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Meals with a Message

Meals with a Message © is a program created by Paul Battjes to benefit Christian and non-profit organizations. After 30 years of working with leading organizations in fund development, marketing and pr in both Canada and US, Meals with a Message provides an opportunity for Paul to share his love of cooking, adventure and photograpy for the benefit of people in developing nations. Simply put, our main objective is to design and produce an end product in the form of a professional looking cookbooklet that shares the message of a mission agency or good cause and that can be used for constituent awareness, public relations, fund development or micro-finance.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

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Why a cookbooklet?

A cookbooklet format is a creative way to provide awareness of your cause and promote interest in your organization. (click on photo to enlarge) People are often intriqued with food from different cultures or ethnic communities and it is usually very difficult to get original recipes from far away places. We feature the food and the people behind the food, along with the mission of the organization in each book we produce.

How is the cookbooklet developed?

The cookbooklet is up to 40 pages, 4 colour product that features recipes, photos and stories about a country, its’ food, people, culture and work of a mission, school, church or community. Putting this together involves a site visit by Paul and his wife to immerse in community life and collect information, photos, recipes and material. Once compiled, the information is designed online by Paul using publishing software.

What happens once the cookbooklet is developed?

With the book designed , it can become part of an online bookstore and sold throughout the world. Funds can then be directed to a specified charitable account. Links to the publisher can be added to your website so that when people visit your site they can just click and order the book. And organization can get volume discounts on any books ordered for their own use.

How does MWAM interface with an organization?

Once a project has been selected by Paul Battjes
(MWAM), it becomes a 3^rd party project with Paul
donating his time, talent and resources to produce a product (cookbooklet) that will benefit the mission organization. (A similar concept would be a local business hosting a golf tournament and donating the proceeds to a hospital or an artist donating her/his creation to a charity auction). This arrangement allows organizations to stay focused on their own objectives with minimal resources or staff allocated toward the MWAM project. His specific responsibilities include:

§ Consult with organization on exact itinerary for site visit to foreign country

§ Finalize letter of understanding with organization for project logistics

§ Conduct site interviews, collect material and take photos required

§ Compile information and input in book design software

§ Produce final draft of book for review by organization

§ Authorize publication of book and provide organization with website linkages

§ Work with organization to promote the sale of book as time allows

What are the organization's responsibilities?

§ Provide project location

§ Host site visit by Battjes’

§ Provide or help arrange food, lodging, transportation while in country

§ Provide any content required by Paul including info on mission, contact info, other ways to support your cause

§ Provide contacts/Introductions in a country, photo/info releases as necessary

§ Language interpretation as necessary

§ Provide comment on book project as needed

§ Publicize, promote and market book to constituency, handle inquiries

Who owns the content of the book?

According to the terms and conditions of publishing, the person who is the author of the book has copyright on the book, in this case MWAM/Paul Battjes. Credits will be given to any content or photos provided by participants. The organization is the designated beneficiary of any proceeds earned on the book.

Why is it important for MWAM to produce the book, take photos and conduct interviews?

While some collaboration will be required with an organization’s communication or marketing department, the cookbooklet represents a donation of time, talent and resources by MWAM. Having creative license to design, photograph and produce a product that reflects his grassroot experience with the organization or mission community is critical to the success of the overall project.

How does MWAM decide to work with on a project?

Each year, an “expression of interest” will go out to organizations that we are aware of that may benefit or organizations may also express their interest directly to Paul, if they become aware of this project. Prayer and assessment of need and impact will be given to each applicant.

Has this concept worked before?
Yes, a good example of this model is a project recently completed by a group of cooks to benefit Haiti. "Blogaid for Haiti" cookbook sold over 2000 copies on-line, raising $50,000 for this cause.

disclaimer: this information is subject to review and change as needed without notice.