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RED WING – In November 2011 the Red Wing Collectors Society’s storage unit was found burglarized and more than 100 pieces of Red Wing blank dinnerware were taken. Thanks to the perseverance of RWCS Executive Director, Stacy Wegner, and help from the Red Wing Police Department, more than 100 pieces were return to the RWCS in December 2011.
The blank plates are used for the annual “Paint your Plate” event in which more than 100 kids get the opportunity to paint on a real Red Wing plate at the RWCS Annual Convention in Red Wing, MN. The KidsView program was started in 1999, offering free education and activities sharing Red Wing, MN pottery history.
Long time RWCS and Elk’s member Steve Vagasky (left) coordinated donation of over 200 pieces of Red Wing Pottery restaurant from the Red Wing Elk’s Club to the RWCS. The donation was given by Exulted Leader Stephanie Riegelman (right) to RWCS executive director Stacy Wegner (center).
When long-time Red Wing Elks member and RWCS member Steve Vagasky heard of the burglary, he remembered seeing some old pottery dinnerware in storage at the Elks that was no longer being used and thought the Society’s kids program would be the perfect home for these items. Vagasky contacted both organizations and arranged the donation.
“I was so excited to notify Sue Jones Tagliapietra and her co-chair Aarika Floyd about the donation.” Wegner said.
“This generous donation by the Red Wing Elks Club will guarantee that we will be able to continue the KidsView ‘Paint Your Plate’ Program for years to come,” said Tagliapietra.
Like other Elks Lodges across the country, the Red Wing Elks Lodge’s mission is to support the needs of children and veterans. In addition to assisting with projects like this, the Red Wing Elks Lodge helps improve the lives of youth in our area through programs like their scholarships, dictionary project for 3rd graders, hoop shoot, soccer shoot, drug awareness literature, children’s holiday parties, Christmas family project, Christmas food baskets, sending 17 deserving kids to for a week-long camp each summer and much, much more.
The RWCS Convention will be held in Red Wing, MN this summer from July 12-14 and will celebrate the club’s 35th Anniversary. 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 find the RWCS on Facebook or follow the club on Twitter @RWPottery.