President's Message
Greetings NDPCS members:
Thank you to everyone who attended the 2024 Convention and Annual Meeting, June 7-9 at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, ND. Those who were not able to attend, we missed you! Please review the annual meeting minutes printed in the newsletter and reach out to any board members or officers with questions, concerns, and notes of appreciation. Please review the endowment request approved by the membership.
I want to share a few personal highlights from the convention and apologies if I left out anyone or one of your favorite moments:
Special thank you to Sandy Short, our Keynote speaker, who presented “Extinct Animals of North Dakota”, although she did not bring any fossils, just slides of pottery.
A thank you to our commemorative chairs, Don and Rose Ann Goerger, for producing our 35th Anniversary commemorative. I hope you enjoyed it.
Thank you to auction chairs, Brad Bird and Sharon Smith, silent auction and catalog, Linda Bakken, and everyone who helped with the member auction. Thank you, Gayette Fratzke, for registration. Thank you, convention chairs, Linda Fiedler and Tara Holt, who kept the trains running on time. Thank you to everyone who helped make this convention a success.
Thank you to our Secretary, Bonnie Nelson, whose term ends this year and will turn over the reins to Karen Midgarden. Also, welcome to board member elect Russ Carlson and a special welcome to President elect Ann Diechtman.
A special highlight for me was the bus trip to Wahpeton, to honor our origin with a picnic at Chahinkapa Park and a tour of the Richland County Historical Museum.
We will be excited to see you in Fargo next year June 2025 and rumor has it the bus might be heading north this time!
Finally, as I reflected on my time in NDPCS I thought about that one piece of pottery that got away. Perhaps you have had a similar experience so this is the one I think about:
Happy Hunting,Michael Kaul
34th Annual NDPCS Convention
FARGO, ND
NDPCS Convention of 2024 is in the rearview mirror! Looking back I feel Tara and I did our best to keep it a little more relaxed and more social. Like it be-gan 35 years ago. A simple picnic gathering in Wahpeton.
Friday night's social gathering was highlighted by special music from area performer Rick Fiedler. It was great dinner music! There was also a PowerPoint presentation on the first 35 years. So fun to look back at how this club began!
Saturday started with a comfortable coach bus ride to the Richland County Museum. After spending about an hour there, we were off to the Hughes Shelter for a box lunch picnic in the park. Everyone enjoyed this time together. Then it was back on the bus to head back to Fargo for the auction!
The auction had some really great pieces this year. It made for fun and lively bidding!
The Saturday evening banquet included a presentation by Sandy Short. It was interesting to see so many unique pieces from the Short collection and to hear the stories. As always, both nights included room sales.
On Sunday morning we held the annual meeting! Several points were dis-cussed including continuing to have a convention. It was established we will go year to year. So that being said, we look forward to June 2025, in Fargo! Planning has already begun!
Thank you to all who attended convention this year. Special thanks to those who helped make it successful! We appreciate you so much!
Enjoy a Great Summer!
Convention Co-chairs,Linda Fiedler & Tara Holt
Thank you!
Thank you to Bonnie and Arley Olson for their commitment to the nicely detailed "35 years of North Dakota Pottery" history books. We enjoyed the photos and memorabilia and appreciate your willingness to share it! You are extremely appreciated!Tara Holt
2024 NDPCS Convention Highlights
FARGO, ND
Submitted by Tess Erickson Cain
NDPCS Annual Meeting
Sunday June 9, 2024Holiday InnFargo, North Dakota
President Michael Kaul called the meeting to order at 9 AM at the Holiday Inn Fargo, ND. A quorum was declared.
Secretary’s Report:Minutes of the previous meeting had been published in the newsletter prior to 2024 annual meeting. Don Goerger made motion to approve. Barbara Bradley second. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report:David Woods reported a checking account balance of $18,639.65 and a CD in the amount of $15,389.17 for a total of $34,028.82. Kenneth Metzen moved to approve treasure’s report and Rose Ann Goerger second. Motion carried.
Audit Report:President Kaul thanked Bill Bakken for everything he has done for NDPCS over the years and informed group an individual with audit skills is needed to review and audit the annual Treasurer records.
President’s Report:President Kaul thanked everyone for attending and volunteering their help at 2024 convention. There were 7 first time attendees at this years convention.
Committee Reports:Membership: Linda Fiedler reported 124 members total, 18 honorary members, 7 honorary members continue to pay membership, 113 paying members. Linda reported 7 new members.
Commemoratives: Don Goerger reported a small profit was made on this year’s commemoratives with 73 commemoratives being produced. Ashley Palmer created the 2024 commemorative.
Web Site: Cameron reported our website is updated 3 times per year and additional security has been added. Member spotlight currently is Jeremy Dietchman and next Tara Holt will be featured.
Budget: Previously presented.
Endowment Fund: Jeremy Dietchman reported a $1,000.00 endowment request from Richland County Museum. A road show request from Ward County Pioneer Village and currently have 580 members on ND pottery face book page.
Newsletter: Linda Fiedler reported 200 newsletters continue to be printed so bulk rate can be obtained. The July newsletter will contain the 2024 convention information. President Kaul discussed trying to expand the NDPCS footprint with other pottery clubs in ND and nearby states. Dave Woods gave group information on Minnesota club upcoming meeting.
2024 Convention Report: Linda Fiedler and Tara Holt addressed attendees about planning 2024 convention. Members stepped up and volunteered when help was needed, convention feedback was positive and convention was enjoyed. Tara suggested a banquet committee be created in the future to help convention chair.
Old Business:Future Convention: NDPCS will continue to have 2025 convention in June at Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND. Linda Fiedler and Tara Holt will be 2025 convention chairs
Historical Records: Tara Holt gave an update to group concerning NDPCS Historical records. Sarah Hietkamp at UND was contacted by Tara about NDCPS historical documents. Sarah is willing to take documents and have records digitized and create a home for NDCPS history. All binders will be transferred to UND for viewing. Tara Holt will suggest to Sarah Heitkamp to apply for an endowment to assist with cost of digitizing NDPCS records.
New Business:Endowment Approval: Gayette Fratzke moved for approval of $1,000.00 request from Richland County Museum. Rose Ann Goerger second. Motion carried. Linda Bakken wanted to recognize Lois Berndt for all of the improvements made at the Wahpeton Museum during her tenure.
Election of Officers:President: Nomination of Ann Dietchman. No other nominations were heard. Gayette Fratzke moved a unanimous ballot be cast. Motion carried.
Secretary: Nomination of Karen Midgarden. No other nominations were heard Rose Ann Goerger moved a unanimous ballot be cast. Motion carried.
Open Board Seat: Nomination of Russ Carlson. No other nominations were heard David Woods moved a unanimous ballot be cast. Motion carried.
Bylaw Changes:President Kaul read article 4 section 3. Pat Grantier moved changes be adopted, Bill Bakken second. Motion carried.
President Kaul read article 6 section 8. Jeff Fratzke moved changes be adopted, Ken Metzen second. Motion carried.
President Kaul read article 7 section 1. Pat Grantier moved changes be adopted, Linda Fiedler second. Motion carried.
Next annual meeting will be June 8, 2025 Fargo Holiday Inn.
Jeff Fratzke moved meeting adjourn and Dave Woods second. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Nelson
What ever happened to the UND "Flowered" Plate?
By Don Goerger
At the 2016 convention in Grand Forks, many of you might remember the little older gentleman that came into our auction room with a little white plate with Rose designs around the outer edge. It was 5 ½” in Diameter with ND embossed on the rear. None of us could identify the item. We all seemed to have a personal opinion but could not offer the gentleman a solid answer. He asked if he could put it on the auction and we agreed that we could throw it on in the end.
At the end of the auction a little excitement was generated with my wife RoseAnn bidding it up to $70.00. I asked her what was she going to do with another piece of pottery no one knew anything about. She told me “I like the flowers”. When we returned home, she immediately grabbed our copy of the “Ken Forster” book and opened it to page 4, and there it was. Then I also became excited. As time went on we decided to liquidate our personal collection of pottery due to our health concerns. We checked around to see what it might be worth. The opinions were about as varied as the people making them. We settled on donating it to the NDPCS to do with it as they pleased. Well, we received calls from several people that informed us that perhaps that was not a good idea as there were not enough people that understood the importance of the item.
Last year we had our convention in Fargo and the discussion came up with other members and it was suggested we donate it back to UND as they were the organization that commissioned it to be made. The curator just happened to be there and she informed me that UND had a complete set of the three items that were commissioned. But she said they would be happy to have this one also. Further discussion was held and someone suggested we donate it to the ND State Historical Museum. Their curator just was giving a talk at the time, so I approached him to see if they would be interested. He seemed very noncommittal and really did not seem to care or want to spend the time talking about it. So, I grabbed a copy of “Ken Forster” and that changed the entire dynamics of the discussion. He took the plate back to Bismarck and a couple months later I received a letter telling me they had to have a meeting with their board as to whether or not they wanted the item. After a couple of months again went by, I received a letter of acceptance and documents relinquishing our ownership of the plate.. So, that is the rest of the story.
Rosemeade Pottery
By Arley Olson, NDPCS Historian
Rosemeade pottery, Wahpeton, ND has become a popular collectible today because its creator, Laura Taylor Hughes, chose subjects which continually fascinate people--animals, birds, fish--and modeled authentic characterizations of their living counterparts. These innovative designs were then accurately hand painted in nature’s vivid coloring.
Laura Taylor combined education, experience and creative skill. Educated at UND, Taylor was a student and assistant to nationally known director, Margaret Cable. Laura Taylor was appointed state supervisor of the North Dakota Works Administration (WPA).
An opportunity to demonstrate pottery making at the 1939 New York World’s Fair changed Laura Taylor’s life as she met Robert J. Hughes, zealous booster of state enterprise. Together they founded the Wahpeton Pottery Company in January 1940 and married three years later.
Many of Laura Taylor’s naturalistic designs reflected the native flora and fauna of her North Dakota farm childhood. A wide range of other products included place souvenirs, human forms, functional items and advertising pieces. The company name was changed to Rosemeade Potteries in 1953 for better name recognition and remained successful while other companies of that era did not survive.
Distinctive lustrous glazes created by Howard Lewis, production manager, set Rosemeade apart, making it easily recognizable. Metal oxides painted under the glazes fired into colorful hues. Lewis also threw swirl pottery vases and pitchers. He learned the swirl process while working at Niloak Pottery and previously produced “Dickota Badlands” swirl pottery for the Dickinson Clay Products Company.
Joe McLaughlin succeeded Lewis as production manager. McLaughlin introduced decorative decals, including those of wildlife artist Les Kouba, and accelerated advertising specialties sales. Rosemeade Potteries closed in 1961.
Although some early pottery and the swirl ware were thrown on the potter’s wheel, the majority of Rosemeade was cast in molds. Most Rosemeade pottery is identified with an impressed mark or an ink stamp of the company name in black or blue lettering on the bottom. Also a green foil label with prairie roses and the word Rosemeade.
2024 NDPCS Auction
By Linda Bakken
