CONGRATULATIONS! YOU DID IT!
The Guild entered this fall poised to end 2020 with a financial deficit for the first time in our 41-year history. The cancellation of this year’s ‘Harwich Port Holiday Stroll’ negated our traditional one-day miniature ornament sale. Without our major fundraiser of the year the Guild would be hard-pressed to make ends meet; let alone make our annual donation to a local children’s non-profit. What to do?
The challenge involved getting ornament supplies to and from home-bound members and asking Gallery sitters to sell ornaments as they come in on weekends from late October to mid-December. We needed to sell about 100 ornaments to raise $1500. I am proud to announce that we have exceeded our sales goal by 85% with two more weekends to go. My heartfelt thanks to the many members who volunteered to manage and handle supply distribution, paint quality ornaments, sit weekends at the Gallery, and spread the word to our local community. We could not have done it without your collective efforts. We are now assured that this year’s donation to the Harwich Children’s Center will match our goal, and the Guild will end the year with a slight positive cash flow. Hopefully, that helps make your stay-at-home holiday a little merrier. When we all work together, much can be done.
Looking beyond 2020 (thankfully) there are several initiatives that will start in January. Our future Member Meetings (via Zoom for now) will feature Guild members as artist demonstrators. Jay Tichenor led the way at our November meeting with his ‘Travel Sketches.’ Joan Carroll be the demonstrator on Saturday, Jan 23rd followed by Chris Banks on Feb 20th. Mark your calendar. If you have some skill or knowledge you would be willing to share at future meetings, please contact me. We can assist you with any Zoom technology issues. Topics can range from any painting medium, sourcing supplies on-line, matting and framing, and marketing your work on-line.
Members (25) who responded to our fall on-line survey fully endorsed our recent dues increase of five dollars: Artists $35 / Associates $25. Payment is requested by end of the year. Payment can be mailed to Guild of Harwich Artists, P.O. Box 382, Harwich Port 02645. Respondents also overwhelmingly supported (75%) creating “studios” around members who share painting mediums. This will start to roll out early in the year using Zoom to connect and share. This approach will continue when we can all meet again in person around a table. More information to follow. The survey also revealed that at least ten non-fulltime residents are interested in participating in our monthly meetings via Zoom – one of the few positive impacts of the pandemic.
In parting till January, I wish you and your family a safe and meaningful holiday, even though many of us are apart this season.
Michael Rudden,
GHA President
[email protected]