Showing posts with label MetroDolls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MetroDolls. Show all posts

10/26/2022

MetroDolls Charity Luncheon to Benefit Toys For Tots October 23, 2022

 My husband and I traveled to Red Bank, New Jersey on Saturday, 10/22, in order to make a weekend of our attendance at the MetroDolls Luncheon which would be held the following day.

It was a beautiful day so we went for lunch at a bagel place. Their bagels are the size of small loaves of bread! Scrambled eggs and crispy bacon on a delicious bagel were to be the best thing I had all weekend. FYI, the name of the place is Bagel Station.


It was not this big.

I had to be down at the room in which the luncheon was to be held at the ungodly time of 7AM. All I'll say is that the members of MetroDolls are hard-working, efficient and well-practiced in setting up a banquet room. The tables looked beautiful and all around were the helpers, vendors' tables, auction items and John Davey's vintage Hollywood costume display. Since this was my first time at the luncheon as a member of this club, I was very impressed at how it all came together. 

Behind the scenes, members also did so much to make the event a winner. We raised more than $10,000!                                                       


A little information about Toys For Tots

MISSION: The basic mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is to collect new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas.

GOAL: The primary goal of Marine Toys for Tots is, through the gift of a new toy, help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America's less fortunate children.

OVERVIEW: In order to better execute the Program, in 1991 the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was created at the behest of the Marine Corps.

FOUNDATION OVERVIEW: The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity which was created at the behest of the U. S. Marine Corps in 1991.

FOUNDATION GOVERNANCE: The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is governed by a board of directors, all of whom are veteran Marines and successful business leaders from throughout the nation. The Foundation’s professional staff is headquartered in the Cooper Center, which is located just outside the Main Gate of Marine Corps Base, Quantico, about 35 miles south of Washington, DC.

FOUNDATION MISSION: The mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is to assist the U. S. Marine Corps in providing a tangible sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. This assistance includes providing day-to-day leadership and oversight of the Program, raising funds to provide toys to supplement the collections of local Toys for Tots Campaigns, to provide promotional and support material and defray the costs of conducting annual Toys for Tots Campaigns. Other Foundation support includes providing administrative, advisory, financial, logistic and promotional support to local Toys for Tots Coordinators; managing funds raised and monies donated based on the use of Toys for Tots name or logo; providing other support the Marine Corps, as a federal agency, cannot provide; and conducting public education and information programs about Toys for Tots that call the general public to action in support of this patriotic community action program.


In most cases, I would have many photographs of the event but as a result of some responsibilities, I didn't take the time to do so. However, many of my photos of auction items and those of others are on the MetroDolls website at http://metrodolls.blogspot.com/p/2022-auction.html. 

Open Auction

Open Auction

Open Auction

DAE Centerpiece

Ed Ferry

Part of Ed Ferry's Vendor Table

Robbin's Vintage Style Handbags - Doll-Sized, Of Course!

Robbin Atwell

Helpers

Helpers

Marine Representative from Toys For Tots

John Davey's Display

John Davey's Display

Jeff Lega

Marcia Friend

Dorene Zebarth (standing) and Sue Gollihur

The outfit on the far left was a gift to every attendee. The other outfits were optional purchases. 

Aretha McCrary-Tennessee Setting Up

Robert Tonner talks about the steps in designing and creating a doll.

Robert Tonner talks about the steps in designing and creating a doll.

Stateroom Trunk created by MetroDolls 

Part of our "Garage Sale"







8/03/2021

UFDC Convention, Baltimore, Maryland, 2021 Part I

 


This post contains photographs and some text about my first, and probably last, experience in Baltimore, MD at the United Federation of Doll Clubs' 2021 convention which took place from July 18-23. The event was held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. It was their first convention since the Covid lockdown began in 2020. Personally, I do not think they were completely ready. The food was pretty awful in their "restaurant" and at the meal events. The best thing served at a meal was a delicious piece of cheesecake. 

It was the largest convention I ever attended as a registrant. There were more than 750 people there and it sounded like you might imagine. Doll collectors are notoriously talkative. 

You may wonder why I said it was probably my last UFDC convention. The focus is on antique and vintage dolls. There are some contemporary artist-made dolls as well. This fact was very noticeable in the competition categories.  I was very happy that many members of my doll clubs were in attendance and I met several interesting women but the thrill wasn't there.  


How does Loki know that mommy is going somewhere? Look at that sad face!


All loaded and ready to leave on the trip. It was only 2 hours 15 minutes. I drove straight through. 


Self-parking was just around the corner. I shot a pic of my location, just in case. 
Parking was $25 per day!!!  But it was covered and safe. 





To my surprise, I was upgraded to a harbor view room on the 27th floor. The room was lovely but freezing. Most of the time I did not keep the a/c in cooling mode. 
I had a fabulous view. This is the first picture I shot in the room.


Below is a very early morning view. The moon hasn't yet set and the sun is rising. 
See the sun's reflection in the tall building on the right.


And a few more around the hotel:






  
  



Right down the street is a striking statue/fountain. You can read the text to find out what it memorializes. Click on the image to enlarge it.












Registration on Sunday



Reborn Dolls is not one of the UFDC categories but that doesn't stop collectors from bringing theirs to share with others.





The more I looked at this little doll, the more real it got to the point where I saw it breathing.  Freaky!





There were several hundred entries into competition. Depending upon the number of entries in a category, one could win first, second, third, fourth and possibly some other ribbon. The winners get ego boosts, oohs & aahs and then go home to plan next year's entries. 
Some of the judging is based on age, rarity and condition, so, if you have enough money, buy the oldest, rarest and best condition thing you can find, you might get a blue ribbon to put in your wallet.

























Helpers are items that are donated for the benefit of UFDC.  It's a gigantic raffle event and the merchandise is really good. The competition is stiff. I did not win anything and I did not expect to but I would have liked it a lot, especially a tiny bjd on a rocking horse. I'm not sure why, but she really appealed to me. Sigh. 



Shown in the photos below is but a fraction of the donations. 






















I wanted this gorgeous handmade doll, too. 



The UFDC has a store, of course, online all year round. During the convention, they bring a load of merchandise from the store. There are also bargain tables. Below you see the line waiting for the boutique to open.  One can find dolls from prior conventions.