The End of the Line MAVG

Ruth C. Buerkle

 As our plane circled low over the Norfolk airport, I was smitten by the flowering dogwood and brilliant azaleas dotting the spring foliage. It was a bright, crisp mid-afternoon in April (never mind that enroute I sat on the Chicago tarmac in a snowstorm for seven hours), and I was on my way to the final Mid-Atlantic Village Gathering in Portsmouth a few miles up the road at the Renaissance hotel perched at the edge of the busy Elizabeth River. Nearby shipyards repaired a steady flow of ships gliding silently past our windows, and the hotel was welcoming eager collectors to their rooms.  This was the final MAVG Gathering, a bittersweet finale to the many years of fun, boisterous affection, treasure seeking in the marketplace, sharing and basking in the camaraderie of fellow collectors.

 This final MAVG Gathering was even more special as it was dedicated to my sister, Grace Williamson. With over 500 attendees, it was also the first Gathering that I attended without Grace and I missed her. The program book carried her photograph with a sketch titled, “Thanks for the Memories!” Having attended all of the MAVG Gatherings but one, Grace passed away Thanksgiving Day before she could attend this last one, and would have been touched by Jan Cooke’s eulogy at the Saturday night banquet. Following the charity auction Jan announced that all proceeds were donated in Grace’s name to the “Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes,” an honor that would have delighted this former military wife. The final proceeds came to a whopping $11,058.

 From that first Williamsburg MAVG in 1994 when be-wigged Jack Skeels greeted us in Williamsburg finery, and ladies in Colonial dress set the spirit and tone of the Gathering, each year’s fun-filled affair was planned by club members from The Annapolis Villagers and SEVA and NCAVCC who created special memories for all of us. The first pin and logo was the charming figure, “The Patriot” who over the years was joined by the Colonial lady, the young maiden, the young girl and the boy-with-the- hoop as avid collectors scooped them up. This year’s toy soldier completed the set as the theme of the Gathering was “Toyland” and “End of the Line.” A delightful, sad faced little caboose dated 2007 was the final pin. Thank goodness they were available for us to buy, along with the toy soldier event piece and goody bag. 

 With so much to do at this 8^th MAVG it was difficult to scramble to the next activity. Thursday offered two tall ship cruises on a 19^th century cargo schooner sailing the waters of Hampton Roads from its historic harbor. That night there was Bingo with endless prizes for a crowded room of players, and Friday morning’s opening ceremonies presented each guest with a little toy soldier pin.  There were wonderful non-stop seminars for two days where one could learn from Vern Schwieterman how to carve with hotwire, or from Jim Murphy how to make little stairs and switchbacks for different levels of the village, or from Vince Aiello how to make walls and bridges from foam board, or from Esme Gibson how to take perfect photographs every time. Jill Rindfuss educated us on inventorying and insuring our villages and a secondary market panel led by Art Brownell enlightened us on that mysterious secondary field, while J D Robb held train enthusiasts enthralled. There were Make-and Takes in the amphitheater and fantastic wreaths raffled for charity.  NCC president, Bob Obenland, showed us what clubs can do to sparkle up their meetings and entice new members while demonstrating club activities and fun games. Melinda Seegers’ seminar introduced Department 56’s new Vice President of Design and Marketing, Sue Azar, who was pleased, although a bit overwhelmed, to attend her first Gathering, and everyone was so glad to see Judith and Tony Price as guests for the weekend. There were prizes and drawings non-stop, and if one had a moment one could peek in and watch the behind-the-scenes treasurer, Donna Rhodes, deep into figures -- or bump into Sheila Sobczyk on her endless rounds as fixer, or Brenda Montgomery who knew everyone’s registration date and plans.  We very much missed Jean Pruden who was ill at the last moment after working all year.  She and Dick are MAVG mainstays, and Pete and Trudi Baer, MAVG president and event chair person were everywhere, along with a raft of volunteers who welcomed us at every turn.   

 This year’s marketplace took up the whole room – with many offering wonderful craft and mini pieces for our villages: pewter figures, flowers, foliage, figurines, animals, ships, something for everyone. Many of the village houses had low prices.  Outside the marketplace a long row of Round Robin demonstrators showed us how to make Christmas bows or wonderful but simple trees from our own backyard plants, or complement a building display by using associated props from our home. Another room was setup with a model train display spread out on the floor by the Tidewater Big Train operators’ Club. The NCC room was close to everything and offered cold drinks, delicious cake, comfortable tables and chairs – along with a charming NCC display contest won by Ethel Campbell of the Four States Village People. There was a great fifteen year collection display of NCC pins for our perusal. The Gathering’s hospitality room on the 9^th floor had cold drinks, snacks and plenty of space to relax, eat and visit. Norma Damico fished steadily from her basket of goodies and we all won prizes. Ben Owen served refreshments and later took a break by singing happy birthday at the banquet to a celebrating couple. On Friday night, the Toyland games had lines of fun-lovers tossing hoops or balls or pins to hit their mark, using plastic candy canes for miniature golf and geckos for tic-tac-toe. A noisy, fun-filled room! The scavenger hunt lasted all weekend and room hopping was enthusiastically, sometimes noisily attended following the Saturday night banquet.

 While catching up on old friendships and visiting late into the night was a happy priority, the display contest was a major hit of the Gathering. Here creativity overflowed, making it almost impossible to select winners. Word descriptions are inadequate and hopefully enough photographs are displayed on the many club websites to show all of us the more than twenty five remarkable displays set up in the contest room. Vern and Judy Schwieterman’s black Styrofoam cat, Pat Ehrenreich’s figurines and Trudi Baer’s Toyland were all first place winners in their category, with John Ehrenreich’s Toy Chest winning the People’s Choice Award. They were splendid . . . but gosh, so were the British Royal Tradition and the English countryside, and the globe snowman with the top hat by the lamp post, and………..you’ll just have to go look and struggle with your own selections!!  Try their Website www.mavg.org

 Following Sunday’s breakfast there were hugs and farewells and lumps in throats – as collectors reluctantly lingered in the lobby and held onto the last minute. A farewell bus tour was held that toured downtown Norfolk and stopped at the World’s Largest Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia, the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial, Trinity Episcopal Church along with Portsmouth’s docks and its charming, historic city. Grace would have just loved the whole weekend, as I did – and we salute the dedicated collectors who gave us eight years of great Mid-Atlantic Village Gatherings -- from the Williamsburg and Reston years to the final Portsmouth year. Warm thanks to all of you and rest happily on your laurels!!!