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rkr4cds Apr 26, 2009

I've heard from Steve Schutt; we're arranging for the '2010 Clarion Reunion In The Heartland' Committee to cut us out as 'middlemen' and come to this Forum themselves:
~ to present the complete program information as it's formulated,
~ answer general questions,
~ explain how the long weekend will unfold, etc....
Hopefully, this topic will become established as the go-to thread for all Clarion information.
Steve asked which bear list is going to reach the most Artists and Collectors to disseminate information efficiently: Teddy Talk is the onlyone I can think of which does both - superbly!

The 2010 Committee is a bright, (computer-savvy) new, enthusiastic group who are polishing up their city's 'Best Faces' to host 800 people from around the globe. We, as guests, could not be more welcomed if we were Royalty. (See my previous post last month about the basic idea behind this unique, once-every-5-years'-event)

From Steve, as of 25 Apr 09:
~ The sales tables for the event are currently full. 
~ The committee is taking artist names on a waiting list.
~ Please write IMMEDIATELY to be placed there, as there are usually a few last minute cancellations when accidents or Life steps into some peoples' plans.
(Bobbie: "I was #4 on the Waiting List the first time I had my opportunity to exhibit and when final payments were due in late Winter I got the call that a table was mine if I wanted it - YES! Once 'In', you're automatically In until you say No - or do something quite egregious..)
~ The collectors' informational letters and registration forms are being sent out on Tuesday of next week to those collectors who attended the 2005 Teddy Bear Reunion. (Collectors too, must show 'intent' and Register anew each Reunion, just as returning Artists do.)
~ Any collector who would like the information may request it by postal mail or by email.
~ The mailing address is Teddy Bear Reunion in the Heartland 2010, Post Office Box 382, Clarion, IA 50525. 
~ The email address is tbrh2010@yahoo.com   
~ That email address may also be used to ask questions. 
~ Each request should state if the person is an Artist or a Collector; Artists should ask to be put on the waiting list and Collectors ask for Reunion registration forms. 
~ Registration for the event is limited to 800 (Total Guests).

Four months and counting to the Auction piece deadline. I have two pieces decided upon for the Auction & the Spectacular Bear Design.... just cannot decide which one to do for which event... I'd better start needling pretty soon!!!

ScaliWagGrrs Apr 27, 2009

I got lucky and got in after your post last month. I want to give a big THANK YOU     for posting about the show and whom to contact- giving me the chance to be an artist at the show. I am so thrilled and excited that I will be a part of this show!!!!!I am deciding what to make for the auction piece and the spectacular bear as well.
Thank you Thank you Thank you!
Beth

rkr4cds Apr 27, 2009

Great news! There are some artists who will be returning for the 5th time, since the very beginning. This will be my 3rd time, as I began bear making in 1990, the same year it all began by Steve.
My request for entry was lost somehow for 1995 and I missed out but I made sure I was Wait-Listed well in advance before 2000 and I made it!

It is the most unusual venue of a whole town, the warmest reception by one's individual hosts and just a wonderful example of what middle America/the upper Midwest/small-town America has to offer.

Bear Hearts Apr 27, 2009

I've been thinking of joining in on the fun.  I decided one person too late but I'm first on the waiting list. 
This would be quite a distance for me as I'm in Las Vegas, but think it would be well worth the travels 

~Robert

ScaliWagGrrs Apr 28, 2009

Oh I hope you are able to come Robert! I would love to meet you and see your bears in the fur!
Beth

Mutz Apr 28, 2009

I am sooooo excited. I will be there too!
Amy

Bear Hearts Apr 28, 2009

Thank you very much Beth It would be great meeting you and the bears as well!
Anyone know how many days this event is?

~Robert

rkr4cds Apr 28, 2009

Yes, Robert, I do know - that is - - unless this year's committee changes it somewhat from what's been done in the past.
Most begin arriving on Thursday as classes run throughout the day on Friday. Registration is very orderly and held in the quaint old train station. Lots of goodies given and ALL of the weekend info handed out.
Classes are held throughout the town in many types of meeting rooms.
The Show is held in the High School Gym and the Spectacular Bear Display is in an elementary (middle?) school.

There are several structures for classes:
~ Mini - Hour & a half,
~ Half Day, and
~ Full Day
You can see that Minis allow you to get just a taste of This & That, or Talk Seminars (and you can fit more of this type into the day), Half Days are Make & Take Workshops and Full Days are spent working extensively on a project.

Most Teachers put a limit on the class sizes - both Min & Max - so if anyone is thinking of signing up please don't wait! It's been my personal experience that there are always Collectors who come to the room on Fri asking to take the class: I can allow a few extra students in if my half day classes haven't filled and I do bring supplies for 1 or 2 extra but I also limit the number on purpose, to give maximum amount time to each of those who signed up the year before, as per the print and website info. Taking in all of those who come to the door, for the sake of earning more in class fees, isn't courteous to my original class list - just isn't right in my mind!

If I'm remembering correctly, there is an autograph session in the High School on Friday after supper for anyone who's written a book on anything pertaining to bears—and of course the opportunity to sell them on the spot!— then we go into the Gym to stand behind our auction pieces while the Collectors view them and chat for a while before the auction begins.

The show is on Saturday, but is split into two sessions: the morning session, which closes around noon and we're all shepherded out to our own hay-baled float to ride through town in the parade (GREAT fun to be the center of attention!!) which ends at the town square, where we buy our lunch at one of the many town sponsored BBQ-type meals and wander through the Craft Fair (this Festival is held every year in Clarion: we're just part of this Festival every 5th year). There are trolleys which will transport ppl to the different stops throughout town and back to the High School for the afternoon session of the Show. The show ends late afternoon and we have our last official meal together.

On Sunday, the hosts we've stayed with have gotten together with a few other neighboring hosts and put on a buffet breakfast for about a dozen and a half of us, but every situation is different, depending on what type of accommodations you asked for and by whom you are hosted.

There is also the Spectacular Bear Display to visit, the Heartland Museum - which has been built since 2000 with some of the Reunion Funds and... well you'll have to go see it for yourselves! - and the Auction,  and most of the shops and stores in town have a teddy theme to honor us (!), and the Fireman's Pancake Breakfast and the BBQ and the Buffet at the Pizza House and the last meal under the tent and... and...

My memory plays tricks on me (and my post-surgery meds too, so I beg pardon if I've mixed this up a bit or left out any important steps) but these are what stand out most in my Happy Memories of these most shows/weekends that I/we've attended.
We all bring our hosts a special gift and—for the privilege of free housing (room & board!)—are asked to purchase at least two items in the showroom or the auction. That is a very small commitment for 3 & 1/2 days of having your food and shelter provided for, by one of the most friendly towns I've had the pleasure of working with!!! It's an ENORMOUS job for them to do, but I hope it goes on forever, as I would really love to continue to attend.

Bear Hearts Apr 29, 2009

Thanks for all that great information Bobbie!  The whole thing sounds like loads of fun!  Are there any pictures of the event from 2005?  I really hope I get to make it there!

~Robert

rkr4cds Apr 29, 2009

Ah, no, no pix from me. I didn't have either of my little pack-of-cards-size digi cameras that I do now.
I have only a rather unflattering one sent to me—of me at my heaviest, 50 lbs ago. That one stays here!)
And I needed new knees and a back and was on my own so I didn't deal well with the heat and shlepping all of my goods by myself. DH had just had his back done first. ("Aren't We A Pair" - great song, too!)
I'll be posting pix of the weekend after the  _next_ Reunion though!