Hanging With Your Buddies

This one-of-a-kind collectors event celebrated the 40th (ruby) Anniversary of Keepsake Ornaments.

Event Dates: Friday and Saturday, August 2-3, 2013

Location: Kansas City, MO

Start Time: 8:00 a.m.
End Time: 5:00 p.m.

Registration

Registration was only accepted online at KOCevents.com.

Opened: April 1, 2013 (at noon Central Time)

Event Fees: $54.18 per KOC member* ($50.00 fee + $4.18 tax) – included admission to event, activities on Friday, August 2, and Saturday, August 3, plus a gift tote containing two commemorative Keepsake ornaments and other surprises.

*Event was limited to KOC members only.

Local Club Dinner Fee:  $50

Product Bundle: Two bundles were offered at registration.  The first bundle cost $233.44 (including $17.99 tax).  The second bundle included Yuletide Ride for $242.05 (includes $18.65 in tax).  Plus sized tee shirts added $3 to bundle prices.  All Bundled packages included one of each event ornament, ‘Santa’s Home Sweet Home’ backdrop, a commemorative event shirt, commemorative  lapel pin and  grab bag.

Bundle with Yuletide Ride: $223.40 + $18.65 (tax) = $242.05*
Bundle w/out Yuletide Ride: $215.45 + $17.99 (tax) = $233.44*

*Add $3.00 for bundles with plus size tee shirts.

Note: Hallmark did not mail registration packets. Attendees received their artist names and signing times in a confirmation e-mail after they registered. All packets were picked up on-site at the event.

Travel/Hotel

A limited number of rooms were available at a discounted rate ($128.00/night) for August 1, 2 & 3 at the Sheraton as well as at the Westin Crown Center Hotel, which adjoins the Sheraton via an enclosed walkway.  Individuals were encouraged to reserve their room early and told to mention the Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Club to get the discounted rate.

Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center
(formerly the Hyatt Regency Crown Center)
2345 McGee St.
Kansas City, MO 64108
Reservation Line: (866) 716-8134
Hotel: (816) 841-1000

Westin Crown Center Hotel
1 East Pershing Rd.
Kansas City, MO 64108
Reservation Line: (888) 627-8538

Agenda

Thursday

• 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Event Gift Back Pick-Up (Photo identification required)
• 6:00 p.m. – New Attendee Orientation: If it’s your first time attending our BIG Event, never fear! We will host a short orientation to give new attendees a chance to ask questions and get the most from their KOC Event experience. (We won’t have any give-aways or prizes at this event, so no need to attend if you’re not a “newbie”).

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Friday

• Event Gift Bag Pick Up – Photo Identification required
• Prepaid Product Pickup – Present prepaid voucher and photo identification
• Event Product Shop – Tickets Required
• Grab Bag Sale – Ticket Required
• Shop Secondary Market Dealers in the Product Shop
• Information and Customer Service Table
• Take a photo at the photo booth
• Keepsake Studio Artist Signings – Friday Signing Ticket Required (check your ticket for signing time)
• Additional Artist Signings – Friday Signing Ticket Required
• Alumni Artist Signings – Friday Signing Ticket Required
• Door Prize Drawing Winners Posted

Games and Seminars
Tickets are required, but you can choose any time throughout the event to attend. All games and seminars run on the hour 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. with a one hour break for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m. Please note that artists from the A, B and C signing groups will not be conducting any seminars so they will be available for both days of signing.

Local Club Dinner and Celebration

• Ticket Required
• Doors open at 6:00 pm (5:45 doors open for wheelchairs).  Festivities begin at 6:30. Come dressed as your favorite Wizard of Oz Character.

Other Friday Activities

• Hallmark Visitors Center – open 9 am – 5 pm
• Mayor’s Christmas Tree Ornaments – Crown Center Customer Service Desk Level 1 (Download Pre-Order Form)
• Shopping at Crown Center – open 10 am – 9 pm
• Room Hopping – Westin and Sheraton Hotels
• Free Friday Night Flicks at Crown Center
• Visit Liberty Memorial Museum, Lego Land, SeaLife Aquarium, Union Station
• View Auction Products
• Local Club pin trading

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Saturday
8 am – 5 pm – Crown Center Sheraton Hotel (See Map of the Sheraton)

• Event Gift Bag Pick Up – Photo Identification required
• Prepaid Product Pickup – Present prepaid voucher and photo identification
• Event Product Shop – Ticket required
• Grab Bag Sale – Ticket required
• Shop Secondary Market Dealers in the Product Shop
• Information and Customer Service Table
• Take a photo at the photo booth
• Keepsake Studio Artist Signings – Saturday Signing Ticket Required (check your ticket for signing time)
• Additional Artist Signings – Saturday Signing Ticket Required
• Alumni Artist Signings – Saturday Signing Ticket Required
• Door Prize Drawing Winners Posted

Games and Seminars
Tickets are required, but you can choose any time throughout the event to attend. All games and seminars run on the hour 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. with a one hour break for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m. Please note that artists from the A, B and C signing groups will not be conducting any seminars so they will be available for both days of signing.

Live Auction
Begins at 5:00 pm.  At this year’s event, KOC is partnering with CureSearch for Children’s Cancer.  Proceeds from the Live Auction will benefit CureSearch.  We will also have options on-site for any members who would like to make additional donations.

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer funds the Children’s Oncology Group, the world’s largest children’s cancer research collaborative. With more than 210 member hospitals and 7,000 medical professionals, the Children’s Oncology Group provides global expertise at local hospitals.Visit the CureSearch website for more information.

Other Saturday Activities

• Hallmark Visitors Center – open 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
• Mayor’s Christmas Tree Ornaments – Crown Center Customer Service Desk Level 1 (Download Pre-Order Form)
• Shopping at Crown Center – open 10 am – 6 pm
• Room Hopping – Westin and Sheraton Hotels
• Free Admission – Crown Center Level 1 Atrium
• Visit Liberty Memorial Museum, Lego Land, SeaLife Aquarium, Union Station
• Local Club pin trading
• View Auction Products

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Games
We’re planning lots of games for you to enjoy while hanging with your buddies – each with more prizes and more participation. Each game will require tickets (included in your registration packet), but you don’t need to pre-register to play. We’ll pick members of the audience during each round – and we’ll be playing all day. Take your chances and you could be a big winner! Here are the games we’re planning (subject to change):

• Christmas Trivia…Come on Down!: Who will be the next contestant on Christmas Trivia…perhaps you! After answering a series of questions, contestants will test their skills for the chance to win some coveted prizes. Will your mini-game include the chance to plink, putt, or pick? Join us to find out and test your skills!
• Hangman with Your Buddies!: Don’t worry, no ornaments (or buddies), will be harmed in the playing of this game. Teams will have a couple of rounds to prove their smarts as they work to solve word puzzles prior to the ornament their drawing being hung.
• Minute-to-Win-It: Contestants will race the clock to complete their Christmas challenge in less than sixty-seconds! Come to test your skills as your buddies cheer you on or simply cheer your friends!
• Bingo: No event is complete without our Collector’s Bingo. You know how this one works. Prizes…prizes… and more prizes!
• The NewlyFriend Game: Back by popular demand! Whether you traveled with your sister, your spouse or your best friend, met up with friends you’ve chatted with on-line but never met, or have made a new friend at the event – our version of this hilarious game will test your knowledge and try your patience. In a very fun way, of course! Join us to find out how well this year’s group of buddies, really know each other.
• Off to the Races: Some of your favorite characters from our most popular series will mount their horses to race for the chance to win the big event. Help advance your winning pick by casting votes for your favorite pair. The number of votes will be tallied throughout the race to determine the winner. Throughout the race, we’ll be drawing for prizes, selecting winners from those casting votes and cheering on the lead horse. Watch the leader board throughout the event to continue cheering for your favorite and learn which contender will win the race!
• Scavenger Hunt: Over here, over there, the clues could take you anywhere…but once you’ve solved them all a fun prize will be waiting for you. What better way to explore the event with your buddies!

Artist Signings
More signings than ever. You’ll have signing times on both Friday and Saturday. Times are assigned during registration, so you’ll have plenty of time to plan your activities.  You’ll also have opportunities to meet other artists including new artists and some of your favorite alumni artists.

Assigned Artist Groups

• Don Palmiter, Debra (Murray) Nielsen, Tracy Larsen, Anita Marra Rogers, Tom Best, Julie Forsyth, Becky Hottel, Robert Hurlburt, Terri Steiger, Nello Williams, Edythe Kegrize
• Kristina Gaughran, Ruth Donikowski, Joanne Eschrich, Valerie Shanks, Robert Chad, Sharon Visker, Tammy Haddix, Orville Wilson, Nina Aubé, Ken Crow

Additional Artists

• Rodney Gentry, Trish Andrews, Jim Kemme, Linda Sickman, Sue Tague
• Lynn Norton, Katrina Bricker, Mary Hamilton, Steve Goslin, Matt Johnson, Jake Angell

Note:  Diana McGehee and Lisa Vogel were originally scheduled to sign but presented at seminars instead.

Seminars

• A Sneak Behind the Curtain: Join us for a special sneak peak with a few members of our Keepsake staff to learn about NEW upcoming news for 2013 and early hints about our 2014 offering!
• Dollhouse Seminar: Join us as we share how the full-size Doll House, inspired by the KOC Event Victorian Dollhouse, was created. This is a behind the scenes look at this unique piece which was designed to showcase the talent of the entire Keepsakes Studio. We will share the stories behind the artists’ inspiration, the Nostalgic Houses and Shops series, and their contributions to this charming and highly detailed piece. Don’t miss this great opportunity to come inside our creative world.
• Creating Christmas Together: Keepsake Artists, Diana McGehee and Lisa Vogel, will take you on a journey of inspiration as they share with you many ways to bring unique Christmas trees to life for your family, friends and community. These Christmas trees, perfect for displaying Keepsake Ornaments, were inspired by the desire to help you create an extra special Christmas with or for those you cherish at home, in your ornament club, and community. Crafted from items you can easily access, we know you’ll leave with a list of new projects and wanting to get started on your Christmas planning right away. There’s another surprise element to this seminar, but we’re keeping the secret until the event!
• 40 Years of Stories: This year’s event wouldn’t be complete without a celebration of the memories that have connected us throughout the years. Come by at your leisure to enjoy this short video on some of our fondest memories from the past forty years. Participate in the celebration by sharing your fond and funny stories with us and other collectors. We love to hear them all!
• Photo Booths: Capture all the fun with friends at this year’s event. Our two photo booths will be available all weekend long so load up the booth and say “Cheese!”

Secondary Market
Hallmark would like to welcome secondary market dealers to sell their retired ornaments and collectibles during the event on Friday and Saturday this year! Space is limited, but we want to try to get in as many secondary market dealers as possible.

• Beginning April 1, 2013 the first dealers to contact us at [email protected] will be allowed to reserve 1-2 tables in the secondary market dealer room.
• Please type “SMD Tables” in the subject line of your e-mail
• Include your name, address, contact phone and name of business in the body of the e-mail.
• Indicate if you would like one or two tables in the e-mail (subject to availability).
• Reservations will be taken on a first come basis.
• The cost is $100.00 per table for Friday and Saturday. Single days only are not available.
• An exhibitor form will be sent to each participating dealer and must be completed and returned with payment by June 1, 2013.
• Dealers determine all prices and conduct all transactions.
• Dealers are responsible for shipping all product to and from the Event and storage.
• Exact set-up time will be determined and communicated to participating dealers.

Notes from the Event