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