Dear Friends,
I’m back from the Society’s Chapter Training weekend, which
was most inspiring. Each year the P. Buckley Moss Society hosts a forum
where Society members who are also members of organized chapters can
share creative fundraising ideas and fellowship and learn more about
my art.
Marlyn DeWaard, Bev Strom, Rosita Villarreal, Ginger Cloonan, Pat,
Lance Allen, Al Sandstrom and Martha Witt enjoy a Star Spangled weekend
at Chapter Training.
Lunch is served for Jeannie Kleinert and Pauline Corso.
This year over ninety chapter members representing twenty-two chapters
attended the training sessions in Charlottesville, Virginia. The theme
was “Red, White, and Blue, & Moss, Too.” Because the
theme was patriotic in nature and the third anniversary of September
11th is just around the corner, we had two very special guest speakers
and were delighted to have the Presentation of the Flag conducted by
Eagle and Life Scouts from Troop 241 of Charlottesville and their leader
Dave Reynolds. The guest speakers were very inspirational. Their talks
made us feel “proud to be American” and made us realize
how much we have to be thankful for.
Wayne Kleinert and Al Sandstrom study their materials.
Chapter members work hard on their projects.
Ron Sanders, a twenty-four-year veteran of the Lynchburg Fire &
EMS Department who also serves as its Captain, treated us to a slide
show about rescue dogs and brought along his canine partner Ondo. Ron
also holds the position of Canine Specialist on the Virginia Task Force
One (VATA-1), one of 28 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams and one of
two capable of responding internationally. Task Force 1 was dispatched
to the Pentagon in the aftermath of September 11th. Ondo is a 5∏-year-old
Belgian Malinois certified by FEMA at the advanced level. I was thrilled
to have my picture taken with Ron and Ondo. Ron also has a ten-month-old,
half Malinois and half German Shepherd named Tomo. Tomo is training
to be Ron’s future canine partner.
Ron Sanders, Pat and Ondo.
Laurie Miller shared with us her memories of my mother, whom most of
you know as Gran Liz, as well as her memories from September 11th. Laurie
and her daughters Elizabeth, Rachel, and Katie were the recipients of
the Gran Liz Award, which was a scholarship set up after my mother’s
passing in October of 2001 to be given to the family of a fireman or
police officer who lost his life on September 11th. As a child Laurie
would visit my mother at her home in Mill Rift, Pennsylvania. What started
out as piano lessons turned into a lasting friendship. Laurie’s
husband Douglas was one of many firefighters who lost their lives on
that dreadful day. Douglas served with Rescue 5 in Staten Island, one
of five squads within FDNY.
Laurie Miller is presented with Pat's print Fourth of July
Baskets by Deb Weisgerber.
Chapter Training also conducted some fundraising activities this past
weekend. Friday night’s print raffle raised $396 ($50 was donated
to Boy Scout Troop 241, $346 was donated to the Lynchburg Fire &
EMS Department). My museum hosted a Children’s Art Show and Auction
Saturday night, which raised $213 for the Foundation, and the Saturday
night gift raffles raised an additional $726 for the Foundation.
Pat and scouts from Troop 241.
After Sunday morning’s “Walk with Moss,” I have decided
that the challenge is on once again! The group who joined me for the
walk agreed with me that exercise is the key to weight loss and general
good health. I have been taking the time to walk more the last few months
and have discovered, much to my delight, that I have dropped two clothing
sizes! Won’t you join me?
A little morning exercise for the Sunday morning walkers.
I wish to thank everyone who participated in the planning of Chapter
Training weekend as well as those who attended. I encourage those chapter
members who have not yet attended to join us in the future for a fun
and informational experience.
I spent last Thursday and a good portion of Friday working with my
daughter Becky on a silkscreen edition of a very small Madonna. This
piece will be available for purchase in the near future. Becky and I
greatly enjoyed working together on this Madonna. Even though our artistic
styles are different, as everyone is unique, we work together well.
Becky and Pat work on a new silkscreen.
I have also been working on an oil painting depicting the Last Supper,
but I’m not ready to show it to you yet. This is a painting that
I started some time ago and had to set aside for awhile until it became
clear in my mind how I should finish it. I have painted five small Last
Supper scenes in the past, one of which was printed and is still available.
I enjoy the challenge of painting more than one work of the same subject.
This one will be large and in oil instead of watercolor. I plan to continue
working on it this winter and hope to show it to you this spring.
Michela and Pat get creative.
After a fulfilling day of work, I was content to sit down with Becky’s
youngest daughter Michela and draw just for fun.
Next week I’ll share news and pictures from our Dealers’
Meeting that will be held in Waynesboro this coming weekend.
Until then…
Love,
Pat