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.)