Since there was no board meeting in February to inspire the president’s message, I thought that I would take this opportunity to share my recent experiences with technological communication.
In the process of trying to get a handle on our organization, I found that communication with our widespread membership is immensely enhanced by many modern marvels. I’m not quite as steeped in the stone age as I used to be, but I found that I wasn’t as technologically current as my fellow board members, and needed to update to stay in the loop. So, I set up an email address through the internet at my local library (for FREE), turned on my fax machine, and hooked up a new printer to my old computer. I still can’t send my “presidents message” by file, through my email to the newsletter committee, but I’m getting closer. Between my telephone, home computer, fax, answering machine, and new email, keeping the communication loop moving through our membership is easier than carting carved stone tablets around. Although my new email capability is a good informational tool, telephone and in-person conversations are still my preferred way of really “communicating”. The technological communication capabilities that are available can really help do the organizational work that needs to get done, but I’d still rather be carving.
Also, don’t forget that our NWSSA web site can help keep you informed about what’s happening between newsletters, and let you share information on your pet interest. Check it out.
I would like to wish you all a wonderful new millennium of stone sculpting and artistic fulfillment. On behalf of everyone, I would like to thank Kirk McLean for his last two years of service as President, and his continuation as board member for the coming year. I would also like to welcome our new board members: June Bloye, Leon White, and Ken Barnes, as well as Meredith Earls, who will be returning to fill the remaining year of Patty McPhee’s term.
As we start a new millennium I feel that we have a very strong NWSSA. Much of the infrastructure of our organization is in place thanks to the energy of many, many people over the past years. Our membership meetings, sculpture exhibits, workshops and symposia, all give us opportunities to gather and share our mutual passions. Our newsletter allows us to share ideas and information with a membership spread out over a vast region of the northwest and Canada. All of this from a bunch of stone sculptors who volunteer their time and energy. Not too shabby. Please give yourselves a hand!
If any of you have ideas, constructive input, overflowing energy, gobs of money, or anything else you would like to contribute to your organization, please contact one of your board members or committee chairpersons to let them know your interests.
After the November business meeting, current and prospective Directors held an afternoon discussion to set priorities for the coming year. Both our Board and our general membership have no problem coming up with creative ideas of things we could be doing. The challenge is choosing the ones that serve our mission best. We generally agree on the overall values of the group, but there is a range of ideas about what our critical activities should be. We did agree on both an immediate and longterm focus.
The immediate focus is to improve cohesiveness of the organization. We want members to feel ownership of the NWSSA and involvement in its activities.
We also want to raise awareness among non-members attending our events of the value of joining the organization. A strongly expressed focus for the future is the need for an advisory committee of individuals involved in the regional arts world. We also want more outreach to other arts organizations and the community.
The Board has spent a considerable amount of time the past two years on revising our bylaws and establishing written policies, so that we'll look like a respectable 501(c)3 and not just a gaggle of dust-covered fanatics.
This effort has been in addition to the month-to-month management of our activities. I'd like to thank the Board members who will be leaving at the end of this year for their hard work. Meredith Earls, Michael Jacobsen and (our early departee) Patty McPhee have all contributed considerable thought to our discussions. I would especially like to thank Rich Hestekind who is leaving after eight years of service, including having been our vice president and president.
After the November business meeting, current and prospective Directors held an afternoon discussion to set priorities for the coming year. Both our Board and our general membership have no problem coming up with creative ideas of things we could be doing. The challenge is choosing the ones that serve our mission best. We generally agree on the overall values of the group, but there is a range of ideas about what our critical activities should be. We did agree on both an immediate and longterm focus.
The immediate focus is to improve cohesiveness of the organization. We want members to feel ownership of the NWSSA and involvement in its activities.
We also want to raise awareness among non-members attending our events of the value of joining the organization. A strongly expressed focus for the future is the need for an advisory committee of individuals involved in the regional arts world. We also want more outreach to other arts organizations and the community.
The Board has spent a considerable amount of time the past two years on revising our bylaws and establishing written policies, so that we'll look like a respectable 501(c)3 and not just a gaggle of dust-covered fanatics.
This effort has been in addition to the month-to-month management of our activities. I'd like to thank the Board members who will be leaving at the end of this year for their hard work. Meredith Earls, Michael Jacobsen and (our early departee) Patty McPhee have all contributed considerable thought to our discussions. I would especially like to thank Rich Hestekind who is leaving after eight years of service, including having been our vice president and president.
There are a couple of recent changes in the NWSSA to report to you. The first is that Leon White has volunteered to be chair of the Exhibitions committee. The committee not only puts on our exhibitions, but also recommends what shows we should sponsor. If you would like to help Leon, please give him a call. This is an oppommity for new members to become involved and to get to know their fellow sculptors. Thanks, Leon.
The other major change is that after being the guiding force for the symposia for the last decade, Vic Picou is stepping down as Director of Symposia at the end of the year. Anyone who has been involved in helping manage a symposium knows how much we owe to Vic for his hard work and his dedication to making the event happen. Vic has offered to serve as consultant to the new Director for the next two years, so that whoever takes his place will get the maximum support possible. If you are interested in this rewarding job (it's one of our few paid positions, albeit not paid well) please let either Vic or me know.
The Board is finishing up the process that we started last year of writing policy guidelines. We are about to adopt revised and updated guidelines for running the symposia and we are setting up a finance committee to help handle budget management more effectively. As you can imagine, the Board meetings are nothing but fun, fun, fun. Hopefully we'll leave next year's Board with less to do.
Happy carving,
There are a couple of recent changes in the NWSSA to report to you. The first is that Leon White has volunteered to be chair of the Exhibitions committee. The committee not only puts on our exhibitions, but also recommends what shows we should sponsor. If you would like to help Leon, please give him a call. This is an oppommity for new members to become involved and to get to know their fellow sculptors. Thanks, Leon.
The other major change is that after being the guiding force for the symposia for the last decade, Vic Picou is stepping down as Director of Symposia at the end of the year. Anyone who has been involved in helping manage a symposium knows how much we owe to Vic for his hard work and his dedication to making the event happen. Vic has offered to serve as consultant to the new Director for the next two years, so that whoever takes his place will get the maximum support possible. If you are interested in this rewarding job (it's one of our few paid positions, albeit not paid well) please let either Vic or me know.
The Board is finishing up the process that we started last year of writing policy guidelines. We are about to adopt revised and updated guidelines for running the symposia and we are setting up a finance committee to help handle budget management more effectively. As you can imagine, the Board meetings are nothing but fun, fun, fun. Hopefully we'll leave next year's Board with less to do.
Happy carving,
