April 2020 Newsletter

With the pandemic that has besieged our great country, the Goggleworks is closed as of this writing through April 30, 2020 and so my fellow craftsmen, makers, and my friends, there will be no general meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Also cancelled was our Pop-up show at Renninger’s “Hoppy Shopping” and “Easter on the Farm” at the Heritage Center, both for April 4, 2020.  This is the first time since I have been President that we have had to cancel so many meetings.  Stay home, please be safe, and wash your hands.  At this time we really don’t know what tomorrow will bring but I do have great faith that working together for the common good as I believe that is what is truly happening will bring us to a brighter tomorrow.

I am trying to find a brighter side to this pandemic and the first thing that comes to my mind is all the extra time I have on my hands.  I am sure that most of you do as well.  And being the craftsmen and makers that we are means that we are in our studios and shops and creating our products.    We are lucky to be able to keep working in our solitude.  We have time for the creative juices to flow (and Kay brings my coffee to me in the shop.  I think she just wants to keep me out here.) It looks like made in the USA is going to be a sought after item.  Here is some more good news!  One of our partners, The Kutztown Folk Festival received word that it was voted # 3 cultural festival in the United States.  AND some more good news.  The dates for our 71st Holiday Fine Art and Craft Festival brought to you by the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen are the following:  Set up Friday, October 30, and Show dates are Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, 2020.  Applications will be on the website very soon.

“Courage is being scared to death…and saddling up anyway.”  John Wayne

We received the following message from BCTV for the month of April:  “For the continued safety of our staff, volunteers, and guests, and in accordance with the PA State and Federal stay-at-home policies, BCTV will be extending the restrictions on face-to-face studio programming through Thursday, April 30 (subject to extension)” So for the month of April “Your Berks Craftsmen” will have a taped segment of the Kutztown Folk Festival 2019 that we taped for your viewing pleasure.    BCTV is looking forward to getting things back to “business as usual” but in the meantime view their daily noon montage of video and photo submissions on “BrightSideBerks”.  I pray that all of you are safe and well and hopefully we will be able to be back in the  BCTV studio next month.

I enjoy being the host of “Your Berks Craftsmen” and bringing “You” into the homes of BCTV viewers.  Remember to Like, Share, BCTV.