Salt Lake Convention rapidly approaching

If you are still thinking about attending our convention this fall in Salt Lake City, the time to stop thinking and start acting is about here. Even though summer has not arrived, our hosts in Utah have been busy planning another great event for Friends of the Creche for the last year. To see the specifics about the program and other things to see and do while in Utah, go back to our home page and click in the blue box. There you will find more details, a downloadable registration form and some additional information.

Please do not wait until fall to reserve your room at the Radisson Hotel or send in your registration form. As many of you know, hotels these days charge use penalties for room blocks reserved by convention groups if not taken. In order to minimize the risk to our society, we reserved only a modest room block. Another reason to reserve early is that if we see interest pick up greater than our estimates, it might be possible to add a few more rooms to the block.
This is usually not possible when fall comes because the rooms are simply not there to book.
Keep in mind that some people were disappointed at our convention in Santa Fe because by waiting until the last minute to reserve meant that rooms were not available in the convention hotel and they had to stay elsewhere.

Be sure you do not miss out on the chance to hear the Morman Tabernacle Choir sing, check out your family tree, see some fantastic scenery and most of all learn more about the creche and spend time with your "friends of the Creche."

Saturday last, in Ann Arbor, Michigan gathered nearly ninety members of Friends of the Creche for our annual meeting. This event in the off- convention years has been an opportunity to have a mini-convention of sort surrounding our by- law required once each year business meeting. Our hosts were Betsy Christensen and Shirley Thornton who planned a wonderful day of talks, exhibits, opportunities to purchase Creches from 10,000 Villages, the Hamtramck Art Center and the Mission Market Place. There was also lots of food for the body and soul.
Our morning speaker, Garrick Hyde, of South Jordan, Utah, gave a truly inspiring presentation about he and his family's work in obtaining hand- crafted creches from China, Africa and other developing nations in order to provide a life of dignity for the artists that make them. Garrick and his family project has grown from a few sales to over a thousand in just a few years. Those who purchased some of the nativities he had brought along also received the crayon-written, thank you note from his daughter that comes with all purchases. I guess if I had to summarize Mr. Hyde's talk to us it would be to paraphrase the quote he made to his daughter when she inquired as to how long the family would be doing this project. His answer," as long as there are the poor."

After a great lunch of salads, wraps and pastries, the business meeting was called to order by President, Mike Whalen. I can report that our treasurer assured us we are "in the black" and we currently have just over four hundred active members. The Utah team presented the plans for our convention in Salt Lake next November. If the star- shaped cookies distributed to all are any indication of the "good things" to come in Salt Lake, we should all start packing our bags now.

Following the business meeting, Carolyn Meleski and Tony Wachocki of the Friends of Polish Art presented the history of the Polish Szopki or foil churches and information about the competitions in Poland and the local one held in Detroit each year. Tony's wit kept everyone laughing and a perfect way to end the day.

Door prizes of presepio mugs, nativity stockings ,CDs and other creche type gifts were awarded to nearly sixty members present.

In addition to the little box nativity found in every ones bag, the ornament from China given by Garrick Hyde and the infant Jesus egg given by our hosts found at every one's lunch plate, everyone also took home a blue oven mitt as a remembrance of Michigan and a star on it representing Ann Arbor. We hope that the blue oven mitt will not only remind everyone to "Follow His Star" to Utah next November, but that every time we use it, we will be reminded that Friends of the Creche are people who share the warmth of Christ's birth and Christmas everyday.

Deadlline for registration for annual meeting

The end of September is almost here and so is the deadline for registration for our annual meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Sat. November 8. Go to our web page www.friendsofthecreche.org to download a registration form or e-mail Betsy Christensen at
betsychris@aol.com

Results of Board elections

Barbara Beckwith of Cincinnati, OH, Joyce Douglas of Denver, CO, and Elizabeth (Betty) Morris of Williamsburg, VA have been re-elected to the Board of Directors for second terms. Fr. Tim Goldrick of North Dighton, MA has also been re-elected following a two year interim. We thank them for the time and talent they have provided to Friends of the Creche in the past and will provide in the future.

FRIENDS OF THE CRECHE LOSE A TRUE "FRIEND" OF THE CRECHE!

It is with great sadness that I report to you the death of one of most colorful members, Wally Bronner. Wally passed away yesterday at age 81. He was a member of Friends of the Creche from the start and we are glad he was able to attend at least part of our last convention in Dublin last November. His commercial success regarding Christmas aside, I think Wally will be remembered for two things at least as Friends of the Creche are concerned. In the first place, Christ was always an important part of the Christmas experience at his huge store in Frankenmuth, Michigan. From the several large nativities on the property to the Silent Night Chapel also on the grounds, there is no way that Christ was being left out of this "Christmas" experience. In addition, Wally was always a person people. He had a knack for remembering people and names years after he had met them. Wally's signature red jacket will be missing in the future and Christmas has lost a true "friend."

Two Friends of the Creche Receive Medals at the World Crib Congress in Augsburg, Germany.

Augsburg, Germany. January 26, 2008.

Two members of our organization received medals last week at the World Crib Congress that took place in Augsburg, Germany. This meeting takes place every four years, the next being in Innsbruck Austria in 2012. This was the first time in the history of the Congress that medals were awarded to those who have or are contributing to the creche tradition. Mrs. Rita Bocher, the editor of the Creche Herald and Rev. Johann Roten of the Marian Library in Ohio were honored. The awards were selected from nominations submitted by each association. The Universalis Foederatio Praesepistica or Un Foe Prae for short is currently made up of eighteen associations including the newest association from Brazil. We would like to congratulate Rita and Fr. Roten for receiving this great honor and the honor it brings to Friends of the Creche.

A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FRIENDS OF THE CRECHE

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO ALL FRIENDS OF THE CRECHE!



To all of our members and all Friends of the Creche, best wishes for

a joyous and blessed Christmas.



Though we celebrate Christmas everyday by the very nature of our society,

Christmas holds a special meaning for us. The rest of the world joins us

during this season when the birth of Christ is remembered by all manner

of customs and traditions.



To all those visitors who may be visiting our web site for the first time

during this Christmas season, a special invitation to share in the peace

and love of Christ's birth all year long as well, by becoming a member

of our organization. We would love to have you help us promote the creche

tradition into the new year and for years to come. Look over the site

and there is an application form found under membership.

New Board Member and Thank you to Fr. Tim

We would like to welcome Mr. Peter Frein of Princeton, New Jersey who is our newest board member. Peter will fill Rev. Tim Goldrick's spot. Fr. Tim recently resigned but hopes to stay involved with Friends of the Creche as time permits. Fr. Tim hosted us in Cape Cod in 2003 and was our MC in Santa Fe in 2005. We owe much to Tim for his years of service on the board including the Crib Sheet and those great blogs on the web site.