Bob Welbaum: NFFC Raises Funds For Ryman Arts
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See LP Lotion for pictures from the event
One highlight of last year�s NFFC convention was the Part of Your World dinner, a special event where conventioneers got the opportunity to dine with Disney celebrities. The 2008 NFFC Convention, held July 15-20 at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Garden Grove, CA, saw a twist to that idea. This time the event was the Key to Their World dinner to benefit Ryman Arts.
Ryman Arts is the new name of the Ryman-Carroll Foundation. This Foundation was established in 1989 as a living tribute to Herbert Dickens Ryman. Herb Ryman was a master artist and teacher whose career spanned more than fifty years as a production designer, art director, and illustrator at such Hollywood studios as MGM, 20th Century Fox, and of course Walt Disney. Herb secured a special place in Disney history by working with Walt over a weekend in 1952 to draw the now-famous map of Disneyland that was used to persuade East Coast bankers to help finance Walt�s Magic Kingdom. Herb also drew concept renderings for Disneyland�s centerpiece Sleeping Beauty Castle and its Florida counterpart, Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World�s Magic Kingdom. Herb�s family and friends agreed that the most positive way to commemorate Herb�s life was to carry on his philosophy and commitment to teach and encourage young artists to reach their full potential. Hence the creation of Ryman Arts.
Ryman students come from throughout Southern California. Over 80% are from the public schools; the rest come from private and parochial schools. The majority comes from Los Angeles and Orange Counties, but Ventura, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties are also well represented. Many students are seniors, but juniors, sophomores, and even a few freshmen also participate.
The Ryman Program teaches small, intense studio classes in drawing and painting techniques. These classes are designed to give the serious student the skills necessary to pursue a career in the arts. The program is for students who are passionate about their artwork and are willing to commit to a rigorous training program � homework included � on a Saturday morning. The works produced by the students range from the conventional to the abstract.
This year�s dinner was held Sunday, July 19th in the Crowne Plaza Resort. Disney celebrity guests were Marty Sklar, Imagineer, Disney Legend, and President of the Ryman Arts Board of Directors; voice artist Mark Silverman (Tower of Terror); Margaret Kerry, reference model for Tinker Bell; artist, actress, and puppeteer Terri Hardin; Eddie Carroll, the voice of Jiminy Cricket; Disney Legend and former Imagineer Bob Gurr; Disney Legend and The Walt Disney Company archivist Dave Smith; former animator, special-effects artist, story man, producer, and the newest Disney Legend Joe Hale; artist Ron Diaz; and Imagineer Tony Baxter. A Disney celebrity was seated at each ten-person table. Two Ryman Arts students and two members of the staff were also special guests.
Master of Ceremonies was NFFC Special Event Coordinator Anita Schaengold. Anita was assisted by her husband Gary (also NFFC Vice President of Finance), NFFC President Kendra Trahan, Kendra�s husband Russell, the NFFC�s Legend�s Coordinator Alan Halcrow, who played a portion of a recently discovered audio tape of Herb Ryman, and other club members. Upon entering, guests were presented with a symbolic �Key to Their World� designed by Anita. The blue stone dangling from the key is a natural turquoise from Arizona�s Sleeping Beauty Mine and symbolizes the world. Its less-than-round shape is no accident; no one�s world is perfect. One benefit the program provides its students is art supplies; the first $50 of the $125 admission went directly into the art-supply fund -- $50 being the cost of one student�s box of supplies.
After dinner, the screening of a video about Ryman Arts, and the inevitable lively conversation with the special guests, there was a silent auction of donated items and student-made artwork. Following the silent auction, there was a live auction of two works: a framed sheet of six sketches of Autopia cars by Jason Holt, based on the designs of Bob Gurr and donated by Brian Ramsey; and an ornately framed study of medieval architecture suggestive of Sleeping Beauty by Disney Legend Marc Davis.
Overall, the event was considered a great success. When the dust had settled and the bidding had stopped, the payoff for Ryman Arts was a check for $12,500.
See LP Lotion for pictures from the event
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One personal note about this year�s NFFC Convention. When I checked out of the Crowne Plaza Resort, I got a question I�d never heard before. It came from the Bell Desk when I requested help with my luggage.
�Are you with the NFFC?� said the voice on the phone.
�Yes, I am,� I replied.
�Buyer or seller?� the voice quickly asked.
It suddenly occurred to me that the bell staff has quite a chore when the dealers (sellers) check into and out of the hotel. A tremendous amount of merchandise must be transported to be sold right out of the rooms during the evenings (�room-hopping�), then transported down for the Sunday Show and Sale and check-out. That�s another indispensable service the hotel staff must provide, and one I�m sure most of us usually take for granted. I always try to give credit for the NFFC board members and volunteers who do such a great job putting on the conventions, but everyone at the Crowne Plaza must be given credit, too, for their hard work and preparation. I suspect the hotel staff always circles the dates of our convention on their calendars.
And what are they thinking as they�re circling? I don�t even want to go there.
Discuss It
Discuss It
-- Bob Welbaum
Bob Welbaum is a longtime Disneyana fan and NFFC member from the Dayton, Ohio area.
-- August 6, 2008