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.