Corner Chair

Happy New Year! A time to celebrate
accomplishments and look forward to the
journey ahead. The Guild began several
new projects in 1996. Jane Marchews has
been our General Manager for one year now
and we congratulate her on a job well done.
Our replacement bookkeeper for Ann Wray
didn'c work out, so after a few tense months
Ann agreed co help us out until the year
end. Thanks co all those who volunteered
to help in the gallery in December. There
were many busy spurts in particular che
Saturday before Christmas. Fay and | were
working in the office only to be called
downstairs to a desperate frensy of
customers. The five of us were kept busy
for some time. Just one of the pleasurable
experiences that happen when you hang
around the gallery. A year end stanement
will be available in the next newsletter. We
have been overly optimistic abour paying
down. our line of credit so have had to dip
into it again. This year our budget will
allow for paying it down. We gor a great
start on the book.

Unfortunately Laura Arpiainen has
resigned from the board of directors and the
book committee. We thank her for the
effort and energy she put forth to get it
going, Our first application for a grant has
been turned down but we will be applying
for another January 15th. The book is a
major project for 97 but not the only one.
The success of che Lomery for Pottery show
in the gallery in February and the fund
raising event on March 21sec will depend on
the sale of tickets. Ac the moment there are
only 70 tickets available so lee all your
pottery loving friends know about it soon.

Also in February we will have a silence
auction of damaged pots, open to members
only upstairs in the guild office. Bidding
will start on February 7th, In March the
Tozan Society will be showing the wide
variecy of pieces fired in the Nanaimo kilns.
If you have a piece to show let Emie
Watkins know (250/743-5169). He will
give you a call January 15th co ler know
where to bring your piece.

April brings us the Studio $ show. As
Susanna Carnie’s term is up we will be
subsidizing a mew artist. The Jury committee
convenes April 15th and October 15th.
May comes in like a lion with Made in Clay
and the AGM. Then

the John Leach workshop is on the 24th
and 25th. The July theme show is open to
all members so it's not too scon to be
making pieces for The Tea Party. All of
these events are made possible by the
work of volunteers so feel free to get
involved or initiate your own idea. Carol
and I met with Pam Chambers of the
Community Arcs Council. We hope wo be
able to do a joint project with chem in che
future. We have had talks with CMHC
regarding future plans for expansion. In
the meanoime we will be renewing our
lease. All in all it will be a busy year.
Good Luck co all in 97!

Linda Doherty

Report

Once again, the search is on for
nominations for the Board of Directors. If
you wish to be nominated or to nominate
someone, please call Deborah Tibbel ar
822-3440 (weekdays) or 733-4349
(evenings).

The names of retiring directors will be
published in the February newsletter, and
a slace of nominated directors and/or
other nominations will appear in March.

Input from the general membership is
important. Anyone interested in joining
the nominations committee should call
Deborah at the numbers listed above.

Page 3

Book Update

There is still cime co register for the book.

Reaiseration fee before January 31 se js
$100, plus donation pot valued in excess
of $100. After February lst the fee is
$200, A modese balance of the fee is
payable later in 1997.

A new schedule will be mailed our to
participants January §ch. In the meantime
we have relaxed the deadline co get your
blurbs in, since many of you found ir
impossible to get ic in before Christmas.

Donation pots must be in the gallery by
February 2nd ac 5:30 pm. You don'r need
to be registered for the book to donate a
pot. We also need door prizes for the
Lottery for Pottery fund-raiser.

Linda Doherty.

Dear Carol Mayer;

Thanks for the mention in the December
Newsletter. Sounds like you enjoyed your
lurking on che internet. We have jusr
posted a new web site at:

heop:/jecstream.necusers/thermsen

Check it out! We are also putting
together a new site about BC artists and
galleries, We will be working on it in the
new year. | will send the Guild info about
this shortly, Thanks,

Tony Hermsen.
{P.S. The guild doesn't have an e-mail.)