Sunday, November 30, 2014

So You Hate Making Phone Calls....

Graycliff Volunteers –  It is Erie County budget time...can you please give us 2-3 minutes of time?  If you hate making phone calls, just send an email.

 It is super easy. Here's what to do:

FIRST: Find your legislator--look right here:  Find My Erie County Legislator
SECOND: Call or find your legislator's email there, and two or three others, if you can spare the extra 2-3 minutes. Legislative Chair John Mills and Legislator Lynne Dixon have received many calls, and are very supportive.  So please call or email others...they need to hear from you!
THIRD: If you are calling, Say, "I am (YOUR NAME) and I am calling to ask you to support an increase in funding for Graycliff Conservancy to $75,000." Say that Graycliff is an important part of our cultural tourism economy and should have its fair share of County funding. 

--OR--

Third: Send an email!  Here's something to write, or change it as you'd like.

Dear Legislator NAME

I write to ask you to support an increase in funding for Graycliff Conservancy to $75,000. Graycliff is an important part of our cultural tourism economy and an architectural masterpiece that the Conservancy is restoring and preserving for Western New Yorkers both now and for generations to come.

It should have its fair share of County funding, which will allow it advance preservation while completing restoration.

I ask that you consider an increase that would assist in this effort.

Thank you very much.  

Thank you,
YOUR NAME
street address
City, state. Zip



They Vote This Coming Tuesday, December 2nd...and offices are open only Monday...so time is of the essence!

LAST: Let us know on in the comments below that you called.

Numbers matter!  they will tack the number of phone calls and emails they get on this.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Friday, November 28, 2014

Your Help Needed...Really Easy!

We Need Your Help!


And It's Easy!



Graycliff Volunteers –  It is Erie County budget time...can you please give us 2-3 minutes of time to make a call?    It is super easy. Here's what to do:
FIRST: Find your legislator--look right here:  Find My Erie County Legislator
SECOND: Call your legislator, and two or three others, if you can spare the extra 2-3 minutes. Legislative Chair John Mills and Legislator Lynne Dixon have received many calls, and are very supportive.  So please call others...they need to hear from you!
THIRD: Say, "I am (YOUR NAME) and I am calling to ask you to support an increase in funding for Graycliff Conservancy to $75,000." Say that Graycliff is an important part of our cultural tourism economy and should have its fair share of County funding. 

They may ask for your zip code or street. 

Their staff gets lots of calls like this, all the time. Volume matters. Ask your partners, children, neighbors, and mom to do the same thing. They keep track of the number of calls received on any topic, so more calls means higher visibility/priority.
They Vote This Coming Tuesday, December 2nd...and offices are open only today and Monday...so time is of the essence!
LAST: Let us know on in the comments below that you called.



THANK YOU VERY MUCH!




Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Good News!

Just in time for Thanksgiving Tours, new carpet runners arrived this afternoon.  Docents, NO MORE BOOTIES!

Special thanks to Board members Mike McGuigan and Larry Cobado for measuring, drawings floor plans, and getting estimates.

And kudos to Markarian Rugs, which managed to come thru before the holiday, despite delays in delivery of materials due to last week's storm...and for such a super product.  Thanks, Randy Markarian, for personally delivering them to make sure we had them before the holiday!





Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving!




We wanted to take a moment to reflect and give thanks to our volunteers and staff !


Thank you for welcoming and greeting our visitors.

Thank you for giving memorable and engaging tours to our visitors.

Thank you for educating our visitors through classes and programming.

Thank you for making the windows and complex sparkle and shine.

Thank you for pruning, cutting, planting and beautifying the gardens.

Thank you for supporting our Pavilion store with your purchases.

Thank you for keeping the Isabelle Martin House safe and protected.

Thank you for making our events lively and festive.

Thank you for assisting with various special projects.

Thank you for supporting our restoration efforts.

Thank you for choosing to share your time with us.

We are forever grateful for each and every one of YOU!

Happy Thanksgiving!


Friday, November 21, 2014

Graycliff Snow Conditions

Dear All:

Due to weather conditions in Derby, Graycliff will be closed again today, Friday, November 21st.  We hope to get staff to Graycliff tomorrow, if driving allows.  By early next week, we hope to be up and running again, 

When the storm began, we were in the midst of a major mailing....for the Annual Fund.  If you have time on Tuesday or Wednesday, assuming its safe to travel, please consider helping get the mailing out before Thanksgiving weekend, when (presumably) there will be many visitors in the Pavilion.

Please stay safe and warm yourselves.  Special thanks to Dick and Priscilla O'Brien, Joan Osborne and Kevin Hoffman for keeping an eye on Graycliff through this week.  And a shout out to Larry Cobado, who assisted with resolving a power outage in record time yesterday!

We hope to see you soon!

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Videos on Line!

With the weather predicted to be just awful for the next few days, perhaps its time to take a look at a few videos on your computer, rather than braving the great outdoors.


CSPAN's BOOK TV has several videos related to Frank Lloyd Wright---here is a sampling:

Interview with Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer

The former director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Archives.  The Archives are now in the process of being moved to Columbia University in New York City. 
  Bruce Pfeiffer interview



20th Century Lives Panel

A panel discussion on “Biography: 20th Century Lives” was moderated by Mr. A. Scott Berg. The panelists talked about their books and responded to questions from the audience.
Anthony Arthur is the author of Radical Innocent: Upton Sinclair, published by Random House. Neal Gabler is the author of Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination, published by Knopf. Walter Isaacson is the author of Einstein: His Life and Universe, published by Simon and Schuster. Harold Zellman is the co-author of The Fellowship: The Untold Story of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Fellowship, published by Regan Books     20th Century Lives Panel Discussion

Book Discussion on Frank Lloyd Wright

Ada Louise Huxtable talked about her biography Frank Lloyd Wright, published by Viking Books. She described the late American architect’s work as well as his private life, including scandals, architectural masterpieces, and long professional life. After her presentation, Ms. Huxtable answered audience members' questions.
Ms. Huxtable was the Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic for The New York Times from 1963 to 1982. She is the author of The Tall Building Reconsidered: The Search For a Skyscraper, as well as The Unreal America: Architecture and Illusion. She is currently the architecture critic for the Wall Street Journal  Ada Louise Huxtable on Frank Lloyd Wright
More to come, the next time the weather merits a distraction!

Monday, November 10, 2014

Special Volunteer Discount Days!

Annual Special Volunteer Discount Days 

Graycliff Pavilion ShopSaturday and Sunday November 15th and 16th 9:30 am to 4:00 pm


20% discount (for volunteers only) is good on everything EXCEPT books, magazines,  wooden bowls, and sale merchandise.

  Do take advantage of this once-a-year special thank you to YOU, as a Graycliff volunteer.



Graycliff Volunteer Appreciation Dinner




Thank you for attending the 2014 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, and special tour of the Colored Musicians Club---what a warm and welcoming place!  A special thank you to former Board member and continuing volunteer Cheryl St. George for organizing this wonderful event.

See for yourself:



Barb Abbatoy and Maureen Meyer

Jeff and Joeleene Manhardt with Larry Cobado. Jeff and Larry are Board members.

Darice Hickey, Board member, with husband Michael

Terrific exhibits and lots of conviviality!

Colored Musicians Club President George Scott (on left) giving tour to Graycliffians  Gail and Dave Solowski, Maureen Meyers and Judy Smith, among others

(l. to r.) Cheryl St. George, Stephanie and Chris Merry, Alicia Meyers and Marion Schmidt

President Diane Schrenk with Colored Musicians Club President George Scott


Thank you for all you do for Graycliff!