Hotel and Airport Information
Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City International Airport
This is such a great hotel for the Gala!
All rooms are two room suites with a king size bed or two double beds and the sofa folds out for another bed. There is a Hot Breakfast from 6:30am to 9:30am every weekday, 6:30am to 10:30am on weekends. And to top it off, a free “Manager’s Reception” Cocktail Party every evening from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Please note: This is a non-smoking hotel. Parking is free.
Hotel Reservations
Reservations at the Embassy Suites are now available at the going hotel rate. The special Gala rate has expired.
Includes:
- Hot Breakfast Buffet
- Evening "Manager's Reception" Cocktail Party
Call for reservations on a weekday: 816-891-7788.
Wi-Fi
If you require a Wi-Fi connection in your room, you will be charged a daily fee. If you are a Hilton Honors member, your connection is free. You can join Hilton Honors and earn points towards future stays at all participating properties for FREE.
Canceling your Hotel Reservation
If you need to cancel your hotel room reservation, please email our Gala Committee member who coordinates with the hotel, Connie Duncan, so that we won’t lose a Gala Rate blocked room.
New Airport Information
Kansas City has a new airport terminal!
The airport is in the same location, but the free hotel shuttle service procedure is different. Once you arrive and have collected your baggage, call the hotel on your cell phone at 816-891-7788. They will send the shuttle. Follow the signs for hotel shuttles and go to the green columns 3E-H and wait for pick-up.
ONLINE REGISTRATION
Online registration for the 2024 Gala has ended.
If you would still like to register, please go to the registration table at the hotel.
In front of Salon E
- Thursday, September 12th: 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Room 221
- Friday, September 13th: 8:00 to 9:00 am
Reservations for luncheon and dinner meals has closed.
Educational Seminars
Fenton Look Alikes
Were you ever in an antique mall or online looking at a piece of "Fenton" glass and there was just something odd about it? Well, we have a great luncheon seminar that will help you identify some of these fakes. The luncheon speaker is going to be Stephen Embry. His topic is Fenton Look Alikes. He is a member of National Fenton Glass Society and is currently serving on their Board for a 2-year term. Stephen started collecting Fenton Burmese glass around 2008 and has been buying and selling ever since. He owns an antique store in his hometown of Rogersville, Alabama named Stephen’s Unique Antiques with his wife Kaden.
Glass ID
Do you have a nice piece of glass that you are not sure who made it or need more information? Glass ID on Thursday evening at 7:00 PM in Salon E will give you the answers. We have a three panel team of experts that very rarely get stumped. This panel consists of Max and Anne Blackmore and Sarah Smith. All three are very well versed on Fenton glass as well as other glass makers. This seminar is VERY educational and VERY interesting. You don't want to miss this one.
Glass Painting
Learn more about hand painting by Fenton artists hosted by Karen Easton. Karen will share great and fascinating stories on what it was like to paint at the Fenton factory. This has become a very popular tradition on Friday afternoons started a few year's ago by CC Hardman. This seminar will be in Salon ABC following the Friday luncheon seminar "Fenton Look Alikes".
Individual Display Tables
There are 19 tables filled with glass all with very interesting stories. The glass comes from members attending the Gala. You can see pictures of past tables by clicking here. Set up will be Thursday at 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM and Friday 1 pm to 4pm in Salon E. For security purposes, plan to turn in a list of your display glass before your display is set up.
Big Display - Changing Seasons with Fenton
Introduction
A Message from Carol Rigsby ~
The big display is always a hard act to follow when every year just seems to get bigger and better. Amanda Herman and I are teaming up together to present “Changing Seasons with Fenton.”
Most of you have known Amanda for many years. In recent times, (since my arrival on the scene), I have known her as the familiar face of our raffles, our sign-in stations, our Charitable Contribution Coordinator, and the lady that drives a hard bargain at our auctions!
Until now - my role has been much more behind the scenes. We may not have personally been introduced. However, you probably know my face if you have ever been to the Hospitality Room in the past few years… no, I’m not “that lady that ate all of your favorite cookies!” But I have loved helping Jackie prepare and serve all the wonderful foods that we enjoy.
After returning from Ann Fenton’s Collectible Bash it is easy to feel all of the love that we share for our glass collections and our Fenton Friends! Just like the Gala, people travel from far away to join in these meetings and share in the excitement and passion.
Winter
What we are hoping to accomplish is a grouping of Winter that might perhaps include some pieces of Violets in the Snow, a special piece or two of cobalt Canaan Valley, a few Christmas limited edition pieces, or pieces that are hard to find or maybe not often seen. Valentines Day could include a stunning piece of iridized red glass, or a fun nappy bowl with a ruby crest.
Spring
The Springtime selections will be hard to choose from with ruffled baskets and Easter, ducklings and violet colored glass. St. Patrick’s Day, anyone? Someone has offered their Irish Treasures collection for display! Bobbie has offered to display a lamp in this area – yes, please & thank you! A special person has offered to display their Chinese Yellow September Morn Nymph. But there are Mother’s Day vases and weddings with bridesmaid dolls, and this list goes on and on.
Summer
Summer – will also be fun, with the Fourth of July! Here we can display your prettiest of Red, Whites and Blues! Sunflower vases, seashores and vacation places will all display nicely in this season to remember. These are sometimes called the “Dog-Days” of Summer – but I think we could also find a few Patriotic Cats.
Fall
Fall conjures up colors of persimmon, and rich Dave Fetty pieces in all shapes and styles. We would welcome a few special pieces for this display! The thought of the beautifully sand carved, Kelsey Murphy, piece - “Fall’s Gift to Spring” vase immediately comes to my mind. Leaves and pumpkins bring other special collections into consideration. Ghosts and goblins and decorated pieces are all quite popular and would add to the display. The Vasa Murrhina – Autumn Orange from 1965-1967 would also make a nice addition.
Auctions and Raffle
Saturday Consignment Auction
Saturday, September 14th, 2024 9:00 AM
Embassy Suites Kansas City Airport , Salon D
Silent Auction
There will be bid sheets available at the registration table or the glass sales room and during the event. The bidding will end at 4:00 pm sharp Friday, 9/13 in Salon E and the winners announced. These are prime pieces of Fenton glass. All are one of a kind.
Raffle
There will be raffle tickets sold at the registration table, glass sales room and during all events. Please see Amanda Herman for details. The winner will be announced at the Saturday evening banquet. This is a prime piece of one of a kind hand painted Fenton glass.