McDUFFIE ARTS COUNCIL
Thomson, GA
December 4, 2008
The McDuffie Arts Council (MAC) met Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the McDuffie County Library. Eight members and two guests, Irene Major and Khrista Kent, were present. President Marion Ivey called the meeting to order.
Betty Parker, Treasurer, gave the financial report.
Bylaws
Marion read the Bylaws for members to have the opportunity to make changes and approve. Louisa Hickman made a motion that Student Membership age be changed to read, “18 or a full-time student”. Roel Wielinga seconded; motion passed. Suzan Harriss made a motion to change Student Membership representative at large to have one vote. Bracton Ivey seconded; motion passed. Marie Stephens made a motion that officers should be elected from the voting members. Suzan seconded; motion passed. Suzan made a motion that any voting member can request a roll call vote on issues concerning the Council. Bracton Ivey seconded. Bylaws were approved with changes and will be posted on the website.
Festival Off Main
Marion reported that several members have donated articles and/or services to be raffled at the Festival. Tickets will be sold for $2 each or 6 for $10. Raffle signs will also be displayed at the individual booths of Council members. There will be no dress code for this event. If we sell any merchandise, we should add 7% sales tax.
Miscellaneous
Marion Ivey reported that he ordered a banner for the Council that can be used at events. The cost was $110.
Louisa Hickman suggested that sometime in the future we should make an events calendar with our meeting dates and our artists’ work. This will be discussed at a later meeting.
Khrista Kent reported on the reaction of children at Norris Middle School to the art and artists of MAC.
Meeting was adjourned.
Betty Parker, Secretary
McDuffie Arts Council
McDUFFIE ARTS COUNCIL
Thomson, GA
November 6, 2008
The McDuffie Arts Council (MAC) met Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the McDuffie County Library. Fifteen people attended. President Marion Ivey called the meeting to order.
Georgia Grassroots Grant
Carolyn Gilbert, Executive Director of Thomson-McDuffie Chamber of Commerce, reported that the Chamber applied for and received a grant from the Georgia Grassroots Arts Council of $848 for the MAC to have an art show between now and June 2009. Carolyn said the show could be held in the gardens of the Watson-Brown house or another location. We must provide one half match for these funds. Carolyn is hoping to receive the match from the Thomson activities Council.
MAC Logo
Roel Wielinga presented a proposed logo for MAC, which had already been used on our website, and Marie Stevens had used it to make badges for members. Marion made a motion that we approve Roel’s logo. The motion was approved unanimously. Marie asked if the logo needs to be copywrited or registered. Roel said that just using the copywrite symbol would be sufficient for now.
It was mentioned that McCormick’s Arts Council has the initials, “MAC”. Marion will look into this to learn if using the same initials would create a problem.
Festival Off Main
Marion asked if this group wants to participate in the Festival Off Main in Thomson December 6. Members stated, “Yes”. The cost will be $50 to have our own booth. Suzan Harris said she would donate the $50 for the booth. Louisa Hickman will help come up with a MAC brochure to have at the booth, plus information for joining MAC. Members of MAC will be able to display their art. Several members stated they have easels that could be used in the booth.
Members discussed having the logo printed on T-shirts to be sold at the Festival Off Main. Roel will make the design for the shirts.
Discussion followed regarding whether we really want to have MAC T-shirts by then. Marie suggested that we all dress in black shirts and jeans or something similar. She suggested that we spend money on a banner instead of T-shirts. She also suggested that when we spend money, we should spend it in Thomson, if at all possible.
Bracton Ivey made a motion that we have our own MAC booth at the Festival Off Main and that we try to get our individual members’ booths located together near the MAC booth. Marion will call about getting us in a spot together.
Dues, Membership, and Future By-Laws
MAC dues will be $25 per calendar year. Dues will be from January to January and will be pro-rated by quarter-year. Will we going invite other people to be members even if they are not artists? The general consensus answer was “yes.”
The question was asked: “What is expected of members?”
Charlene Montgomery asked what should we tell someone who asks why they should join MAC. The answer would be our Mission Statement: "The goal of the council is to promote the artistic resources of the McDuffie County area, providing venues that encourage and promote education, public awareness, participation, and appreciation of the visual arts".
There was a discussion of the difference in Patron and Voting Member and how these will be handled as members of the Council.
If a MAC member is representing MAC in a show, MAC needs to discuss and maybe approve any shows that members participate in while representing MAC. Members are certainly free to participate in any event on their own.
Marie Stephens said the By-Laws should state that if a member’s art would be offensive to most people, MAC should have a right to exclude that offensive work. Members stated that By-Laws would be prepared in the future.
Miscellaneous
Charlene Montgomery reported that her art students won many awards at local fairs.
Awards and other ideas to be recognized.
We will need a group list for e-mail, street addresses, phone numbers, etc. Betty Parker will prepare.
There was a discussion of organizations that may be willing to sponsor MAC in some way.
Marie said that sometime in the future, it would be good to have a critique of members’ art.
Meeting adjourned at 8:35.
Louisa Hickman photographed art for posting on website.
Robert Schifeld donated $50 for the MAC booth for Festival Off Main.
Betty Parker, Secretary
McDuffie Arts Council