Chairs for Charity

Short Film

2009-07-10T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here is a short film that was presented for the featured chair, signed and illustrated by David Slonim. It includes a sampling of David's illustrations from a variety of his books. Edited by Phil Cook. Narrated by Savana Cook.

Chairs for Charity: Full Seat of Success

2009-07-01T05:47:00.000-07:00

A big-papa-bear-chair thanks to the creative talent who generously designed and donated 74 chairs to this event, Culver Tri Kappa generated over $7000 in chair sales! The fundraising goals were exceedingly met along with an unexpected excitement for the chair parade that the community enjoyed throughout the month of June. The most memorable moments captured from the event are seeing the big eyes and smiles light up from the artists who designed chairs that were caught up in the excitement of bidding wars over their own masterpieces! There were rowdy rallies of bidding going on throughout the evening and you could sense the pride from the creative artists within the crowd.

"Knitty," the hand knitted chair donated by Marcy Prochaska brought in not only financial contributions for the fundraising event, but delivered a strong support in a new friendship. Bidders who were once against one another in a bidding war over this unique seat finally relinquished their pocketbooks and started a friendly conversation on the balcony.

Although this program has been in the planning process since October and much logistics went behind the scenes to create and deliver a month long chair extravaganza, Culver Tri Kappa is hoping to deliver an encore program in the next year or two. Andrea Cook and Judy Sawhook co-chaired this program along with the support from a strong team of committee captains. We would like to acknowledge all of the individuals who helped make the month long event a success through volunteering or donating:

Committee Captains:
Rhonda Anderson, Karen Boland, Kathy Rich, Chris Sheppard

Committee Members and Volunteers:
Karen Heim, Wendy Loehr, Jennifer Luttrell, Carol Jackson, Carol Saft, Janette Surrisi, Jo Surrisi

Auctioneers:
Jerry and Angela Kiesla

Musicians:
Beth Pare, Justin Ross

Photography:
Jeff Kinney

Printing:
Grant and Ginny Munroe

Auction Technical Support:
Phil Cook, Savana Cook as Narrator

Original Chair Donors:
Ancilla’s Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, Culver Academies, The Culver Cove

Chair Delivery Service:
Don Burke, Phil Cook, Marshall Pranger, Jim Sawhook, Frank Sheppard

Plymouth Chair Drop Location:
Donna Wenzel and Linda DeVault, Sisters’ Tea & Eatery and Mark and Angela Leed, Bergman Arts Center

Non-Chair Donations:
Mr. and Mrs. William Rhodes and Monticello’s Whyte Horse Winery

Inaugural Gala: Sunday, June 28 2009

2009-06-27T06:34:00.000-07:00

Tickets will be available at the door and cover the cost of a wide selection of wines and food. Beth Pare will welcome guests with beautiful piano, while Chicago's Justin Ross will entertain throughout the wine reception preview. Wine reception preview begins at 6 p.m. with a live auction starting at 8 p.m. Jerry Kisela will be the key auctioneer for the evening. Over 70 chairs will be showcased together and individually sold to each high bidder throughout the evening.

Tickets are still available and may be purchased at the door for $20 each. Only cash and checks will be accepted throughout the evening, no credit cards please.

For more information about this not-to-be-missed event, browse through the previous posts!

We hope to see you Sunday evening. We'll save a seat for you!

Chairs for Charity: BIRDS

2009-06-26T04:46:00.000-07:00

From the 74 chairs created and donated for the upcoming Chairs for Charity Gala, there were a wide range of styles, sizes and themes. A couple of chairs were about bees, we got a few with polka dots and several with hand painted butterflies and flowers. One of the more popular themes that we found was with birds. There were some chairs with birds and some designed for the birds. Here is a sneak peek at some of those bird chairs!

We hope to see you this Sunday evening. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $20. Wine reception preview starts at 6:00 p.m. with a live auction beginning at 8:00 p.m.

What charity is this for?

2009-06-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

Chairs for Charity. Many people have been asking, "What charity is this for?" That is a great question and we'd like to share a little bit about what Tri Kappa is so you can get a better idea of what this whole Chairs for Charity is all about!

Charity
Tri Kappa is a philanthropic organization that exists only within the boundaries of the state of Indiana. Tri Kappa has 146 active chapters and 121 associate chapters with almost 10,000 members.

Each Tri Kappa chapter has special projects in its own community for charity, culture, and education. Local chapters also support statewide projects. The James Whitcomb’s Riley Hospital for Children has received contributions of over $1 million and thousands of Riley dolls since it began in 1922. Tri Kappa also supports the Ronald McDonald House. Donations are made annually to the Mental Health Association in Indiana, the Arc of Indiana, Indiana Special Olympics, and many other charitable causes.

Each year local chapters and state Tri Kappa give over $1.5 million to its endeavors of charity, culture and education. Since 1901, Tri Kappa members have donated untold hours and millions of dollars to projects in the state of Indiana.

Marshall County's Local Community Enrichment
The Culver Tri Kappa chapter is pleased to initiate the Inaugural Chairs for Charity program that includes a month long townwide Chair Parade along with tonight’s Gala Reception and Live Auction.

This Chairs for Charity program provides a cultural benefit to the community by bringing together creativity through local artists and their uniquely crafted chairs. It has been an enlightening activity that many community members, businesses and visitors have enjoyed. This event has been designed to not only encourage cultural awareness but to raise capital for future Tri Kappa initiatives. The donated chairs sold during the auction enable Tri Kappa to provide continued initiatives that promote culture, education and charity for the community.

In addition to Chairs for Charity, there are many other community building programs that Culver Tri Kappa members have developed and carry out from year to year. Notable events include the Tour De Max, the Student Art Show, the Prom Dress Shop, Mom’s Day Out, the Read Program Ice Cream Social, as well as holiday service projects like Christmas basket delivery and caroling to people in our community affiliated with Meals on Wheels and Miller’s Merry Manor.

Culver Tri Kappa’s fund raising efforts such as poinsettia- and Eastertime butter braid sales help provide the financial support that goes directly into the community. Contributing almost $10,000 annually through scholarships, grants and charitable donations, the Culver Tri Kappa chapter has financially supported local individuals, families and organizations including high school- and college students, Culver’s EMS and Fire Department, the Marshall County Hospice, Beaman Home and many other community enriching endeavors.

All proceeds from the upcoming Chairs for Charity auction will help support Tri Kappa’s continued initiatives to promote culture, education and charity.

The Top 80 Reasons You Should Attend Sunday's Event!

2009-06-24T05:26:00.000-07:00

With only a few more days until the Inaugural Chairs for Charity Gala, we want to encourage you to attend by ~~chairing~~ sharing with you the top 80 reasons you should be there!

Although there well over 80 reasons you should come to this Sunday's Chairs for Charity event, the top 80 reasons are as follows:

#80 - #6 The first 74 reasons you should plan to attend this event is undoubtedly for each of the 74 chairs that will be showcased and available to purchase. These chairs are unique and intriguing. Some will make you laugh out loud, some may make you smile, some will make you say, "Awwww... Ooooo... Wow!" and some will make you raise your bid number so you can take it home with you! Just walking through the ballroom with your spouse, observing all of the chairs displayed will be an interesting evening of eye candy and charm.

#5 The fifth reason you should plan to attend this event this Sunday is for the action! This will be an enchanting evening of entertainment, a true delight for your senses from the live music and conversation, to the never-to-be-seen-again chair masterpieces, all aligned in the ballroom. Class-act live auction and selection of wines and hor d'oeuvres will make the evening complete.

#4 The fourth reason you should plan to attend this event is to show your support for the volunteers and artists who have donated endless number of hours to share something new and inventive with the community. To ensure that the chair parade and auction come back again, this year's event must be a success. All the donated items and time will only be a success if you are present and bid. Also, the primary function for this function is to raise money for charity. There are schools, public service organizations, families, homeless shelters, hospices, hospitals and many other organizations in our very own county and in the state of Indiana who are relying on Tri Kappa's charity each year. In today's economy, we wanted to develop a new and creative fundraiser. OK, so this fourth reason was a guilt card, moving on...

#3 The third reason you should plan to attend this event this Sunday is because all of the cool people are doing it and will be there. You're cool, right?

#2 The second reason you should plan to attend this event this Sunday is because there is nothing else going on! It is summertime, it is a Sunday evening. The balcony at the Cove will be open and set up. The a/c inside the Cove will be on high, keeping the cool people even cooler. It is a great excuse for a date night. It is something different to do.

And, the #1 reason you should attend this Sunday's Chairs for Charity Gala.... is.... well, you will have to just show up to see!

Tri Kappa's Chairs for Charity event is this Sunday, June 28th. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a wine reception and preview. At 8:00 p.m. the live auction will begin. You may purchase your ticket at the door for $20. Only cash or checks are accepted throughout the evening.

Children Chairs for Charity!

2009-06-22T19:57:00.000-07:00

With over 70 chairs that will be on display and sale this Sunday at the Gala, you know there will be cute chairs for the kids and grandkids! Here is just a handful of child-sized delights that you may preview and possibly purchase during this Sunday's live auction at the Culver Cove. Tickets available at the door. All adults are welcome to enjoy this inaugural creative fundraising event. Live bidding starts at 8:00 p.m. Doors open for preview at 6:00 p.m.

Introducing Janette Surrisi's "Monday afternoon at the Ocean"

2009-06-20T20:28:00.000-07:00

Janette Surrisi's chair, titled Monday afternoon at the Ocean personifies a summer breeze in the sand! It really must be seen in person to experience this work of art!

When asked to share some special aspects and vision of Mrs. Surrisi's chair, she replies, "The antique chair was purchased at the Jon Stiegler's Antique Store in Burr Oak, Indiana. The tiger maple chair I spotted had a very worn seat covering and I loved the idea of using fabric. I also knew I wanted to do something with a nautical, ocean, or lake theme. In talking to Jon, he mentioned a couple ideas for chairs. The idea I liked that he spoke of was using seashells. I immediately thought of a dear friend, Billye Abad, who had given me many seashells over the years. She spends six months a year in Florida walking the beach and collecting the shells. I knew that I could use some of her shells and asked her to donate more shells to my cause.

"The process for making the chair included an hour long trip to JoAnne's Fabric, a lot of sanding, recovering the seat, two coats of paint, constructing the tulle bow with hand beaded seashells and glass, and a lot of arranging and gluing seashells.

"Artistically speaking, I picked a lot of my color palette from Indiana artist Douglas David. When Sean and I owned the art gallery in Culver, we met David and many others that soon became our favorites. What has always struck me about David is his ability to convey ease and calm with his color palette. I don't know if that was an achievement with this chair, but it is definitely something I was hoping to do.

"The other aspects of the chair I would like to touch upon is the conveyance of fantasy and ideas. The chair is not functional at all. In my mind the look and the idea of the chair were too important to sacrifice in order to make the chair functional. The title of the chair is important in relating the idea as well. The idea is the title which is "Monday afternoon at the Ocean" and that means to me a day off work to day dream, pickup shells, and relax."

This chair will be available to preview during Sunday's Chairs for Charity Gala, starting at 6:00 p.m. We hope you will join us for an evening of entertainment, wine reception, live auction sale of chair masterpieces like this one, along with many many more chairs to choose from!

Introducing Sisters' Chair to Share-A-Tea

2009-06-18T20:51:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to introduce Donna Wenzel's and Linda Devalt's chair creation titled, "Sisters' Chair to *Share-A-Tea.*" As owners of the Plymouth's Sisters' Tea and Eatery, these ladies have designed a chair that much like their charming café, entices you to sit a while and enjoy some hot tea with a friend. If you would like to preview this special *chair-a-tea* seat, stop by the WTCA's 1050 am Oldies radio station at 112 W. Washington Street in Plymouth. If you would like to experience the selection of the Sisters' specialty teas and homemade baked goods and sandwiches, stop by Sisters' Tea Eatery at 203 N. Michigan in Plymouth, for hours call 574-935-4822.

This chair has been donated to the Chairs for Charity parade and auction and will be available along with a specialty gift bag. If you would be interested in purchasing this chair, please reserve your seat for next week's Gala!

Introducing Jane Heydt's In the Garden Chair

2009-06-18T04:35:00.000-07:00

This chair is a piece of art that anyone would adore while gazing into their garden every morning. "In the Garden" has been created and donated by Jane Heydt. The chair, along with its small china plate decor was originally purchased at the Cameron Antique Fair in Cameron, North Carolina. Jane is a friend to many in Culver and aside from her love of antiques, gardening and decorating, she also enjoys acting and the theater.

Thank you Jane for bringing new life to old beautiful vintage items! If you would like to get a closer look at Mrs. Heydt's "In the Garden," along with other gorgeous garden chair pieces, drive by Elizabeth Gardens!

If you agree that this chair would make a great friend to your landscaping this summer, you may attend the auction on June 28th at the Culver Cove. Tickets are limited, cost $20 and are available by emailing us today!

Introducing Seana Badalich's "Queen Bee" Chair

2009-06-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

There's no second guessing which chair is in charge when this regal honey is in the room! Tall, sleek, majestic with just a touch of sweetness sits Queen Bee, donated and designed by Culver community's creative Seana Badalich.

Ms. Badalich shares, "I guess the Queen Bee chair evolved from first hearing about the auction a couple months ago, then seeing the $15 chair in a Plymouth second-hand shop while looking for something to refinish and re-purpose as a bedside table. I then completely copied the idea for the seat after noticing my favorite pillow was on sale on the Ballard Design site. I couldn't draw or copy the Ballard's actual bee so I had to freehand something similar. I didn't even think to take a photo of the chair before I refinished it, but I can tell you it was seriously ugly! It was dark, dirty and brown with a ratty, burgundy faux-leather seat covering, but still with an oddly regal presence." And no one can dispute the renewed regal presence that Ms. Badalich was able to restore!

Besides re-creating chairs, Ms. Badalich also enjoys painting an assortment of furniture pieces as well as scrapbooking. She admits that her number one creative challenge is, "finding more than twenty minutes to do something not connected to taking care of someone." Wise words spoken from a Queen Bee herself!

Thank you for sharing your creative talents Ms. Badalich! We look forward to meeting and greeting with you during the Gala. Anyone is welcome to attend this evening of live music, live auctioning along with food and drinks fit for a "queen."

To reserve your space, email us to purchase your ticket. Tickets are $20 and include a wine selection and an assortment of food during the wine reception preview from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. The live auction begins at 8:00, along with a full cash bar for the remainder of the evening. Be prepared to enjoy this not-to-be-missed inaugural event!

Thanks for the interest in the chair! It is very flattering! I hope it brings in some cash.

Introducing Imaginary Arts School"s "Scooter Doodle"

2009-06-16T04:39:00.001-07:00

Meet Scooter Doodle.

He may look small, but he has big ideas, just like the children who attend Imaginary Arts School in Plymouth, IN. Creative and crafty, these kids attend Angela Leed's weekly art classes and their imaginations transform plaster mixture into bright colorful chalk, wall paper scraps into flowers, beads into soap, paper into airplanes, butterflies and frogs

It is no wonder that these creative kiddos wanted to participate in the Chairs for Charity Chair Parade this year! A chair was used from the artists' classroom, located in the Bergman Arts Center, downtown Plymouth at 203 Michigan Street. Once this little chair was painted, like Pinocchio, he came to life. The kids named him Scooter and signed their names.

And now, Scooter Doodle welcomes kids of all ages to stop by the Book Worm to visit him and add a little special doodle on this seat!

If you would like to preview chairs in Tri Kappa's Chairs for Charity Chair Parade, feel free to print a parade map or you may explore the blog frequently updated with chairs and chair artists. Chairs may also be available to preview during a wine reception at the upcoming Inaugural Gala, Sunday, June 28th at 6:00 p.m. at the Culver Cove. Chairs will be sold during this gala at a live auction. Tickets for this event are on sale now for $20, while 'seating' is available. If you are interested in purchasing a ticket, you may contact us here >>

Chair Parade is Marching Forward

2009-06-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

* * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * *

Drive through the main streets of Plymouth or Culver and you may get a peek of the Chairs for Charity Chair Parade. With over 70 chairs donated and over 30 businesses hosting chairs, the Tri Kappa inaugural Chairs for Charity program has kicked off the month of June with a splash of fun and artistic flare.

"Last week was the Chair Drop Off and we had no idea what to expect. We were hoping we'd get at least one chair and no more than one thousand chairs donated," explained Andrea Cook, Committee Co-Chairperson. She continues, "We were pleasantly pleased with the number of chairs and especially with the quality and creativity of each chair. We have our fingers crossed that people will purchase tickets to the upcoming auction and plan to attend and bid on these chair-masterpieces! That is the type of support we really need to help us make this event a success."

Each chair is unique and requires an in-depth preview to truly experience the chair's quality and creativity. You may preview the chairs while they are on parade throughout the month. Chair Parade maps are available at participating businesses who are hosting these chairs. The blog http://chaircharity.blogspot.com has been frequently showcasing chairs along with photos and interesting stories about the artists and their visions for their chairs.

Some highlights of the chairs that are on parade and will be available to purchase during the upcoming auction include
- A pair of black leather and wooden barrel seats signed by the Culver Academy's Black Horse Troop 09 Inaugural Presidential Parade,
- Celebrity-signed and illustrated chair by children's author, David Slonim,
- A custom airbrushed red wake board bench and
- A sea shell adorned summer breeze seat.

There are garden chairs created for the outdoors, porch chairs, children chairs, hand painted chairs, there are chairs for the birds there are chairs of birds. There are some with polka dots, some with frogs, one with a T-Rex another with a cute cow. There is even a chair with a monkey and a bell. Some chairs are fancy, sparkling pink and perfect for divas, other chairs more stately and nautical for the sailor. Some chairs are meant as keepsakes, other chairs are created to make you think or create and doodle. A rocking chair, an Adirondack, a bench, stools, desk chairs, and a desk, lots of wicker and a rainbow of colors and styles, each item available to the highest bidder. We hope to see you on there at this community fundraiser! Please reserve your "seat" by purchasing your ticket today.

The Inaugural Gala will be at the Culver Cove on the evening of Sunday, June 28th. The wine reception preview begins at 6:00 p.m. with a live auction starting at 8:00 p.m. Meet and greet the artists who designed the chair masterpieces for an evening of food, drinks, live music and of course creative conversation. Tickets are on sale for $20 each and are available for purchase at the City Tavern or by contacting Andrea Cook at 216-7225 or Judy Sawhook at 842-2861. Tickets may be purchased at the door, while seating is available.

Tri Kappa is a philanthropy that supports local and statewide projects and is proud to have contributed over $1 million to the Riley Hospital for children. Donations for this program also support the Ronald McDonald House, the Mental Health Association in Indiana, the Arc of Indiana, Indiana Special Olympics and many other charitable causes. Tri Kappa’s initiatives are designed to promote charity, culture and education. The Chairs for Charity program has been designed to promote culture throughout the community, with the primary purpose of fund raising to support initiatives such as scholarships, art shows, donations for reading programs, food pantries, holiday gifts and other community building endeavors throughout Marshall County.

Chairs for Charity Chairs on Parade MAP

2009-06-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

Introducing Kathy Rich's Positively Paisley Chair

2009-06-12T05:36:00.000-07:00

Welcoming today's warm wonder to our blog is Kathy Rich's reupholstered chair titled, "Positively Paisley." Mrs. Rich shows her style and class through the exquisite craftsmanship applied to this antique collectible Heywood-Wakefield classic.

Mrs. Rich shares, "This chair was donated from Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ at Ancilla and had its original finish. The Heywood-Wakefield's descriptive label is still on it! I wanted to give it a fresh look so I decided to reupholster the seat. After removing the leather upholstery, I found animal hair being used as the padding. I left it intact!"

This stately seat can help dress a room up or down depending on the day and need. Positively Paisley can be previewed during this month's Chairs for Charity Parade by stopping by Fisher's & Company (Fisher & Company Clothiers, 111 S Main St, Culver, IN 46511, (574) 842-2671.) This chair will be available for purchase during the upcoming live auction. The Gala Auction is Sunday, June 28th. Tickets are currently available to purchase while *seating* is available! Ask a Tri Kappa member or purchase your tickets at City Tavern today!

Introducing Emily Ryman's Summer School Chairs

2009-06-11T05:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Emily Ryman for this pair of cool and collective folding director chairs custom designed with summer camp and woodcraft badges.

Each chair will be sold separately during the June 28th auction at Culver's Cove. The chair pictured on the left is titled, "By Order of the Camp Directorrr's... Chair" adorned with a set of four embroidered patches. This chair will be accompanied with the yellow cotton 100 Summer Cavalry Hoofbeads of History T-Shirt pillow.

The other chair is titled, "Pillow Fight - Woodcraft." This chair is marked with nine memorable embroidered patches and will be sold with three cotton pillows handcrafted from camp T-shirts (one pillow is not available to be shown presently but will be available for preview during the wine reception immediately preceding the auction.)

Both chairs are actively participating in our Chairs for Charity Chair Parade and are currently stationed in the store front window of Culver's City Tavern. If you are interested in attending the auction, you may purchase your tickets at the City Tavern or by asking a member of Tri Kappa.

Introducing Chris Sheppard's 56th Presidential Inaugural Black Leather Barrel Seats

2009-06-10T05:13:00.000-07:00

As another school year comes to a close at Culver Academies, there are many special memories that highlight this past year. One of the most remarkable moments shared by those who experienced January's Inauguration in Washington, D.C., was the opportunity to be part of the historical presidential parade.

What better way to relish these memories for the Culver's equestrians than to curl up with a cozy blanket and stroll through photos while sitting in a one-of-a-kind set of barrel seats created by Culver Academy's Ms. Chris Sheppard. Here is Ms. Sheppard's special story on how these chairs were inspired:

"A few years ago when he departed Culver, Harvey Firari had a couple barrel chairs with a table that he wasn't able to take with him to New York. He asked if I'd be able to use them and I had just the spot. I used them in my basement, but as years have gone by we weren't using them as much. When Tri Kappa's Chairs for Charity program started to develop, I thought what a perfect use for those chairs.

"This past January, with all of the hubbub of our Black Horse Troop participating in this year's Inaugural Parade, I thought there might be a way to incorporate that with the barrel chairs. Barrel chairs, horses, rustic looking... it all fit together! With Bill Hargraves' permission to use the Culver collateral, Ed Little and Lynn Rasch helped me collect '09 Inaugural memorabilia saved from the event. When I started, I was just going to use a vinyl paint to cover the chairs. I noticed the vinyl that was on the chairs had started to crack. In order to keep the chairs as regal as the memorabilia deserved, I had to peel off that paint right away and I called my friend, Jane King to help me out. She had some beautiful black leather that she used to reupholster the seats. When she finished I took them home and decoupaged a few things onto the chairs, put horseshoes on the front. The show stopper, I believe, is the signatures of all the students that participated in the actual parade. After they signed it I put a coat of polyurethane to cover it and WWAALLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! DONE!

"This was my first experience with any kind of creative art, if that's what you want to call it. Although challenging, it was fun once I got started. It has given me the confidence to try again on other chairs. I may even try a bigger project for next year's charity event. Maybe the table that goes with the chairs! I've had several people stop me and want to talk about the chairs. They seem to be a great conversation piece! And I hope these chairs will continue to foster conversation pieces for years to come.

"When you stop to think about it, these chairs capture true history. Our students were able to ride in the parade for the first African American President of the United States. Such a momentous occasion can be a legacy to pass along to the next generations. The thought of that is humbling to me! I just want for the person who gets these chairs to get as much enjoyment out of them as I did doing them."

These chairs are available to preview by stopping in at the Edgewater Grille. You may also be able to chat with the chair artist, Ms. Sheppard as she frequently works evenings at the restaurant after working her day job at the Culver Academy Post Office. The chairs will be sold, along with 2009 limited scarves to the highest bidder during the auction on Sunday, June 28th at Culver's Cove. Tickets for this event are available to purchase by contacting a member of Culver Tri Kappa, or by stopping in the City Tavern while "seating" is available.

Due to the high demand for these chairs, absentee bids will be accepted. You may send your final bid request, along with your name, phone number by email here >>>

Tickets On Sale While Seating Is Available!

2009-06-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

SUNDAY June 28th at the Culver Cove in Culver, IN, Tri Kappa is hosting a not to be missed event where you can mingle with the artists who have been designing and creating those one of a kind original chairs showcased here on the blog and throughout the community this month.

The Preview Reception will begin at 6 p.m., served with wine and a lovely selection of appetizers and sweets all adorned with live music to enjoy. The live bidding will begin promptly at 8:00 p.m.

You may purchase your ticket for $20 from a Culver Tri Kappa member or at Culver's City Tavern. Tickets may be sold at the door while seating is still available. Adults only please.

Now Entering: The Deep Blue Sea(t)

2009-06-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

If you love the sea, you will love this sea(t)!

A relaxing and sturdy blue wicker chair, painted and adorned with nautical accents that you and even your lakefront birds can enjoy the summer breezes is the latest chair designed and donated by Catherine Emmons. Mrs. Emmons crafted this chair with great detail from the shells on the charming birdhouse down to the drink tray adhered with a pair of Maxinkuckee historical postcards.

Mrs. Emmons' had created this chair in hopes that people could show family, friends and neighbors that life at the lake is the best by showcasing this chair on the front porch. She says to the person with the winning bid on this chair, "Look back in time at Lake Maxinkuckee through the postcards on the tray. Imagine what birds would populate the beach bungalow birdhouse." She has designed the chair with a removable net, starfish, tray and birdhouse with the intent that this chair could set on your porch throughout the summer.

We are grateful to Mrs. Emmons, a Culver Tri Kappa pledge, and all her efforts in crafting this beautiful chair, along with all her imagination and care to detail. Mrs. Emmons is submitting this chair in dedication to her little friend, Savana Cook, age 7, who has inspired her "to be more creative this year." Mrs. Emmons has invited Savana to meet with her for a monthly "Big Sister Club," where they work on special crafts all day!

Thank you Catherine Emmons, founder of the Big Sister Club, active participant of the Relay for Life program, cancer survivor, Culver Academy's Marketing Manager, wife to IT Director, Larry Emmons, mom to Travis and Shane, dog owner, quilter, friend, turtle lover and now chair designer!

If you would like a live preview of the Deep Blue Sea(t), stop by Culver's Gladie's Deli! If you are interested in purchasing this chair, you may bid on this item during the Chairs for Charity Live Auction Gala, Sunday, June 28th at 6 p.m. at the Culver Cove.

Introducing Kathy J. Clark's "Happy Watershed Chair"

2009-06-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to welcome the latest chair in the line up for the upcoming parade that is being kicked off this weekend!

The Happy Watershed Chair, designed by Kathy J. Clark is sure to put a summer smile on your sunny face! Ms. Clark is the Executive Director of Culver's Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council. The Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council is a non-profit organization that provides preservation and eco-friendly projects for Lake Maxinkuckee and its surrounding watershed.

The chair has been designed for indoor and outdoor use and will be showcased on Main Street in Culver in front of the Environmental Council.

Ms. Clark had a lot of fun doing this project and has included a poem to share with you. Enjoy!

The Happy Watershed Chair

Happy bugs and flowers live upon my land,
Where google-eyed frogs are playing hand in hand
Right next to dancing water spiders that are truly the most grand!
Please take me home
And put me in the sand!
- Kathy J. Clark

Introducing Marina Cavazos' "I-Spy" Chair

2009-05-28T18:13:00.000-07:00

Allow us to introduce the next chair masterpiece submitted by Marina Cavazos titled, "I-Spy: Glimpses of Culver."

The imagery of this chair reflect snapshots of Culver's sights throughout town. Artist Cavazos captured special details of Culver from photos of the town landmarks and shops to its people and nature as seen through a camera lens. Every eye must SPY this captivating decoupage of sparkling summer memories!!!

This chair will be available to preview throughout next month's Chair Parade and will be available for purchase during the live auction, on June 28th at the Culver Cove. We look forward to seeing more original chair designs.

Don't forget, the Chair Drop Off is only 10 days away. If you have a chair you would like to donate for this Chairs for Charity program, you may drop your chair off at either 432 School Street in Culver - OR - 203 N. Michigan Street in Plymouth on Saturday, June 6th from 10 a.m. until noon. Each artist donating a chair will receive two tickets to the upcoming Live Gala Auction slated for late June. Tickets will be sold for $20 and may be purchased from a Culver Tri Kappa member or by stopping in Culver's City Tavern. Participating businesses will be showcasing these chairs near their entrance areas throughout the month.

Chair Drop Off SAT 6/6 10 A.M. until Noon

2009-05-27T17:32:00.000-07:00

Don't just sit there, better get your chair ready to drop off for the Chairs for Charity parade!

This Saturday, June 6th from 10 a.m. to noon, community members are invited to donate a special chair, any chair - old or new, big or small, classic or whimsical. Chairs must be dropped off this Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at 432 School Street in Culver or at 203 N. Michigan Avenue in Plymouth. All community members donating a chair at this time will receive two free tickets for admission to the upcoming Live Auction Gala scheduled later this June. Tickets for the Gala will be sold at $20 each and will be available during the chair drop off location or by contacting a Culver Tri Kappa member.

To catch a preview of other artists' chairs that will be donated for this town wide parade, you may visit http://chaircharity.blogspot.com. Or, keep your eye out for chairs popping up around town starting June 6th as participating businesses will be parading these chair masterpieces near their entrance areas for the community to enjoy.

If you are a business interested in hosting a chair, please contact us by email.

If you are an artist and you would like to showcase your chair here on our blog, please check out this post >>>

2009-05-19T11:57:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to ~~chair~~ share a preview to the second chair donated by Andrea Cook titled, Razzle Dazzle.

Razzle Dazzle was designed for the sassy and classy, someone who wants something hot to liven up her home decor while not sacrificing comfort and quality. The smooth red wooden contoured structure of this arm chair has a generous seating space with a sexy soft zebra print that will definitely "give them something to talk about!"

Mrs. Cook, co-chair of the Culver Tri Kappa's Chairs for Charity program has developed a new passion for chairs since designing her first chair, signed and illustrated by children's author, David Slonim. To read the Life of a Chair story along with photos, click here >>>

"Every stage of this project, from the event's overall vision to the planning and execution of this program has been inspiring," Mrs. Cook explains. "There is something fresh and magical when a community works together on an event that spawns creativity. Creativity allows people to talk about, to think about something new and imaginative. It is so much fun hearing from the people who have committed to donating a chair. Their eyes light up when they tell you where their chair came from and what their vision is for the chair."

Mrs. Cook claims that co-chairing the event is rewarding, however, she has admittedly found a new love of giving new life to old chairs.

Thank You Culver Boys and Girls Club

2009-05-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to share the latest chair that has been shared with us for our upcoming Chairs for Charity program. This chair has been created by the boys and girls of Culver's Boys and Girls Club and is dedicated to promote awareness for breast cancer.

In just 18 days, artists will be dropping off their chair masterpieces to either the Culver or Plymouth locations from 10 a.m. to noon. Participating businesses will be showcasing these chair beauties throughout the month of June and anyone interested in purchasing a chair and supporting Tri Kappa's fundraising iniatives will be invited to attend the Inaugral Gala and Live Auction on June 28th at The Culver Cove. Tickets for the Gala Auction will go on sale in June and may be purchased during the chair drop off locations for $20 or at the door while space is available. Chair drop off locations are: Culver: 432 School Street or Plymouth: 203 N. Michigan Street.

Introducing Marcy Prochaska's Neat-N-Nifty Knitted Chair

2009-05-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

As a follow up from a previously written post titled, "Calling All Knitters," you may recall the mention of a crafty friend who was preparing a nifty knitted style of a chair. At last, this knitted masterpiece is complete and we would like to give you a special sneak peek before it is on display for the upcoming town wide Chairs for Charity Parade.

Marcy Prochaska is a talented young woman who plays a hammered dulcimer professionally both locally and nationwide. Her music may be enjoyed from time to time from her community performances at her church, Culver's Coffee Company and Plymouth's Yellow River Festival. In addition to playing and teaching the hammered dulcimer, Mrs. Prochaska also enjoys singing, drawing, sewing and scrapbooking.

When asked about her unique approach to her chair, she gives attention to the guerrilla knitting phenomenon where people knit around trees, bike racks, railings, street sign poles, etc. She wanted to use her love for knitting with this project while maintaining the integrity of the chair's structure. She kept the material covering the chair as snug as a bug in a rug and has also made the seat cover removable, so that it could be washed.

When asked what were some challenges that she faced, she replies, "There were a lot of interesting challenges: choosing a yarn and guessing how much to buy, designing two-color patterns and learning to execute them, calculating just how to shape sleeves for each bit of the chair, sewing up seams on a large awkward heavy object." She adds, "I learned a lot through this project, and I'm quite pleased with the final result."

And we think you will join her friends' ooo's and ahh's as you take a look at this clever knitted chair piece!

If you would like to read more about Marcie's chair and see photos of how her craft progressed through the knitting process, click here>>>

This chair will be available to preview throughout June on the Culver and Plymouth town wide Chair Parade and will be available for purchase during the auction, on June 28th at The Culver Cove at 6 p.m. Tickets will be available in June or may be purchased at the door. Any artists donating a chair for this event will be awarded two free tickets to the Auction Gala!

Chair drop off is scheduled, rain or shine, Saturday, June 6, 2009 at either location:
Culver: 432 School Street
Plymouth: 203 N. Michigan Street

Introducing Jessica Saunders' "Covenant" Chair

2009-05-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to share a preview to one of our first artists, Jessica Saunders, Culver, IN and her crafty, colorful chair, titled, Covenant. Mrs. Saunders was inspired by a rainbow theme once she noticed the six spindles on her chair. She has included a verse from Genesis she favors as it reminds her of God's promise to us never to flood the Earth again. Jessica, mom to an adorable, angelic toddler and expecting another baby girl later this month, also enjoys card making, sewing and cross stitch.

This chair will be available to preview throughout next month's Chair Parade and will be available for purchase during the auction, on June 28th.

Template to Help Promote Chair Artists...

2009-05-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

(Please forward to all chair artists who would like to be promoted on blog!)

Thanks for your interest in the Culver Tri Kappa's Chairs for Charity event. We are so glad you will be participating. In preparation of the upcoming parade, we'd like to promote your skills, talents and creativity as a chair artist on future upcoming posts to our blog. Below is a form to help us collect some information from you!

Complete this template and email, along with photos of your chair here >>>

Feel free to copy and paste text directly into an email. If you do not have your chair completed, but you are still interested in being highlighted on the blog, you may just send a teaser photo, or no photo! You may also want to print this form out and bring it to the Chair Drop Off, along with your finished chair on June 6 at either the Culver or Plymouth location! We're looking forward to seeing your chair masterpiece!

Your Name:

Business or Individual you are submitting chair for:

Your Street Address:

City/ST/Zip:

Email:

Web site or blog you would like to promote (optional):

Name of Chair:

Tell us something interesting about your chair, as humorous or serious as you'd like! Describe your unique approach, vision, materials used or a playful story of this chair:

Other Artistic Interests:

Chair intended for ____ indoor usage only ____ indoor or outdoor usage

Is there a business you would prefer your chair to be displayed during the parade?

Are you submitting other items with this chair? No Yes If yes, please include detail:

Chair Call to All Artists!

2009-05-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

Hello! Remember me? I'm finally out and about again and can be previewed here:

There are posters out and about too calling all artists to get their groove on and start painting, doodling, upholstering, refinishing, making, remaking a chair. The countdown to the parade is almost one month away. For more details:

Calling All Artists:
We are inviting all artists, young and old, professional craftsmen as well as artsy wannabes, to participate in the inaugural 2009 Chairs for Charity Parade.

No chair is too big, too small, too plain or too fancy for this fun fund raising event. Feel free to repaint, redesign, reupholster, refurbish any chair any way you want. Chairs may be created from scratch, found in your basement, or recovered from a dumpster diving expedition.

Make yourself famous with a masterpiece chair to share for this community wide event. Businesses are welcome to participate.

Chairs will be on display during the Chair Parade throughout the month of June. Chairs will then be available to purchase during the live auction on June 28th. Each artist will receive 2 tickets for free admission to the auction.

Drop your chair(s) off on Saturday, June 6, 2009, between 10 a.m. and noon at one of the following locations:

Culver - 432 School Street

Plymouth - 203 N. Michigan Street

All chairs donated to this event become the property of Tri Kappa and its committee members reserve the right to add or remove chairs during the parade or auction at their discretion.

All proceeds from the live auction support Tri Kappa’s initiatives to promote charity, culture and education in the local community.

Tune In to AM1050's morning show this Thursday!

2009-04-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

Get your stations primed. Tune into AM 1050's morning radio program, especially this Thursday, April 16th at 9:45 a.m. to hear a radio interview with Culver Tri Kappa members Andrea Cook and Judy Sawhook, Co-Chairs for the upcoming Chairs for Charity program.

WTCA-AM serves Marshall County and the surrounding area with the hits of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Hear all your favorites from Elvis, The Beatles, Beach Boys, Johnny Cash, Carpenters, Neil Diamond and Andy Williams. Hum along, sing along, or tap your feet to the hits you’ve learned to know and love.

Link to radio's site to read about Chairs for Charity >>>

Painting, Knitting and now Upholstery??? Oh My!!!

2009-03-30T09:26:00.001-07:00

The previous posts on this site have shared tips and ideas about painting and knitting. Due to the high demand on questions about about reupholstering combined with it's magical inventive approach to an entirely new fresh look on furniture pieces, we thought we would share with you a resource on how easy it is to reupholster a chair. Here is the link to watch a step by step guide on recovering a dining room seat cover:

How do I reupholster a dining room seat cover?

Note: The photo above is used as a reference of an upholstered chair only. This particular chair has not been donated to the Chairs for Charity event and will not be available for purchase at the auction. However, we welcome chairs of all shapes, styles or color for this event. Artists and crafts-men and -women, get your creative caps on and start looking for what type of chair you will be creating for the upcoming parade and auction!

Culver's Cove has graciously donate several chairs to our cause. These seats have a wooden frame and do have padding with fabric. The padded and upholstered pieces are on the seat. There is also padding and fabric on both the front and back of the top of the backing of each chair. If you would like to have a chair to reupholster for this event, please send a request to Andrea Cook by email.

Calling All Knitters

2009-03-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

Hello you knitting fanatics! Have you grown tired of making scarves for your second cousins? Perhaps you've given up on making those adorable booties for your baby, following that difficult pattern up to your third trimester and now that your children are off in college you see knitting as a long lost art you wish you could renew. Well, get out those knitting needles and be ready to be inspired!

You know this blog is about Chairs, right? Well, did you know that you could knit a chair? Yeah. Seriously!

A friend of ours is doing it. She is very crafty and wants to work on a chair and shared her idea of knitting a chair. At first, we were bewildered. And then she led us to this site and we simply must share it:

Urban Knitting

Click the link and you can see some wild ideas from a tree cozy to fancy fuzzy handrail and chain link.

LIke what you see? Would more knitting images inspire you to knit up a chair?
How about:
Knit Knot
KNITTER Please
Maskerade
Grrl Dog

We hope you don't get too inspired that you knit the town red and forget to do a chair!

Are you still interested in learning how to use your knitting needles to transform a chair for this event? We can't wait to ~~chair~~ share more about Marcy Prochaska and her masterpiece she is creating. More on her chair in postings to follow. In fact, more on a variety of artists who are working on their chairs to contribute to a successful parade and auction.

Until then, check out the above links to see how these clever little knitty knitters have been working in their communities to promote their art.

Life of a Chair: Before and After

2009-03-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

Here I was after a buff and one fresh coat of paint.

Now... after a complete transformation, here I am... Ta Dah!

I hope to get around town and see life. I just hope this lady quits taking so many photos of me! I mean, give a chair a break lady!

Err. Um. Anyway. Since we do have some photos of last night's celebrity signing, I should share them with you in case you are interested, right?

Last night, my owner took me along with her family to meet David Slonim, the author and illustrator. He gave a very humorous and encouraging presentation. One of my favorite messages that he shared was that it is ok to make mistakes and it is important to try and try again. That is a great message for all artists, especially all of you out there who are creating and redesigning chairs for the parade and auction! After his presentation, there was a long line of people waiting their turn for him to sign the new books they purchased or brought along. I am just a chair, so I just sat next to him, waiting my turn for David to sign me. I mean, after all, this is a BOOK signing, not a CHAIR signing event. I know my place.

After the last signing, I could tell he was so tired. He had driven over two hours and given several presentations all day. It was late, but he was kind to follow through and help *complete me.* He quickly opened his easel, squeezed some paints on some plastic wrap and just started painting.

He was very quick and had a great sense of humor. I was only expecting a quick doodle and his signature, but he really went all out on this! I think he liked me. He kept asking if I had any sisters so he could have a chair just like me for his home. I just smiled. Here we are together.

I will miss him. He helped me be who I am today! Maybe he will come to the auction in June and take me home with him! As my current owner graciously says thank you and shakes his hand, she picks me up and carries me away. As we are about to leave the school, I see some of the artist's original paintings leaning against the wall. I am not sure why, but I feel some sort of strange attachment to them. We must be related somehow! Aren't they gorgeous?

Bye bye David and all of your illustrations! Chair-well my friends! May your talent and beauty inspire others I meet and seat!

Life of a Chair: Funky Town

2009-03-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

Hi! It's me, although you may not recognize me since my recent transformation.

I have enjoyed all of the preparation my owner has been working on to help me in my makeover. Here are some of the materials she needed to take me to the next level. She needed some acrylic paint in fun colors, so she took a quick trip to Wal-Mart. The large bottles were under $3 each.

Her buddy Judy gave her some tips on decoupaging and let her use some Mod Podge from her own stash.

She laid newspapers down on her work space, along with the illustrations that she printed from David's web site. Judy helped out by cutting some fun characters out. When she had a base painted, she saved a 5" x 5" area in the center of the seat for the real artist to doodle and sign.

Then, she just had fun sticking and wrapping and Mod Podging the illustrations here and there.

I love the energy and the whimsical playfulness of my new style.

What do you think?

Wait a sec. I think this is my better side...

These stripes really are slenderizing, don't you think?

Oh no, not a close up...

"Chaireese!"

All dressed up and someplace special to go tonight! Maybe we'll *seat* you tonight at 6:30 at Plymouth's Riverside Middle School to meet with David Slonim. I'm saving him this special seat right here! Oh. I do hope he likes me!

Check in tomorrow to see the special flair he adds. Hope to *seat* you soon!!!

Life of a Chair: Part II

2009-03-11T07:48:00.001-07:00

Hello again! I am getting so much love and affection in the past 24 hours. Here is a quick run down of the grooming I have been through...

My new owner wanted to be sure all my old varnish was removed, so she took a hand sander and buffed all of the old shine off. It may seem like a minor detail, but she thinks it will make me easier to paint. Yesterday, my new owner painted the first coat of paint on me. She used an acrylic paint, white. She purchased it at JoAnne's or Walmart and just used a foam brush.

She painted two coats of white on my seat. I overheard her say that this will be the area where the celebrity will sign and doodle. Butt, does this color make my seat look fat?

You know how overwhelmed you feel when you have to pick the color of nail polish at the nail salon? You see all the pretty colors and you try to imagine what will look good with your skin tone, what will match your new flip flops. You play out all the scenarios in your mind and you finally just pick one. Well, here are all the thoughts and colors bouncing around in my owner's mind.

After all, these are the illustrations created by David Slonim, the famous children's book author and illustrator. This artwork is some of the illustrations taken from his books. My owner printed them and her friend, Judy Sawhook cut them all out, every detail of them! Judy explained to my owner how to decoupage. Here is all you need for that type of project.

Late last night, my owner decided to stop the day dreaming and just start painting! She was a little intimidated because she wanted it to be perfect. But, the more she painted, the more she realized that painting is fun and recreating a chair like me is all for a great cause. There is no need to stress over a chair!

She had to paint two coats of the base. She was eager to get it done but the paint would only dry so fast! Here is as far as she could get before she had to turn in for the night.

There is only one day left before I have to be dressed for David's presentation. There is a lot that needs to be done. I wish I could help but, all I can do is just sit here.

Are you at the edge of your seat to see this chair's new makeover? I know I am at the edge of my own seat!

The Life of a Chair

2009-03-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

Hello, I am a chair.

I have spent most of my life in a private school where I was used as a place to sit. Those were some good times. However, the past several months, I have been stacked in a storage shed. Every day I would wonder what my future would be like. I know that I have some small dents and a couple of pieces of dried bubble gum stuck to my underbelly. But, I still am a good chair. I like people, especially kids.

One day, the storage shed was opened. I was so happy to see the sun again. There were a group of Tri Kappa ladies who put me in their van and drove me away. I have no idea what is going on but I think we're going to have some fun! There is a lady who really seems to like me a lot. She separated me from the other orphan chairs and brought me into her garage. Here are some photos of what I've been up to since arriving to my new location.

Here I sit. Wondering. Waiting.

Here is a photo of me with a new child. She's younger than I'm used to, but I am not complaining. She seems to like climbing on me, especially when her mom is trying to work on me.

Here is a photo of my feet. I am in desperate need for a pedicure. Like I said, it has been a while since I have been out and about. You can see my feet pads are rusted, bent and I am losing one of the four of my foot pads. That is the original reason that I had to leave the school.

Awwww. That feels great! Here I am getting a pedicure. My new owner is removing my rusty ol metal pads. I think she'll replace them with softer pads that she bought at the hardware store.

Oops. She has found the dried bubble gum from my underbelly. I hope her little daughter doesn't try chewing it. You should have seen the boy that stuck it under there in 1985! Whew, the lady just scraped it off and threw it all away. Am I at the spa?

Holy Rocking Chair! What is that machine? Looks dangerous... oh, it's just a buffer. A sander. It helps remove my old varnish, my dents and all those tattoos some of the kids used to try to give me when the teacher wasn't looking. Ahhh. This is nice. No more cellulite on this gal! I'm starting to feel renewed.

Oh, that is just a birthmark. I hope she leaves that alone. That tells people about where I came from...

Here I am, all buffed out. Waiting for the next phase of renewal. After two sanding pads, I am finally smooth as a baby's chair.

To Be Continued!
Stay tuned because I think I overheard my new owner telling her friend that I am going to meet a celebrity this week. I think I am going to get an entire make over. I've always wanted some color and flair...

Announcing a Celebrity Signing: David Slonim

2009-03-03T07:02:00.001-08:00

We are thrilled to announce that David Slonim, well known children's author and illustrator will be signing and doodling up a chair with his original style and flair to be donated for our inaugural Chairs for Charity parade and auction.

You may recognize David's works from books such as Who Swallowed Harold?, He Came With The Couch, Squeal and Squawk and other children's books.

David Slonim has been drawing and making up stories since he was a kid growing up in New Jersey. Thanks to his elementary school art teacher he worked with papier-mache, puppetry, stained glass, ceramics, 2-D and clay animation films by age 11. "Mrs. Hulsizer invited some of us to hang out in her art supply closet during lunch and make stuff while she munched tuna sandwiches and cracked us up with stories about her dogs. It was great."

He continued writing stories and making films, puppets and costumes through junior high and high school, going on to study illustration at Rhode Island School of Design. After about ten years creating images for clients like Tony's Frozen Pizza, UPS, and T.G.I. Friday's, David was asked to illustrate his first children's book. At about the same time, he began exhibiting fine art oil paintings in art galleries. (You may see his oil paintings at davidslonimfineart.com.)

We are thankful that David is willing to contribute to our local Chairs for Charity event and we are excited to see the variety of chairs created by artists, children and other craftsmen throughout the community!

Chair Ideas

2009-03-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

Here are some past chairs that were created for another chair charity event. Special thanks to Wendy Loehr and her family for sharing them.

Calling all Auctioneers ! ! !

2009-02-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

WANTED: An auctioneer for Tri Kappa's Chairs for Charity event, Sunday, June 28

Do you know anyone who would make a great auctioneer for this event? Please email Andrea or Judy and let us know! Thank you!

I pledge...

2009-01-27T12:20:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the video, I Pledge below? It is a collection of pledges made by some of Hollywood's top stars, produced by Harpo Productions, an Oprah enterprise. And, like many ventures that Oprah takes on in attempt to better this world, this video has gotten a lot of criticism. Whether or not you are a fan of Oprah or supporter of Obama, setting all politics aside, the core message of this video is about service. It is intended to unite our country and community to help one another, to serve one another and to make a pledge to follow through.

I hope you will take a moment to watch the video. Just click on the play button and do share your comments below!

What do you think about this video?

Were you encouraged or irritated?

How do you complete this sentence? "I pledge to ________" (please share by commenting below)

The Story of My Chair and How It Unfolds

2009-01-25T19:34:00.000-08:00

As we kick off this program and start spreading the word about this fundraiser, it is a lot of fun to see peoples' faces light up when you ask them about the chair they are going to design.

They perk up and want to tell me immediately how they found their chair, what it looks like and what their vision is for their chair. As they continue describing their experiences, I can't help but smile.

Their creativity, inspiration and enthusiasm for this service project is contagious.

What is your story? Comment below about your chair. Come back and visit often and keep us updated on the story of your chair and how it "unfolds."

Where did you find it? What are you planning to do with it? What do you hope it will look like?

2009-01-21T05:59:00.000-08:00

You are invited to participate in Culver Tri Kappa’s inaugural Chairs for Charity event. Easy ways to get involved in this service project:

• Donate a Chair! No chair is too big, too small, too new, too old, too plain or too fancy for this fun fund raising event. Feel free to recreate, repaint, redesign it any way you want. Make a statement and make yourself, your family or your classroom famous with a chair masterpiece to share! Drop your chair(s) off on Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m. - noon at 432 School Street.

• Parade a Chair! Never before has the Culver community received so many chairs to town! Businesses are needed to host a chair or a family of chairs during the Chair Parade starting on June 6, 2009.

• Bid-n-Sit on a Chair! Take one or more of these novel chairs home with you for a keepsake. Attend the live auction on: Sunday, June 28, 2009. Location TBD!

Matter of Service

2009-01-21T05:15:00.000-08:00

We are excited to meet with our committee tomorrow (THUR) at 6:00 at the library.

We are looking forward to putting the vision of this fundraiser into motion. But more importantly, it is interesting to work with other people for a common good. The kick off for the Chairs for Charity committee comes on the heels of the inauguration speech of President Obama yesterday. Many key points were shared during Obama's address. And no matter which political party or representative you may support, there is no doubt of encouragement in his words. Here are a few quotes from his speech that may encourage and inspire you today:

"It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labour, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom."

"Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction."

"For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act..."

"We honor not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all."

"But those values upon which our success depends - honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true."

Are you encouraged and inspired to serve with a brighter hope for tomorrow?

Cows, Pigs and Chairs OH MY!

2009-01-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

When telling friends about the upcoming Chairs for Charity event, they often mention a memorable event that took place in Chicago in 1999 called, "Cows On Parade." All throughout the Chicagoland, hand-painted cows could be spotted.

Here is a photo of the Moon-Cow located in front of the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry:

Since then, there have been many other cities and towns duplicating the idea. Here are some photos of some of some of those cows:

And, other cities and towns have tried using different animals too. Here are some fun photos of some Pigs On Parade:

In the summer of 2001, Chicago had a city-wide Suite Home Chicago Sidewalk Art Exhibit where artists displayed furniture along the streets. Here are some photos of this event:

What do the cows, pigs and furniture all have to do with our event? Well, imagine the Culver community this summer sprinkled with brightly renovated, repainted and redesigned chairs as you drive down Lake Shore Drive. This exhibit will kick off the fund raising efforts for the Chairs for Charity Auction. During the auction, these chairs will be sold to the highest bidder and ALL of the funds raised during this event will go to Culver Tri Kappa, a sorority dedicated to promote art, education and charity both locally and nationally.

Currently we are working to solidify our reservations for the venue where our auction will be held. The Chairs for Charity Auction is scheduled for Sunday, June 28, 2009. So, please mark your calendars!

We will be sending flyers to teachers, non-for-profits and any one else who may be interested in donating a chair to this cause. If you are interested in participating at any level, please comment below!

Welcome to Chairs for Charity

2008-10-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

We are excited to start preparations on the planning phase of our Culver Tri Kappa's Chairs for Charity event. We will be inviting people to donate chairs that they design, refurbish and recreate. We are encouraging all Culver Tri Kappa members to donate at least one chair as well as calling all artists and participants from other non-for-profit organizations who are interested in building awareness for their specific causes. We would also like to encourage teachers from local schools to get their students involved.

Local businesses will also have an opportunity to get involved by either creating and donating a chair, or by displaying a donated chair by another artist during the Inaugural Culver Chairs on Parade. This display will be available for viewing during the first three weeks of June.

We will then host an event for the public to sell all of the chairs that were submitted. Wine and cheese will be served. All proceeds collected from the event will support community philanthropies supported by Tri Kappa.

Location and dates along with other details will be posted in the near future!

Welcome to Chair Charity

2008-10-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

ChairsforCharity.blogspot.com