Newsletter for January 16, 2010

   Our membership is still going strong and growing as well. After more than ten years together, we decided some changes to our Bylaws were necessary to reflect our growth as artists.

Article I – Name
   The membership voted unanimously to change our name from the River City Dollmakers (RCDM) to The RiverCity Figurative Artists’ Guild (RCFA).

Article II – Mission Statement
   The membership voted unanimously to update our mission statement to more accurately reflect the growth in talent, knowledge and intent of the organization since its inception as a formal social group in 1998. The updated statement is shown in the Mission Statement section of this blog (right hand column).

Old Business
WinterFair 2009
   It came to our attention that one club member experienced an unexpected credit card administrative expense with regard to our WinterFair project. All present voted to reimburse this member for her out-of-pocket expenses on our behalf. The question of our overall proceeds from this event was made. Unfortunately, this information could only be estimated as we did not realize we were keeping track of our total sales. Liz suggested we use a sales tag format used by the group during our early years. This would allow a quick and easy way to tally the proceeds for the club and individual artists alike. Although a formal vote wasn’t taken, the idea seemed to be acceptable to all present.

Treasurer’s Report – Kathy
   Kathy gave a very detailed report starting with the October 2009 balance and ending with the balance as of today. She also requested approval for some new expenditures which were readily given. A more detailed report is being sent via the newsletter emailed out to all of you. Suffice it to say, the report was happily accepted and approved unanimously by the membership.
   Also, membership dues were due today in the amount of $20 per member. At least 11 members turned in their dues during the meeting and possibly more.

RiverCity Figurative Artists’ Guild Blog – Cody
   As indicated in the Treasurer’s Report, we purchased the www.RiverCityDollmakers.com website (and name) for this year. Cody has “pointed” the address from this WEBSITE to our RCDM BLOG. This means that even if you try to go to the RCDM website, you will magically be forwarded to the RCDM blog instead. Now here’s the catch. After the meeting this weekend, Cody tried to update our blog to include our new name (so for ease in typing, we will call it the new RCFA blog versus the old RCDM blog). Blogger.com has little critters living inside it that are designed to catch spammers trying to steal or damage the blogs of all their members. These critters took exception to the name change, thinking Cody may be up to no good (if they only knew…)! So right now we have two different blogs while Cody works with Blogger.com to straighten out the issue. Once this is fixed we will let you know and ask that you take a look at the RCFA blog so you know just how nice and user friendly it is.
   This new blog is free, so next year we will not have expenses as far as website charge. Also, this year you will note that we no longer ask members for a $5 fee to link or give a page to each member in the club. Linking in blogs is free…thus each of us using this service in the past has already saved $5!

Make & Take Project – Carole
   Carole presented three different make and take (M&T) samples for review. All three options were well received by the Guild members. One choice caught the attention and hearts of all present. The only change needed would be a new face stamp design since the sample face was designed by Carole for her personal artistic projects. All interested members are asked to design a face/faces to be used by the club for this and other Guild projects. Please turn in samples at the February meeting.
   Finally, a packaging sample was presented for the M&T project. Carole and Stephen discussed the need to professionally package our M&T items to increase sales and present them with a more professional look. It appears the expenses for supplies will be minimal so the group approved this idea. We even got a “maybe” out of Stephen when asked if he would consider teaching the M&T items at the show!
Planning for 2010
Meetings and Locations
   Beth noted that there is a possibility the room we have been using to meet at her establishment, the wonderful Crone Cottage, may no longer be available to us as she is negotiating to rent the space we meet in to a local artisan. We hope this means that she can negotiate for the new artist to cover the shop each third Saturday so that she can join us at whatever location we use in place of Crone. Katie noted that she was able to reserve the Newport Branch of the Campbell County Library, which is in the same general area as Crone Cottage. We will send an email notification each month as to our meeting place, depending on Crone’s availability and the size of the facility/tables and chairs needed for any classes we offer.

2010 Shows and Exhibits
   Rising Sun Quilt Fest, April 9, 10 & 11, 2010 http://www.risingsunquiltfest.com/
   Located in the Ballroom of the Grand Victoria Casino, the 2010 show and competition. 
   The competition has $3000 in cash prizes…entries must be in before March 1, 2010. Let
   Stephen know no later than the February 2010 meeting whether or not you plan on
   participating in this event. If you plan on showing dolls, you must also be willing to work
   the booth!

   *Sew, Quilt & Embroidery Expo, June 24-26, 2010 
   *Quilting, Stitches & Crafts Expo, Sept 9-11, 2010
    www.sharonville.org/scc/events.html
   *Both events are at the Sharonville Convention Center and bring in completely different
   crowds – at least they did in 2009! These were great events and our members had much
   success at these shows.

   RiverCity Figurative Artists’ Guild Annual Show, November 13-14, 2010
   Choices: 1) Same location/same room
                 2) Same Location/Both rooms
                 3) New Venue – same weekend
   Suggested New choices:
      Pendleton Gallery – on the Ohio side of the river – offers parking & easy access
      The Essex - $100/day, very large rooms, must bring own tables, etc.
      Kennedy Heights – nice place
      Cultural Art Center in Evendale on Reading Road
   Cody and Carole offered to check out the details of these venues for us and report at the February 2010 meeting.

Workshops
Professional Teacher – Debbie and Beth volunteered to work on contacting
suggested professional teachers and reporting back to the group in at the February meeting
Please see the email newsletter for details on the candidates.  We will announce publicly when someone is selected and agrees to come to town to teach our group.

Cloth Dying – all day event – Carole Staples took a class locally from a local artist that offered different fabric dying methods. Carole will check into the possibility of setting up an All day class for our group this summer (since it is an outdoor event) and will report back at the February meeting. We will publish details if and when this class is confirmed.

February 2010 Meeting - Katie will teach beading techniques – 

March 2010 Meeting - Guild members will assemble Make & Take packets for the Rising Sun show.

April 2010 Meeting - To Be Announced

May 2010 Joint Meeting with the Indy Doll Club at Stream Cliff Farms - Deadline for reservations is the April 2010 meeting. Luncheon fees will be due at the April meeting – Judy W volunteered to coordinate reservations for both groups. Remember challenge dolls – a doll based on herbs – this challenge was issued by our own Robbie Porter, please check with her if you lost/didn’t receive the details of this challenge.

June 2010 – Doll Camp at Cody’s Studio – details to be announced at a later date

July 2010 Meeting To Be Announced

August 2010 Meeting Carla will teach an assemblage class – details to be announced closer to the date of the meeting.

Ohio State Fair – being coordinated by Robbie for the members living in Ohio.

September 2010 Joint Meeting with the Guilded Lillies – 4th weekend in September Robbie will coordinate details of this meeting.

We Have a new NAME

Hello to all of you out there who are members of or have been of River City Dollmakers.  We have as of this meeting voted to change our name.  So, please make note that we are now called River City Figurative Artists' Guild - Exploring contemporary cloth and mixed media figures and art dolls.  The new board has a lot of great things in store for our humble group.  We want to take our art to the next level and help promote a variety of figurative art mediums and styles.  So stay tuned for more news and events as they happen.

FIrst Meeting of 2010

Just a quick note to remind the members that the next meeting is fast approaching.  We will be meeting at 10 am on Saturday January 16th at the Crone Cottage in Bellevue.  The club will decide on a new name and the upcoming year at a glance.  This is the first meeting with the new board members.  Also, reminder that club dues are due at this first meeting.  This year it will be just $20.  If for some reason the weather does not cooperate, the meeting will be cancelled.  Hopefully an email alert will be sent out and  a notice will go up here.

See you  at the meeting.