This winter I went through my old newsletters and Journals. You can only shovel so much snow. I was taken aback by the members who used to attend our symposia and are no longer active in other ways in our organization. I do not know if this is a natural course or if we as an organization are failing our members in some way.

 

I have asked for your input on issues that you might feel important, but my mailbox has dust on it. Is it a lack of interest, other pursuits, or something that needs attention?

 

My feelings from the first symposium I attended were passionate from the stone to the people. Though coming from all different lifestyles, we came together to share our love of stone with other like-minded individuals.

 

This commonality makes us unique, especially so when you see non carver’s eyes glaze over after five minutes of conversation about a rock.

I realize that packing up all the gear we require to come to a symposium, when you have your own studio of near perfection, poses an issue of, “do I really want to do this?”

 

Let me just ask, “do you ever get lonely in your solitary pursuit?” “Have you really learned all there is to know about stone, about new approaches and or new solutions to old problems?”

 

Besides having a great time amidst your fellow sculptors, there are always those pearls of knowledge that come in conversation with each other. If you only come to a symposium to absorb the fellowship and don’t come to sculpt, you still get great dividends in that fellowship and perhaps one of those pearls. Sometimes just being with others can shed new light on our work and life.

If you know someone who no longer is active in our organization I would urge you to contact them, they may need you.

 

Just so you know, I am not dialing for dollars here; I am concerned with the heart health of our organization. It is you the members with your contributions to the whole that make the recipe outstanding. Lacking a few ingredients does matter in the outcome, and I love outstanding recipes!

 

Take a few minutes at the end-of-day and help me dust off my mail box. It may help to ensure our heart health.

 

-Elaine Mac Kay

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