FENTON FINDERS OF GREATER KANSAS CITY

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1 FENTON FINDERS OF GREATER KANSAS CITY Did everyone have a very Merry Fenton Christmas? Check out last page for more. 1

2 The meeting of the Fenton Finders of Greater Kansas City will be SATURDAY, February 11, 2012 at the Raytown City Hall, E. 59th, Raytown, Missouri. The meeting will start at 7:00 P.M. Hope all of you have had a great holiday and happy New Year. We are planning on having a great year in Kansas City with lots of fun planned for the Gala and for collecting more Fenton in The national clubs have some great things planned already. NFGS has found Robert Barber alive and well in California and will have him for a special guest this fall. How great is that? More on that later. The Butterflynet has a new editor and a new look. I think everyone is excited about the wonderful look to the new newsletters that we have been getting. The pictures are wonderful and they are looking for people to contribute to the newsletter. If you are considering helping them out don't forget this little publication, we can always use some new articles to add to the education as well as the enjoyment of our members. We have some news about Fenton. It looks like they may be opening up as a warehouse and distribution center with NewBoden Brands. The product line will start with an introduction of a line of Hummel branded stained glass. In reading the article it does not sound like Fenton will be producing any glass but it will be providing some much needed jobs in the area of Williamstown. Fenton Art Glass and NewBoden Brands Announce Strategic Partnership Fenton Art Glass is pleased to announce the formation of a strategic partnership with NewBoden Brands LLC, which is owned and managed by two industry veterans, Charles Harley and Ken LeFevre. Williamstown, WV (PRWEB) January 04, 2012 Fenton Art Glass is pleased to announce the formation of a strategic partnership with NewBoden Brands LLG, which is owned and managed by two industry veterans, Charles Harley and Ken LeFevre. Chuck & Ken are each 30-year veterans in the Gifts and Collectibles industry, experienced product developers and talented brand managers. With NewBoden Brands handling new product development, Fenton Art Glass will co-manage warehousing, distribution and customer service of NewBoden's expanding lines of classic giftware. National sales beginning with a line of Hummel branded stained glass will be coordinated through the Alliance Sales Team. The partnership's first product introduction is a line of stained-glass giftware based on an updated treatment of the classic art by German artist Sister Mi. Hummel. The end result is a refreshing expression of color and light seldom seen in this time-honored billion-dollar brand. Suggested retail prices will start around $15.00 and range to $

3 About Fenton Art Glass: Founded in 1905 by brothers Frank L. and John W. Fenton, the Fenton Art Glass Company ranks among the world's foremost producers of handmade art glass. Fenton is renowned for innovative glass colors, handpainted decorations and made in America beads. About NewBoden Brands: NewBoden, LLC, exclusive North American Ml Hummel Agent for Ars AG, Switzerland, the exclusive licensee for M.I. Hummel two-dimensional products since 1932, About M.I. Hummel: Sister Mi. (Berta) Hummel ( ) was a world renowned children's artist from Germany whose Franciscan message of "Peace, goodness and the sanctity of childhood" remains timeless. Best known for her Hummel figurines until now, NewBoden Brands and Ars AG, Switzerland, are once again spreading the timeless Hummel message through her art on popular products for everyday use. There was also an article in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel newspaper reporting that the Fenton family has offered the site of their factory as the site of a new grade school. The city would have to pay the back taxes and do a lot of studies on the ground to see if it is safe to build a school on the site where all the chemicals that Fenton used in manufacturing glass. Here is a short excerpt from the news item. If you want to read more go to the website in the heading. Fenton eyed as possible site for new school By MiCHAEL ERB; (merb@newsandsentinel.com). Parkersburg News and Sentinel WILLIAMSTOWN - Fenton Art Glass has been suggested as a possible site for a new Williamstown Elementary School. During a discussion of the elementary school at Tuesday's Wood County Board of Education meeting, board President Tad Wilson said he had recently been approached by members of the Fenton family about the school district using the 7-acre factory site in Williamstown. Sue Woodward, assistant superintendent of school services, said the family had suggested the factory could be torn down to make way for a new school, but said some strings and many questions would surround the deal. We will have to wait and see what happens with this and with the partnership. We can only hope that something positive comes from this. 3

4 There is also some personal news on some of our local members. It is with sadness that I report that Eric Livengood's mother, Juanita June Wagner Livengood White pass away Thursday, Jan. 26th. Please let Eric and Joy know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. Janet Wilke, our wonderful treasurer, had to spend some time in the hospital over the holidays. This is never good. The last word I had was that she is home and feeling better. Please let her know that we are concern about her and hope that she has made a full recovery. Virginia Olds who along with her very entertaining spouse ran the hospitality room in 2010 is doing much better. She has been having health problems for the last few years and was unable to attend the Gala last year but from what she said at the Christmas dinner she is doing a lot better. And speaking of the Christmas dinner, we had a good turnout, the weather was great as it has been for the last month and continues to be wonderful. There was a lot of good food and fun with the prize boxes changing hands often until they found homes with a couple of happy members. And of course there was one unlucky member who took home a broken piece of Fenton. Oh well at least we all had fun. And now more about Robert Barber; this was reproduced with the permission of NFGS from the article in their newsletter about Robert Barber. The Bring Robert Back Fund From the NFGS Newsletter NFGS has been successful in locating Robert, Barber. Mr. Barber is looking forward to meeting the NFGS members at the 2012 NFGS Convention in July. So, they are turning to the NFGS membership to underwrite the expenses of transportation and housing for Robert during the 2012 Convention. They need your help in making donations to this Bring Robert Bank fund, which will cover Robert's above mentioned expenses. The money cannot come out of the NFGS annual budget, and so NFGS turns to you, their generous and supportive donor members. Some have already stepped forward with pledges toward defraying this cost and aiding in making this memorable event happen. Would you be willing to support Robert Barber's return to West Virginia and Fenton? If so, please mail all checks to the NFGS office (PO Box 4008, Marietta, OH 45750). Any donation, large or small, will be greatly appreciated. Thank you from NFGS 4

5 This is a wonderful chance for all of us to meet the designer of some of the most wonderful glass Fenton produced. It is exciting and something that none of us thought would happen. So if you plan to be in West Virginia for the national conventions please help NFTS bring Robert Barber back to Parkersburg so that we can learn more about him and his art. We have also had word of a new book on glass that our members may be interested in. Here is a little information on the book and the author. Dean Six, who is the Director of the Museum of American Glass in West Virginia has just published a book titled West Virginia Glass towns. It has taken 20 years to gather the information and photos for this book. At nearly 200 pages and filled with hundreds of images, this is the first-ever look at the expansive glass industry in this state. Over 450 companies and locations have produced hot glass since the first glass production in Wellsburg in the second decade of the 19th Century. West Virginia Glass Towns provides a town-by-town list of the glass producing concerns giving dates and product lines, and then offers a plethora of photos of glass factories, glass workers, maps, advertisements and much more. The book is a richly textured history using period images to tell the story of what has been a significant industry in West Virginia, an industry that employed tens of thousands of men and women over the nearly two centuries of its activity. This monumental document is the first look at this diverse, longlived and major employer in the state of West Virginia. The book retails for $29.95 and can be found at local bookstores, or through the West Virginia Book Company at It sounds like a great addition to any glass collector's library. It s that time of year again. Here is your new roster. If you have renewed your membership, thank you. If you have not, please do. Whichever way you decide we thank you for your interest in our club and our activities. Please check your information to make sure that I did not make a mistake or if something needs to be updated. Thanks. 5

6 And now for a few short words from Bernie Johnson on the auction glass for the Gala. As of January 20th, all 240 available auction spots were reserved. Of those, 94 pieces have been listed and I have the pictures to go with 64 of them. We are 27% done with the auction list. Don't let yourself be in last place. The last one to get their list and pictures to Bernie will receive a special something at the Gala. Be confident it won't have much financial value See you on the 11 th. Take care. Knowing Bernie, I don't think that I would want to be the last person to get my list and pictures to him! To those of you who have completed the list and the pictures, thank you. To everyone else - please get your pictures and list to Bernie as soon as you can. You have until May first but please remember if you are last you may get a gift in September that will surprise you. Our next meeting will be a group program on - you guessed it; a program for our wonder gifts of Fenton glass that we got for Christmas. If you received a wonderful piece of glass for Christmas or maybe two or three pieces of glass please try to bring them to the meeting to share with our other members. These do not have to be gifts from other people. They could be gifts from yourself to yourself. Aren't those the best? It should be a wonderful show and tell program. Dan and Claudia Hegweld is bringing the goodies for us to snack on Saturday. So please plan on joining us for the meeting and keep safe. Jackie Oglesby, Secretary 6