In recent years we have held a Spring Members Meeting to update the BSA membership on the state of the organization and about new initiatives that were in the works. After reviewing the potential agenda items for such a meeting, and after consulting with other Board members we decided that it would be more efficient to bring you up to date through the newsletter. To that end, I would like to summarize some of the of BSA activity over the last few months.

The Board held its reorganization meeting in December of 2011, electing its new officers. I agreed to fill the role as president once again as long as every Board member would take on a task and that those officers and committee chairs leaving the Board would be available to guide and coach their successors for the next few months. All readily agreed, and to date there has been a smooth transition of leadership.

Paula Sciuk has adeptly continued as Vice President and Exhibitions Chair, Andy Russell has taken over as Treasurer, Richard Christian has started keeping our meeting minutes as Recording Secretary and Elaine Kessel has assumed the role of Corresponding Secretary. Additionally, Rich Tomasello rose to the task of Membership Chair, Candace Keegen Masters and Paul Rybarczyk have been sharing the Publicity Chair and Deb Stewart took on the responsibility as Education Chair. Catherine Tillou, Stephen Houseknecht and Norine Spurling have made themselves available for additional ad hoc activities and tasks. I am so thankful that we have a working Board and I encourage you to express your own gratitude to them as well, as it is for you that they are volunteering their time and talents.

As a result of the Eye Candy fund raiser last year, we were able to allocate $8,500 to be used specifically for the Video Archive Project that is currently being overseen by past-presidents, Beth Pedersen and George Grace. Beth and George and the videographer they have retained have continued to conduct interviews and shoot video. We hope to have a number of edited interviews available for viewing by our next annual meeting. The Board also approved the purchase of an external hard drive upon which to store all the footage.

The BSA has continued to build relationships and collaborate with other art organizations and initiatives in the community:

  • BSA will once again be a co-sponsor of the Echo Art Fair, which will be held this year at the Larkin Center of Commerce on July 7, and 8, 2012.
  • The Board voted to become a sponsor for Storrs All High Photo Show held at the Keenan Center, March 18 – April 6, 2012.
  • Interested BSA artists will be participating in an art sale and fund raising event for the Frank Lloyd Wright Fontana Boathouse to be held on June 23 and 24, 2012. Deb Stewart and Dianne Baker have also been assisting in the planning of the exhibition of BSA artists that will take place at that event.
  • Paula Sciuk and the Exhibition Committee worked exceptionally hard to plan and implement our Spring Exhibition at Big Orbit Gallery. The synergy between our BSA personnel and Sean and Tristan at Big Orbit resulted in a memorable show. Thanks to all.
  • The Board agreed to collaborate with the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, the site of our upcoming Fall exhibition, by helping to upgrade its gallery space in lieu of paying a rental fee. We will need help in hanging drywall and painting walls in August. If you are interested contact George Grace or myself. This is a great opportunity to get involved.
  • The BSA Award was given to Anna Krempholtz, an Iroquois High School senior at the annual All High Art Exhibition held at Daemen College in March.

By way of professional development, we have, with the help of Stephen Houseknecht, secured a subscription?to Art Deadlines, a newsletter which lists art contests, competitions, art jobs and internships, art scholarships, grants, fellowships, art festivals, calls for entries/proposals/projects for art students, art teachers, and artists of all ages. This is a benefit exclusively for our members, accessible only when you sign in on the website and click on Calls for Work.

Using Quickbooks software, Andy Russell and I will be working on the development of proactive organizational budgets for both the current year and for the year to come. Establishing a consistent budgeting process within this software should provide for greater accountability, streamlined functionality and better reporting. Additionally, in the near future we are hoping to bring individuals with both legal and accounting expertise on to our Board of Trustees. We hope to call a meeting of the trustees sometime in May.

You see that the Board has sought to maintain the Buffalo Society of Artists’ presence in the community and its commitment to our members in a variety of ways. I encourage you to get involved some way with the initiatives, activities and projects of the BSA. I am convinced it will help not only the organization but also your growth as an artist.

Peace.

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