President’s Message
Congratulations to the show committee and all the volunteers for an excellent job on our 74th annual juried holiday fine art and craft festival. Thanks to the members who responded to our appeal at our general meeting for help with various duties. Our recently elected officers and some new board members are excited to move forward in 2025 for The Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen.
A REALLY BIG THANK-YOU TO:
Carol Haile and Jodi Bryza-Stevenson-Co-treasurers, Sandra Jones-newsletter editor, Matt Vardjan-program chairperson, Louise Mehaffey-standards chairperson, and Bill Jones-webmaster, for their many years of service to our Guild. As of now our 2025 Board of Directors is as follows: President-Barry L. Bennecoff, Vice President-Cleon Garl, Treasurer-Matthew Vardjan, Secretary-Kay Bennecoff, Newsletter Editor-Nancy Vardjan, Membership Chairperson-Gary Rosborough, Spring Show/Holiday Show Chairperson-Steve Hunter, Program Chairperson-Amy Langman, Standards Chairperson-Diane Phalen, Education Chairperson-Paula Conrow, BCTV-Kay Bennecoff, Website-Lisa Short. Social Media-Lisa Short.
The 2025 Board, is excited to work with members who have expressed interest in helping in different areas of the guild.
Recently we learned that the annual Kutztown Folk Festival, where many of our craftsmen participated, will not happen in 2025. This tradition went on for 74 years, and it is one that will be greatly missed by many.
This is the time in our calendar year that so many of us are busy with craft shows, holiday events, family, and friends. My advice-enjoy every minute.
I look forward to seeing you at The Yellow House Hotel on December 3 for our annual Holiday Party. This is always great food, great friends, and great times!
Christmas on the Farm will be celebrated on Saturday, December 7, from 11 AM to 4 PM. Make it a family tradition. See you at the Heritage Center in Kutztown.
“The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts the moment you get up and doesn’t stop until you get into the office.” Robert Frost
Your President,
Barry L. Bennecoff
Programs
Thanksgiving is over, but the festivities continue. Hopefully, everyone that can make it to the holiday social has signed up! We will be meeting at the Yellow House Hotel located at 6743 Boyertown Pike, Douglassville, PA 19518 on Tuesday, December 3. Yellow House Hotel always has the historic building decorated to the nines for the holiday.
Cash bar opens at 5:00 PM. The meal will be served promptly at 5:30! Keith Brintzenhoff will entertain us after dessert.
Remember donations for Berks Area Food Pantry. We are also collecting a donation for the Goggle Works Scholarship Fund; either cash or check made payable to: Reading Berks Guild of Craftsmen. Your donations for the scholarship fund are matched by our Reading-Berks Guild.
Finally, this is my last newsletter entry as program chairperson. It has been an honor to serve the guild in this role! Remember, the guild is more than just a craft show! It is a volunteer organization that serves our guild members and the arts & craft community of the the greater Berks County area. We need our members to get more involved at the board level to keep this service continuing! Please contact any board member to find out how you can be of service.
Happy Holidays! See you at the social!
Program Chair,
Matthew P. Vardjan
Shows
The fall show was a success. The gate increased over last year, and most folks had brisk sales. We had over 1600 people through the door. We had no serious issues and no unexpected expenditures. Major thanks to all who helped to make this show one of the best.
You may be aware that it’s a challenging time to make shows happen. However, when we do it right, others take note. When shows like the Kutztown Folk Festival close, it’s a lesson to others to run a taunt ship and have a clear vision of your goal. Buyers will see your vision and reward you with sales.
One of our goals is to run a quality event. One that buyers don’t want to miss, and one that is a must-do show for craftsmen. We have the best show to buy real Pennsylvania German crafts.
As this season of giving is upon us you may stop and take a moment and ask, what can I do for the guild this coming year. You need to be a giver and not just a taker. Just paying your dues is not enough. We need folks to step up and take over jobs that have been done by the same members for many years. This year’s fall show was almost at the tipping point of not running well due to lack of volunteers. We will have to make changes to continue. In the next few months watch for listings of places you can be part of the success of the Guild.
Wanted – Two or three people to take over the spring show.
The show could almost go on auto pilot. It just needs new leadership.
Be your own Boss!
Make your own hours!
Make new friends!
Make a difference!
Call 215-264-8744 ask for Steve
Wishing you a Merry Christmas,
Show Chair,
Steve Hunter
BCTV
Find BCTV on air and online: Comcast Reading Channel 15, Comcast-Southern Berks Channel 965, Service Electric Channel 19. The City of Reading Municipal Access Channel (MAC) is Comcast Reading Channel 99. Both channels are streaming online 24-7 at www.bctv.og. BCTV is available on Roku, search for BCTV Berks-HOW TO VIDEO.
YouTubeChannel: https://www.youtube.com/user/.
Your BCTV Host,
Kay L. Bennecoff
Social Media
Dear Guild Members,
As the year comes to a close, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your support. Your contributions, especially the images you’ve shared, have been invaluable to our social media efforts. A big thank you also goes out to my team members, Louise Mchaffey, Cleon Garl, and Gary Rosborough. Since January of 2023 Facebook has grown from 1660 to 2077 followers, and Instagram has grown from 103 to 454 followers. That only happens with great teamwork.
It’s been a privilege to manage this role and to work with this team, but as we step into the new year, I’ll be passing the torch to Gary Rosborough, who will take over managing our social media. I’m confident he’ll do an outstanding job continuing to showcase our guild.
As for me, I’ll be focusing on enhancing our website and our marketing efforts to better serve our community. I’m excited for what lies ahead and look forward to continuing to contribute in a new capacity. If anyone is interested in joining the newly forming web team, please contact me directly at ltshortfolk@gmail.com
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a bright start to the new year!
Keep sending your best images to images@rbcrafts.org.
Warm regards,
Social Media Chair,
Lisa Short
Standards
The next jury session is scheduled for Tues, March 4, 2025 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,
Louise Mehaffey
Membership
Like last month, the State Guild website currently shows that there are 153 Reading-Berks Guild Members.
I just sent out badges to six of our members who had requested them, so if you recently filled out a form with me, be on the lookout in your mail.
Thank you to all who came out to the Annual Holiday show. It was a great success, and we saw many of our friends both Saturday and Sunday.
I hope you have wonderful and productive holidays and that your new year is a very creative one.
Membership Chair,
Gary Rosborough
Events
General Meetings (1st Tuesday of Month)
- January 7th, 7 PM at the Goggle Works, check the board for room number
- February 4th, 7 PM at the Goggle Works, check the board for room number
Shows
- Spring Show: First Saturday in May. This year May 3, 2025.
Newsletter
If you are a member who is not getting the newsletter or need to change your e-mail address, please make sure that we get the new address information. Please send it to info@rbcrafts.org and have the subject line as NEW E-mail address.
If you would like to put something in the Newsletter, please contact us at info@rbcrafts.org and have the subject line Newsletter Information.
Newsletter Editor.
Nancy Vardjan