A Pivotal Craftsman Gala, Important Reverse Auction a Highlight

by Kate Nixon

 

The Craftsman Gala

Date and Time: Saturday, October 7th starting at 6:00 PM

Location: The Mountain Lakes Club, Mountain Lakes, NJ

Member Day at Craftsman Farms: Saturday, October 7th at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms from 10:00am – 2:30 PM (in-person) with Online Member Day session from 10:00am – 12:00pm

 

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE AUCTION GUIDE

Purchase Craftsman Gala (In-person) tickets and online Member Day registration here.

Register to be part of the Reverse Auction Challenge (In-person and absentee)

For more information, visit The Stickley Museum’s page on The Craftsman Gala

 

 

 

While many of the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are considered to be in the rear-view mirror, the challenges keep coming for non-profit organizations and historic sites attempting to keep on solid financial ground and complete major projects. One such organization, The Stickley Museum of Craftsman Farms, continues to think outside the box with online classes and curated tours to keep their supporters educated and connected to the historic campus — and yet the Stickley-designed museum has not fully opened to the public due to construction on the Annex damaged by Tropical Storm Isaias of Summer of 2020 and construction for restoring Stickley’s own kitchen in the Log House.

While planning for the future of the museum seems daunting, Executive Director Vonda Givens remains hopeful, humbled and bolstered by her supportive community.

“Until the events of 2020, which brought a pandemic and then a devastating tropical storm to the museum’s doorstep, I didn’t fully understand the strength of this community,” says Executive Director Givens in a recent email blast to supporters. “I am routinely astounded and humbled by the commitment of people far and wide to this museum and its mission.”

 

 

Images Left: a new railing was added to the Ruth Cruess Glesmann Walkway and many of its bluestone pavers were replaced or repaired and cleaned. Middle: Jonathan Clancy (l) is standing in the Log House kitchen with Annex Project Architect Thomas Sheridan (r) of HMR Architects. Right: The construction to rebuild the Annex commenced in June of 2022. The museum was hoping to have the project completed by Summer of 2023.   

 

“Preserving a property like Craftsman Farms is not a solo operation. With a thirty-acre landscape and nine original buildings, the preservation of Craftsman Farms requires the hands, minds, and help of many individuals. It is a daily undertaking, and it is a team effort.”

– Executive Director Vonda Givens

 

Starting Saturday morning on October 7th, the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms will open their doors for Member Day with activities running from 10:00am – 2:30pm. Currently, the in-person limit of tickets has been reached but you can request to be placed on the waitlist to take part in-person. Meanwhile, you can additionally take part in Member Day activities by attending the 10:00am to noon part of the day which will be shown online. Online Member Day registration is $25.00 and in-person Member Day registration costs $90.00.

Following Member Day activities, the museum’s largest yearly fundraiser will kick off in the evening– The Craftsman Gala at the Mountain Lakes Club in Mountain Lakes, N.J. — where this year the museum hopes to meet their budget in order to fully re-open their beloved museum and emerge from the year a “robust and resilient organization” on solid financial ground. One highlight to this year’s gala is the Reverse Auction, built a little differently than a regular auction. Unlike a typical auction, where bidders compete against each other, in a reverse auction, bidders pool their funds in support of a cause. The community of bidders collaborate, with everyone giving at a level of their choosing. The auction will be led by John Walcher, Vice President and Senior Specialist at Toomey & Co Auctioneers.

This year, the goal is incredibly ambitious for the museum: the museum will be seeking to raise $160,000 during the reverse auction challenge. This goal is so large the non-profit is calling it a challenge. “This year’s reverse auction—which is traditionally the highlight of the event—will be our most important to date and it will take a community to help us meet this challenge,” says Givens. “Even if you cannot attend, you can still be a part of the Reverse Auction from home.” You can bid during the reverse auction by filling out the form HERE. Those supporters from home can choose from a variety of levels to bid — from $50.00 to $15,000.00. As an added bonus, all $50.00 and $250.00 gifts to the Reverse Auction Challenge will be matched by Board of Trustee President Barbara Weiskittel ($50.00 matches) and Vice President Ted Lytwyn ($250.00 matches). The names of all absentee bidders will be read aloud at the Gala, ensuring that everyone in attendance will know that you are supporting in spirit from wherever you are!

The Craftsman Gala’s entertainment for the evening features live jazz with the Aubrey Anne Trio, drinks and a cocktail-style dinner featuring small plates, passed hors d’oeuvres and themed stations, where fellow supporters can mingle with old friends and meet new additions to the growing collective of museum supporters.

A night of auctions, jazz, and seeing friends in the community while raising funds is an annual enjoyable experience, but this year the experience is especially pivotal to the survival of the museum and Executive Director Givens is hopeful that the evening will inspire.

“I want to inspire you to be an active part of the museum’s passionate Preservation Community. I want to inspire you to give and to be generous,” says Givens. “I want to inspire you to look years ahead. By giving now—in the present—you are becoming a part of this museum’s future. More than 100 years ago, Gustav Stickley began Craftsman Farms as his individual vision. It takes a community—an active, strong, single-minded community—to protect his vision and pass it on. We invite you to help us do that.”

 

 

The Craftsman Gala

Date and Time: Saturday, October 7th starting at 6:00 PM

Location: The Mountain Lakes Club, Mountain Lakes, NJ

Member Day at Craftsman Farms: Saturday, October 7th at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms from 10:00am – 2:30 PM (in-person) with Online Member Day session from 10:00am – 12:00pm

 

Purchase Craftsman Gala (In-person) tickets and online Member Day registration here.

Register to be part of the Reverse Auction Challenge (In-person and absentee)

For more information, visit The Stickley Museum’s page on The Craftsman Gala

 

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