The RWCS election closed at midnight on June 30, 2020.
 
The election was uncontested and 242 electronic ballots and 3 paper ballots were cast.
 
The following officers were elected to the RWCS Board of Directors each for a 4-year term.
 
President Paul Wichert
Treasurer Dan Beck
Secretary Angela Shefveland
Education Manager David Hoffman
Commemorative Manager Bob Morawski
Auction Manager Dave Huisman
 
Congratulations to these board members.
 
The RWCS Board of Directors extends its sincere thanks to outgoing Board Member Bruce Selfridge for his tenure as Auction Manager.

The June issue of the RWCS Newsletter is now available on the RWCS website along with the classifieds!

The paper copy is mailing today, so watch your mailboxes!

Newsletter
https://www.redwingcollectors.org/category/members-only/newsletters-members-only

Classifieds

https://www.redwingcollectors.org/classifieds

In an effort to reduce costs due to convention cancellation, beginning Monday, June 22nd through Friday, July 26^th, the RWCS office will only be open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The office will continue to operate remotely during this time.

Due to reduced hours, we prefer that you contact us via email or text.  Our email address is director@redwingcollectors.org and our text number is 651-388-4004.   We will respond during our new business hours. We realize that sometimes phone calls are necessary, so the RWCS phone will be manned on Tuesdays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. 

Members may renew their memberships and order commemoratives, coronavirus jugs, and buttons via our website. Log in with your membership number and password:

https://www.redwingcollectors.org/members/shop/review

Passwords:

When logging into the RWCS website, you do not need to use the leading 0’s on your membership number. If you don’t know your membership number and/or password please email or text the office. Members can reset their passwords on the RWCS website, but you must provide the email address we have on record.

Commemorative, Jug, and Button Order reminder:

The commemorative will be unveiled via our website, social media, and emailed to members on Thursday, July 9^th.

Members will have until Midnight on Saturday, July 11^th to order their commemoratives, coronavirus jugs, and buttons.

2020 Convention Button – $8

Members may now order the 2020 Convention Button on the RWCS website. Cost is $8.00 each, includes mailing, and members may order as many as they wish.

Thank you to the RWCS Gopher Chapter for providing the button and donating all the proceeds to the RWCS!
 
Get your button today!

RED WING COLLECTORS SOCIETY CANCELS 2020 SUMMER CONVENTION

RED WING, MN – Last night, the RWCS Board of Directors made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 RWCS Annual Convention scheduled for July 9-11 in Red Wing, MN.

The top priority of our organization is to ensure the safety and health of our membership and the Red Wing community that our members love so dearly. While this is difficult, the RWCS Board and membership are already looking forward to coming back strong for the 44^th RWCS Convention, July 8-10, 2021.

“We really hoped that we would be able to hold Convention, but unfortunately the timing is not in our favor, and a decision had to be made,” said RWCS President Paul Wichert. “There is too much to overcome from a logistical standpoint to adhere to social distancing guidelines and keep our members safe.”

The RWCS wishes to thank all of its sponsors that committed early this year including Xcel Energy, Red Wing Brewery, Red Wing Shoes, First State Bank Red Wing, Musty Barnhart Services, Stockholm Pie Plate Café’ & General Store, Red Wing Framing & Fine Art Printing, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Red Wing, Larry’s Jugs Antique, Hanisch Bakery & Coffee Shop, Siouxland Chapter and Rowe Pottery.  Together with all the businesses that have donated door prizes and supported the RWCS, we look forward to joining together to have an extra special  Convention in 2021.

The RWCS also appreciates the strong support of its membership. Thank you to all the members who are renewing their memberships, purchasing Commemoratives and Anti-Coronavirus League mini jugs, and making cash donations to help support the RWCS.

The 2020 Convention Commemoratives are still in production at Rowe Pottery. It has long been the tradition of the RWCS that the Commemorative is unveiled on the first day of the Convention. In keeping with this tradition, we will share the Commemorative on Thursday, July 9. Please watch our website, social media, and e-mail! RWCS Members and anyone who joins the club in the coming weeks can continue to order Commemoratives and Anti-Coronavirus League mini jugs until Saturday, July 11.

Planning is already underway for the RWCS 2021 Convention which will be July 8-10 in Red Wing, MN. We look forward to seeing all the collectors! For more information contact Stacy Wegner, Executive Director, Red Wing Collectors Society at 651-388-4004 or email director@redwingcollectors.org.

Update on the RWCS 2020 Convention
May 5, 2020, from the RWCS Board of Directors

The Red Wing Collectors Society has heard from both members and non-members on the status of the 2020 RWCS Convention. The RWCS Board met this past week and agreed to continue our plans for our July Convention. 

So there is no change to our plans as detailed in the April newsletter and an email we sent to each current member in April.  Non-members, of course, didn’t receive these.  We invite them to join the RWCS so they will be in the loop rather than passing on rumors that they heard from a ‘friend of a friend’.

Local, state, and federal regulations may cause the convention to get postponed, but until you hear otherwise from this board, we continue to plan for our July convention with the expectation that it will be held.  We know that the format will change to accommodate social distancing and other regulations that may be in place at that time. 

We appreciate all the members who are supporting the RWCS during this time through renewing their memberships, purchasing commemoratives and the coronavirus jug, and continuing to register for Convention.  Special thanks to the many of our members who have made cash donations to help support the RWCS. 

If plans for the convention change, the Board will communicate that with our members via email, our website and Facebook page, and newsletter.

Stay Safe,

Paul Wichert, President
Russa Robinson, Vice President
Angela Shefveland, Secretary
Dan Beck, Treasurer
Nancy Lambert, Historian
Diana Bailey, Rep at Large
Richard Natynski, Rep at Large
Bruce Selfridge, Auction Manager
Bob Morawski, Commemorative Manager
David Hoffman, Education Manager

For Immediate Release

RWCS to Expand 2020 Commemorative Sales before Convention

Red Wing, Minn.: The RWCS Board continues to plan for the 2020 Convention. We also realize that government regulations may prohibit holding the convention – the health and safety of our members are of most importance.

We want each member of the RWCS to have an opportunity to purchase the 2020 Convention Commemorative and also have access to the lottery, so we are expanding commemorative sales! These new items below are in addition to the regular commemorative orders.

NEW FOR  2020!
We are now offering to each member (Primary & Associate) the opportunity to purchase Lottery Pieces plus a Set of ALL THREE VERSIONS! Shipping Included!

Set of all THREE Commemorative Versions A, B, C!   $199 per set
(limit two sets per member primary & associate)

Many members have shared in the past that they would like the opportunity to purchase all three versions (ABC). We are adding this option for the 2020 Commemorative with a limit of 2 sets per member (Primary & Associate).

Lottery Pieces             $67
(limit one per member primary & associate)

For the 2020 RWCS Convention, each member (Primary & Associate) will be able to purchase ONE lottery commemorative before the convention.

2020 Accessory Update
The RWCS was unable to identify an accessory piece to compliment the 2020 Commemorative. Instead of an accessory piece for 2020, we are excited to offer:

NEW! Anti-Coronavirus League Jug^TM   $69
(limit one per member primary and associate)

A portion of our proceeds will go to appropriate health organizations directly fighting COVID 19.

This is available to all Primary and Associate members who purchase a 2020 Commemorative piece or set.

History Behind the Piece! This hand-turned jug is a replica of the 1918 Anti-Flu League Jug made by Red Wing Stoneware in response to the outbreak of the Spanish Flu.  Learn more about the history of this jug via our Flu League Article .

Commemorative Distribution Update
The commemorative order form that was mailed in February only gave the option for one commemorative (pick up or mail) to each primary and associate member. Note that we have since changed the online registration to only allow for mail order. Due to production delays caused by the outbreak, Rowe Pottery may not be able to finish the commemoratives in time for Convention if it’s still held. For that reason, all orders will be fulfilled by mail this year. In addition, an accessory piece will not be produced in 2020. Also, we have added a “donate to the RWCS” bucket on the Convention registration form. Please consider making a donation to the RWCS.

Members who have previously ordered the accessory this year may apply the amount of purchase to:

• These new products
• Donate to the RWCS or receive a refund.
• Please contact the office to update your order.

Thank you to all the members who have already registered for Convention! We are still encouraging members to:

• Register for Convention 
• Submit to the Auction
• Sign up for Display
• Volunteer
• Book your Sellers’ Tables 
• Pre-pay for an Auction Catalog
• Buy your Pottery Museum of Red Wing Wine-ing Tickets

If Convention is canceled, registration, sellers’ tables, auction catalogs, and banquet fees members may choose to donate them to the RWCS or be refunded.  Pottery Museum of Red Wing Wine-ing tickets will also be refunded or members may choose to donate those funds to the museum.

If you have questions or would like to make changes to your current order please contact the Executive Director, Stacy Wegner during office hours Monday – Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm CST 651-388-4004 or swegner@redwingcollectors.org

Red Wing, MN – A lot of spectacular pieces have crossed the block at the Red Wing Collectors Society (RWCS) Convention Auction since the club was founded in 1977, but none had ever reached the $20,000 mark until this year.

Decorated with a cobalt butterfly and stamped “Red Wing Stoneware Company” on the front, a 10 gallon Red Wing salt glaze water cooler sold for $21,500 – the highest price ever paid for a piece at the club’s Convention Auction. At $4,000, a striking 1 gallon blue-sponged ‘Lunch Hour’ beehive jug with the name “L.L. Stromberg” stenciled on the front was a distant runner-up in the July 11 auction, which totaled $87,500 in total sales.

Other big news coming out of the 43^rd Annual RWCS Convention, which attracted nearly 1,000 visitors to Red Wing, MN during the week of July 8, was the induction of two couples into the RWCS Hall of Fame during the club’s annual business meeting on Friday, July 12. Longtime RWCS members Steve & Barb Brown, and Bonnie Hutchson and her late husband, David, were recognized for all the time, knowledge and passion they’ve shared with the RWCS, fellow collectors and the Pottery Museum of Red Wing in their pursuits to preserve the history of Red Wing’s clay industry.

The Convention also featured a tastefully decorated display room, a miniature commemorative spittoon and a solid educational lineup with a dozen different speakers presenting on a wide range of topics including Red Wing bowls, stoneware patents, Red Wing’s ‘Anniversary Line’ of dinnerware, collecting on a budget, Red Wing’s early marketing efforts, finds from the Red Wing pottery dump and identifying repaired items and fakes. The Pottery Museum of Red Wing also held its annual “Wine-ing” for Red Wing fundraiser and the grand opening of its new “Red Wing Saloon” exhibit, which will be on display until the end of the year when a Prohibition exhibit will take its place.

Another fun aspect of the RWCS Convention is the participation of the younger generation through the KidsView and Young Collectors programs. The focus on these RWCS members is an important part of the vision of the Society to ensure its continued existence and growth. More than 20 kids and young adults participated in the interactive and educational activities this year, which included a trip to visit the Goodhue County Historical Society Museum’s 150^th Anniversary exhibit, bidding at the annual KidsView auction and several hands-on pottery creation projects at Red Wing Art Reach. The final day of Convention Week featured the RWCS Show & Sale on Saturday, July 13, followed by the RWCS Banquet later in the evening.

The RWCS wishes to thank this year’s Convention sponsors: Red Wing Shoes, Larry’s Jugs Antiques, Red Wing Brewery, Red Wing Stoneware Co., Stockholm Pie Plate Cafe’ & General Store, Red Wing Framing & Fine Art Printing, Musty Barnhart Agency, Xcel Energy and First State Bank of Red Wing.

The next RWCS event is its Annual MidWinter GetTogether, which will be held at the Isle Hotel & Casino in Bettendorf, IA from Feb. 28 to Mar. 1. Visit the club’s website for more information.

Annual membership in the Red Wing Collectors Society also costs $35 and includes five full-color newsletters mailed to your home throughout the year. The RWCS was founded in 1977 in Red Wing and there are more than 3,000 members worldwide. For more information or to become a member, call the RWCS business office at 651-388-4004, e-mail membership@redwingcollectors.org or log on to www.redwingcollectors.org. You can also join the RWCS on Facebook and follow it on Twitter at @RWCollectors.

Red Wing, MN – “It is indeed a sad time for Red Wing, the state of Minnesota and the pottery industry as a whole,” says Red Wing Collectors Society President Paul Wichert, in reaction to Red Wing Stoneware’s Aug. 26 announcement that it will shut down its industrial operations. 

The Red Wing Collectors Society commissioned Red Wing Stoneware to produce its annual Convention commemorative several times during the club’s history, which extends back to 1977. In fact, the RWCS once again commissioned Red Wing Stoneware to produce its commemorative in 2019.

“Our organization’s members were very happy with the quality of this year’s commemorative, which is a replica of a toy spittoon,” says RWCS Executive Director Stacy Wegner. “In addition, Red Wing Stoneware made our special commemoratives – 19 Red Wing Sewer Pipe salesman sample replicas awarded to the winners of drawings, silent auctions and displays.”

The club also commissioned Red Wing Stoneware to produce some fundraising versions of its commemorative. Along with the commemorative, they were a highlight of the event, which took place back in July. Red Wing Stoneware was also a valued sponsor of the RWCS Convention this year.

“We appreciated their support to expand the Convention program and activities for our members,” Wegner notes. “The RWCS Board and members are saddened to hear of the ceasing of production.”

“Red Wing Stoneware was a big part of the legacy of Red Wing’s iconic pottery industry,” Wichert adds. “Their commitment to keeping the pottery history alive in Red Wing through their unique products will be a loss to the community, as well as to collectors.”

The RWCS was founded in 1977 in Red Wing and there are more than 3,000 members worldwide. For more information or to become a member, call the RWCS business office at 651-388-4004, e-mail membership@redwingcollectors.org or log on to www.redwingcollectors.org. You can also join the RWCS on Facebook and follow it on Twitter at @RWCollectors. Annual membership in the Red Wing Collectors Society also costs $35 and includes five full-color newsletters mailed to your home throughout the year.

Red Wing, Minn.- At the Red Wing Collectors Society Annual Business Meeting held on July 12 in conjunction with their 43rd Annual Convention to local Red Wing area couples were inducted into the organizations Hall of Fame.

The Red Wing Collectors Society Hall of Fame was established in 1991 to recognize individuals who have made a major positive impact in the collecting, preservation, and/or education about Red Wing stoneware, pottery, and dinnerware. There have been only 27 recipients previously inducted into the RWCS Hall of Fame.

Steve and Barb Brown with their presenter Cathy Wurzer. Photo courtesy of David La Haye.

 Four new recipients of this prestigious award were recognized during this year’s Convention during the annual meeting of the Collectors Society on Friday, July 12. They are Steven and Barbara Brown and David (posthumously) and Bonnie Hutchson.

Steve and Barb Brown, Red Wing, Minnesota, have generously shared information about the pottery manufacturing companies of Red Wing and organized projects and displays to preserve that information. They have also shared information about their particular passion for Red Wing Oddities, lunch hour pieces and rare examples of pottery made in Red Wing. They both served on the Pottery Museum Foundation Board of Directors a combined 22 years and Steve was the historian of the RWCS for 16 years among many other volunteer positions they have both held.

Bonnie Hutchson accepting the Hall of Fame plaque from her presenter Dian Hallstrom. Photo courtesy of Betsy Moenkedick

David and Bonnie Hutchson, Lake City, Minnesota, made a significant contribution to the preservation of historical information when they rescued, preserved and then donated an irreplaceable archive of historical catalogs, documents, molds, and rare pottery pieces to the Pottery Museum of Red Wing. Dave and Bonnie were mold makers alongside Dave’s father, Teddy, who was the last employee at Red Wing Potteries in 1967 when it closed. Without these artifacts and their first-hand knowledge, valuable information would have been lost. Dave spent many days volunteering at the Pottery Museum as a tour guide and shared detailed information to visitors about the mold making process and manufacturing of pottery wares.

The Red Wing Collectors Society is delighted to welcome Steve and Barb Brown and Dave and Bonnie Hutchson into the RWCS Hall of Fame.

Below is the information that was included in their presentation plaques.

Steven and Barbara Brown – 2019

Steven P. and Barbara J. Brown of Red Wing, Minnesota, Red Wing Collectors Society member numbers 1037 and 1056, have made significant contributions to the Red Wing Collectors Society, Steve and Barb are hereby inducted into the Red Wing Collectors Society Hall of Fame this 12^th day of July, 2019 in recognition of these lifetime achievements:

• Active RWCS members since 1979 and 1995 respectively
• RWCS Board of Directors – Steve Publicity Committee Chair 1990-1991 and Historian 1998-2014
• RWCS Convention Display Committee Chairperson – Barb 2001& 2002
• RWCS 25^th Anniversary Planning Committee 2000 – 2002 – Both
• RWCS Newsletter contributors and RWCS Convention Educational Seminar presenters and KidsView volunteers
• Steve was a founding Board member of the RWCS Foundation and served on the Board as Historian 2000-2014
• Barb served as an RWCS Foundation Board member 2005-2015, serving as Secretary 2007-2015
• Barb served on the “Wine-ing for Red Wing” Fundraiser for the Pottery Museum of Red Wing
• Both have presented Educational seminars in support of the Pottery Museum of Red Wing

Steve and Barb have also significantly contributed to the preservation of historical information about the pottery manufacturing companies of Red Wing, Minnesota. Steve was instrumental in organizing an extensive oral history project, capturing memories and recollections of past pottery employees, relatives, and friends. This joint venture with the Goodhue County History Center was completed in 2003. Steve also completed the arrangements for the Pottery Museum of Red Wing to be gifted the Revoir Red Wing Pottery industry photographic collection.  Steve organized special displays during the convention to provide additional educational benefit to RWCS Convention attendees. Both Steve and Barb have generously shared information about their particular passion for Red Wing Oddities, lunch hour pieces and rare examples of pottery made in Red Wing. They have both volunteered many times as tour guides at the Pottery Museum. The RWCS is delighted to welcome both Steve and Barbara Brown into the RWCS Hall of Fame.

David (posthumously) and Bonnie Hutchson – 2019

David and Bonnie Hutchson of Lake City, Minnesota, Red Wing Collectors Society Members #15078, have made significant contributions to the Red Wing Collectors Society. David and Bonnie are hereby inducted into the Red Wing Collectors Society Hall of Fame this 12^th day of July, 2019 in recognition of these lifetime achievements:

• Joined the RWCS in 1979
• Dave produced the 1980 RWCS Commemorative using remaining Red Wing Potteries Clay
• Dave and Bonnie preserved Red Wing Potteries artifacts that are now part of the permanent collection of the Pottery Museum of Red Wing
• Dave and Bonnie presented Educational Seminars in 2006
• Dave served on the RWCS Foundation Board of Directors 2005-2007
• Dave volunteered at the Pottery Museum of Red Wing

David and Bonnie have contributed significantly to the preservation of historical information about the pottery manufacturing in Red Wing, Minnesota. Dave and Bonnie were mold makers alongside Dave’s father, Teddy, who was the last employee at Red Wing Potteries in 1967 when it closed. David and Bonnie kept records, molds, and artifacts from the Potteries safe for many years until they donated all of it to the RWCS Foundation. The Pottery Museum also holds an irreplaceable archive of historical catalogs, documents and rare pottery pieces thanks to David and Bonnie. Without these artifacts and their first-hand knowledge, valuable information would have been lost. David spent many days volunteering at the Pottery Museum as a tour guide and shared detailed information to visitors about the mold making process and manufacturing of pottery wares. The RWCS is delighted to welcome both Dave and Bonnie Hutchson into the RWCS Hall of Fame.