One of my very dear friends Bernie Griffith from the States, has been injured in a car accident.
She had just appeared on HSN America demonstrating Juki sewing machines and sergers and it was after she left the studio that the accident happened.
For anyone who knows ELNA, Janome and Juki machines, you will know that Bernie was awarded the topmost honour of "Master Educator" by Janome.
She is now the worldwide VOICE of Juki and she is the most down to earth, fun loving, hard working, knowledgeable, person in the Sewing/embroidery industry and I am deeply honoured to be able to say, she is my friend.
I am posting (below) a large part of the message we received.
-------------------------------------------
She's OK, but really not feeling well, and had to stay in Florida for observation overnight.
She had been travelling non-stop for weeks, teaching at industry events, and said she felt like she'd been "beaten with a stick!" She sure did not look that way on TV. She looked great!
She was planning to fly to the Puyallulp, [WA] Sewing and Stitchery Expo - which is a huge event. I understand her classes were filled (when are her classes NOT filled?! LOL!) but she cannot attend due to injuries. She's supposed to be on complete bed-rest for a week, at the least.
If her back is injured, it could be serious, as she is constantly humpin' and haulin' machines, machine boxes, boxes of accessories, fabric and thread - and you can imagine how much those weigh! Imagine unpacking, then repacking 25 - 50 boxes of 30# machines for a class, AFTER you've set up a booth with metal frames, drapes, rugs, tables, banners, machines, quilting frames, and sergers! If she has whiplash, her neck, spine, and shoulders would be permanently injured.
She's not even sure how or when she's going to make it home at this point.
It would be a great show of support for her if we were to flood the JUKI AMERICA home office with get-well cards. She has had to fight long and hard to get JUKI AMerica to understand the importance of the home sewing market in the USA. JUKI AM likes to specialize in commercial machines, and while it was focused on manufacturing the Singer 6000 and Elna Xquisit for those companies, didn't want to transistion into USA home sewing - but Bernie talked them into it! Yea, Bernie! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my XQUISIT!!!!! and want JUKI to take over the USA home sewing market. As we know, their machines are 'way ahead of the curve in technology, built like tanks, the most value per $1, and deserve to be fully supported with an unsurpassed dealer network!
****Sending Get Well cards would validate Bernie's hard work, and the fact that there is a strong customer base. It is a win-win. Emails to Bernie are good but private, whereas snail-mail to the home
office would be a harder-to-ignore, more physical, indicator of our support for her efforts. Get Well cards are fun to get when you are away from home, and feeling blue. And she is REALLY feeling bad, sad, and blue, too. =:>(
Also, she really and truly considers each one of us her friends, and knows us by name. We are not just an internet "list" of people to exploit. We are special to her.
The JUKI AMERICA home office address is:
BERNADETTE GRIFFITH, Domestic Sales, Marketing, and Education Manager
c/o JUKI AMERICA, INC.
8500 NW 17TH STREET, SUITE 100
DORAL, FL 33126-1035
U.S.A..
-------------------------------------------
Please Cuties, your prayers for her speedy recovery, without any long term effects, would be most appreciated and any get well cards you might send would be truly valued.
Hugs and my most sincere thanks for taking the time to read this. Meganne
May she have a speedy recovery.
Hugs From Bev
It would be a terrible loss, for all of us, if Bernie could not continue working because of this accident. Hugs n roses, Meganne
I LOVE the Juki machines. I have a Juki mid arm quilter and LOVE it. If they made embroidery machines, I would trade in a heartbeat.
I knew nothing about the sew expo in Puyallup or would have planned to go. Bummer!! Will send card!! Thanks for the heads up!
Hugs
Linda aka Bumblebee
Blessings to you,
Jacqueline
Father be with Bernie, as she is so far from home, and not felling well, touch her body with your healing hands. In the name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen