RWCS Facebook Chapter awarded the RWCS Little Brown Jug of Membership. Since 2007, the RWCS recognizes a Chapters efforts to grow the membership of the RWCS.

The RWCS Facebook Chapter, a group on Facebook, was started by the organizations Executive Director. The drive of the current chapter officers including Chris Tinscher and Yoshi Hoffman have brought double digit new members to the RWCS this past year. The Chapter is made up of people from all over talking about Red Wing made pottery and stoneware.

Congradulations to the RWCS Facebook Chapter! Join them today! All members are welcome to join the 24 hours a day Red Wing collector discussion.

The slate is clean Chapters!

Here is more information on the Little Brown Jug of Membership:

What is it?
Like its namesake, the Little Brown Jug rivalry between the Universities of Minnesota and Michigan, the Little Brown Jug of Membership is an annual traveling trophy. The Membership jug is a way to acknowledge the recruiting efforts of our Chapters. The Chapter that recruits the most new members in one year to the RWCS is awarded the jug.

When did it begin?
The RWCS launched the Little Brown Jug of Membership in 2007 during the RWCS’s 30^th Anniversary Celebration. The concept was developed by RWCS Executive Director, Stacy Wegner.

Who made the jug?
The Albany slip jug has a North Star mark on the bottom and is hand decorated with “FILLING THE JUG ONE MEMBER AT A TIME” on the front with a Red Wing and “LITTLE BROWN JUG OF MEMBERSHIP” on the back. The design and creation of the jug was done by RWCS member Aarika Floyd in 2007.

How is the data gathered?
When a new member joins they are asked how they heard about the organization and that is indicated in the field provided in the Online Membership System. The information is included on the new member report.

What is the source of New Member report?
Each year the Red Wing Collectors Society Executive Director will generate a new membership report. The list is comprised of new members from July 1 of the prior year through June 30^th of the current year.

Who decides the winner of the Jug?
The New Member Report is given to the RWCS Representatives at Large. The Reps at Large will review the list with the Chapter Presidents at their annual meeting during the Convention. Following the meeting, the Reps will decide the jug winner.

What if there is a tie?
In the event of a tie, the Chapters will split the jug possession during the year. Depending on the location of the Chapters it can be transferred at a Chapter meeting or at MidWinter.

When is the Chapter announced?
The formal presentation is at the Annual Business Meeting held during the official RWCS Annual Convention in Red Wing, MN.

Who announces the winning Chapter?
The Representatives at Large report the winner to the Executive Director who presents the jug at the RWCS Annual Business Meeting.

How are the winners recognized on the jug?
The winning Chapter(s) will affix their Chapter logo decal/sticker and the year on the Jug. The jug will be returned to the RWCS Executive Director the following convention in its bag.

How does a Chapter participate?
All Chapters are automatically included each year. They simply need to encourage the new member to indicate them as their recruiter. If an individual Chapter member is named they are counted in the Chapter total.

Chapter Winners

2007                   INTRODUCTION
2007 – 2008        Nebraska Chapter
2008 – 2009       Gopher Chapter
2009 – 2010       Trails West Chapter
2010 – 2011        Trails West Chapter
2011 – 2012        Iowa Chapter
2012 – 2013        Iowa Chapter
2013 – 2014        Golden State Chapter
2014 – 2015        Cannon Valley Chapter & Gopher Chapter
2015 – 2016       Wisconsin Chapter & Badger Chapter
2016- 2017         RWCS Facebook Chapter

Red Wing, MN – This year the RWCS held its convention in a new location Minnesota State College Southeast in Red Wing. The article below and photos were reported in the August 2017 Issue of the RWCS Newsletter.

You can also download the PDF of the newsletter page as well.

If you are interested in display for the 2018 Covnention please contact display chair Tyler Green. He can be reached at 605-251-9944 or email at display@redwingcollectors.org

Red Wing, Minn – Happy 40th Anniversary, fellow Red Wing Collectors! Be sure to attend this year’s Convention in Red Wing July 6-8. We will kick off the anniversary celebration on Thursday, July 6 with a very special panel of collectors who will present this year’s keynote address, sharing some personal and fun experiences as members of RWCS. We will also honor the RWCS charter members in attendance followed by a fun anniversary get-together in the Minnesota State College Southeast commons area at NOON. Don’t miss the Friday evening Crock Hop in Potters Hall at the Pottery Museum from 5 to 6:30 p.m.Traditional root beer floats and refreshments will be served along with a visit from Doc and Marty. A “Back in Time Scavenger Hunt” in the museum along with door prizes at “Lou’s Café” will be too fun to miss!

Don’t forget to order the special anniversary tile on your Convention registration form – they are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be mailed to your home.

Official RWCS Convention T-shirt  – Order by June 6
Celebrate the RWCS 40th Anniversary in style with your very own “Back to the Future” RWCS Convention T-shirt! These custom-designed shirts can be ordered online.  The shirts are $14.98 each and they will be available for pickup at the July Convention in Red Wing. Shirts sizes 2XL and up are subject to an additional charge. The order deadline is June 6. A small number of shirts might be available to purchase onsite, but the only way to guarantee yourself a shirt is to pre-order. All proceeds will benefit the RWCS.

Share how your Red Wing Journey Began
The RWCS 40th Anniversary is a great time to reminisce about that first piece of stoneware, art pottery or dinnerware that began our quests in collecting. Many collectors recently shared stories on Facebook about how they acquired their first piece of Red Wing clay. Regardless of whether it was a common piece or a rare find, we all remember how we got started. Please send your story Nancy Lambert, RWCS Historian, along with a photo of the item if you wish. Lambert will put it all together into a booklet – not only for some fun reading of cool stories, but also to have the stories as a part of the Red Wing Collectors Society archives. Whether the clay piece was Red Wing or not, whether it was a lucky find or a gift from a family member, the unique and individual stories will be a treat for us all. Please submit your story by May 15 to be a part of this 40th Anniversary project! E-mail your story and photo to me at historian@redwingcollectors.org.

In addition to members attending the Convention will receive a special cloisonné commemorative pins celebrating the 40th Anniversary. All of this plus special displays and memorabilia will be a part of the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Red Wing Collectors Society! Register today!

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Red Wing, Minn – RWCS member Kent Williamson has graciously shared his Red Wing Bean Pot inventory list with the RWCS members.

As RWCS members read in the October issue Williamson, an enthusiastic collector of advertising bean pots, began indexing Red Wing advertising bean pots. His personal collection includes 300 examples and through the RWCS Facebook Chapter he began collecting a state by state list of Red Wing Advertising bean pots this spring. To learn more about the information collection task check out the newsletter tab on the Members only section and select the PDF of the October 2016 Issue.

Through the help of over 20 people, this list is growing and reaches nearly 500 advertising bean pots. RWCS member can now access this list right her on the RWCS website in three easy steps.

1. Log on the site with your membership number and password
2. Hover over the Members Only menu header.
3. Move your curser down to the Resource tab.

If you have another index, inventory list, or catalog of another Red Wing production line such as Advertising Beater Jar or Mixing Bowls, please let us and it can be posted on the resource.

Red Wing, MN – This year marked the 40th Convention of the RWCS. The article below and photos were reported in the August 2016 Issue of the RWCS Newsletter.

The RWCS Board of Directors wishes to thank outgoing Display Chair Laura Beall and her family for supporting the Display room for all these years. Laura Beall has been involved in Display for 13 years either on the display committee or as chair. Beall was instrumental in guiding display to the standards and program we have today.

At this time the RWCS would also like to announce that Tyler Green, a young member from South Dakota has agreed to serve as Display Chair in 2017. Tyler can be reached at 605-251-9944 or email at display@redwingcollectors.org

Red Wing, MN – A lot of great pieces have been sold at the Red Wing Collectors Society’s (RWCS) Convention Auction during the club’s 40-year history. This year didn’t disappoint, with the top earner being a 5 gallon Red Wing beehive jug with blue birch leaves and advertising for Straus Bros. Wholesale Liquors of Chicago. Two aggressive bidders pushed it most of the way to its $9500 gavel price.

At $2,200, a 6 gallon transitional Ice Water cooler with a Union Stoneware oval and a “Red Wing Stoneware Company” front stamp was a distant runner-up in the July 7 auction, which totaled just shy of $60,000 in total sales.

But the club’s official auction wasn’t the only source of excitement during the 40th Annual RWCS Convention, which attracted more than 1,000 visitors to Red Wing, MN during the week of July 4. Two independent auctions and the RWCS Foundation’s 5th Annual “Wine-ing for Red Wing” fundraiser took place before the convention even officially opened. Highlighting the Foundation’s event was a ceremony that celebrated paying off the mortgage of the building that houses the Pottery Museum of Red Wing. This year, the event generated nearly $14,000 in proceeds for the museum.

This Convention also boasted one of the best educational lineups in the event’s 40-year history. Attendees had 15 different educational sessions to choose from, with in-depth presentations given on a wide range of Red Wing’s stoneware and dinnerware products, finds from the pottery dump and after-market creations. Local history was also covered, including sessions on Red Wing’s rich brewing history, the city’s underground river – Jordan Creek – and symbolism of Victorian era gravestones in Red Wing’s Oakwood Cemetery. Local potter Richard Spiller also offered hands-on pottery classes for attendees.

Another unique 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 50 kids and young adults participated in the interactive and challenging activities this year, which included learning how to haggle with dealers, how to bid at an auction, what to look for in an antique, and several hands-on pottery creation projects.

At the Society’s annual business meeting on Friday, July 8, Larry Birks (president), John Sagat (secretary) and Glenn Beall (education manager) were recognized for their years of service on the RWCS Board of Directors, while Paul Wichert, Angela Shefveland and Michelle Weisen were announced as their elected replacements.

The club also officially recognized the new RWCS Facebook Chapter as its 17th chapter. Like most antique collecting clubs, attracting young new collectors has been a challenge for the RWCS. But the RWCS Facebook Chapter has been a bright spot in the organization’s recruiting efforts. This is a highly active page where recent finds are shared, questions are answered and pieces are bought and sold by new and advanced collectors alike. To join the conversation, visit www.facebook.com/groups/RWCSChapter.

Later that day, the 5th annual RWCS Crock Fest celebration featured music, food and fun at the Pottery Museum of Red Wing. In addition to its regular displays, the museum officially introduced its “General Store” seasonal exhibit to collectors for the first time. The final day of Convention Week featured the RWCS Show & Sale on Saturday, July 9, followed by the RWCS Banquet later in the evening.

The next RWCS event is its Annual MidWinter GetTogether, which will be held at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites on Merle Hay Road in Des Moines, February 24-26, 2017.  Visit the club’s website for more information.

Annual membership in the Red Wing Collectors Society costs only $35 and includes six 16-page full-color newsletters mailed to your home throughout the year. The RWCS was founded in 1977 in Red Wing and there are more than 4,000 members worldwide. For more information or to become a member, call the RWCS business office at 800-977-7927, e-mail membership@redwingcollectors.org or log on to www.redwingcollectors.org. You can also follow the RWCS on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RedWingCollectorsSociety and Twitter at @RWCollectors.

The Goodhue County Historical Society would like to offer a special opportunity for members at the Red Wing Collector’s Society Convention this July.  Gather up your friends or your chapter members and schedule a tour of Oakwood Cemetery!  The tour is appropriate for all age levels and would last 90 minutes.  Tours can be scheduled for July 5, 6, 7, or 10.  Tours can start as early as 8 AM or as late as 7 PM.  Alternate dates and times may be scheduled depending on staff availability.  Cost is $10 per adult and $5 for kids aged 18 or under.  A minimum of five people are preferred for tours to be scheduled.

The Oakwood Cemetery in Red Wing has long served the area as a beautiful and peaceful final resting place for loved ones. Tour through a historic section of the cemetery and visit the graves of many notable Red Wing citizens, including Reverend Joseph Hancock and the Civil War hero A.E. Welch. Learn about Victorian mourning practices, cemetery symbolism, and more.  Along the tour, Red Wing Pottery gravestones will be pointed out.

Contact Dustin Heckman, Executive Director, Goodhue County Historical Society at (651) 388-6024 or via email at director@goodhistory.org.

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Favorable settlement for not-for-profit foundation mandates no financial payout and no adjustment in behavior

MINNEAPOLIS, February 22, 2016—The Red Wing Collectors Society Foundation (RWCS Foundation), the not-for-profit group that operates the Pottery Museum of Red Wing (Minn.), has reached a wholly favorable settlement in its year-long intellectual property dispute with Wells Valley Enterprises Inc., owners of Red Wing Stoneware and Pottery. Under the terms of the settlement, the RWCS Foundation maintains that it has not “infringed any of Wells Valley’s claimed trademarks or committed any other wrongdoing…and has further asserted that Wells Valley’s claims are wholly without merit.” Further, the settlement makes clear that RWCS Foundation may continue to operate without any alteration of its behavior, and will not make any financial payments to Wells Valley.

In a dispute that focused on the city of Red Wing, Minnesota’s history as center for the production of American pottery and stoneware, Wells Valley, owner of Red Wing Stoneware and Pottery, filed a trademark infringement suit against RWCS Foundation. Wells Valley alleged that RWCS Foundation’s use of marks incorporating the term “Red Wing” and graphical marks similar to those used by Wells Valley in its production of pottery and stoneware, infringed on its intellectual property and caused market confusion.

The Foundation rebuked these claims, maintaining that the term “Red Wing”, the “winged logo”, and other markings were commonly used to denote pottery once produced in the City of Red Wing, were not the intellectual property of any one entity, and had been used in some form by a number of other Midwestern and Red Wing, Minn.-based pottery and stoneware producers. The RWCS Foundation further maintained that even if Wells Valley had been able to prove ownership of the name and marks in question, the company’s previous owners had acquiesced to numerous third-party uses in the past, effectively barring Wells Valley from pursuing these infringement claims.

“We’re very pleased that we were able to bring this matter to an appropriate and civil conclusion,” said Christopher Larus, Chair of the IP and Technology Litigation Group at Robins Kaplan LLP, who along with colleague Kristine Tietz represented RWCS Foundation pro bono in this matter. “While the protection of intellectual property rights forms the cornerstone of the American economy, RWCS Foundation did absolutely nothing wrong here, an assertion supported by the favorable settlement we were able to negotiate.”

“The RWCS Foundation takes immense pride in celebrating the City of Red Wing’s long history in pottery production, and we are excited to put this matter in the past and continue to move forward in cooperation with Red Wing’s wonderful pottery and stoneware community,” said David Hallstrom, President of the Red Wing Collectors Society Foundation. “Our museum is a free-to-the-public, volunteer-based organization, whose mission is to preserve the artifacts of the potteries and to educate the public as to the rich history of the clay industries of Red Wing. To that end, our desire is certainly to work in cooperation, not competition with the city’s pottery producers.  We are very grateful to Chris Larus, Kristine Tietz and the entire Robins Kaplan firm for the valuable support they have given our Foundation.”

The case is Wells Valley Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Red Wing Stoneware and Pottery v. Red Wing Collectors Society Foundation, d/b/a Pottery Museum of Red Wing. A copy of the settlement agreement is available upon request.

Since 2009, more than six percent of the firm’s total billable time has been contributed to pro bono efforts, twice the standard set forth by the Pro Bono Institute. The firm has recently been named to the National Law Journal’s 2016 Pro Bono Hot List, was recognized by Law360 as a top Pro Bono Firm in 2015, and was ranked in the top 10 percent of the Am Law 200 for pro bono work.

About Robins Kaplan^®

Robins Kaplan LLP is among the nation’s premier trial law firms, with more than 220 lawyers located in Atlanta; Bismarck, N.D.; Boston; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; Mountain View, Calif.; New York; Naples, Fla.; and Sioux Falls, S.D. The firm litigates, mediates, and arbitrates high-stakes, complex disputes, repeatedly earning national recognition. Firm clients include—as both plaintiffs and defendants—numerous Fortune 500 corporations, emerging-markets companies, entrepreneurs, and individuals.

This year’s annual “Give to the Max” day is November 12th and our goal for 2015 is $30,000, donate now.

We have matching funds up to 24,000 just waiting to be used! $4,000 donated by the RWCS and $20,000 from the museum board members and family. What a great opportunity to have your donation go even further!  Any person who donates $1,000 during “Give to the Max” will become a member of the Capital 300 Club.

Donations during “Give to the Max” may be made on the Pottery museum website: www.potterymuseumredwing.org, or by contacting the Pottery Museum office 651-327-2220, or on the Pottery Museum GiveMN website.

Check us out on Facebook for updates during that day.

Thank you in advance for supporting the Pottery Museum of Red Wing!

Sincerely,

Robin Wipperling
Museum Manager
Pottery Museum of Red Wing

240 Harrison Street?Red Wing, MN 55066
Phone: (651)-327-2220
Website: www.potterymuseumredwing.org

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