President’s Message – Nov/Dec 2006

Hello All, tis that time of year again. Our Christmas/Holiday Party is 9 December at Shoreline Community Center, at 185th and First St. in N.E. Seattle. Happy hour starts at 6pm. What to bring: A-G- desserts, H-M-appetizers, N-Z- main dish sufficient for 8 stoner appetites. Rich Andler has been volunteered to be in charge. Bring some donations for the raffle. A new change this year will be any art created by you can be entered in the art exchange. You may trade with another if you choose, but there will be no unwilling swiping.

We will have a BOD meeting starting at 2pm at Shoreline. Please feel free to attend. If you wish to address the BOD let me know ahead of time so I can fit you into our schedule.

We have a couple of very exciting mission related developments. Sharon Feeney has initiated collaboration between NWSSA and the Residential Training Center for the Blind in Seattle. Volunteer members of NWSSA will conduct the first class 8 November. We will get the students familiar with the elements of stone sculpture and then we’ll see how it goes from there. I would love to have this develop into a continuing liaison.

On that note, we will start our gallery at Camp B. on the first Sunday, and the Blind will be invited to view our sculptures thru their hands. The Director of the Facility said that it has been an issue as they mostly are not allowed to touch art. What a shame! I realize it is an issue, but I sincerely hope we have enough members willing to endure the travesty of touching so that others may see. Sharon will write an article for the next Journal, so I don’t want to steal her thunder, I just want to give credit where it’s due.

Also, Camp B. is going to be involved in the Elderhostel program this year, providing instruction to members of the Elderhostel community. This will be a good outreach connection and I couldn’t be more excited or pleased!

Last, but not least, to the volunteers of the Group Project started in 2005 at Camp B. who are working their fingers to the bone while not attending to their own business in order to finish the piece by the December deadline. Ideas are great, but resolution takes time, sweat, and undying commitment to achieve the goal. As an association we will all gain future benefits from this installation. But I urge you not to think of this project as glory for a few. It is all of those who get involved and work to accomplish the dream that will move NWSSA into the future. Our humble THANKS!

Your pres,

Elaine