Get Ready for the May 1–3 New York State Button Society Show!
The show weekend is coming up quickly—here’s a checklist to help you prepare:
✔️ Make your hotel reservations
✔️ Send $25.00 to Cathy Parke if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting & Breakfast and receive this year’s show button
✔️ Sign up for a 1‑hour volunteer shift at the Registration/Raffle Table
✔️ Put the finishing touches on your competition trays and print your tray slips
✔️ Don’t forget the auction! Do you have something to donate or sell?
Visit the 2026 Show page for all the details.
Love Is in the Air — Member Photos Needed
National Button Society President Vicki Condi‑MacTavish, our guest speaker for Saturday night’s program, is creating a special presentation and needs your help.
Please send:
• A photo of yourself (current or younger—either is fine)
• A photo of a button that represents our theme, “Love Is in the Air”
• A separate photo of your all‑time favorite button, with a short note about why it’s meaningful to you
If you haven’t sent your photos yet, now is the perfect time. Your participation will make the program personal, fun, and memorable for everyone. Vicki’s email address is: TheCondies@aol.com.
Buttons, Stories, and Show Prep – Dive into the January 2026 Bulletin!
— Upcycling a Tote Bag with Buttons – A Crafty Creation by Becky Vogel
–A Fun Time for All at the Western NY Picnic by Cindy Clauss
–Pressed for Prosperity: Goodyear Buttons by Kathy Doody
–Spotlight on Collector, Nancy Breslawski
–Our Button Buddy, Susan Reilly
–Archive Corner
–Wikipedia: Behind the Scenes by Trudi Jacobson
–Donating, Bidding, and Buying at the Show Auction
–Everything You Need to Know About the Annual Button Show in May
–Love Is in the Air Word Search
Plus, more…
To receive a hard-copy of the 40-page bulletin, join the NYSBS today – membership includes two bulletins – July & January.
2025 Western NY Button Picnic Recap
Hosted by the Rochester Button Club, this year’s picnic featured four clubs, a special guest, and a celebration of NYS button history.
View the full event summary
Education
We have clubs throughout the state where you can learn about button makers, types, materials, and their fascinating history.
Preservation
Learn the best way to preserve, care for, and store buttons based on the material(s) the button is made of. Discover how to tell when a button has “gone bad.”
In 2017, the Albany Times Union wrote a feature article about how volunteers from local button clubs are helping to preserve the Capital Region’s button history in Troy, NY. Check it out.
Community
We share our knowledge in our communities with exhibits, shows, and talks.
Joining a club brings you directly into a community of button lovers who are eager to share their knowledge of these miniature works of art.