March Newsletter 2011

A Message from Our President

We are already into our March meeting month of planning.  The time seems to go by so fast.  A lot of work has already begun behind the scenes for those planning the Rhody Show.

            We spent February taking a strong look at how we were spending our money and raising funds to continue support of art education and cultural community support.  As you are aware, school budgets have diminished and our youth are being short changed in the art experience at middle schools, affecting qualified scholarship entries.  The competition for youth getting big money scholarships has brown and our original fund raising efforts need a boost to create a stronger vision.

            FACA will not hold the scholarship luncheon this year, but instead, through the Board, offer a new direction for the scholarship program.  The program unveiling will be at the March general meeting and will be voted on by membership.  Please be there!

            The Board also felt the rule regarding attendance at 4 meetings per year for active membership was a hardship for new members.

            March will offer a new scholarship direction, voting on Board member changes, and hearing our new show judge, a fine artist, F. Michael Wood.  Check out fmichaelwood.com to learn more.

 

 

Dues are Due

            Annual Membership dues are now due.  Please send your $25 to P.O. Box 305, Florence, OR 97439 to continue your membership in good standing.

 

 

51^st. Rhododendron Day Art Expo & Craft Fair

            Applications are now being accepted for booths at the Rhody Festival!  You may contact Pat Ryle at 541-991-7376 for vendor applications.

            We’ll have more benefits than ever this year, with clowns in Old Town, informing people about the show at the middle school.  Tell your friends and neighbors that admission is FREE.  Posters and postcards will be distributed at the March general meeting.

            This year there will be box lunches for sale as well as our bake sale.  Raffle baskets are bigger and will have a theme.  Your art, as well as the prizes we are producing, should be a big hit!  We will try to put signage wherever the city allows. Members pay $65 for an 8x10 booth, non-members $80.  Corner booths are $85 for members and $120 for non-members.  Electricity is an additional $10.

Hurry! Booth assignments are filling fast!

 

 

 Welcome New Members!

Tom & Patricia Ball – Brown Dog Antiques

Eloise & Bob Carr – Aunt Hattie’s Collection

Claudia Ignatieff

Caroline Mesman

Mary Nulty – Creative Memories

Michel Scheer – Soaps by Lucy

Lucy Maestas – Soaps by Lucy

Carrie Smith

 

 

Upcoming Workshops

            Our workshop chair, Fe Behringer, announces an exciting workshop for April 7^th.  She has procured Karen Naylor to teach vase decoration.  The workshop fee is only $15.  You will need to bring a glass vase or two with you – Karen provides all the other materials you will need.  You will be amazed at the beautiful creations you will make with her guidance.  Call Fe to reserve your place in class.

            Fe is anxious to put together workshops for the upcoming year.  She would like your input on past workshops you have enjoyed and would like to see repeated, or any new ideas you may have.  Call Fe at 541-997-5930.

 

 

Latest Updates

If you missed the last meeting, you missed some important information.  Here are changes and discussions of which you need to be aware.

*  Guests, Tom and Trisha of the Brown Dog Antiques Store, spoke of their plans to develop an art gallery in their newly restyled store, where Florence artists could display and sell their work and teach classes.

*  President, Kat Cunningham, is planning a web site page for FACA at FlorenceEssenceLiving.com.

*  Our March meeting will be changed to March 19^th due to a conflict of dates at the church.  Also, the next Board meeting will be changed to March 23^rd at 10am at Kat’s house, due to a conflict of dates at the Fire Station.

*  There are now two categories of membership: active and sponsor.  Both will pay the same dues.  Sponsoring members are full members who don’t or can’t participate in club activities.  Active members are those who are able to participate on committees and help with events.

*  This year FACA will not hold a scholarship luncheon, but rather will put this money to use where it is needed most.

*  FACA is now a member of the Chamber of Commerce.  Our president will represent the Club.

*  It was decided that we will not hold the 4^th of July show this year due to costs.

 

 

                 March 19^th, Speaker to be F. Michael Wood

            We are proud to announce that the guest speaker at our March meeting will be the fine artist and oil painter, F. Michael Wood.  The meeting will be held as usual at the Community Baptist Church across from the Dollar Store.  Mr. Wood will also be our esteemed judge at the 51^st. annual FACA Rhododendron Days Art & Craft Invitational Show.  You need only to Google f michael wood to see this prestigious artist’s work, represented by many nationwide galleries along with museums and personal collectors. The real gem was finding out that he lives in our seaside town of Florence.  You may be familiar with his new oil painting classes held at the Brown Dog Antiques or LCC in Eugene.  If you love nature and have a passion for the impressionist technique, watching his work progress is almost magical.  Wood is held in high regard by his peers and has been featured many times in Southwest Arts Magazine. Whether it is a portrait or a landscape, he is truly one of today’s master painters. Come meet this gifted oil painter and get to know our new show judge.

 

 

Dates to Remember

March 17^th     Spaghetti dinner at the Fire House

March 19^th     General Membership Meeting

March 23^rd     Board of Directors Meeting

April 7^th          Workshop, Karen Naylor, Vases

 

 

If you would prefer to receive this newsletter by e-mail, please let Pam Thompson know at panda92111@charter.net.