Bead Society of Greater New York
November 2012 Update

With the cancellation of our October meeting due to hurricane Sandy, our members came together on November 14th for a very successful "Post-Hurricane Bead-In". Members arrived with their beads in-hand and ready to chat, exchange tips and show off their latest projects. For those unable to attend, the photos at the end of this report will give you an idea of the fun that everybody had.

General Business & Announcements:

Cynthia Stern, our president, called the meeting to order and made the following announcements:

• Due to the cancellation of our October 31st meeting, every effort will be made to reschedule Debbie Rooney, co-founder of Beads for Education, to speak about the organization and its work in helping educate girls in Africa. BSGNY sponsors one of these student, Catherine Musele, and we will get an update on her progress at that meeting.
• Due to the above schedule change, our November meeting was moved up to November 14th. Therefore, please remember that there will be NO MEETING on Wed, November 28, 2012.
• The bus trip to the Philadelphia Museum Craft Show was cancelled because not enough members signed up to fill a bus. Cynthia thanked Susan Blumenson for her efforts to coordinate the trip.
• The planning of our annual holiday dinner was discussed. So far, we have been unable to find a suitable space for this event. If anyone knows of a restaurant that could accommodate 100 people and several vendors with restrooms on the same floor, please e-mail us at [email protected]
• Preparation for our December 8th Handmade Holiday Craft Fair is in full swing.
• Volunteers are still needed to man the BSGNY Welcome Table and to walk the floor to fill in at tables when vendors might need a bathroom break or grab some lunch. We all need to do our part and VOLUNTEER to keep our society strong. So, please show your support and e-mail Milly Valentin at [email protected] to find out when you can volunteer.
• All 60 vendor tables have been purchased and a wait-list is growing. Full payment of vendor fees are due November 15, 2012. Vendor tables will be assigned in order of full payment received. Artwork by Marie MichalMembers were asked to help advertise the Holiday Sale by spreading the word to the general public. Holiday Sale flyers and postcards were distributed at tonight's meeting so members can pass them out (as well as forward the e-mail announcement about the sale that all members have already received) to friends, families, co-workers, local businesses, apartment building bulletin boards, schools, universities, religious communities - and ANYONE/ANYWHERE ELSE YOU CAN THINK OF!
• Members may pick up an additional supply of postcards from three (3) pick-up locations around the city. Please call the person in the location that works best for you (see list below) to make arrangements for postcard pick-up - a packet in your name will be left with their doormen:
• Upper Eastside: Marie Michal - 212-288-0479
• Lower Eastside (Gramercy Park Area): Cynthia Stern - 212-529-1843
• West Village: Leah Becker - 212-620-006
• You can also print additional copies of the Holiday Sale flyer from your computer by simply clicking on the Holiday Sale Flyer attached to this e-mail - or in the many emails you have and will continue to receive about the event. Just open the file and print as many copies as you need.
• Please do your part in publicizing this event. It will benefit all our member/vendors as well as YOUR Bead society, as a whole.
• Vendors were reminded that they may NOT sell any commercially produced items at the Sale. Everything sold must be handmade by the bead society member. This rule will be strictly enforced and vendors will be asked to leave if they do not comply with this regulation.
• Best of luck and much success to all our members selling at the Sale!

We wish all of our members a very Happy Thanksgiving and a very festive holiday season.

And remember --- Join us at our Handmade Holiday Craft Fair Saturday, December 8, 2012 at FIT's Great Hall (West 28th Street, between 7th and 8th Ave.) Doors open at 10AM

Photos from BSGNY's November 14, 2012 Meeting
POST HURRICANE BEAD-IN @ BSGNY