After the Welcome Reception, guests headed downstairs for a real treat. We began with a divine sit-down dinner, but it was what came afterwards that was the best part. Bette Sherman, a previous very successful presenter, gave a hilarious and fascinating presentation on what women in the olden days did to be beautiful. Everyone raved about it.
The next morning we held our Purse Bazaar, an opportunity for members to buy, sell and trade purses, compacts, jewelry and related accessories. Because of the larger attendance, there was also a larger inventory of things to choose from. There were more antique purses under that roof that morning than ever before on earth. It is the highlight of the weekend for many people… whether they buy a little or a lot.
People were on their own for lunch, but reconvened quickly for a very educational and entertaining afternoon. Two local members, Pat Halligan and Barb Mellberg, brought 30 years worth of purses to share with the group. They were more breathtaking and valuable than any we've seen at previous museum fieldtrips. And, they let us pass them around! This is why the segment was called "The Museum Comes to You."
After a quick Cupcake Break, Ellen Foster shared an extremely professional PowerPoint on Celluloid Frames. Working with Linda Burns, she located hundreds of extremely rare celluloid purses and frames and shared close-up photos showing their intricacies and fine detailing. There were continuous gasps in the room as many had never been seen before on any web site or in any book.
She very generously gifted CD's with the presentation to each member/couple, along with APCS, so everyone got a very useful souvenir to take home.
That night, those who wanted to came together for an optional Dinner and Crappy Purse Exchange Contest. We gathered in the lobby and walked the brief distance to our fabulous restaurant, Kuletos. They ushered us into a beautiful private room where personalized menus had been prepared just for us. We wined and dined and the warm chocolate dessert thingy will absolute never be forgotten.
Then began the contest, where guests exchanged crappy purses, each wrapped with note and story of origin. As usual, people were rolling on the ground with laughter. At the end of the evening, votes were tabulated and a new winner crowned.
Sunday morning, usually on the quiet side was fully packed. We started at 8:30 with a luscious hot breakfast buffet, and lots and lots of coffee. While we ate (and guzzled) we got to see something very special. It was a sneak preview of a new documentary called "American Collectors."
This 60 minute film is currently running the film festival circuit, but because Melissa is in and one of the directors is a member, she was able to obtain a copy and rights to show it to our group. People laughed so hard and so loud that a hotel employee actually asked us to keep it down! (which we didn't)
When the film was over, we launched right into one of my favorite parts of the weekend; the Member Show and Tell. Each attendee brought one fantastic purse from their personal collection and as usual, breathtaking purses and unbelievable stories were shared.
Nearing noon, it was time to wrap up and say goodbye. As in previous years, I acknowledged all the people who had helped put on this fabulous event, and asked for written feedback on how to make future Gatherings better. People hugged, exchanged contact information, took final photos and said goodbye. I left with the determination to make next year's even better.
San Francisco Gathering
The 2009 APCS Annual Gathering in San Francisco.
