The Half Moon Button Club, for the second year in a row, hosted a table and participated in a free International Women’s Day event hosted by The Colonie Senior Service Centers. The event was held on March 7, 2025, at the Beltrone Living Center in Albany, NY.
International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated annually. The 2025 theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change” according to the unwomen.org website.
The event at Beltrone included breakout sessions, informational tables, demonstrations, and live musical entertainment. In addition to members of the Half Moon Button club, attendees included the Albany Symphony, the Albany Women’s Club, Capital Cooks’ co-proprietor Caroline Barrett, CDPHP, the Center for Natural Wellness School of Massage Therapy, Chef Joan Dembinski, the Friends of Pruyn House, the Girl Scouts, the International Center of the Capital Region, among many others.
According to club member Sherry Roach, their table with information about the hobby of collecting buttons had a lot of interest. Women stopped by to chat, ask questions and talk about the displays. Two guests plan to attend their next button club meeting, and the Girl Scouts asked that the club do a program for their troop this spring.

Shirley Clark, Past President of NYS (1996-1998) and Show Chairperson (until 2023) passed away on June 17, 2024.
At Shirley’s request, there will be no services.

For those wishing to send condolences, below are family addresses:
Shirley’s daughter – Holly Mead (John)
1910 Young’s Rd. Moravia NY 13118

Shirley’s husband – Dick Clark
7339 Fair Haven Rd. Homer NY 13077

Below is a lovely tribute written by Kathy Doody about her Button Buddy, Shirley Clark, published in the January 2022 NYSBS Bulletin. 

My Button Buddy, Shirley Clark by Kathy Doody 

When I hear the name Shirley Clark I think about the quote, “Friends are like buttons, they hold everything together,” as Shirley has been the glue that has held the New York State Show together for over 25 years.

I had the privilege to meet Shirley back in 2015 through my friend Janie Hughes. At the time I was crafting with buttons and going to garage sales to find them. Janie introduced me to Shirley and I was invited to her home to see if I was interested in any of her buttons. That was the beginning of a friendship that holds strong to this day.

While at her home she invited us to attend the New York State Button show in Owego, NY the next month. Curiosity sparked my interest as my friends and I drove to see what button collectors, collect and sell. Heading to Owego on a beautiful Saturday morning we were guessing what a button show would look like. Once we were in the door Shirley quickly came over and started to introduce us to dealers and different types of buttons. I have always been impressed with how generous and kind the dealers have been at the New York State show. No doubt I was speechless for the first time in my life. I walked around silently for the rest of the day as I laid my eyes on one treasure after another. That was the beginning of a crafter turned collector.

Over the past several years we have been able to enjoy each other outside of club meetings getting to know each of our families and being able to share in our desires and disappointments. But what I enjoy the most is Shirley’s sense of humor and we find it in the simplest of moments.

Shirley’s button journey started in 1991 when she stopped at a curiosity shop in Homer, New York. It was there that she bought her first button called Lalla Rookh, which she still has in her collection today. She went home and shared the button with her husband Dick and asked if he had ever seen or collected anything like it. He responded, “Do I have buttons?”  To her surprise, he took out a set of jeweled waistcoat buttons and that’s when she knew, she was hooked.

Shirley was introduced to the David Harum Button Club which had 24 members at the time. She also worked for Ron Cole helping with the show when it was in Norwich, NY. She fondly looks back at when the Ruth Steinbeck collection was left to the club, and members were able to purchase them over time. 

Her first time selling happened to be at the National Convention in Tacoma, Washington. She brought buttons to sell out of her room and when a dealer canceled, she was able to get a table and that was the start of her journey of selling and buying buttons. She laughs, thinking back to learning what a “measle” was at competition, and fondly remembers spotting with Simone Kincaid at the National Convention. These are just a few of the many wonderful memories she holds close to her heart.

If I could use one word only to describe Shirley it would be generous and she is in so many ways. She is especially generous with her knowledge and willingness to share it with you and help you on your journey either collecting buttons or life’s little lessons. But why stop there?  Talent is another trait that she so humbly shares. Her button collection is breathtaking, her quilting skills amazing and if you are lucky enough to see her cross-stitch frames, they are simply jaw-dropping. I can’t forget to mention her miniatures, as they are so complete and stunning that you’d want to move in.

But what I love most about Shirley is that she is honest. You always know where you stand with Shirley. She doesn’t hold a grudge, is always forgiving, and never looks back all the while moving ahead. All qualities of a true friend who wears her heart on her sleeve.

Shirley’s daughter Holly contacted me one night this past June that Shirley had been taken to the hospital after suffering a stroke. I was heartbroken. All of us in the Finger Lakes Club and beyond were devastated to hear the news. It didn’t take long for the news to spread across the state and nationally. Hundreds of cards with good wishes poured into her mailbox encouraging her for a speedy recovery. Shirley’s boundless energy certainly helped her in her recovery and soon she was sent home to the delight of many.

To the amazement of doctors and friends, Shirley not only is home but already making plans for our New York State show in the spring. I am not alone in wishing Shirley the many blessings she deserves and look forward to making new memories in the future.

Are you attending the NYSBS Show? Can you spare some time to volunteer? We have opportunities for as little as 1 hour to just a few hours. In the Judging Room on Saturday, there is an opportunity to learn through volunteering. Sounds fantastic, right?  Spend an hour (or more) helping with the judging process. We always need clerks, judges, runners, and clerical help. You don’t need a lot of judging experience or button knowledge. Help is always needed sharpening pencils, stapling on ribbons, hanging trays, etc. and you’ll learn something about the judging process just by observing what goes on in the judging room. For more info or to volunteer, contact Linda Hickey.
Another opportunity is on Friday or Saturday for just 1 hour to welcome attendees at the registration table and sell raffle tickets. This is the first year we are combining the Registration and Raffle tables and asking for 2 volunteers per shift. The best part of taking a shift at the registration/raffle table is taking a break from shopping and sitting while chatting with new collectors and old friends. This is also a great opportunity for a spouse who isn’t a collector but has tagged along, to help. Please consider signing up for a slot. Here is the sign-up.

December 12, 2023: The Rochester Button Club of Rochester, NY met for a delicious luncheon at Bella Pasta in Greece, NY. It was a fun gathering for members to relax and enjoy each other’s company rather than the usual formal meeting setting.

In preparation for the gathering, about a month in advance, members decide if they want to participate in the holiday button card exchange. Typically three-fourths of the members like to participate. Participation is easy; a card is bought or made, and then embellished with the gift of a button or two. Sometimes, if you know what your fellow button collector likes to collect, or you know what they are working on for a future competition, it makes just the right button easy to find. Others (like me) try to find a theme. For 2024, many of my cards were decorated with a paste button.

To make everything simple for giving, Linda Hickey, our club president, brings gift bags with each member’s name on them. Members bring their cards to the gathering and place them in the appropriate bag. In addition to the bag of cards, Linda provides us with the annual club booklet that includes the dates and plans for each monthly meeting, birthdays, addresses and other interesting information about our club.

This year, at each place setting, Norma Brown provided small vintage jam jars filled with assorted buttons. It was a very sweet gesture. 

Some members can’t wait to get home and go through their cards. Others like to wait until Christmas morning to open them.  Either way, it’s like a special treasure hunt between friends to receive the gift of buttons at the holidays.

Below are some photos of our gathering.

Our annual button auction on Friday night provides financial support to our Society and a fun opportunity for our members to experience the thrill of participating in an auction that could result in winning button treasures.

A successful auction requires generous people to donate items. When donating, you have two choices:

1) You can donate an item and have 100% of the earnings, donated to the NYSBS
OR
2) you can sell an item and have 20% of the earnings donated to NYSBS and you keep the remaining 80%.

Donations are collected at 2:30 PM on Friday of the show. Bring your item(s) to the designated room. Let the Auction chair know your donation choice.

If you have questions about the auction, feel free to reach out to Show Chairperson, Jen Read at 315-559-2440
jenread45@gmail.com.