Dear Friends:
I spent the most wonderful weekend with around 2,500 of
my friends in Roanoke, Virginia. The Collectors’ Convention was
like a family reunion, and I was delighted to have so many warm, caring
people around me.
Collectors wait patiently outside the convention hall to visit with
Pat and see her artwork at the Virginia Convention in Roanoke last weekend.
Ruth Harbach, on Pat's left, celebrates her winning P. Buckley Moss
Cross Stitch. Bob Almond, Executive Director of the P. Buckley Moss
Foundation for Children's Education, assists with the framed artwork.
The Convention was officially kicked-off with a picnic
and tour at nearby Explore Park, a living history museum. The large
Convention print Mountain Homestead was based on buildings
at the park. Two local chapters of the P.
Buckley Moss Society, Moss in the Country and Moss in the Valley,
sponsored the picnic to raise money for their charitable work. Part
of the proceeds from the picnic will be used to send a local teacher
to the P. Buckley Moss Foundation
for Children’s Education’s Creative Mind Conference this
fall.
Doc Roupe and his grandson Jacob dressed up for the Costume Parade.
A photograph of Jacob, which was sent to Pat by his grandmother, was
the inspiration for the print Box Boat, seen below.
I was so excited to see my good friend Ginger Cloonan
at the Convention. Many of you may remember my talking about Ginger’s
extensive back surgery this past February and her long recovery. Ginger
owns the Country Framer Gallery in Libertyville, Illinois, and is the
dealer representative on the Society’s board of directors. The
Convention was Ginger’s first major outing since her surgery as
well as her first long journey away from home. She even managed to attend
the Society Board’s meeting in Roanoke Friday morning. What a
trooper! Everyone was delighted to have Ginger back with us—welcome
back!
Ginger Cloonan, front right, enjoys the dinner dance in Roanoke
last weekend along with other Society members and Moss enthusiasts.
Cheryl and Lummon Simmons of Christiansburg bought a delightful
Moss mixed media in the auction held during the Dinner Dance. The auction
proceeds benefit the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children's Education.
Saturday night’s Dinner Dance, with its Jimmy Buffett-Margaritaville
theme, was so much fun. Two hundred of us donned our “beach clothes”
and flip-flops for dinner and dancing. The Society office’s Lance
and Mark Allen were the DJ’s and did an outstanding job of playing
a good mix of music that everyone could enjoy.
Pat's daughter Mary and granddaughter Sarah attended the Dinner
Dance on Saturday night.
Pat's daughter Patty enjoyed the Margaritaville party with her mom.
Pat's daughter Ginny and her husband Corrado, Director of the P.
Buckley Moss Museum, enjoyed the island party with their children Chiara
and Picco.
During the Dinner Dance, we auctioned the framing competition
prints and raised $5,925 for the Foundation. Overall, the total amount
raised for the Foundation was a little over $7,325. The money will be
used to offset expenses of the Creative Mind Conference and for teacher
scholarships. The Foundation will be holding a fundraising dinner in
Richmond, Virginia, the evening of Friday, December 2. For more details,
please contact the Foundation office at 540-932-1728.
Pat is flanked by Bob Almond, Executive Director of the P. Buckley
Moss Foundation and Dell Philpott, the Foundation's Program Coordinator.
Funds raised by the evening's auction will be used to send teachers
to this year's conference for teachers, sponsored by the Foundation.
Pat poses with Cindy George and Lisa Hinegardner of Woodstock, Virginia
during the Dinner Dance.
Before I sign off, I want to give a big THANKS to all
the magnificent volunteers and my excellent staff who set up, manned,
and broke down the Convention. I also thank all the dealers and collectors
for their friendship and support.
I am also grateful for our troops who make it possible
for us to enjoy our freedom. These young men and women deserve our respect
and our support.
Love,
Pat