Baltimore Watercolor Society |
- Home
- September 2022 Newsletter
Members can log in to the site by clicking the icon at top right of the banner.
Highlights Newsletter SEPTEMBER 2022
President's Palette
September’s President’s Palette is both a look into the Past and a look toward the Future of BWS. The Board and particularly our new Treasurer, April Rimpo, and her Assistant, Ruth Lampi, have been looking closely at our finances, bringing us up to date with certifications and even trying to whip us into shape by the upcoming process of formulating Budgets (oh, that dreaded word) for our committees! With financial expertise that previous BWS Treasurers (myself included) did not possess, they have revamped reports and even instituted a change in our Accounting Firm to fit our current needs. They are looking to do the most for our BWS members that we can. It is a process that will continue throughout the coming year and we would like to share it with you.
In this month’s Highlights we are also introducing a new feature of clever tips for artists as well as sending out a plea for help in vital positions in BWS. This is Your organization and it won’t function without your help and participation. BWS needs You.
Sherry Morell
BWS President
Things to Come
April M. Rimpo, BWS Treasurer
Over the last few years, Covid caused rapid changes in how art organizations operated in order to survive and serve their members. It also created some new and increased costs. So where do we go from here?
Many members are exhausted from the full day Zoom workshops while others are still hesitant to venture into indoor venues while variants continue to spread. As a result we intend to institute a mix of both types of programs to serve both our clienteles:
a) some short Zoom-based programs
b) a variety of in-person programs of 6 hrs/day for 1 to 4 days.
To test the waters, we chose a plein air event at Elkridge Furnace Inn with a lunch in their outdoor tent as our Annual Meeting and were thrilled with the great feedback.
So what is coming?
Evening programs for small fees have continued but with fewer registrants for social distancing. Our venue rental costs have not lessened so these programs sometimes operate at a loss that BWS subsidizes. Presenter fees have also increased for programs and all events below.
Full (1 to 4) day workshops (Bragg in Sept; Daniels in Oct) and our 2nd and 3rd Free Zoom programs (Lambert in Oct; Walker in Feb) - already scheduled with more currently planned for 2023. Plus, add in the annual Mid-Atlantic Events (exhibit, reception & wksp).
Exhibition schedule - Multiple Separate Exhibits for Signature Only and Associate Only (based on surveyed Associate preference rather than a joint Signature/Associate exhibit). Our entry fee is $10, less than many of our fellow art organizations, and significantly less than Awards/costs for the exhibits. Venues: Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) Hereford Branch, Quiet Waters, Roland Park Presbyterian Church & more in ’23.
Possible Exhibit Expeditions - possible AWS Exhibition/NYC Bus Trip in ’23 and maybe a special Exhibit in DC area late ’22 (dependent upon Covid social distancing/cost/# of people).
Dues Changes
Dues increase of $5 for 2023 (Associates $30, Signature Artists $40).
We hope you value this variety of opportunities listed above and understand the need for the increase. Based on our research, $30 for Associates and $40 for Signature Artists is still $5 less than the average dues for Watercolor Organizations across the country. In addition, many groups made no distinction in dues between Associates and Signature Artists. BWS is also one of few Watercolor organizations whose Life members are not required to pay dues, with less than 10% providing a donation.
BWS will continue to subsidize many of our events so we can continue to hold them when we reach a minimum attendance agreed to with our instructors and presenters. Dues paid beginning in September are applied through the next year. So if you pay or join us as early as September the new dues rate will cover membership through December of 2023.
Needed: BWS Mid-Atlantic Exhibition Chair and Committee Assistants
The position of the Mid-Atlantic Exhibition Chair has always been one of the most labor-intensive volunteer positions on the Board due to the amount of work involved in the annual organization and production of the exhibit and its allied events. It was realized that the position would be much more effective and less taxing if handled by a Team, with a Chair and 2 Assistants, to divide the workload and allow all the volunteers to still have careers as working artists. BWS is thus advertising for applicants to fill the positions of both the Chair, who sits on the Board, and 2 Assistants comprising the BWS Mid-Atlantic Exhibition Committee.
The Chair will have total oversight of all activities and is responsible for scheduling and planning the Exhibit including arranging for the dates, venue, juror, finances (coordinated with the Treasurer), prospectus, contracts, all email and newsletter announcements plus contacts with other organizations, in addition to overseeing and advising the 2 Assistants and overseeing catalog publication.
One Assistant will be tasked with setting up and handling submissions (probably via CaFE), image access for both the Juror and Webmaster (for the online version), and results notifications to the artists. The second Assistant will be involved in gallery activities (volunteer staffing and painting handling - which includes receiving, installation & hanging, then pickup & shipping), reception coordination (with the Awards and Hospitality committees) and also production and bulk mailing of catalogs.
All Persons filling the positions will work together as a Team and should be proficient with computers, word processing, spreadsheets, Wild Apricot, and, as needed, CaFE. There will be training for all positions as well as access during the organizational process.
If interested in applying for any of the positions or for more information, please contact Sharon Green at sharonagreen@comcast.net.
Upcoming Events
Note: The above Upcoming Events summary only displays the start date for each event. For full details please click on the event, or visit the Events page. Board Officer Position |
Board of Governors and Committee Chairs
Baltimore Watercolor Society, a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization
Please note: Multiple names are listed for several positions as both the outgoing current Board Member and the new member in training are included.
President: Sharon Morell, slmorell12@gmail.com, 443-465-1863
Vice President:
Secretary: Deborah Cohan, 301-977-6212
Treasurer: April Rimpo, bwsocietytreasurer@gmail.com, 443-766-0148
Assistant Treasurer: Ruth Lampi, rthlampi@gmail.com 240-515-0552
Mid-Atlantic Co-Chair (outgoing): Sharon Green, bwsmidatl@gmail.com, 410-363-1922
Mid-Atlantic Committee: Susan Bradley, 301-525-6303
Workshops: Sabine Yeager, bwsworkshops.sabineyeager@gmail.com, 410-245-0366
Programs: Dana Kleinsteuber, Kleinstk@verizon.net, 410-917-7935
Webmaster: Bob Coe, 410-877-3730
Newsletter Editor: Devin Lulu, devin.lulu@gmail.com, 302-690-8635
Archivist: Karen Norman, 301-318-2224
Hospitality Chair: Karen Schuster, 410-531-5768
Hospitality: Joan Orcutt, 240-381-9309
Membership/Database: Janice Hendra, bwsmembership@gmail.com, 410-271-4943
Membership/Jurying: Kathleen Gardiner, 410-991-1183
Mid-Atlantic Awards: Janet Arsenault, 410-713-0248
Mid-Atlantic Awards: Janet Freeman, 410-299-3906
Exhibits Chair: David Drown, 410-971-9769
Exhibits: Kathy Daywalt, 410-507-1662
Publicity/Social Media: Jennifer Murtha, 443-834-4160