President’s Message
As I am sitting down to write my message to our Reading-Berks Family, I am looking at my old-fashioned paper calendar and realize I will be flipping it to September 2025. How quickly our Summer has passed and Autumn is just around the corner. You all know what that means. Instead of cutting grass twice a week we will be raking the falling leaves soon. (And you thought I was going to say our Holiday Show is right around the corner). Well, it is!
Our 75th Holiday Fine Art and Craft Festival is October 25 from 9-5 PM and October 26 from 10-3 PM and the count down is on. Look at your check list. Did you send in your application? Did you sign up for a volunteer position to help with the show? Our customers can’t wait to see YOU, their favorite craftsmen and artists at the Kutztown University, O’Pake Fieldhouse in Kutztown, PA.
Our Fall Jury Session is September 2, 2025 and there are quite a few craftsmen and artists presenting for jurying. The jury session is right before our general meeting at 7:00 PM.
Another great event in September for Family Fun is Heemet Fescht on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center in Kutztown, PA. Different events go on throughout the day on the beautiful grounds; there is something for all ages. Some of our members will be there demonstrating too, so don’t forget: Heemet Fescht, Saturday, September 27.
Once again, my fellow craftsmen and artists, I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to read this newsletter and catch up with what is going on with your Guild. While our art takes us all in different directions, we do have one great thing in common. We love what we do. Our creativity is our work and we are passionate about it. Share that passion.
“You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.”— Vernon Howard
Your President,
Barry L. Bennecoff
Programs
During our programs, we reach out to you with history, nature, arts and crafts, and more. This Tuesday, September 2, Hallie Vaughn from the Berks History Center will present Code Girls. The Code Girls were talented American women, secretly recruited and trained during WWII to become codebreakers for the Army and Navy. Their efforts in cracking German and Japanese codes were often overlooked because of secrecy but definitely influenced the outcome of the war.
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.
As of September 12, 2025, applications are open exclusively to Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen juried members and students.
The deadline to apply is September 26, 2025.
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
The Social media team has been posting great photos of our artisans on the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen Facebook page and will be continuing to do this throughout the month of September and October as we look forward to the Holiday Fine Art & Craft Festival for 2025. which will be held on October 25 and 26 this year
As we post, please “Like” and “Share” each post so others become aware of them and they get noticed by everyone.
If we don’t have your up-to-date images, we won’t be able to promote your work! If you haven’t sent us any 2025 images, please send them to images@rbcrafts.org.
What kind of images are we looking for? The best ones are those with one object in them and a neutral background so that your work stands out and can be seen with nothing else in the picture. The preferred image format is JPG or PNG and under 3MB in file size.
The better the images, the more chance you will have of your work being used on Facebook and other platforms to promote the festival.
Gary Rosborough,
Social Media Chair
social-media@rbcrafts.org
BCTV
Our 75th Holiday Fine Art and Crafts Festival is October 25 and 26, and we are in the process of putting together two “Your Berks Craftsmen” shows to get the word out about YOU, our talented and amazing artists and craftsmen. This is a great way to introduce our craftsmen and artists to the public and give them a preview of what they will see and be able to purchase at our Festival.
“Your Berks Craftsmen” is on every Wednesday night at 7:00 PM and at other times periodically throughout the week.
Tell your friends and family. Thanks for watching!
Find BCTV on air and online:
Comcast Reading Channel 15
Comcast-Southern Berks Channel 965
Service Electric Channel 19
Both channels are streaming online 24-7 at www.bctv.org
BCTV is available on Roku, search for BCTV Berks – HOW TO VIDE
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. We currently have four artisans who are seeking juried status. If you are interested in being juried, you must be a member of the Reading Berks Guild of Craftsmen for at least 3 months which is fast approaching on June 3 for this jury session. After that date you will not be eligible until the March 3, 2026. Use this application to apply for jurying.
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
Website
The Reading-Berks Guild has updated our online member directory!
This directory uses membership information provided by the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen (PGC) through their monthly report.
By default, only members with a website listed in their PGC profile will appear. If you don’t see your name, try unchecking the “Has Website” box at the top of the page to view the full list.
Want your website or social media link to appear?
You’ll need to update your profile on the PGC website.
1. Log in to PGC
2. Go to Member Resources → View/Update Your Profile
3. Click the gear icon and select Edit Profile from the dropdown. Be sure to add your website (or Etsy shop), Instagram, and/or Facebook page link in the appropriate section.
Once your profile is updated, your information should appear on our Guild website within 30 days, or after we receive the next monthly report from the PGC.
Need help?
If you’re having trouble editing your profile, email: membership@pacrafts.
Include your name, chapter, and the information you’d like updated.
Website Chair,
Lisa Short
webmaster@rbcrafts.org
Membership
The State Guild website currently shows that there are 161 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
PGC 2nd Annual Online Auction
Items accepted until September 16, 2025 Bidding begins September 23 and ends on Sunday, October 25, 2025 at 5:00 pm.
The success of the 80th Anniversary Auction prompted us to have another!
We are asking for your support by donating items for the auction. Auction items are not limited to handmade art and crafts. We accept social events, teaching/donating workshops, restaurant gift cards, sporting events tickets, activity center gift cards, and personal services to name a few. Donations are not limited to Lancaster area-based products and services. Last year we had bidders from all over the state and outside Pennsylvania too!
With each donated item download and complete the description form and deliver or ship your items along with the completed form to:
PGC at 335 N. Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603.
Items will be displayed at the Guild Store and online at the beginning of the auction. 2025 Auction Link
I do have an Auction Request “script” to share if you have time to contact your favorite restaurants, hair salons, etc to help with this fundraiser. Thank you!
PGC – Reading-Berks Guild Representative,
Denise Wilz
Denise@wilzpottery.com
Events
General Meeting (1st Tuesday of Month)
September 2, 2025 from 7 PM at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts. Check the board for room number.
Historic Schaefferstown:
Harvest Fair on September 13, 2025 from 10 AM – 4 PM and September 14, 2025 from 11:30 AM – 4 PM.
The Festival is held on the beautiful Alexander Schaeffer Farm in Schaefferstown, PA. Please call 717-949-2244 or email Historic Schaefferstown for more information.
Newsletter
If you would like to put something in the Newsletter, please contact us at newsletter@rbcrafts.org
Newsletter Editor,
Nancy Vardjan