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Friday, March 07, 1997 

Dear Chapters,  

As the newly appointed B.C.I.S. Chapter Coordinator, I   
feel it only proper to send my thanks and the societies   
appreciation for the first holder of this position 
Mr. Eugene Krach !!  THANK YOU GENE from all of us !!  

If you see in the text (sp) following a word, it stands   
for 'spelling', ie I'm not sure if I have spelled a word  
properly !!  

Firstly, I would like to propose a 'new' chapter position :  
that of E-Mail Secretary.  This position can be held by  
ANYONE who has at least a PC with internet access, ie an  
E-Mail address.  This helps me out postage wise and  
guarantees you the FASTEST delivery of the newsletter !!  
This is ONLY my newsletter, NOT the B.C.I.S. Collector's  
Newsletter !!  This would also guarantee that each chapter  
would receive their newsletter AT THE SAME TIME !!  If  
your chapter has a person willing to perform this duty,  
PLEASE have them E-Mail me at 'delyicious@comcast.net' !! 
OF COURSE, if you haven't any one in this position, you 
WILL STILL RECEIVE each and every one of my letters by 
'snail mail' !!  P.S. I currently have 3 (three) chapters 
on my E-Mail list, you will know who you are because you 
will receive my initial letter via E-Mail !!  Thanks on 
this one !!

UPCOMING EVENTS !!

Of course, the MAJOR MAJOR event this year will be the  
International Convention hosted by the U.K. Chapter !!  
Hope to see many of you there !!  All chapters should  
have recent updates on the particulars of this GREAT  
event !!  

A Belleek fair is planned for the weekend of July 12th  
in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.  If you are out and about  
at that time plan on attending !!  More information can  
be had from Ben or Lori Harlan, 613 - 10th. Avenue,  
Kirkland, WA  98033, telephone : 1 (206) 828-4247 or  
E-Mail to harlan@gte.net  

HOT OFF THE PRESS !!  

Mrs Jean Weleck has completed YEARS of painstaking research  
and has now publisked a wonderfully refreshing book  
detailing her (and husband's) marvelous (sp) collection !!  
Complete with Belleeking tales and photo's this is a MUST  
HAVE !!  If you haven't purchased a copy yet, IT IS WELL  
WORTH IT !!  Information should be in the Belleek Collector  
or contact the Los Angeles Chapter thru the Collector's  
Society or myself.  

BELLEEKER's SEARCHING OUT OTHER BELLEEKER's  

ANOTHER crazy idea ??  I thought it might be nice to include  
a section for those of us NOT in local chapters !!  If you  
have ANY Belleeker friends or relatives without support,  
have them drop me a line and HOPEFULLY there's someone out  
there in another chapter with a similar contact who'd just  
like to meet and talk with them ??  If enough interest  
develops in third world areas, new chapters may be formed !!   

Ms. Gayle Ferrari, 244 Hazel Lane, Nipomo, CA  93444, U.S.A.  
Telephone : 1 (805) 929-4406 would LOVE to meet some  
Belleek neighbors !!  

P.S. Entries in this section REQUIRE that I receive a SIGNED  
request with E-Mail address and or Name/telephone and or 
complete address, etc. WHATEVER the person desires to have  
printed !!  Thanks !!  

TEENS TALK BELLEEK !!  

For the younger set (or at heart) Ms. Katie Harlan, 12 years  
would like to correspond with you !!  She can be contacted  
thru harlan@gte.net !!  Don't ALL kids have computers now ??  

FROM YOUR EDITOR !!  

I was visited by one of my Belleeker friends the other day  
as she was delivering my yearly stash of Girl Scout cookies  
from her daughter !! She asked me (something like), "What  
should you have in your collection ??"  After some thought,  
I came up with this list :  

  Earthenware Piece  
  Tea Set  
  Basket  
  Flowered Item  
  Statue/Figural  
  Crested Piece  
  Miniature Piece  
  A mark OTHER than black (orange, blue, green, brown, etc.)  
  Impressed Harp Mark (with or w/o Crown)  
  Scenic (ie painted) Piece  
  Transfer Piece  
  Item from 'previous Belleek employee' ie Melvin Craft   
            or Donegal, etc.  
  American Belleek ie Lenox, C.A.C., Ott & Brewer, etc.  
  Japanese (Nippon) make believe !!  
  Vase/Centerpiece/Comport  
  Impressed "Belleek Co. Fermanaugh" on base  

That means, with 16 pieces, you would have a VERY  
representative sample of Belleek wares, BOTH REAL Belleek  
and phony Belleek !!  But wait a minute !!  You can combine  
MANY of these !!  For example, I possess an Earthenware  
plate, with a black falcon crest on the rim, a Belleek  
Pottery transfer (in green) on the plate's center and  
believe it or not, an impressed harp AND CROWN !!  Now,  
that brings my collection down to just 12 pieces !!  

As to a fine tea set, Belleek has made SO many, this  
becomes a very personal decision !!  I've had 13 distinct  
sets in my time and FINALLY settled on the Grasses.  As  
a complement to this set I selected a triple fish vase as  
it's reeds and grasses 'match' the tea set.  If one counts  
fish, salamanders and butterflys as figurals, this then  
satisfies both the centerpiece AND figural needs !!  WOW,  
down to ONLY 11 items !!  Another example might include  
A Cherub Candlelabra (sp) would be splendid with the   
Neptune set.  What do your members use as centerpieces ??  

They need NOT be expensive as one could begin with the   
lovely new Serenity Tea Set !!  I somewhat favour either  
D56, Table Center or D92/93, Tulip Vases with this set ??  
Help me on this one, what would you suggest as a table  
center for this new set ??  

The flowered piece might be a Brooch, a Vase or a Basket !!  
Some of the possibilities are mind staggering ??  

OF COURSE, ALL this is NOT necessary !!  I was ONLY trying  
to explain why I would have these representative items to  
display the broad range of Belleek's artistry !!  Then, I  
would begin to specialize in the items that interest you  
(and your mate) !!  You might like examples of just cups  
and saucers or creamers and sugars.  You may find the  
diverse range of teasets fascinating.  Or like me, you may  
find the figurals of interest !!  

All opinions expressed in this editorial are of my own  
making and hopefully didn't offend anyone.  Remember, I  
am YOUR Chapter Coordinator and would like to publish  
items of interest to ALL the chapters !!  Drop me a line  
with ANY suggestions !!  PLEASE !!    

Belleekingly,   

Del E. Domke, Belleek Consultant   
16142 N.E. 15th. Street   
Bellevue,  WA    98008-2711   
U.S.A.   

Telephone :  1 (425) 746-6363   
Message :    1 (425) 746-6363   
FAX :        1 (425) 746-6363   
E-mail :     delyicious@comcast.net   
Web-site :  The Beauty and Romance of Irish Belleek   (or) :  
           http://delyicious.magix.net/public/index.html