Establishing a permanent Patsy Cline Museum in Winchester and restoring the legendary country singer’s childhood home at 608 S. Kent St. are the long-term goals for the Celebrating Patsy Cline organization.

But in the last 100 days, the organization has been invigorated with a flurry of activity resulting in a new Web site, new banners, new T-shirts, new radio spots, a toll free number, plans for an interim Pasty Cline museum in the fall of 2005, and a good-will trip to the CMA Music Festival in Nashville in June.

When asked about the new energy surrounding the 10 year-old organization, long-time board member, Judy Sue Huyett-Kempf points to Philip Martin, who was elected president of the CPC in February of this year. "Philip has committed a whole new focus and business style to the organization," Huyett-Kempf said. "It’s like a rebirth."

Part of that rebirth includes CPC, representation at the annual CMA Music Festival in Nashville June 9-12. "One of my first orders of business was to get the board to approve a booth at the CMA Music Festival," said Martin, a native of Nashville.

The CMA Music Festival, formerly known as Fan Fair, was established in 1972. The four-day festival features fan/artist interaction, autograph signings, photo opportunities, and more than 70 hours of concerts and family activities according to the organization’s Web site www.cmamusicfest.com/2005. Last year, 130,00 people attended the four-day event.

"This is primarily a trip to establish credibility with the music industry and artists,” Martin said. “We will serve as ambassadors on this trip."

A first-time event for the organization, Martin will be joined by CPC. board members Huyett-Kempf, Karen Helm, Mike Noel, Phil Hunter, and Theresa Shalaby. The group plans to join more than 200 other fan clubs, country music artists, and record labels like the Alabama fan club, Labelless Records, Kyle Jennings, Billy Ray Cyrus SPIRIT, and the LeAnn Rimes Fan Club at the Wrangler Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) in Nashville.

Celebrating Patsy Cline board members {left to right],
Judy Sue Huyett-Kempf, Philip Martin, president, and Karen Helm,
prepare for a trip to CMA Music Festival in Nashville in June.
[Photograph by Rick Foster]

"In the local market it’s important for us to be at this event to establish credibility with the community and with city officials so that they know this (the museum) is real — that this is something that is really going to happen. The community has been hearing about it for several years so people are waiting to see," Martin said.

"In the Nashville market and music industry, it’s also important," he added. "They need to learn about what we are doing. Before we can get artists to conduct benefit concerts on behalf of the Patsy Cline Museum, they need to see it is going to really happen."

During the four-day CMA Music Festival, Martin said he has scheduled media interviews with 10 magazines such as CMA Close Up, and Country Weekly to talk about Celebrating Patsy Cline and its future plans and goals.

"In addition we are having a press conference arranged to take place in the BMI offices on Music Row. All of this is aimed at raising the visibility of CPC museum initiative, establishing credibility, and forging relationships within the Nashville music industry. We have a meeting scheduled with the director of the Country Music Hall of Fame plus a tour of the Grand Ole Opry Museum and the Patsy Cline pavilion."

Martin said the organization also plans to interview several event planners who will present their proposals for developing a major celebrity benefit performance to raise money for the permanent Pasty Cline Museum in Winchester. "The goal of the benefit will be to raise a minimum of $100,000 for the museum," Martin said.

Huyett-Kempf said the CPC plans to bring Remembering Patsy books, Route 11 chips in collectible limited edition Pasty Cline Tins, and "Honky Tonk" earrings to sell at the event. "We are filling up a van," added Helm.

Martin hopes all the excitement and credibility generated by this event will lead to an interim Patsy Cline Museum opening in the Winchester in the fall of 2005. "CPC will be establishing a (interim) museum 2,500-3,500 square feet in size on the downtown pedestrian mall by the fall of this year. We are in negotiations with several owners presently to determine the best deal for the museum. The museum will definitely have displays, costumes, artifacts, memorabilia, and an oral history interpretive area, a small performer’s stage, and much more. There will also be a significant gift shop venue as a part of the new museum," he said.

In addition to the CMA Music Festival, fans can now visit the new CPC Web site, at www.celebratingpatsycline.org or hear one of the brand new 30-second radio spots, detailing CPC plans to restore Cline’s childhood home and build a museum in Winchester. The spot is currently running in Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, DC metro area, Kentucky, East Tennessee, Nashville, and Middle Tennessee, Martin said.

Soon, 22 foot banners marketing the CPC and the museum efforts will be installed at both ends of the Loudoun Street Mall. And finally, Martin adds, "The CPC will be a feature article in CMA Close-Up magazine."

Pam Fahnestock adjusts a tent for Patsy Cline Day
set Saturday at her shop, A Gift to Remember,
on the Loudoun Street Mall.
[Photograph by Rick Foster]

For more information about the visit www.celebratingpatsycline.org or call 1-888-608-2726.