The Tuesday Board Meeting...A Snapshot
 

Each Tuesday, throughout the year, a group of dedicated individuals - Euclid Art Association Board members and various activity Chairpersons - come together at the Euclid Art Gallery in Euclid to plan meetings and activities for the organization.  The Association offers a wide range of art activities including Fine Art Shows, monthly art demonstrations, a variety of workshops for local artists, special theme meetings such as the annual Christmas dinner meeting, member's night and annual art critique night, and more...

This is a brief snapshot of the weekly board meeting of May 24, 2016, following a very successful Spring Fine Art Show at the Euclid Public Library, and just prior to the year's second David Rankin Watercolor Workshop to be held at the Euclid Art Gallery a week and a half later.  But it is also representative of the efforts and activities that take place year round.

For a successful event, each of these activities requires planning and preparation, organization and set-up, and helpers to make it all happen.  The Spring Fine Art Show is just one example of a complex event organized by the board and chairpersons.  It begins with the planning of each aspect of the show - developing flyers, Facebook and web site presentations to advertise the event, preparing mailings to the membership to present them with the details of the show, including preparation of labels for the artwork to be submitted, entry forms for participation in the show and instructions regarding the delivery and pick-up of art entered in the show.

The group must secure venues for each show, communicating with various representatives to entice them to act as sponsors, make sure sufficient space is available and that the facility is ready for set-up as opening day approaches.  Association members must be contacted to enlist help setting up the displays, to provide refreshments for the Artists Reception, and to sit in shifts throughout the duration of show to greet visitors, sell raffle tickets, handle art sales and inform interested visitors of the Association's activities.  Every aspect of the coming event must be considered, and envisioned before it can be brought to reality.  A judge must be selected, awards ribbons purchased, artwork hung and labels created for each piece.  Money from raffle sales must be accounted for, and funds received from art sales held in account for the artists to receive when the show closes.  Every detail is important, right down to the number of hooks and chains needed to hang the art that will be delivered.  And so much more...

The organizational effort, and the bulk of the work, is carried out by the small cadre of dedicated members who make up the Association's Board, and a few select project chairpersons, who meet for at least two and a half hours each week throughout the year.  On May 24, the attendees included President Lee Peters, Treasurer Joanne Naroski, Secretary Sue Herrle, Show Coordinator Ellen Howard and Refreshment Chairman Sandi Richards.  [Photos, top right, Lee Peters and Sue Herrle discuss Association photos; left - Joanne Naroski and Ellen Howard participate in a discussion of the Spring Fine Art Show; bottom right - Sandi Richards and Sue Herrle go over the numbers]   Not present at this meeting, but regular members of the team are Membership Chairman Mary Ann Gambitta and Program Coordinator Joan Milligan.

Art shows are just one aspect of the Association's efforts.  Each month the board schedules an artist to present a demonstration that will be of interest to the members.  The refreshments Chair must contact members and enlist at least two to provide refreshments for each month's meeting (and everyone can agree that the monthly refreshments are outstanding!).  Special effort is required for the Scholarship Fundraiser, the annual Christmas dinner meeting and Chinese Auction, and the annual Critique Night.
 

Lee Peters President	Joanne Naroski Treasurer	Ellen Howard, Show Coordinator	Sue Herrle Secretary	Sandi Richards Refreshments Chairman

Kirk Ramsey Webmaster	Joan Milligan Program Coordinator	Mary Ann Gambitta Membership Chairman

The Board handles correspondence with various media outlets to encourage articles about the Association and its activities, it develops partnerships with businesses for the display of artwork, it reaches out to local organizations to solicit sponsorship by the Euclid Art Association.  Each year the Board awards a scholarship to a promising Euclid art student, and coordinates with the City of Euclid to display member's art in City Hall.  It serves as the Association's historians and archivists, curating the historical documents, art and memorabilia collected since the organization's founding in 1958.

The Euclid Art Association has received recognition from various local artists and art groups for the energy and vitality shown by the organization.  And we members must give our thanks to the dedicated, capable individuals who are making this possible, one weekly meeting at a time.  Their hard work, initiative, creativity and dedication have built an organization to be proud of, that we all benefit from, and enjoy participating in.  To each of you, we say, "Thanks!"

Photos by webmaster Kirk Ramsey