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SEPT MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
The September meeting was called to order by Bob Obenland, the president, and reports were given by the officers and committee members. The first 50+ at the meeting received a D56 poster and as a bonus 18 members with specially marked posters received a copy of the Mar 31,2000 Dickens Exchange and one member with a specially marked poster received a $10 gift certificate from Great Gifts. The lucky winner was Cheryl Amato.
After the business meeting and break for refreshments, the hands on workshops began. (See the article by Peggy Mead titled "Village Landlord University 2000".)
Door prizes were won by:
-Gingerbread Man Ornament-Nicole Hackler
-1996 Quarterly-Chet Rosenbaum
-D56 Key Ring-Gene Armeno
-D56 Brite Lite-Dotty Winzell
-D56 Umbrella-Karen Gold
-D56 Library Classics gift set-Marlene Bretl
-Mountainpaper-Chuck Thompson
-Mountainpaper-Jonathan Stout
Raffle prizes were won by:
-One NCC Under the Umbrella(Yellow)-Peggy Mead
-Display Mania-Diane Rosenbaum-Donated by The Dickens Exchange
-Yr subscription to the Village Chronicle
-TWO Mystery Houses:
--Old North Church(NE)-Peggy Mead -Donated by Great Gifts
--East Indies Trading-Pat Nelson --Donated by Silver Sleigh
You too can be a winner -- join us at the October meeting. And remember, this club is for the members -- please participate!
Village Landlord University 2000
Where were you on Sunday, September 24? Were you climbing mountains, fording streams or working out on your stair climber? Or, were you doing something even grander, building mountains, making and landscaping streams and carving your own staircase? I had so much fun at last year's "accessories class" at the Village Landlord University, that I made sure I attended this year's session. When I arrived at the meeting I saw instantly that I was not alone. What a grand turnout!
Sitting in the front row during the meeting I had a wonderful view of the "paper" mountain's majesty at the far end of the row. They looked so real I could hardly wait to learn how to make them. When it was my turn to chat with Bernie Miranda about his gorgeous mountains I was thrilled at how easy he made it sound. He showed me how to wrinkle, paint, shape and snow cap paper mountains. I thought the look achieved on the backdrop board was amazing. Then he went on to explain the individual freestanding mountains made of styrofoam wrapped with the painted paper. When I looked at the photographs of his display using these items I was really inspired.
When I sat down to make my stream I had no idea how much fun it would be. Everyone seated around me seemed to agree heartily. Once Mike Bretl showed me how easy it was to landscape my own private waterway I was off and running. The more I added the more I wanted to add. Craft brooms, aquarium rocks and pine needles turned my little stream into a place of refuge. My absolute favorite part was making incense cat tails. I spent so much time on my stream I found time was running out.
Off I went to visit Bob Obenland and make an aluminum foil mountain. I had made one at last year's hands on meeting and figured I could breeze right through this time since I knew what I was doing. I quickly reminded myself of the old saying practice makes perfect. I had not made any mountains since last year. I found that although the basic idea was instilled in my brain I had forgotten some of the little details that make successful mountains. I actually flunked spray painting and had to go outside and do it again! I saw the can of snow and put it on right after the paint. Always remember that it can't snow until after your mountain foil is in position! As usual, Bob was very gracious and helped me make a better mountain.
I did not have enough time to make staircases this year, but I know many of you did. I saw the wonderful samples on the table and remember how much fun I had last year carving them out of the styrofoam blocks. Norman Barrett is a great teacher with wonderful ideas on using this technique. My first attempt last year was anything but perfect, however I was very proud of my results. I'm sure all of you that did make stairs this year had fun trying.
I came home with all my samples and fresh information in hand ready to start building my village for Christmas. I'm very tempted to skip Halloween and Thanksgiving and go straight to Christmas village. Do you think anyone would mind? I hope all of you enjoyed the Village Landlord University this year. As an alumni from last year and a graduate this year I encourage you to do as I say and not as I did last year. Make sure you practice the techniques you learned on the 24th and incorporate them in your village this year. Not only does practice make perfect, but most of us learn best when we "do"!
Thanks to all who worked to give us a great day of learning and fun. I'm looking forward to next time. Just tell me where to register for class. I can't wait to go on the house tours this year and see how everyone implemented their mountains, streams and stairways. See you there!
By Peggy Mead
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