GALA TO BENEFIT WEST VIRGINIA FOLKLIFE CENTER AT FAIRMONT STATE

An evening filled with music, food and traditional fun such as an old-fashioned cake walk, will mark the sixth annual West Virginia Folklife Center Gala on Saturday, Oct. 7, at Fairmont State’s Colebank Hall. The gala will also feature the presentation of the 2006 B.B. Maurer West Virginia Folklife Scholar Award, the 2006 Traditions Salute Award, a wine tasting and a silent auction.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with the silent auction and folk music, a buffet of savory and sweets, folk art demonstrations and a vintage book sale. The cake walk will be from 7-7:30 p.m., followed by the closing of the silent auction bidding at 7:45 p.m.

“We try to show the three areas of folklife, which are oral, customary and material artifacts,” said Dr. Judy P. Byers, Director of the Folklife Center. “Even though it’s a fund-raiser, it’s a celebration, too.”

The presentation of the 2006 B.B. Maurer W.Va. Folklife Scholar Award and the 2006 Traditions Salute Award is set for 8 p.m. George A. and Mariwyn Faith McClain Smith representing McClain Printing Company will receive the 2006 B.B. Maurer W.Va. Folklife Scholar Award, and Phyllis Wilson Moore will receive the 2006 Tradition Salute Award.

The B.B. Maurer West Virginia Folklife Scholar Award annually honors a person or persons who have contributed to the preservation and perpetuation of Appalachian cultural heritage.
The new Traditions Salute Award is given to a person or group that has demonstrated a passion and commitment towards the enhancement of West Virginia folk culture through education and public resources. The recipient will always be recognized in Traditions: West Virginia Folklore Journal, and the actual honor will be bestowed at a public awards ceremony.

Phyllis is a cherished member of our writing community, having chaired a statewide committee, sponsored by Fairmont State, the West Virginia Library Commission, and the WV Center for the Book, the West Virginia Humanities Council and the National Center for the Book, to create a literary map for West Virginia. The map, published by the West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State is a boon to both teachers and tourist. She is also West Virginia’s unofficial literary historian. Please plan to attend.

For more information contact:
Amy Baker,Director of Public Relations, Fairmont State University
Office: (304) 367-4135; Cell: (304) 288-9540; Fax: (304) 367-4580
E-mail: abaker3@fairmontstate.edu

A $15 admission fee per person covers the cost of the gala events, except for the wine tasting. Those who wish to participate in the wine tasting will be asked to show proper ID. Fairmont State students and children younger than 10 will be admitted free.