Message from the President June 2020
Our Convention Will Be Virtually Exciting!
In the last couple of President’s reports, I have spent a lot of words describing to you exactly how our con-vention this year is going to be amazing, fun and ex-citing. I also described the joy we all get from being in the same room together, the late night chats, the face-toface time, the laughing, the caressing of beautiful carnival glass, the stories…
So, a funny thing happened on the way to the convention. We kinda ran into an Apocalypse of sorts. Now, being in the same room as a carnival friend you love could maybe sorta kinda kill them and their family. It sounds like a Science Fiction novel, albeit a bad one. So, most (if not all) carnival glass conventions for the year are cancelled. Sometimes when you love someone, staying away from them is the most loving thing you can do…
And that sucks. But, we have technology on our side (maybe), and so the ICGA Board of Directors has decided to do something no carnival glass club has really tried before: we are going to have our convention online, viewable by all, live, on the internet. So, what does that mean and how do YOU get to attend?
A Handy Dandy Checklist for the Most Bestest Virtually Amazing Online Carnival Glass Convention Ever!
1. If you have a reservation with our hotel, Der Das Essenhaus, you need to call them and cancel it. You can cancel it up until a day before you were to arrive, after that they will charge you, even if you don’t show up. We will also be refunding anyone who registered already.
Now no worries, we have already secured next year’s convention at that wonderful hotel, so our plans are to be enjoying butterscotch pie there next year. I just don’t want you to get charged for this year if we aren’t there. The hotel was a dream to work with through this horribly troubling time, so they are one of the best hotels in the world in my book.
2. Facebook or No? Everything we broadcast live during the convention will appear on our Facebook page, live. If you have Facebook (or want to join Facebook), then go to our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/ carnivalglass ) and like the page. Then during the convention, you can head over to our page and watch the videos live (where others will be watching, as well as commenting and, in some cases, interacting with the people in the video.)
However, if Facebook is not your thing, no worries! We will also be broadcasting live (all at the same time) on our website at http:// www.internationalcarnivalglass.com/icga-convention/ via a live video feed. You won’t be able to see the comments from those on Facebook, but you will be able to see the fun going on in the video.
3. Zooming on in. You may have heard of Zoom lately as most of the world is using it to attend a church service, chat with friends and family, celebrate happy hour together and more. The Texas Carnival Glass Club used Zoom very effectively during their convention to record a show and tell session, as well as share time with Jim and Jan Seeck during their auction. We are going to use it for our interactive sessions, as well as during our two auctions during the convention. It is free to download and use, and you can install it at http://www.zoom.us. If you have a webcam and a microphone on your computer, you will be able to talk to us and we can see you (as you see us), much like a face-to-face conversation. Zoom is also available for mobile phones (like iPhone or Android), or iPads (all of which have cameras and microphones already in them.) If you do decide to join us on the Zoom calls, you will need to email Barb Chamberlain dbcham@iowatelecom.net so that you can receive the nightly emails with the link to connect via Zoom with us.
4. So What Are We Going to Do? We are going to have a convention. Here is what we have planned:
Sunday, July 12th – Seeck Online Auction with items closing beginning at 7:00 p.m. CDT This is the eirst of two ICGA convention auctions this year, with 225 pieces from the Fred Roque collection.
We will use Zoom for this meeting, which will begin at 6:00 p.m. Jim and Jan will be on the Zoom with us, and we can all chat together as if we were in a room at the convention, plus Jim will grab and show us any of the glass that is being auctioned so we can see it “live” and decide if it’s something we want to bid on. We did this during the Texas convention and it was fantastic!
Monday, July 13th – ICGA Sing-a-Long Seminar at 7:00 p.m. CDT On this night, we will be broadcasting the Booker Banquet Seminar from two years ago, which featured a sing-a-long and lots of musical and carnival glass fun. These broadcasts will be on the website and Facebook, and then afterwards we will Zoom as a group to chat, possibly sing, and have a good time (will we go to midnight? Who knows, we might!)
Tuesday, July 14th – Don Moore Seminar at 7:00 p.m. CDT Don Moore may be long gone, but his ineluence and glass is still present today. As one of the biggest contributors to the ICGA Pump in history, our club has certainly continued to feel his presence. On this night, we will broadcast a seminar from Don Moore (via our time machine) live on our website and Facebook. Then afterwards, it’s a Tuesday Night Extravaganza on Zoom, as we play a game of carnival glass trivia. There will be prizes. Will you win??
Wednesday, July 15th – That Collection at 7:00 p.m. CDT “I wonder what all is in that collection.” is a question many of us have had over the years. On this night, with a live broadcast on our website and Facebook, we are going to try and answer it. Afterwards, it will be a Zoom discussion about what we have just seen, as well as more fun antics! Plus, there may just be some reception goodies to enjoy…
Thursday, July 16th – Display Room Seminar at 7:00 p.m. CDT Oh, you thought because we won’t have a physical display room, we wouldn’t have an actual display room with seminar? Good golly no, we are deeinitely having a display room! And it’s still equestrian themed. We will broadcast our seminar live on our website and Facebook, featuring Steve Gregg and Carl Booker, and then we will connect afterwards on Zoom for everyone to share their favorite horse-themed piece of carnival glass. This display could be massive (and we aren’t just horsing around!)
Friday, July 17th – Annual Meeting, Room Display Awards, and Auction Preview at 7:00 p.m. CDT On Friday, we will take to Zoom to hold our annual meeting, including elections, as well as give our cash prize awards to winners with the top eive Room Displays. Wait? Room Displays? YES! Now is your chance to showcase your talents and your glass. Send a photo or video of your room display to me (bpitman@gmail.com) by Friday, July 10th and they will appear on our website for people to look at and vote for their favorite. The top eive winners will win cold hard cash! Afterwards, we are going to hang with the Seecks as we look at the pieces in the huge convention auction on Saturday morning. This is going to be a fantastic session you won’t want to miss!!
Saturday, July 18th – Convention Auction at 9:00 a.m. CDT It’s auction time, as we all meet on Zoom with the Seecks to watch as auction items end. If you win a piece, we expect an exuberant “WOOHOO!” for us all to know who got it! And don’t forget to bring your sandwiches and favorite beverage, because this could literally be an all-day affair. Come join us!!
5. Okay, but why? Well simply put, we love all of you. The thought of not being together this summer is horrible. I want to give each of you a hug and a smile. This is the next best thing. Next year’s convention will be extra sweet, but this year, during this incredibly difeicult time, I want all of you to have a week of fun, laughs, carnival glass and just a sense of normalcy. And together, we can do anything…
It’s all free, and it’s going to be fun. Join us!
Brian
