From the President December 2011

Invitations and notices have gone out for the forthcoming exhibitions at Herring Island and MIFGS and we look forward to being swamped with applications.

This being my last President’s Message I would like to briefly thank our great supporters over recent years in the ASV and highlight a few for the members. In alphabetical order by first name: Beatrice Magalotti, for organising well the Annual Exhibition in 2011 and agreeing to organise it again in 2012, and her interest in progressing the new web site; Gillian Govan, for soldiering on and providing fun meetings for ASV Monthly Activities, and providing the 2011 Christmas function for all at her private home; also and not least for volunteering to the Committee to be President in 2012. Janice McCarthy, for coordinating early training on the new web site, and commenting on the prototype web site; Jenny Rickards, for running the Herring Island Exhibition efficiently every year,
operating the existing web site in difficult conditions, and disseminating emails in and out to Committee, and many other contributions; John Bishop, for reliably producing agenda and minutes for Committee meetings and member AGMs, completing Consumer Affairs requirements, and providing sound advice as a Committee member; also acting as demonstrator at outdoor exhibitions; John Ride, for picking up treasury and accounting, operating ledger, processing payments, and producing good financial reports for the Committee and members, and acting as a Committee member; Kay Salehi, for maintaining membership records, helping with the meeting room, and initiating pre-meet dinners; Marija Patterson, for running the excellent Annual Exhibition in 2010, commenting on the prototype web site, and providing sound advice as a Committee member; Monica Mauer, for coordinating the Elliot ASV Gallery from start-up on behalf of the ASV, and regular good contributions as a Committee member; Mark Cowie, for coordinating no less than 3 Exhibitions on behalf of the ASV – MIFGS 2011, Castlemaine 2011 and Tesselaar 2011, all in professional style, and building good links with the providers involved; Michael Meszaros, a tower of strength as Vice-President, with skills in a myriad capacities including presentation speeches, reviewing newsletters, support and active advice at most exhibitions, taking telephone enquiries, recruiting new people, and acting as wise owl as Committee member; Patrick Culshaw, for treasury and accounting contributions previous to John, building up ASV cash reserves, contributing as a Committee member; also for extensive support in revising the Constitution in earlier times, for MIFGS 2010, and commenting on the prototype web site.

Thanks to these people and their other supporters, we have maintained and expanded ASV activities over the last two years. Some above have left their posts, after doing them well, and it is now time for others to take up the positions and keep the momentum going in the spirit of sharing the workload.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the Committee, Coordinators and Members.

Geoff Williams