2000 SCI Convention News

2000 SCI Convention News

Convention 2000 ~ A Texas-Sized Good Time
Reported by Betty Vogdes

The 2000 SCI Convention Boot

Miss Beer Stein 2000
Patricia Manusov
(crown by Claire Hill)

Nora McClintock
SCI Executive Director

Raconteur, bon vivant and all-around man-about-town, Louis Foster, with one of the piñatas which were a part of our Convention 2000 in the heart of Texas!

This year’s convention was headquartered at the Westin Galleria Hotel, part of a 350 store shopping mall complete with an ice skating rink! Needless to say, there were lots of opportunities for passing the time for those who are non-collectors.

Early bird attendees were treated to an all day bus tour with a stop at Ben and Helen Dienst’s home where we enjoyed viewing the stein collection and porcelain enameled plaques. Dave Cantwell also opened his home and displayed his stein collection, antique banks and antique lamps. As if that weren’t enough, we visited the Johnson Space Center, NASA’s mission control center.

After everyone got rested up, those interested attended the preview and auction by The Stein Company, Convention 2000’s official stein auction.

On July 6th, the convention officially opened and the general meeting and election of officers were conducted. The slate of officers was presented and voted upon with the following result: Executive Director - Nora McClintock; Secretary - Marie Stevenson; First Vice President - Gene Manusov (returning for a second term). Remaining in office are: Treasurer - Kris Kuntz; Second Vice President - Walt Vogdes; President - Clarence Riley. Glenna Sheer leaves office as Executive Director and Nora moves from Secretary to Executive Director.

The Jack Heimann award went to Les Hopper and Master Steinologist to Walt Vogdes. Claire Hill was honored with a Proclamation expressing thanks for the many contributions she has made to SCI. Frank Loevi was the winner of the Jack Lowenstein Editor’s Award for his article on Bohne skull steins. This year’s Miss Beer Stein was awarded to Pat Manusov.

The first convention lecture was presented by Ron Heiligenstein, “Collecting Regimental Steins” followed by Walt Vogdes’ program, “Westerwald Jugendstil Stoneware”.

After recovering from a busy morning of presentations and an afternoon of stein sales and hospitality, we were rounded up and taken to the Texas Longhorn Saloon where we were treated to Texas Barbeque and line dancing and Texas two-step lessons. Some of us really caught on and others were content to watch.

On July 7th, Frank Loevi presented a program entitled “A Century of Bohne & Stahl Character Steins” followed by Dave Cantwell’s “Cut Glass Steins”. The afternoon was spent at the members’ display and sale or visiting with friends in the hospitality area. Marie Stevenson organized a ladies’ tea and 22 of us indulged ourselves in goodies and tea at The Neiman Marcus Cafe. This has been a fun event for several years and its popularity is growing!

At our traditional German night, we enjoyed a delicious pork loin dinner complete with a giant cowboy boot cake which was cut by Albert Thewalt. We were entertained by the Alpenfest German Band, and the Rathkamp German Folk Dancers impressed us with their intricate German dances.

July 8th, our last day, held many choices: the members’ preview and auction, the Antique Ramble to the Antique Center of Texas and The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens (optional event), round table discussions and a visit to the hospitality area. Our evening event was a Mexican Fiesta which included a delicious dinner prepared by the hotel staff, awards, piñata bashing and presentation of the SCI banner to the Thirsty Knight, host chapter for the 2001 convention. Music was by the Kit Reid Orchestra.

There were several optional events for those attending with children. Among them were: supervised ice skating at the Galleria Rink, stein painting, belt making, ranch visit and NASA tour.

July 9th found us saying goodbye to friends, both old and new, with a promise to see each other again next year. Many thanks to Dave Cantwell, Lawrence Beckendorf and The Lone Star Chapter for hosting a truly enjoyable convention from the first "Howdy" to the final "Adios"!


Awards - Walt Vogdes, Claire Hill and Lester Hopper (Master Steinologist and Jack Heimann Award certificates by Claire Hill, Proclamation by Ginger Williams)

Texas night! Yahooo!	At the auction.	Terry Hill and Steve Elliott

German night... Are we having fun?