P. Buckley Moss e-newsletter

Dear Friends:

Hurray for Saturday night and our Summer Celebration! We had the best time! The mixture of people was absolutely perfect. We even “got Floyd up dancing!” My children Ginny, Patty, Mary, and John were there with their spouses and children. We danced until very late—danced, laughed, and slept well that night.

Moss on the James Chapter member Floyd Boothe, center with the white shirt and straw hat, even got up and danced—he comes to virtually all of our events and never dances, until now! It was such fun to see him having fun.

It was great having so many members of my family at Saturday night’s Dinner Dance to share in the fun. I’m standing, and seated left to right are my granddaughter Sarah Donnelly, my son John, John’s wife Maureen, my granddaughter Chiara Gabellieri, and my grandson Picco Gabellieri.

Four of my six children, L. to R.: Mary Donnelly, Patty Moss, me, John Moss, and Ginny Moss (Gabellieri).

Our weekend began with a visit to the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia, Friday morning. What a pleasant surprise for me! I hadn’t been there, even though it’s so close to Waynesboro. It’s an absolutely wonderful place, and I’m going to arrange my trips so I can make performances.

That’s my daughter Ginny up in the balcony of the American Shakespeare Center. Isn’t it magnificent!

Dr. Ralph Alan Cohen, Director of Mission and co-founder of the Center, gave me a private tour; and, I think my reaction was all he could have hoped for, because I was in awe and marveled at everything.

Dr. Ralph Alan Cohen and me at the American Shakespeare Center, with members of our tour group gathered behind us. Dr. Cohen is Director of Mission and co-founder of the Center.

We learned that the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, which is next door to the Center, is an annual sponsor and provides the space and food for the Center’s Gala. The hotel is open to all and has an excellent chef.

We had people from all over the country join us for our tour, which amazed the Center’s docents. Our tour was followed by lunch at Emilio’s Italian Restaurant, which was marvelous. Everyone enjoyed their day in Staunton!

After our tour of the American Shakespeare Center, I returned to The Barn to sign; and, I was delighted to see Mr. & Mrs. J. B. Richardson of Roanoke, VA, again. J. B. makes the most gorgeous solid cherry wood clocks and frames my lighthouse prints inside them for his own collection. He surprised me Friday afternoon with a gift of one of the clocks to keep at the Museum, and framed within it was A Day at the Light. It is a joy!

Girl Scouts forever! Two Girl Scouts, pictured with Girl Scouts of the USA.

Saturday’s Chapter Training was great. Chapter Chairperson Shirley Collins did an outstanding job of coordinating the event. My daughter Patty Moss gave a presentation on the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education and a tour of its office. Mary Kay Van Hooser, owner of Mint Spring Frame Shop & Gallery in Staunton, gave a presentation on framing and displaying my art. Peggy Goodwin, former Chapter Chairperson and current member of the Foundation’s board of directors, and Shirley Collins gave a presentation on the P. Buckley Moss Society’s member benefits and chapters and what they do. The presentations were wonderful. Eleven chapters participated in the event.

Chapter members on tour at the Foundation office. Office Manager Pat Carter is pictured in the center, wearing a pink sweater.

I signed at the Museum on Saturday and was excited to see my daughter Becky’s friend and college roommate Julie Grattarola, now Sibilla. Becky and Julie both married Italians and live in Italy. L. to R.: Julie Sibilla, me, and Julie’s daughter Sasha, who was just accepted as a freshman to the University of Virginia.

As I mentioned before, Saturday night’s Dinner Dance was a big hit and raised over $8,700 for the Foundation. $1,000 of that total will go to the P. Buckley Moss Endowed Scholarship. There are so many people to thank for making it all possible, including our wonderful DJ Frank D. McMillan; quilters Camelia Elliott and Lori Hein; the chapters who provided the Mardi Gras goodie bags, the decorated masks, and other items for the auction; and the dealers who donated framing for the prints—a special thanks to Jeanette Stephens, Mildred Wall, and Moss in the New River Valley Chapter for providing mats for our Jubilee complimentary event print and assembling the mats and prints. The matted Jubilee prints were available for a $10 donation and brought in $635 for the Foundation. I am grateful to each and every one of you.

Bonnie-Lou Binnig, President of the Moss Pelicans Chapter, tried unsuccessfully to sweet-talk Floyd out of out-bidding her on the quilt pictured behind them that was made by Camelia Elliott.

Dear friends Marj (left) and Hannes (center) Meyers, Jr., came all the way from Michigan to join us for our Summer Celebration. They were the high bidders during the live auction on the framed Lancaster Memories pictured above.

Members of the Moss in the Valley Chapter and me. (Floyd is in the background in the straw hat—he was everywhere!) L. to R.: Mendy Flynn, holding the framed O Holy Night she won in the silent auction; her husband Dave Flynn; Chapter President Linda Markham (Mendy’s mother); me; and Peggy Rogers.

Picco dancing with my friend May Johnson of Morrisville, PA.

My daughter Mary and me.

L. to R.: me, Mary Kay Van Hooser of the Mint Spring Frame Shop & Gallery, and Foundation Board member Peggy Goodwin.

Even the caterers were dancing by the end of the evening!

The Society, the Foundation, and P. Buckley Moss Galleries, Ltd., all worked together so well to make the weekend fun and successful. We did miss seeing some of our old friends who couldn’t make it this time, but we hope to see them soon at other events. Our thanks to all!

Love,
Pat

Past Issues