Ah, it's that time of year again. Summer time. Symposium time. The time of year when we get to gather, get dirty, and play with stone collectively. When I look back on my carving career to date I remember when I stumbled across the NWSSA and see it as a turning point in my life on a myriad of levels. There is something particularly profound in the discovery of a group of people who share your strange passion. And as luck would have it, to find that they also don't mind sharing their knowledge, processes, friendship and laughter. This experience is unrivaled in my world. So, this year I will again embark on a privilege - the honour of spending time with all you stoners, you who I call my friends. And I know that when we meet this summer, those connections will help me continue my growth as a person and as an artist. I can't wait to see you all very soon.
Gerda
After a profound day roughing-out sculpture up on the hill, I stopped in at the grocery store for some provisions. I was in my work attire: pigtails ringleted by water and slightly grayed by stone dust; jeans, fleece, and work boots, all in shades of dusty grey and face marginally wiped clean with whatever drinking water was left behind in the cup. I was tired, content, and moving uncharacteristically slow, having just come off a 12 day cleanse (yes there was food, but limited).
Lunch had been forfeited because the day was extra fun so I was conserving what energy I had and looking forward to eating the apple that I placed in my cart, when I noticed a man was watching me. This by itself is not much of a story as men have been watching women since we evolved to become more complex organisms so understandably, I didn’t think much of it.
I stood in line with my shopping stuffs laid out when this same man arrived behind me in the kiosk and laid his shopping out. We stood there looking at each others groceries for a moment when he asked me if I wouldn’t mind telling him where the dirt on my hands came from. I told him and he replied that he too carved stone and recognized the signs, or rather the symptoms. We chatted briefly until the clerk apologetically interrupted to give me my bill summary. When she apologized for interrupting, I cheerfully replied, “It’s ok, no big deal,” to which the man on my left said, “Actually, it’s very important.” I paused and thought, yes, he was right. In this age of disconnect, in these times when we consume merely for the sake of consumption; often giving no thought to how things arrive, where they are made and who’s hands (and how many hands) toiled to give us too much of all our stuff. The affirmation of this importance is signified by the meeting of a stranger in a grocery store. One of those rare strangers with a passion for using his hands to create with material that is mined from the earth, material formed in times when men did not exist let alone spend time in grocery stores watching women.
-Gerda
Circumstances have once again made me your president until Camp B.
We received a handful of emails expressing opinions about the proposed changes to our by-laws that we mailed out to you. Thanks for your input. We have attempted to answer some of your concerns through emails. At our April 19 meeting, the board approved all of the changes except for the Purpose wording; that remains as it was. We will have time at our member’s meeting at Camp B (and beyond) to discuss that further. And now that we have input from our legal council, we can look more closely at other possible wording changes to better comply with NWSSA’s needs and the law.
This year we are losing board members Karl Hufbauer and Verena Schwippert who have each served the maximum allowable three consecutive, two year terms. Constance Jones and Tom Francis both recently resigned for personal reasons, and Rich Andler has chosen not to run for a second two year term. This leaves four board members: Petra Brambrink, Bill Brayman, Lane Tompkins and Leon White.
The board decided to elect three new board members. Our nominating committee was Arliss Newcomb (non-board member chair), Rich Andler and Lane Tompkins. Your mail-in ballot has been inserted into this Journal. Please fill it out, fold it, tape it and drop it in the mail. You have until June 30 to get this done.
At the new board’s first meeting (after the member’s meeting), a new president, vice president, treasurer and secretary will be elected by the BOD, as they are every year.
Additionally, you should have received a questionnaire on your email. If you have sent it back, thank you. If you haven’t, please do. The board needs your answers. We have to decide by the end of Camp B (in just over 40 days) whether or not we will pay the $5,000 deposit for 2010.
Looking forward to seeing you at Camp B (This year for sure) So, pack up your stone and your tools (or buy them there) and remember to bring your enthusiasm for carving, talking and good times on the field, at the table, and around the campfire.
See you there.
Lane Tompkins
It has been a busy month; The Flower & Garden Show brought our sculptures together, made a few sales and raised much interest with the hands-on table. Veteran and new members shared their time.
I was in on a meeting for Gerda Lattey’s Basalt Workshop—This Sounds Great!
Also Camp Brotherhood looks great, an amazing price this year!
And I went to a NWSSA get together at Leon’s home. It was wonderful to see old friends and new, outside of the craziness of our symposia or shows. Bravo, Leon. I hope others will imitate.
I warned the board of this at our last meeting, but my ever-increasing debt means I will not be able to attend all of this year’s symposia. Since I feel that this organization deserves a leader that can fully participate in its administration – by the time you read this I will have officially resigned my position on the board. An interim slate of officers will have been selected. I will remain a proud member.
It is with excruciating deliberation and much anguish that I choose this path, as I deeply love this group and have enjoyed working with the board. I overestimated my capacities, I take full responsibility, I am sorry.
I hope to make the April 19th board meeting to answer any questions, and then next hope to see you all at our Camp B sculpture walk on Saturday, July 18th.
Tom Francis
Ex-Presidente, 206 634-1070
