. I am looking forward to hearing from you and will respond as soon as possible.

Raise Awareness of My Mission

Please help me inform others about my mission by passing on my website address to as many people as you can. Adding a link on your website would be very much appreciated as would your use of this email signature:

"The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it" - Robert Swan, OBE
Please visit http://protectingantarctica.org/ to see how you can help.

Please write to me at the email address above if you'd like to become more closely involved. As you would expect I'm extremely grateful for all forms of assistance.

Mailing List & Contributors List

So that I can keep you informed regarding progress with my mission, all donors and sponsors will be added to my email distribution list. I would also like to honor your support by including your name on the Contributors page. Please write to me at the email address above if you do not wish to be added to either list. In addition, please note that I fully respect your privacy and will not give your email address or any other personal details to any other organization.

Thanks for your support.

David