Precious Moments Community

Fellowship event at the Chapel

Precious Moments Community — 6/9/2008

Please take the poll and let us know if you would be interested in attending a fellowship event at the Chapel December 5-7, 2008. This event would be put on by the Precious Moments Supporting Foundation that operates the Chapel and the Visitor center. Since they are non-profit there would not be a lot of prizes but would focus on Christmas and the Chapel. It would be a lot of fun for the collectors to get together and visit with one another. We haven't had a fellowship event in a long time so please join the poll so that we can gauge the interest level.

PreciousMom

Eugene Freedman

Precious Moments Community — 2/22/2008

Maui, HI – Eugene Freedman, founding chairman and former president and CEO of Enesco Group Inc., passed away on Tuesday, February 19, in Hawaii, where he had a second home. He was 82.

Freedman joined Enesco at its founding in 1958; he became president and CEO in the late 1960s, a position he held for more than 30 years before retiring in 2005. During his tenure he helped develop the Precious Moments line of collectible figurines.

Even after retirement Freedman continued to maintain a presence in the industry. He served as “Ambassador of Goodwill” for Precious Moments Inc. when that company took ownership of the Precious Moments figurine line, and also lent a hand to gift vendor Starlite Originals, which produced a line of collectibles, Elisa's Safari, named in honor of Freedman’s granddaughter..

Before joining Enesco, Freedman attended Northwestern University and the California Institute of Technology. A World War II veteran, he received his naval officer's commission from Notre Dame University. He joined the gift industry in the late 1940s as a salesman for a Milwaukee-based gift and novelty company, subsequently opening his own manufacturing and distribution company under the name Gene Freedman.

Freedman’s philanthropic endeavors earned him well-deserved recognition. He received the Gift for Life’s Chuck Yancy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 for his efforts to fight AIDS, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America's Herbert Hoover Humanitarian award in 2004, and the Easter Seals National Philanthropist of the Year award in 2005. Freedman was also honored with the Congressional Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and a special recognition award from the National Association of Limited Edition Dealers (NALED), among many other awards.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 26 at 2:00 pm at Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun, 2020 West Brown Deer Rd., River Hills, WI 53217. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, 2615 W. Cleveland Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53215. Following the burial, the family will host a reception at Brynwood Golf and Country Club, 6200 W. Good Hope Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53223.

In lieu of flowers, the Freedman family is requesting donations be made to either Boys and Girls Clubs of America or Easter Seals.

Freedman is survived by his wife Ruth, son Rick, daughters Penny and Nancy, Nancy’s husband Ben, and granddaughter Elsa.

Madame Alexander Precious Moments Doll

Precious Moments Community — 1/13/2008

Precious Moments and Madame Alexander Doll Company have come together to create this wonderful 2 doll set that is exclusive to Oma's Doll Shop in Cape May, NJ. This is a special Madame Alexander doll that just loves Precious Moments! She is limited to only 300 sets and she can be order directly through Omasdollshop.com or by contacting them at 1-877-274-DOLL.

Chapel Fundraiser

Precious Moments Community — 11/25/2007

     First, I want to assure all of you that I will still be participating in my annual ride to fight AIDS, "Braking The Cycle", next September. But, I will be doing another ride on Saturday June 21st, 2008!!! On this ride two of my buddies from "Braking The Cycle", Ray and Joe will join me on a ONE HUNDRED MILE Bicycle Ride through Long Island, New York. We will ride out to Montauk, which is on the eastern most tip of Long Island!

   The purpose of this ride is to raise money for the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri. ALL PROCEEDS will go back to the Chapel via the Samuel J. Butcher Foundation. First, I will need all of your prayers, and next, I am asking for your financial support. There are several different ways that you can support me on this ride. You can make a one time donation of any amount that you would like to donate. Or, you can donate an amount per mile that I ride. For example, you can donate $1.00 per mile which will equal $100.00; $0.75 cents per mile will be $75.00; $0.50 cents per mile will be $50.00 and $0.25 cents per mile will be $25.00!

   These amounts are just a suggestion. You can donate more or less, and any donation will be most appreciated and will surely make a difference. Each time I pedal, I will think of how what I am doing is helping to support the Precious Moments Chapel; through the generous support of each of you. Just think how it will make you feel the next time you visit the Chapel to recognize that you have helped to support the renovations! How proud you will feel knowing that the support you have given is at work!

   Please make your checks payable to "Happiness Is Belonging" and note "Chapel ride" in the memo section. We will deposit your checks and then after the ride we will present the money to Sam.

   I thank each of you for taking the time to read this. I do hope that you will share this information with other Precious Moments collectors, to help gain their support of this endeavor. The Chapel needs repair and with the moving of the Fountain of Angels, there is much work that will need to be done. Your donation will help to support this work!

   Please share this with your local chapter clubs as well, and if one person in each club tells someone else, then the word will spread! It is up to us to help keep Sam's dream, Sam's legacy, and Sam's love for his Chapel alive. Please sponsor me on this ride! You will definitely be making a
difference.
   Please send your donations to: "HAPPINESS IS BELONGING"
               c/o Rosemarie Romano
               2602 Fillmore Avenue
               Brooklyn, New York 11229

   If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me at the club, at Happinessbelongs@aol.com

       And thanks again in advance!
        Rosemarie

Don't miss the party

Precious Moments Community — 11/3/2007

Collectors' Club Official 30th Anniversary Party

Date: 9/25/2008 to 9/28/2008
Location: Branson, Missouri and The Precious Moments Chapel

Come and enjoy as we collectively celebrate the history, as well as the future of Precious Moments! This event will be held at the brand new Branson Convention Center (which opened September 2007), and will be a time of personal and collective inspiration combined with plenty of fun and entertainment.

Event Itinerary Includes 4 Days / 3 Nights of Fun, Games, Prizes, Information Sharing and Entertainment:

Thursday Night Reception & Dinner at the Branson Convention Center, including a Celebration of Precious Moment’s First 30 Years
Friday All Day Seminars, Games and Fun, including Breakfast, Lunch and Afternoon Social at the Branson Convention Center
Friday Night Dinner Show in Branson
Saturday, a day at The Chapel, including a VIP Hard Hat Tour, unveiling Phase 1 of the Chapel Rejuvenation – group travels together by bus from Branson
Saturday Night at Silver Dollar City including special Precious Moments Presentation
Sunday morning Farewell Breakfast and Final Presentation at the Branson Convention Center

Event Package includes meals, entertainment, selected transportation, presentations, gifts – all items except hotel rooms. Guests will be allowed to select their preferred hotel from a list of 8-10 properties in Branson. Event Package will be booked directly with KP Partners and hotels will be booked directly with the Branson Hotel Bureau.

The Package Total Cost Per Person is $525.00, and includes:

Exclusive arrival gifts and Precious Moments Event Figurine
All meals, from Thursday evening through Sunday morning
Transportation and VIP Tour / Activities at the Chapel
Entertainment, shows, seminars and product line updates
Games, prizes and fun throughout

There will be a $200 per person deposit required upon registration with balance due by August 1, 2008. Event Registration opens November 1, 2007 with KP Partners and Hotel Registration opens November 1, 2007 with Branson Hotel Bureau.

This trip will combine the fun & entertainment of Branson, Missouri along with the inspiration of The Precious Moments Chapel. Click here for the registration package.

Special Promotion just for our site!

Precious Moments Community — 9/29/2007

PMOnline - PMCommunity Special

ONLINE: Precious Moments

We've done all the work for you!

Detailed information inclusive from 1976 through current day

Information and photos licensed through PMI

Nearly 2900 items represented with Full Color pictures

Price is for a one-year subscription to the service.

In order to provide uninterrupted service, annual updates are automatic ($15.95), unless notified to discontinue the service. An email will be sent prior to all renewals being charged.

Please remember to set your browser to accept popups from our website in order to view the items properly

How does it work?

THIS SPECIAL PRICE ENDS 10/31/07

PLEASE NOTE: It takes 24 hours to establish initial access for order placed Monday - Thursday. Our office is CLOSED FRIDAY - SUNDAY. Orders placed on these days will be activated on Monday.

Retail Price: $29.95
Our Price: $19.95 You Save $10.00! Click here to order!

Precious Moments Park Changes

Precious Moments Community — 9/12/2007

I have received a lot of email asking about the Chapel and what is still operating. The Chapel posted this news back in January 2007. I wanted to post this again for those who missed it.

Precious Moments Park was born with the opening of The Chapel in 1989. Samuel J. Butcher designed and built the Precious Moments Chapel as his way of sharing the joy of his faith with the world. Over the years, a variety of other attractions were added to compliment Sam’s original visionary creation, the Chapel.

Utilization of the park facilities has consistently diminished over the past several years due to increases in gas prices and the general decline in tour bus activity. The resulting reduction in paid admissions to the park has negatively affected the overall economics. The financial drain of continuing to operate a broad number of the attractions was eroding the long term financial sustainability of the Chapel. In order to insure that Sam’s original vision for the Chapel will be supported for years to come, certain changes in the park service offerings have become necessary.

The Precious Moments Foundation has closed several attractions at Precious Moments Park in Carthage, MO as of January 1, 2007. These closings include Wedding Island, The Fountain of Angels, The RV Park , The Gallery and Souper Sam’s. This difficult decision is necessary to preserve the longevity of Sam’s crowning work, The Chapel. Ongoing operations will be focused on optimizing the experience of visiting The Chapel, the Visitor Center Gift Shop and Royal Delights eatery.

Throughout the course of the year, Precious Moments Park will continue to host a number of scheduled events including the Family Reunion and Precious Customer Appreciation Nights. Unfortunately, the Show Choir Festival, Christian Women’s Day and the Holiday Lighting Festival will be canceled. The Walt Disney World event and the Collector Club Cruise will continue as scheduled.

We genuinely appreciate the support of our loyal collectors and extended family; we hope to see you here at the Chapel in the near future.

Precious Moments Family Reunion

Precious Moments Community — 9/10/2007

Precious Moments Company is hosting the "Make A Doll Event" again this year on Thursday, October 4, or Friday, October 5, 2007.

Come join the fun with Linda Rick (PM Doll Designer), Richard Hay (PM Doll President) and Craig Schoenhals (PM Doll General Manager) as you make an incredible, one-of-a-kind Princess doll that you will cherish for a life-time.

You pick out the eye color, hair color, and hair style and become a doll maker for a day! Linda will help you put the finishing touches on your doll, to make her as beautiful and elegant as possible. You will be lost in that magical "fairy-tale" land of dolls while making your special creation, and we even have a special gift for you when you arrive to help get you into that special "regal" state of mind!

Note: The correct fax number to send in your registration is 417-359-2961.
This correct number is on the form you can access below.

Click Here for more details and a registration form.
Hurry ... space is limited to only 72 pieces!!

We hope to see you there!!

PMC

Collector Cruise

Precious Moments Community — 9/7/2007

Precious Moments collectors from around the world are flying into New York today to join the Precious Moments Collector Cruise which departs tomorrow. They will travel to:

Saturday, Sept. 8 - Depart from New York City

Sunday - Boston, Mass.

Monday - Portland, Maine

Tuesday - St. John, New Brunswick

Wednesday - Fun day at sea

Thursday - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Friday - Fun day at sea

Saturday, Sept. 15 - Return to New York City

Good sailing to all!