April 2021 Newsletter

President’s Message:

Sitting here at my desk and looking out the window, I am relieved to see there are no piles of snow in my yard…..just green grass and daffodils, true harbingers of Spring. AND a new harbinger of Spring in 2021 is our Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen’s Mega May Day juried craft show at Renninger’s Farmers’ Market, 740 Noble Street, Kutztown, PA 19530, on May 1, 2021, from 9 AM to 3 PM. The craft show will take place in the first pavillion, socially distanced and masks are required. Program Chairperson, Steve Hunter, and his committee are very excited about this event and are pleased to be able to offer it to our great craftsmen and fine artists of all the guilds of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. This is a reminder to all our members about renewal of your membership. PGC mails out your membership renewal two months prior to your expiration date. As a follow-up, if they have not received your renewal, the PGC follows up with an email to you 30 days after your expiration date. Our State Guild is busy and they are working hard for you, our craftsmen. Read the PGC newsletter and learn what they are doing for you and your local guilds. I don’t have much information as of this date but this year, in 2021, they are going to be giving to our guilds a chapter challenge. It will be a collaboration of four craftsmen. Judging will take place in 2022. More information when available. AND “We’re Back”, as soon as I get the call from Kutztown University and the “thumbs-up” we will be getting the applications on our website for our 71st Holiday Fine Art and Crafts Festival at Kutztown University. The festival will take place on Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7, 2021, in the beautiful O’Pake Fieldhouse at Kutztown University.

We, your Board of Directors and your Show Committee, are looking forward to an eventful 2021 for our fellow fine artists and craftsmen. Stay well and get busy!

“There will come a time when you believe everything is finished; that will be the beginning.” Louis L’Amour.

Your President, Barry L. Bennecoff

Shows:

Our May first show is progressing well. We have a good number of craftsman with more coming each day. Space is limited; however, at this time we still have space for you, if you act quickly. Vendor spaces are large 15′ sq. plus room for social distancing.

Please support this show by copying the Facebook event and posting it on your own Facebook Craftsman page. You do have one don’t you? Ninety percent of our patrons follow us on Facebook and our web page. Detailed instructions for the show Facebook post are included in this news letter.

We are in need of a Welcome/Host on the morning of the show, May first, 6:30 – 9:00 AM . Duties will include directing craftsmen to their booth, putting out small fires, and anything else needed. I’m sure everything will go wonderfully and you’ll have a great time helping the Guild. Contact me (215) 264-8744.

Show Chair, Steve Hunter

Still room for a few more people for our Mega Spring Craft Show!
Get your Application in Now!

Programs:

April’s Meeting will continue to be by Zoom. We are hoping to get back to GoggleWorks and in person programs.

Programs Chair, Matt Vardjan

General Meetings by Zoom:

Due to social distancing and indoor event attendance limits, we will will be having our March Meeting by Zoom. Please sign up for our Zoom meetings by emailing: info@rbcrafts.org. You will be invited to all future zoom meetings. If you do not have a computer, a table or smart phone, there is a phone in only option.

The link to the zoom meeting will be sent by Mail Chimp a day or two before the meeting.

Media:

If you did not see “Your Berks Craftsmen” on Wednesday, March 17 at 7:00 PM, please go to our website rbcrafts.org and click on “Our Guild” and then click on BCTV “Your Berks Craftsmen”. You will find the March 17 edition that features several craftsmen and artists who will be appearing at our May Day Craft show at Renninger’s Farmers’ Market. Then again on Wednesday, April 21, at 7:00 PM you will be able to see more artists and craftsmen who will be at the May Day Craft show at Renninger’s. You can also go to BCTV’s website at BCTV.org and see “Your Berks Craftsmen” and “Your Berks Craftsmen” is also on “YouTube”. We are EVERYWHERE just for YOU! Please join us!
Your BCTV Host, Kay Bennecoff

Education:

Mini-Grants:

The Guild awards four Mini-Grants of $50 each year, chosen randomly from applications submitted, to members in good standing who wish to continue their education. Mini-Grants may also be used to explore new areas of interest. The Guild is deeply committed to encouraging each member’s pursuit of excellence and growth. This year’s Mini Grants winners be awarded during the April 2021 meeting.

Winners will be drawn from applications (completed in full) and submitted by the deadline of Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Entries must be received at our Reading-Berks Chapter PGC, ATTN. Carol Haile, Post Office Box 85, Mohnton, PA 19540 by that date. Those received after that date will not be included in the drawing. However, if you let me know by e-mail (preferred) at inkpencjh@msn.com or phone 610-374-7048, you can be considered for the grant, but you must follow up with your application.

Apply Now!

Education Chair, Carol Haile

Standards:

Congratulations to two members whose worked passed our jury standards.

John Fugelso: Wood

Susan Theis : Rug hooking

Standards Chair, Louise Mehaffey

Sharing of Events on Facebook:

Sharing the Mega Spring Craft show event on your Facebook page.

1. Create a post on your page/business page

2. Add a picture of your craft to the post.

3. In your text type “@Mega Spring Craft Show” and in the drop down click on the event showing the yellow circle with our event on it.

4. That will automatically remove the “@” and insert the link on the Mega Spring Craft Show, linking the event to your post.

You can also add the following link to your post, which is the event itself: https://www.facebook.com/events/271432277833133

5. Finish the post and verify the links go to where you want it to.

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Sharing the event to your page:

1. Go to the “Mega Spring Craft Show” event page by using the Facebook search option at the top left of the page.

2. Below the picture of the Mega Spring Craft Show graphic, click on the three dots “…” and in the drop down, click on “Add to page”

3. You will get a pop up box saying “Adding Mega Spring Craft Show will include it on your Page’s events. Which Page do you want to add this event to?” Select a page.

4. This will add it to your events page.

If you have a web page and show list you can also include the above link to that page as well. Google allows you to create a “Blogger” for free so you can also create a page with info on it that way as well.

Co-Facebook Administrator, Gary Rosborough

Events:

General Meetings: (1st Tuesday of Month)

April 6, 2021: General Meeting via Zoom at 7 PM

Each month GoggleWorks is looking at the latest guidance from the state on what is appropriate for gatherings at the GoggleWorks. Currently the numbers for each meeting room are too small to accommodate us at this time. Please check each month to see how and/or where meetings are being held.

Shows:

Hoppy Shopping: First Saturday, April 3, 2021 9 AM – 3 PM at Renninger’s Farmers’ Market in the White Room

Mega Spring Craft Show: First Saturday, May 1 (May Day) 9 AM – 3 PM Renninger’s Farmers’ Market Outside, Under the Pavilion

Happy Spring!

If you would like something added to our next Newsletter, please contact your editor: Sandra Jones at info@rbcrafts.org