You’re not?! It’s not too late. Grab your “Beach Blanket Paintin’
Party” Conference Special catalog, pick up the phone and call (316)
269-9300 ext. 101. Or sign up online. (It’s the easy, new way to
register.) Don’t miss out on the fun. There are lots of wonderful
classes still available. Many of the most popular are being repeated.
Go to
today to view the latest list of classes. For the best selection,
however, don’t delay. Registration by phone, and online, continues
through April 15. After that time, you’ll need to register on-site in
Tampa.
By Bruce Thompson
Wisconsin Turp ‘n’ Stein
In 1996, Wisconsin Turp ‘n’ Stein chapter members requested that I look
into the possibility of organizing a “bus” trip for our chapter to the
HOOT convention in Columbus, Ohio. This was a 468-mile trip, each way,
from the Milwaukee area to Columbus. A number of the members wanted a
“get their feet wet” trip -- one without classes, primarily to see,
visit and shop the big exhibit hall. We left at 5 a.m., got to Columbus
about 2 p.m. (a different time zone), shopped until 8 p.m., then to the
motel, up early and back to the exhibit hall until noon and then back
on the “bus” for the drive home. It was a flying trip, and as I write
it now sounds like a lot of driving and not much fun … but we had a
ball!
Click here to read this complete story.
• Draw a Pig
Submitted by Megan Capuano
Here’s a fast and fun project chapter members can do together. Have one
person lead this project.
The leader asks everyone to get out a pencil and paper. Then she says,
“Draw a pig.” No directions or details. Just, “Draw a pig.”
After members are done, have them analyze the drawing.
If the pig is:
Drawn at the top of the page: The artist is positive and optimistic.
Drawn at the bottom of the page: The artist is pessimistic and has a tendency to behave negatively.
Drawn in the middle of the page: The artist is realistic and does not tend to be judgmental.
Facing left: The artist is traditional and friendly.
Facing right: The artist is innovative and active.
Facing forward: The artist is direct and neither fears nor avoids analytical discussion.
If the pig has:
Many details: The artist is analytical and cautious.
Few details: The artist is emotional, naive and a risk-taker.
Four legs: The artist is secure, stubborn and sticks to her ideals.
Less than four legs: The artist is insecure or living through a period of major change.
The larger the pig's ears, the better listener the artist is.
The longer the pig's tail, the more satisfied the artist is with the quality of her creative life.
• Spread the joy of painting: Mentor a new painter
By Bettie Land
Ouachita Decorative Artists
Often it is difficult for a new painter to begin decorative painting.
About four years ago I had an opportunity through the local chapter in
my community to take a one-day seminar for anyone interested in
learning about decorative painting. The “Learn to Paint” class, which
was sponsored by the Society of Decorative Painters, was free, and all
supplies were furnished. My daughter and I both took the class. We
painted a really pretty heart box, and were taught a sponge faux-finish
technique, as well as how to paint leaves. There were many experienced
painters on hand to help those of us who felt lost.
Click here to read this complete story.
• Project Idea
By Karen Black
Endless Mountain Tole and Decorative Painters
Handpainted coffee mugs by Karen Black of Endless Mountain Tole and Decorative Painters in Dushore, Pennsylvania.
(Congratulations to Karen Black who is teaching at her chapter meetings
for the first time!)
I will be teaching a lace pattern with shamrocks on coffee mugs using
Plaid FolkArt Enamels. This is something simple for the spring season.
I’ll be selling these mugs at a local coffee house that features a lot
of Celtic musicians. Our local Dollar Store started bringing in white
mugs especially for me, and discovered that colored ones are available.
Plaid FolkArt Enamels are fired right in your own oven and are quite
permanent. I took a mug and left it in my dishwasher to test it. After
15 washes, it still looked just-painted. I painted burgundy ones for
Christmas with trees and snow as gifts. I hand-painted sherry glasses,
too, as gifts. First, I painted the word “celebrate” on them, then
painted confetti all over the glasses. I never received so many written
thank-you cards before!
• We want you … to volunteer!
Volunteers are still needed for SDP’s 33rd Annual Conference and Expo,
May 23-28 in Tampa, Fla. As a Conference volunteer, you can earn your
volunteer charm, support SDP, meet new friends and have a lot of fun –
all at the same time!
Volunteers are needed in many areas, including:
Greeters at the airport and hotels
Classroom setup team member
Information booth helper
Sales boutique
Teacher assistant
Translator
Banquet setup team member
Local members to solicit prizes from restaurants and so on in the Tampa area
Election tellers
And much more
Even if you are unable to attend Conference, we can use your help
painting favors and centerpieces for Banquet.
Did you know?
Do you have a spouse or friend who will be attending Conference with
you? Encourage them to volunteer, too. Anyone can volunteer for
Conference. The only volunteer position that requires that the
volunteer be a member is Election Teller.
Click
HERE to download the Volunteer Form. For more information, call Ann Johnson at (630) 665-0108 or e-mail her at
amjpaints@juno.com.
• Attention Membership Chairperson
You’ve got a big job. Could you use some suggestions and samples to
make your job a little easier? Bruce Thompson of Wisconsin Turp ‘n’
Stein in Waukesha, Wis., has kindly provided the job description for
member chair and several sample membership letters so you can see how
his chapter handles membership duties. All of the officers in Turp ‘n’
Stein wrote their own job description, and you’ll have a chance to
download some of those in future issues of Chapter Happenings. Click
HERE to download these Member Chair documents.
• You knew this already, didn’t you?
This helpful list, “Seminar and Class Rules of Etiquette” was found on
the Internet and provided by Cherise Schlicher, President of Desert
Sunset Painters in Palmdale, Calif.
Click here to read this complete story.
• Bring a Friend to Paint
Here’s a fun way to increase chapter membership that offers advantages
for everyone: chapters, businesses, teachers and new painters! Host a
Bring a Friend to Paint event. It’s this easy:
Click here to read this complete story.
• Chapter Participation Area
Are you looking for a way to share chapter information and recruit new
members at Tampa Conference? Then plan to make your chapter part of the
Chapter Information Area. The Chapter Information Area is being made
available for the first time this year and is a great place to show off
your chapter by giving you a place to distribute your brochure,
newsletters, pictures, etc., on a 2-by-3 foot tabletop display. No
sales will be allowed in this area. For additional information or to
sign up your chapter, call Ann Johnson at (630) 665-0108 or e-mail her
at
amjpaints@juno.com
• Chapter Q&A
By Mary Cobble, Chapter Services Coordinator
I receive many questions from members by e-mail, and the answers to
those questions are information that most members could benefit from.
That’s why I created this new column to give you answers to your
questions about chapter-related activities. If you have a question you
would like me to consider for this column, please e-mail it to me at
mary@decorativepainters.org.
Or you can mail it to me:
Mary Cobble
Chapter Services Coordinator
SDP
393 McLean Blvd.
Wichita, KS 67203-5968
And now for our first question! One of the things chapter members most frequently ask is:
Q: How can we increase our chapter’s membership numbers?
A: I would recommend requesting a zip code list. These
lists are prepared using zip codes, which you provide to us. I would
also recommend using just the first three digits of the zip codes in
your area, in order to get the largest number of local SDP members. The
zip code list is also a good way to verify that your members have paid
the current SDP dues. Once you have your zip code list, mail an
invitation to one of your meetings to each and every member on the
list. Often members haven’t joined your group only because they haven’t
heard about you yet. You’d be surprised how many painters will take you
up on your invitation and, once they meet your group, join your
chapter. If you want to give this approach a try, just give me a call
at (316) 269-9300 ext. 107, or e-mail me at
mary@decorativepainters.org
and I’ll prepare a zip code list for your chapter. This is one of the
many services SDP offers its members and is free of charge.
Do you have ideas for increasing membership in your chapter? Let us
know and we’ll share your ideas in an upcoming issue of Chapter
Happenings.
• Timely items
If you wish to vote for SDP candidates by absentee ballot, you must
request your ballot by April 8. The completed ballot must be postmarked
by April 22. Please ask your chapter members to participate and make
their vote count!
If you are shipping items to the SDP office for placement in the
Chapter Art Show & Auction, they must be received by April 30,
2005. This year, there are 107 entries, so be sure to stop by the
Chapter Art Show & Auction to view all of the beautiful works of
art. Remember, if yours is the winning bid, you must pick up your item
between 3-6 p.m. on Friday, May 27, or between 10 a.m. and noon on
Saturday, May 28. This schedule is tentative, so please refer to your
Conference Program Book in Tampa to confirm the dates and times.
• Chapter Snapshots
Dolly Lancaster, 90, active member of Yankee Heritage Tole Chapter,
showing off her handpainted sneakers and how limber she is at her age!
Photo submitted by Jo Madden.
Program Chairperson Brenda Toomath, left, and President Lory van
Lieshout celebrate with the 65 members of Leatherstocking Decorative
Artists of Westmoreland, N.Y. As of August 2004, LDA has been an
affiliated SDP chapter for 10 years.
Photo submitted by Jane Williams.
Members of the Golden Triangle Decorative Painters, located near
Pittsburgh, Pa., pose with diaper bags they painted for newborns in
need.
Photo submitted by Debbie Carosone.
