FASA Monthly Meeting Minutes
Monday, December 8, 2014
Phyllis Jordan opened the meeting at 10:03AM. Three guests were introduced. Luci Gartriel who met Ida Spence through Girl Scouting; Mary Beth Swofford of Incarnate Word who is interested in mixed media and working with material; Joan Wallace, a snowbird from Pennsylvania. Joan is particularly interested in quilt art.
The November general meeting minutes were sent out by e-mail. A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes as written and a voice vote approved the minutes.
Scholarship Committee – Phyllis reported that Peggy Foerster is stepping down as chairperson of the scholarship committee due to time constraints. Georgia Zwartjes has graciously agreed to fill Peggy’s position. The committee will be working on wording for awarding scholarships and our options for 2014 awards.
In 2013, the committee awarded $2300 to the Southwest School of Art which is still outstanding. Because of the wording for awards, we are limited to only two schools, Incarnate Word and Southwest School of Art.
Texas Federation of Fiber Artists (TFFA) – The issue of the dissolution of TFFA is not yet resolved. The Houston and Dallas chapters are more or less out of the picture. San Antonio, Austin and East Texas remain but want to withdraw. One of the pressing questions is how to divide the remaining TFFA funds. Phyllis has been unsuccessful in finding an attorney to advise us but has found an accountant versed in non-profit organizations and the IRS tax rules. The accountant said she found nothing in the IRS rules or in our by-laws or standing rules that discuss how to distribute funds if the Texas Federation ever decided to dissolve. The accountant felt the best way to end this issue was for the TFFA Board to meet and agree to dissolve the Federation and then agree on how to distribute any remaining funds.
Programs – Susie Monday reported that our January meeting will be held at the Garden Center where we will be discussing the upcoming Runway Show. The February meeting will be here at the church and our speaker will be Michelle Belto, encaustic artist. In March, Ellen Noble, Southwest School of Art, will present her program at the Southwest School of Art. She is doing a workshop which is now open for registration.
Margaret Kay Stanley will be our April program which will be held at the Witte Museum. May will be our installation of officers.
A special thank you was given to Dale Jenssen and Yvette Little for their herculean efforts in making the Annual Juried Fiber Art Show at SAY SI such a success.
Runway Show – Ida Spence reported that the garment entry registration form was completed and on the website. Center pieces for the tables will be terra cota pots which will hold branches of various sizes. A workshop will be held to create 20 leaves for each branch so everyone can help cut out, sew and/or embellish the leaves. The show attendees can “purchase” (in the form of a donation) the centerpieces. The money will go to the scholarship fund. Bring your scissors, any spring like material (pastels) and beads to the January meeting so you can participate in the workshop. Currently, all the committees for the show have been filled except publicity and program design. Kitty Janiga is chair of the silent auction for the Runway Show. She said there will be five high dollar items auctioned each day. Jean Peffers will be doing the raffle again. She needs four large and one small coffee can for the raffle tickets.
Treasurer’s Report – Joan Termini said we have $36,083 in our checking account. She will take out $20,000 and put it in other investments.
Newsletter – Shirley Bugosh indicated the newsletter was sent to 142 members. 95 people opened the last publication but 46 did not. There were 3 undeliverables. She also reported that she was still working on a new website. Eventually she wants a websites dedicated to the Annual Show and to the Runway Show. Shirley is looking for an assistant webmaster and assistant newsletter editor for back up in case something unforeseen occurs and she would not be able to take care of these positions.
Community Service– Peggy Foerster thanked everyone for their donations to the church’s foodbank. She also discussed another very worthwhile effort the church is sponsoring, Operation Heifer. This is an international group which, through donations, provides livestock to small villages in third world countries. The intent is to show the villagers how to raise and breed the animals so that they can meet their own communal needs.
Education – Jean Peffers reminded everyone that the Texas Quilt Show was still going on at the Institute of Texas Cultures. It will end January 7, 2015.
Publicity – Lyn Belisle loves what Shirley Bugosh is doing with the website. It allows us to put pictures and videos of our activities on the website.
Satellite Meeting – Susie Monday will be providing the program for tonight’s meeting at 6:30pm at Robin Early’s house.
Miscellaneous – A Fiber Festival is being held in Seguin January 7-9, 2015. Lisa Kerpoe is holding two classes at the Southwest School of Art in March. Registration is now open. Susie Monday is holding an Artists’ Journey Retreat at her studio in January. Lyn Belisle is holding a series of workshops over 2015. The subject will be Objects of Devotion. See Lyn for more information.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:42am. And we all danced over to the table by the kitchen area to celebrate our delicious holiday luncheon. (If you weren’t there, you missed a lot of good eats.)
Respectfully Submitted,
Anne Winsett, FASA Secretary
December 19, 2014