January 2024 Newsletter

by | Dec 30, 2023 | Articles, News and Events, Newsletter Archive |

President’s Message:

Things are already shaping up for another great year for our Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen and that is all because of you….our craftsmen and artists.  Meetings are scheduled, social events are set, our shows are being planned.

What a pleasure it has been experiencing all the ways our Reading-Berks Guild has evolved and continues to do so.  From moving our meetings to the GoggleWorks, to moving our shows to their present locations, to adding new crafts and fine artists, none of this would have been possible without the help of all our members and volunteers.

I need to thank all of you for making the job of our Board and our committees manageable.  We always welcome our new people who want to be involved on the Board and/or our committees.

Our first meeting of 2024 is January 2 at 7:00 PM.  You might not want to miss it; it should be fun.

“Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”  Carl Bard

Your President,
Barry L. Bennecoff
 

 

Programs:

The program for Tuesday evening will be the sorting of the door prize tickets from the holiday show. This is a fun evening and many hands lighten the task at hand! Bring along your leftover Christmas cookies and enjoy the stories everyone tells about their holiday season and reflect on the past crafting season as well.

Also, looking ahead to our February meeting. Lisa Short will be presenting a mini workshop on how to photograph your craft items. Do’s and don’ts, back ground choices formatting photos for the multi media and so on. It will be an important program, as it will help all of us that are not tech savvy present our photos in a more professional way. Photo booth’s will be set-up for the event so bring your items (limit it to 3-4) and your phones to take some pictures.

Program Chair:
Matt Vardjan

Shows:

Shows.  We are moving along with our Mother’s day show the first week in May. Applications should be posted in the next few weeks. The cost to do this one day show will  hold at $50, for all chapter members. Join us.

We are always looking for new members  to join our team. Many of us have been doing the show work for years and would love to pass this wonderful opportunity  to the next generation.  If not you then who?

Show Chair,
Steve Hunter

Social Media:

Keep our shows and membership going by posting on:
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/rbcraftsguild and/or
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/readingberksguild/

Have you sent us any NEW images lately? We’re always looking to post your latest creation, please send your pictures to us at the following email address: images@rbcrafts.org

             

 Social Media Chair,
Lisa  Short

BCTV:

It is going to be an exciting 2024 for “Your Berks Craftsmen”!  Don’t forget to watch on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 7:00 PM.  We are going to visit Kutztown Folk Festival 2023  and you will get to see some of our Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen and Artists in their festival booths.   We are also going to catch up with Heather Zimmerman, director of The Kutztown Folk Festival.  It will be my job to find out what she and her team are working on for this year’s festival 2024.

If you have Comcast, tune in on Channel 15.  No Comcast-no problem. Go to BCTV.org and watch.  In a day or two you can also watch “Your Berks Craftsmen” on our website at rbcrafts.org and on YouTube.
Your BCTV Host,
Kay L. Bennecoff 

Standards:

The next jury session is scheduled for Tues, March 5, 2024 at the Goggleworks in room 325. Members who have belonged to our chapter for a minimum of 3 months are eligible to present their work for jurying. The room will be open at 5:30, and jurying will begin at 6:00. Members will be asked to leave before jurying begins, and can return in 30 minutes for the results. Any Standards Committee member who can’t attend, please let me know. For more information or for an application, go to https://rbcrafts.org/resources or contact Louise at eglassplace@gmail.com.
Standards Chair,
Louise Mehaffey 

Mini-Grants:

The  W. Eugene Burkhart, Jr. Memorial Mini Grant  Annual Award for 2024 is now open for application for Reading-Berks Chapter Members.

Four (4) Mini Grants, in the amount of $50 each will be awarded in April, 2024.  If more than 4 applications are received, a random drawing will be held to determine the recipients at either a general or board meeting.

Applications (completed in full) must be received at our Reading-Berks Chapter PGC, ATTN. Mini-Grant, P.O. Box 85, Mohnton, PA  19540 address by April 1.  Those received after April 1, 2024, will not be considered.

Applications will be received from members of the Reading-Berks Chapter, PGC, having a current membership in both the chapter and state organizations, effective January 1, 2024.  You need not be juried, but must have current membership status.

Applications may be applied to further your education in your craft … you may use the grant to purchase books, tools, do research, take seminars or classes, attend workshop, etc. to further your knowledge in the art of your craft. You may also use your grant to explore a new craft.

If chosen as one of the four winners, you must use the grant within the calendar year 2024 (prior to December 31, 2024) or return the grant money.

As a Mini Grant recipient, you agree to give a 15 minute presentation at one of our general meetings.

Please inform Matt Vardjan (pa.germanstarcaft@gmail.com) when you have fulfilled your commitment for this Mini Grant and will be ready to present a program to the general membership.  If you do not fulfill the requirements, the Mini Grant funds must be returned.

Click here for the application!

Membership:

As a new year approaches, there are many members who may be wondering if their membership dues are coming up for renewal.

  • To find your renewal information:
    • Just log into the PACrafts.org website using your ID and password here: https://pacrafts.org/member-login/
    •  Then scroll down to the heading called Office Use Only and look for Renewal Date (Date of Last Renewal) and you will see when you are up for renewal.
  • If you are trying to use the payment process on the State website (PACrafts.org) and it doesn’t seem to be working, what should you do?
    • Contact our office directly at 717-431-8706 rather than through the website.  You can have them send a form to fill out and mail back with a paper check to them.
    •  Or, contact Erika Fitz, who is the Membership person for the state.  Her email is membership@pacrafts.com with the same phone as above.

Finally, the six other members who filled out a form at the show can now get their badges at the upcoming January 2nd meeting at the Goggleworks.  I will be there and will have them for you.

Hope your holidays have gone well!

Membership Chair,
Gary Rosborough

Events:

General Meetings: (1st Tuesday of Month)
 
January 2nd, 7 PM at the Goggle Works, check the board for room #
February 6th, 7 PM  at the Goggle Works, check the board for room #
March 5th, 7 PM at the Goggle Works, check the board for room #

Shows:

Spring Show:  First Saturday (4th) in May

Lewisburg Arts Festival:

I am the Artists’ Chair for the 2024 Lewisburg Arts Festival (https://lewisburgartscouncil.com/events/lewisburg-arts-festival-2024/). This one-day festival in the Susquehanna Valley showcases over a hundred artists and artisans and has been known to draw over 10,000 visitors.

The application for the 2024 Festival (https://lewisburgartscouncil.com/lewisburg-arts-festival-application/) is open now through January 15, 2024. We would be very appreciative if you would be able to share the application with members of your organization and/or artists in your area.
Stina Stannik
Artists’ Chair
2024 Lewisburg Arts Festival

Newsletter:

If you plan on changing your e-mail address, please make sure that I get the new address,  Send it to info@rbcrafts.org and have the subject line NEW E-mail address!

If you know a member who is not getting the newsletter, please have them e-mail me at info@rbcrafts.org.

If you would like to put something in the Newsletter, please contact me at info@rbcrafts.org
Newsletter Editor,
Sandra Jones
                               

Happy New Year!