July, 2008

My mind is still whirling with SPS activities. June days were filled with things to be done – right now:

• Proofread the catalogs and postcards and related quotes. Did we leave anyone out or get anything wrong? Where is that reception date, anyway? Is that image stretched or is it my imagination? Can that possibly be the title? What does this price quote really mean? Whoa – it’s not quite right.
  
• Is the juror all set? Last minute communications about who’s picking him up for the judging and phone numbers he might need.
  
• Remind the wonderful lady who offered her yard for the workshop that we will be there on specific dates. Are any areas off limits?
  
• Talk to Kudzu Art Zone about gallery coverage to be handled during our workshop. Access to non-members? May studio artists paint during the workshop? What amenities are available in their kitchen? Big ice maker, small refrigerator, and broken coffee pot. OK, workshop helpers, you take it from here.
  
• Make sure everything’s OK at Oglethorpe. Who’s going to pick up and deliver those directional signs we ordered? Did anyone ever sign up to cover the gallery on Father’s Day? Does the gallery director want to speak at the reception? Did they get their promised allocation of postcards? Oops! Have to order more.
  
• What do we do about a wayward model for Sunday morning? Who can fill in? Not so easy to find someone at the last minute when it’s Fathers Day.
  
• Get through the reception. How can I hold my agenda, the awards list, a microphone, and a folder with checks and certificates while looking presentable? I need another hand!
  
• Up at 5:30 Friday morning for the workshop. Have to be there first because I have the door code. Can’t keep the workshop helpers waiting. Outdoors all day in 95 degree heat.
  
• Up at 5:30 Saturday morning. Outdoors all day in 95 degree heat. Home at 7:00 p.m. – couldn’t miss dinner with workshop attendees and Bill Hosner.
  
• Up at 5:30 Sunday morning. Outdoors all day in 95 degree heat. What about Fathers Day dinner? The fathers prepared it while I cooled off.
  
• Call from Oglethorpe gallery director. They’d like our volunteers to do formal museum tours at 2:00 p.m. every Sunday. WHAT? And, by the way, where are the postcards? They’re coming!
• Uh-oh! We forgot to have the People’s Choice award ballots at the reception. What to do?
  
• Another call from Oglethorpe gallery director. They want to purchase two paintings; can we work with them on the funding? We’ll try.
  
• Hand-deliver a thank you to our workshop garden hostess. Did we leave everything in good order? May we come back again?
  
  Whew! Everything’s over for another year.
  
  
• Wait! I really need to thank everyone who worked so very hard.
  
• And now that Oglethorpe has invited us back in 2010, I can contact potential jurors. Better not wait too long or our first choice might be booked.
  
  
• Forgot to write this column for the web page. Sorry.

Sallie Atkins, SPS President