President’s Message
Looks like it is time to get outside and soak up some Vitamin D. Speaking of getting outside, our June picnic is moving to a new location. On Tuesday, June 3, 2025 we will be picnicking at the Jim Dietrich Park in Muhlenberg Township. This is a beautiful park, and we have a big pavilion there with many amenities. Thank you to Vice President Cleon Garl for securing this beautiful spot for our picnic. And a big thank you to the Vardjan Family for hosting our picnic at their beautiful home for many years.
More good news!!! The application for our 75th annual Holiday Fine Art and Craft Festival is up on our website, so mark your calendars for October 25 and October 26, 2025. This year, 2025, is the 80th anniversary of The Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen. What a landmark indeed.
The Berks County Intermediate Unit Art show here at the GoggleWorks was a huge success. The talent that abounds here in Berks County at our schools is just phenomenal. I so enjoyed participating at the Awards Ceremony and working with Paula Conrow, our education chairperson, the people from BCIU, and the GoggleWorks. All enhances the day.
I was part of another great event last month at The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, “Easter on the Farm”. Participation in this event is quite rewarding as it takes you back to a simpler time. I liken it to being a part of a living museum. Many people defied a few showers to come out and enjoy the day. Patrick and Sarah did a great job with this event. Not one but two, Easter Egg Hunts were the hit of the day with the kiddos!
Our May 6 meeting is in room 420 at the GoggleWorks at 7:00 PM. Hope to see you there!
“Man’s mind once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” Oliver Wendell Holmes
Your President,
Barry L. Bennecoff
Programs
Happy May! We have a few things to share with you regarding upcoming events and programs. First, I’ll be your presenter on May 6, 2025 at the GoggleWorks. Come and share in the beauty of nature through photographs that I’ve captured over the years.
Save the date! June 3, 2025 will be our annual picnic. This year it will be at Jim Dietrich Park in Reading. We look forward to seeing many of our 150 members there! Use the Sign Up Genius to get further details, RSVP, and sign up to share a dish if you’d like.
There will be a special meeting on June 19, 2025 from approximately 6:30 to 8 pm. It will be to Berg’s Print Studio in Mohnton, PA. Dan Berg, who is very well-known and respected, will discuss with us the different techniques and products he has that can help us print and/or promote our crafts and creativity. Space is limited. Please sign up so you don’t miss a wonderful event.
Program Chair,
Amy Langman
programs@rbcrafts.org
75th Annual Juried Holiday Fine Art
and Craft Festival
It’s never too early to sign up and participate in a great event! Applications are available on our web site.
Not participating in the show but still want to be involved?
This event thrives thanks to the incredible support of volunteers. We need your help! Whether it’s before, during, or after the show, your time and energy make a real difference—and are truly appreciated.
There are many ways to get involved, and we welcome anyone who wants to lend a hand. Please use the SignUpGenius link to let us know when you’re available. Sign up to be a volunteer!
Show Chair,
Steve Hunter
festivals@rbcrafts.org
Social Media
As this is the first time that I’m reporting as Social Media Chair, I wanted to first define the term. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as forms of electronic communication – such as websites for social networking and microblogging – through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content – such as videos.
Currently our outreach for the Reading-Berks Chapter is using Facebook and Instagram for information about our upcoming shows and providing information about our members and their amazing talents. We also connect with our members through the BCTV programs that Kay creates. This programming is something that no other chapter provides.
You can help by clicking on the “Like” option for our posts and “sharing” the posts with others in your groups or communities. We currently have 1.7K likes and 2.1K followers on our Facebook page. We also have a website that is being upgraded and can be viewed at rbcrafts.org
Thank you for helping to support our guild!
Gary Rosborough,
Social Media Chair
social-media@rbcrafts.org
BCTV
You heard and read about the Fantastic Berks County Intermediate Unit Art Show that was at the GoggleWorks in April. Over 1700 pieces of art created by the students from Berks County Schools and you missed it! Well, hold on because “Your Berks Craftsmen” beginning on Wednesday, May 14 at 7:00 PM will take you on a whirl wind tour of this event. You will see from set up of this event to the Award Ceremony and interviews with some of the students after the ceremony. Paula and some of the students will talk about their art and their future going forward. Again, see what you missed on Your Berks Craftsmen!
Find BCTV on air and online:
Comcast Reading Channel 15
Comcast-Southern Berks Channel 965
Service Electric Channel 19
These channels are streaming online 24-7 at www.bctv.org
BCTV is available on Roku, search for BCTV Berks – HOW TO VIDEO
You Tube Channel
Access Your Berks Craftsmen directly.
Your Host of “Your Berks Craftsmen”,
Kay L. Bennecoff
Standards
The next jury session to become a juried member of the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen will be on September 2, 2025, at the Google Works in Room 325. If you are interested in being juried, you must be a member of the Reading Berks Guild of Craftsmen for at least 3 months. Use the application to apply.
For our Holiday Show held October 25 & 26, 2025 if you are not a guild member or a guild member who has not been juried, we recommend submitting your work prior to the Holiday Show. Please email 4 images of your work and one image of your booth to standards@rbcrafts.org Please add the email subject line: Holiday Show Jurying. This will help our standards Committee determine whether your work meets the expectations of the show.
Non-members who are accepted into our show are strongly encouraged to become a member of the Reading-Berks Guild. Chapter membership also includes full membership in the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.
Please remember that your work must be your original work with no copies of another’s work, commercial kits, assemblages or patterns. Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen standards include excellence in craftsmanship, well resolved design, and a unique voice or style.
Standards Chairperson,
Diane Phalen
standards@rbcrafts.org
Membership
Sadly, Dawson Gillaspy, a former president of the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen passed away on April 19, 2025 at the age of 94. Dawson was well-known for his unique style of tinsmith toys.
The State Guild website currently shows that there are 150 members of the Reading-Berks Guild chapter.
Please don’t forget that when joining or renewing your membership for the Guild that you select the Reading-Berks Chapter, so that you can get the extra benefits of our specific guild chapter. Joining is easy and is done through the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen
Membership Chair,
John Paul Warren
membership@rbcrafts.org
Pennsylvania State Guild of Craftsmen
Volunteers needed for the Lititz Show – June 20, 21, 22, 2025
We need your support! Volunteer to help at the show. Just getting started to do shows yourself? Volunteering allows you to see behind the scenes, check out how other artisans display their work in their 10×10 space and converse with them.
See how you can help – check the Sign Up Genius
PGC – Reading-Berks Guild Representative,
Denise Wilz
Denise@wilzpottery.com
Events
General Meetings (1st Tuesday of Month)
May 6, 2025 at 7 PM at the Goggle Works. Check the board for room number.
The Gunmaker’s Fair at Kempton
This year’s fair is July 27-29, 2025.
Craig Koller, executive director of the 2024 Kutztown Folk Festival, stated he is helping the folks who organize the Gunmaker’s Fair at Kempton. They are looking for craftsmen who would like to participate, and Craig thought Reading Berks Guild may have some folks who might be interested. The fair focuses on 18th century craftsmanship. The craftsmen would be in outdoor tents with walls, similar to the Folk Festival. Set up is July 26. The fair is July 27 through July 29 with July 29 being a half day. If any of our traditional craftsmen are interested please email polizzifam@nether.net with any questions or for further details.
Folk Arts on the Farm
This year July 4-5, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM each day.
This show is recommended by Keith Brinsenhoff who is doing the show. It is held at 2822 Lime Port Pike, Coopersburg, PA 18036. The coordinator is Debi Rice. She can be reached at 484-239-4925 or via email.
Historic Schaefferstown:
Annual Cherry Fair on June 28, 2025 from 10 AM – 4 PM
Harvest Fair on September 13, 2025 from 10 AM – 4 PM and September 14, 2025 from 11:30 AM – 4 PM.
Both Festivals are held on the beautiful Alexander Schaeffer Farm in Schaefferstown, PA. Please call 717-949-2244 or email Historic Schaefferstown for more information.
Attention Woodworkers
If you are interested in any walnut, cherry, oak, or poplar, please contact Barry at 610-562-7226 for further details.
Newsletter
If you would like to put something in the Newsletter, please contact us at newsletter@rbcrafts.org
Newsletter Editor,
Nancy Vardjan