No Meeting in August
President’s Message:
I am hoping that I am finding our members all well at this time and enjoying what summer has to offer.Sitting down and writing my President’s message to my friends of our Reading-Berks Guild is always something I look forward to doing. I enjoy bringing you up to date on the latest and best of what is happening with “Your Guild”. I am sad to say that again this month, because of Covid 19, nothing will be happening for our general meeting. Sly Fox Cafe’ has gone out of the Goggleworks and the Goggleworks currently is open Wednesday through Sunday. Your Board discussed if we wanted to change our meeting day for our general meeting or where we have it. We are, for September, going to try on September 1 to have our general meeting on Zoom. We thought in this way we can get to see our members if they want to try a zoom meeting. So let’s give it a whirl. I am so anxious to see you and hear about what you have been doing and creating over these last several months. Usually time is our enemy because we don’t have enough of it but that has certainly not been the case for many of us. We’ve all had plenty of time on our hands to be creative. Now we just have to be able to share that with our customers. I am hoping for that. We may have to make changes, do things in different ways. Be creative in ways that we didn’t do before. Let’s learn together; let’s continuously improve our guild.
“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” Randy Pausch
Your President, Barry L. Bennecoff
Media:
“Your Berks Craftsmen” will feature jewelry maker, Angela Serricca of Serricca Studios in August. Thanks to Zoom and the staff of BCTV all of you and I will be visiting Angela in her studio on Wednesday, August 19 at 7:00 PM. Angela and I will be taping her program earlier that week via Zoom. If you don’t get Comcast you can see her program by going to BCTV.org and watching it on your computer. A few days later it will also be available on YouTube. Don’t miss it.
Octoberfest auction which is a big benefit for BCTV will occur in Mid October and more than ever will need our help. BCTV has been doing a great job under the current circumstances and keeping everyone “on the air” in one way or another. So if you can donate a handcrafted item to them for their auction, I highly encourage you to do so and I am graciously thanking you for your support. Reading-Berks Guild is the best!!!
I am including a copy of the letter from BCTV and a donation page with my Media report (at the end of this newsletter). Any questions you can get in touch with me or with Heather at BCTV.
Thanks everyone,
Your BCTV Host, Kay Bennecoff
Programs/Meetings:
August: Canceled. As you have read above The Den by Sly Fox at the GoggleWorks has gone out of business. But we are all hoping that Sly Fox will continue to service the area at their other three locations, the newest one in their Taphouse in Wyomissing at The Knitting Mills. We will continue our break from General Meetings in August. Hoping that everyone is well and saying safe.
September 1, 2020: We will meet at our usual time 7:00 PM first Tuesday of the month but it will be via Zoom. You can join in the comfort of your own home and won’t be required to wear a mask! The Jones have agreed to set up a Zoom meeting for all. If you are interested in joining the meeting on your computer, tablet or phone, drop Sandra Jones, our editor, a note at info@rbcrafts.org. She will send you an invitation to the Zoom meeting with instructions on how to connect in late August. We are hoping to get a good turnout.
Programs Chair, Matt Vardjan
Standards:
Our next jury session is in September. Members who have belonged to our chapter for a minimum of 3 months are eligible to present their work for jurying. If you were planning on having your work juried, please contact Louise at eGlassplace@gmail.com. Because of COVID19, the Goggleworks has changed their hours and the date must be changed.
Standards Chair, Louise Mehaffey
Shows:
At this point we are working to have a wonderful show this November. We meet monthly and are doing these meetings via Zoom. Of course, there is one small problem we have to deal with, COVID 19. We do not know what our show will look like under Green, this will be dictated by how the University understands our event fits into the guidelines. It will be impossible at this time to guess. Of course one option is no show . If this happens all booth fees will be returned, but we are hoping for the best but also planning for the worst.
Please send in your show application now, when our show runs it will be much in demand for vendors due to the limited venues this fall.
Show Chair, Steve Hunter
Events:
General Meetings: (1st Tuesday of Month)
August 4th: Canceled due to GoggleWorks closed on Tuesdays
September 1st: Zoom meeting: 7:00 PM
October 6th: GoggleWorks 7:00 PM
November Sunday, 1st: KU Field house (at the show) 9:00 AM,
December 1st: Holiday Party at Yellow House
Shows:
Holiday Festival: Saturday October 31 and Sunday November 1st, KU Field house
Instagram:
The Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen now has an Instagram account. Our name is rbcraftsguild, so check it out. Right now there are only a few photos, but more will be added over time. If you have an instagram account and would like our chapter to follow you, let me know your iInstagram name and please follow us. If you would like your photo included, send us one, if you haven’t already!
BCTV donation:
To our fellow community members:
2020 has shown us just how important accessible, local media resources are! Citizens of Berks County have stayed up to date with current events and information surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic by visiting our sites and channels in record numbers.
BCTV is dedicated to empowering and engaging you with the opportunity to view, read, and share local content freely. We have developed our mission and platforms to encourage participation, so that diverse voices and ideas may be heard across our community. It is our pleasure to keep you informed and involved. We are asking for your help so that we can continue to do so.
Each October, we hold our most important fundraiser of the year. Dates for the auction will be announced soon! Right now we are planning and adjusting the 2020 Octoberfest Auction and related events to meet health and safety guidelines – but our success relates directly to the generous, quality donations given by supporters and businesses like yours.
Please donate a unique item, gift basket, or gift certificate to be sold during our benefit auction. A donation form is enclosed. You may donate any time now through October 2.
You can expect a follow up call from one of our dedicated volunteers as they prepare us to reach
Business/Individual Donor Name:_______________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________________________________________________________
City:_________________________State:______ZIP:_________Phone:_____________________
E-mail:________________________________
Contact Person: ____________________________
I prefer to make a monetary gift, I have enclosed a donation in the amount of $____________ to show my support for BCTV.
I am donating a gift certificate(s) in the amount of $___________
I am donating an item or gift basket
Donation Description: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________-
Value: ____________________
If you’re donating a gift certificate(s), you may mail it directly to us, along with this sheet. o BCTV 1900 N. 13th Street, Reading, PA 19604
Call BCTV at (610) 374-3065 to arrange for pick up or drop-off of donations.
Does your item require any special instructions for care or otherwise? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tell us some information about your business. Info shared will be displayed with your auction item(s) in the online auction catalog listing. The auction catalog will be available on our website, social media, and email. Items of varying values may be packaged together for greater fundraising opportunity; all donors will be recognized individually.
Thank you so much.
Want to add something to next month’s Newsletter
If you would like something added to our Newsletter, please contact Sandra Jones at info@rbcrafts.org
Don’t Forget to sign-up for our first Zoom meeting on September 1st
by e-mailing me at info@rbcrafts.org