We had a great meeting Saturday, January 24, 2004 -- first meeting of a great new year! We began with introductions of members present and a big welcome to all our new members!!! We are fortunate to have some very talented people join our chapter! 

Here are the highlights:


Treasury Report by Karen King:

1. We have approximately $7,900 in our checking account.

2. We will be purchasing top mounting marvers for our Minor torches (our chapter equipment).

3. When you attend a class, remember that the equipment/supplies belong to the chapter and are NOT complimentary--so please do not take home any item that you did not purchase for your personal use, such as the little water bowls, etc. :)

4. We have been averaging $1,100 per day at the four bazaars we participate in, so all you newcomers -- join us at the next bazaar -- it's a painless and fun way to get your feet wet in the bead market.

5. Our dues pay for the rental space for our meetings, guest speakers, workshops and equipment.

6. DUES are DUE (April 1) -- $15. Send your check to Libby Hecker, our membership coordinate. Email Libby for her mailing address: lhecker@earthlink.net October.


Meeting Minutes -- Were reviewed and accepted by the membership, with corrections to meeting dates listed. As a reminder, all meeting minutes are posted on the website, www.sgb-midatlantic.org. Again, sorry for the misprint regarding meeting dates in the October minutes.

Regional ISGB Report by Debby Weaver:

1. Stephanie Sersich had a trunk show at Arts Afire in Alexandria, VA. www.artsafire.com) and offered classes in making her beaded bracelet (January 27, 2004).

2. Local chapters headed by Anne Baldwin (VA) and Gail Gamprie (MD) are seeking national chapter status as well as an international group in Germany, Bead Society of Germany (BSG). The MD group meets at Stained Glass Classes and Supply in Frederick, Md, the 1st Monday of each month (Stained Glass Classes and Supply, give them a call @ (301) 228-2707 -- they've recently relocated).

3. ISGB has a video for sale ($30-something) of the 2003 Gathering in Lowell -- it features a lot of footage of demos, workshop and the open torches. If you want to see what a Gathering is like, purchase this video! To order, call the ISGB toll free @ 1-888-742-0242.

4. Details for the Gathering 2004 in Portland, Oregon, are now posted on the ISGB website (www.isgb.org). Registration Packets will be mailed mid-February to all members whose dues are current. There will also be a second mailing for those just joining or past due! But there are lots of pre/post-Gathering workshops and several juried/non-juried shows, so get your registrations in as soon as possible.

5. Everyone is encouraged to enter the All-Member Show. Details, the theme of the show, and the deadlines will be in the Registration Packet.

6. Scholarships are available for those on a budget -- all you have to do is donate your time and ISGB picks up most of your tab--check it out.

7. The 2004 International Flameworking Conference will be held March 19-21, at Salem Community College in Carneys Point, NJ. It's only $75 and offers a great lineup of the hottest stars in hot glass!!! Early registration deadline is February 27. For details, visit the website: www.salemcc.org/glass/index.htm

Program Committee Report by Clare Nykolyszyn (standing in for our Vice President, Mickey Kunkle)

1. PMC class is Saturday/Sunday, February 14-15 @ Columbia Arts Center featuring Phyllis Fogle. There are still spaces available. You can take one day for $125 or both days for $225. Phyllis will be teaching basic and advanced techniques. Learn to make your own bead caps and spacers out of PMC. Email Mickey Kunkle to reserve your space: fibermick@verizon.net.

2. We will have OPEN TORCH at our next meeting, April 17. We will have several torches set up for demos by our members. If you have a tool you want to demo or see someone else demo, please bring it along. Let me know if you'd like to demo a particular technique or a technique you'd like someone else to demo (dsgbead@comcast.net). Also Darragh Brady (one of our new members and a silversmith for 10 years) may be able to arrange a demo of silversmithing bead caps/rivets. The April meeting will also include a swap shop for glass, tools, equipment, etc. And finally, barring any prohibitions in our bylaws, we may have a mini-bead bazaar, so bring in your beads for a little early holiday shopping. At any rate, we'll have a great show n tell. Stay tuned for more details.

3. KIM FIELDS class!!!! May 8-9. Kim is an accomplished glass artist. Her work is featured in Cindy Jenkins' latest book on glass beadmaking, "Beads of Glass," page 63 (a must have for your glass library). Plus you can see more of Kim's beads and her bio on this website: www.beadxchange.com/artistpages/kim_fields.html. Keep a lookout for Mickey's email--it'll be first come, first served. The cost of the class will be posted in the email and our website soon.

4. Our July 10 meeting will feature John Winter as our demo artist. (tentative) . Visit John's website for more information regarding his beadmaking: www.winterglas.com/home.htm.

5. Our October 16 meeting will tentatively feature Nick Barnes, silversmith. Nick regularly teaches beginning through advanced silver soldering for making bracelets, cabochons, rings and chain mail at Stars Beads in Vienna. Check out all their classes at www.starsbeads.com.

6. We are negotiating with Larry Scott for a workshop in October 2004. Larry is also featured in Beads of Glass. Visit Larry's website -- he's like a machinist with those precision dots!!! www.larryscott.net

7. And finally, we've got Leah Fairbanks confirmed for April 2005. Leah makes beautiful floral beads. Visit her website: www.leahfairbanks.com.



New Business by Lisa St. Martin

1. We need a Bead Bazaar Committee!!! Help! There are only 4 bazaars each year, two days each. We need a couple people to do the "heavy lifting" for these bazaars. In the past, Janet Olsen has been bringing all the setup equipment (lights, table coverings, credit card imprinter, money box, brochures, etc.) and Karen King has collected all the $$$, paid taxes, and distributions of earnings. It's time for those of us who benefit from selling our beads at the bazaars to pitch in. So, if you're one of those people who fare pretty well (or just enjoy the experience) at the bead bazaars, think about giving Janet and/or Karen a break. It's not that hard if everyone participating helps out at one or more of the bazaars. Think about it...pretty please:)

2. Our chapter has missed the chance to get a table at the Frederick Festival of the Arts in June 2004, but we hope to get our ducks in a row for 2005. It's a great venue for artists in every medium and there's plenty of room for more glass artists! If anyone wants to go ahead and check out the details for next year, please let Mickey or any board member know.

3. We also need a Quarterly Meeting Program Committee. The consensus of the Board is that most of the work of the chapter falls on the shoulders of the Vice President and the existing Program Committee. The Board would like to split the Program Committee into two committees: Workshops and Quarterly Meeting Programs. If you're interested in helping to keep our quarterly meetings fun, interesting, and educational, please let Mickey or one of the Board members know. It essentially requires identifying guest artists/speakers on topics/techniques of interest to the chapter. 



Show and Tell/Share

1. Our very own Diane Trepanier is featured in the magazine, Beads 2. Diane talents in glass, beads, micro-beads, and wire have been showcased in numerous magazines/articles. Just do a search on her name and you'll get a lot of hits! Congratulations (again) Diane!! Plus Diane showed us to magnificent glass paperweights she made in a recent class. Check out the pics accompanying the minutes on our website.

2. Deanna Griffin Dove announced a "call for entries" at an Atlanta Gallery, the Signature Shop. The theme for entries is any form of glass representing your interpretation of one or all 4 seasons. Email Deanna for details: griffindove@mindspring.com. Beads accepted into the show will be sold with 50% going to the gallery.

3. Karen King brought in a beautiful book, "Women Working in Glass." Check out this website if you are interested in a description and/or ordering (it's even cheaper than Amazon!!! http://crunruh.zoovy.com/product/0764318071

4. The American Craft Council (ACC) Baltimore show is February 27-29. Visit their website at
www.craftcouncil.org/html/shows/baltimore2004_public.shtml and there's a link on our calendar of events. Here's additional info regarding volunteers to staff the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) booth: The Craft Emergency Relief Fund, is looking for booth sitting volunteers for their annual fundraiser at the ACC Baltimore show in February. This would be for the Wholesale only portion of the show, February 24, 25, 26. This is a great opportunity for anyone who loves to come to this show but hates the crowd during the three days of retail hours. Give us a couple of hours of your time and we'll give you a name badge that will let you in for unlimited free entry for all 6 days of the shows. If you're interested please contact Jeanne@craftemergency.org.

5. Pete Ohman (Philadelphia) brought in his copy of "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" These are links to read more about these books.

6. Deborah Gibson brought in her lentil making tools. The Corina Bead Stamp (CBS) offered by Corina Tettinger (www.corinabeads.com) and Oneida ice tongs for larger lentil beads. Deborah plans to bring these for demo at the next meeting.

7. Lisa St Martin and Deanna Griffin Dove both reported busy teaching schedules. If you are interested in taking a class with Lisa or Deanna, email them for more information. Lisa (st.martin@erols.com) and Deanna (griffindove@mindspring.com).

8. Annie Simpson advised that www.sitewelder.com offers professional websites that include a gallery, PayPal, and easy upload of images.

BEAD OF THE QUARTER WINNERS (courtesy of Jinx, we have great pics of the beads/meeting on the website)

1.. FIRST PLACE (TIED): Deanna Griffin Dove and Nikki O'Neill

2.. SECOND PLACE: Debby Weaver

3.. THIRD PLACE (TIED): Darragh Brady, Deborah Gibson, Jan Olsen

That's all for now -- keep up-to-date on the latest by visiting our website regularly, especially with bazaars and classes coming up this spring!

Deborah Gibson

Secretary, SGB-MidAtlantic