Headlines from Pearl S. Duck Croquet Tournament

Congratulations to Jim Boswell, Mark Rooper and Allen Johnson, our first, second and third place winners of the Second Annual Pearl S. Buck Croquet Tournament.  

Jim Boswell hugs Pearl S. Buck Board President Gail Ratcliff after receiving his prize.

The winning team was from Boxley, also our official tournament sponsors, by a narrow margin. 

Croquet Today! And some other stuff, too!

Sorry!  No time to post pictures.  Lots to do.  The Pearl S. Duck Croquet Tournament is today!  Set up is more or less finished, burgers and hot dogs on the grill, courts marked, on site registration just beginning, and I'm stealing a few seconds to write this update. There are still only a few places left, but even if you just come to watch, it's worthwhile.  Some people are here in costume, others in their best whites, and some, like me, just in comfortable summer clothes!  Among other things, there will be a Birthplace tour at 2:30pm, and activities to keep the kids busy while their parents get down to serious competition!  Hope to see you there!

Announcements from Pearl S. Duck re: Her Tournament

Attention please!  Ms. Duck has asked me to convey some very important reminders about the her tournament on Sunday:  

• There are still a few places left for competitors.  If you would like to play, register now.  We expect to have a waiting list by the weekend. 

• If you have registered by phone (304-653-4430), email, or online but have not paid the registration fee, but sure to arrive before 1:30 pm to do so, so that we can know how many we can accommodate from the wait list, assign all players to courts and commence play on time.  

•  Registration can also be paid in advance by cheque or cash at the Birthplace or via credit card Paypal:

• If you'd like a chance to win the time prize as well as individual prizes, don't forget to indicate you are playing as a team when you register. 

• All equipment is provided and will stay on the courts.  Instruction will be provided for first time players and practice time will be available starting at 1:00 pm. 

• Water will be provided at no charge.  Additional food and other beverages will be for sale.

•  Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions!

Between Two Worlds Cast Reunion June 23

Playwright Jean Battlo was commissioned to write Between Two Worlds, a musical about the life of Pearl S. Buck, in honor of the birth centennial the author's birth.  Twenty years later a reunion of cast an crew is planned for June 23 at 4:00 pm during the Little Levels Heritage Fair, at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace.  We plan to prevail on the cast to perform a few numbers from the show.

Could this be the first steps toward a full revival of the show in 2014 to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the opening of the Birthplace to the public?   

If you were part of the original production, and want information about the reunion, contact us.

Pearl S. Buck Birthday Celebrations Focus of Article in The State Journal

The celebrations planned for the 120th Anniversary of the birth of Pearl S. Buck are the focus of a piece by Mike Ruben in the West Virginia State Journal, published June 18th.  Beginning the article by stating the the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winner "knew the value of lessons learned," he cites a quotation, "If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday," and notes,

That is the philosophy behind the annual birthday celebration at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum in the Pocahontas County town of Hillsboro. The event takes place at 4 p.m. June 23 during the community's Little Levels Heritage Fair.

"There are very positive things you can take away from Pearl Buck and her legacy," said Timothy Van Reenen, a consultant to the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, who has studied the author extensively.

Van Reenen then goes on to list some of those things and to outline the agenda for the Birthday Celebration.  To continue reading this informative article, click here.

Birthplace Foundation Vice President on Writing Events and the Birthplace

In this week's issue of the Pocahontas Times, Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation Vice President Jolie Lewis uses her regular column "The Manuscript" to focus on writing, and how the legacy of Pearl S. Buck is still being used to help cultivate new talent, today.

The column gives some interesting detail on the program of several upcoming events such as the Pearl Buck Birthday Celebration, and the Writers Workshop and Blueberry Workshop.  It also talks about our new collaboration with West Virginia Writers, an association that promotes and supports writing and writers throughout the state.  This partnership resulted in

1) the presentation of two workshops inspired by Pearl Buck's writing at the West Virginia Writers annual conference, and 2) the announcement of winners in a brand-new category of the West Virginia Writers contest titled the Pearl Buck Award for Writing for Social Change.

For an account of the workshops and of the awards announcement, continue reading the story at the website of the Pocahontas Times.  A list of winners of the Pearl Buck Award is available here. Click on the link WVW Winners 2012 and download the pdf.

Deadline for Sponsorship of the Pearl S. Duck Croquet Tournament Approaches

If you are interested in having your business recognized as a sponsor of the 2nd Annual Pearl S. Duck Croquet Tournament, you will need to act fast, as we are already starting to send materials to be prepared.  Different things need to go at different times, depending how long preparation takes, and t-shirts take the longest.

Fortunately, we found an enthusiastic partner early, and are proud to announce that Boxley is our presenting sponsor this year.  The t-shirt design has been developed with Allegheny T-Shirts, and you can already order one for free in your size when you register in advance for the tournament.