Dear OVAS Members,

I hope that you had a very happy Christmas. My best wishes are extended to you all for a prosperous and creative 2018.

I think I can safely say that 2017 was a successful year for our society during which we were extremely pleased to welcome some new members, bringing our total number at the close of the year to 87. We had some excellent demonstrations and workshops and the Tuesday painting group at the cricket club is as popular as ever. The summer exhibition was well supported, turning in a useful profit as well as enabling us to make a donation to the local Hospicecare movement as a way of strengthening our links with the community. My sincere thanks to all the committee members for their hard work in bringing all this about and to our president, Phil Creek, for his help and support throughout the year.

While on the subject of the committee, I have to stress again that our society cannot function, or indeed exist at all, without people who are willing to give up some of their time to serve on it. It is timely to remind all members that we shall be seeking nominees and volunteers to serve on the committee at the Annual General Meeting, which will take place at the Institute at 7.30 on Friday March 2nd. It would be very helpful if you could let me or our secretary, Jacqueline Ward, know if you wish to volunteer or make a nomination for the committee or if you have any matters you might wish the AGM to consider with a view to making appropriate resolutions. We can then put together the agenda ahead of time as is, strictly speaking, required by our rules.

I have decided that I will not continue as chairman having fulfilled this role officially for two years and unofficially a little longer. However, fortunately Penny Lamb, who has been doing an excellent job as our Programme Secretary, has kindly indicated that she would accept the nomination to take over as chair and is willing to take over this role if it is the wish of the society at the AGM that she should do so. For my part, I am willing to take the job of treasurer in the absence of Tim Walker, unless there are other nominations of course.

May I remind those who have not yet paid that subscriptions for 2018 were due on 1st January. Prompt payment or notification if, unfortunately, you are leaving the society, is so important for financial planning purposes, as I am sure you will all understand.

At the AGM this year, as well as the usual painting competition for the Griffin trophy (this year’s theme is “Dreams”), there will be an auction of surplus art materials donated by members in aid of Hospicecare. So please bring along any useable materials that you do not want yourself but other members might pay good money for. If you have high value items you can put on a reserve and indicate what proportion of the proceeds you will need to retain for yourself, with the remainder going to Hospicecare.

Those of you who knew her and do not already know will be very sad to learn that our long standing member, Beryl Carpenter, passed away last November. Her husband, Harry, is holding a party in celebration of her life at the Tipton St Johns village hall at 3.30 pm on February 3rd and has very kindly extended an invitation to her friends in OVAS to attend. He will need an indication of numbers though, so please let me know as soon as possible if you intend to go and I will pass on the information to Harry. Beryl had accumulated quite a substantial amount of artists’ materials which Harry has very generously donated to our sale at the AGM for Hospicecare. Jacqueline Ward and I have been sifting through this material and so we know that it will make very attractive lots for the auction.

And finally, whilst I have been stressing the importance of the AGM, don’t forget our next Friday evening meeting at the Institute on February 2nd at the usual time of 7.30., which is a critique of our work by a popular demonstrator from last year, Nick Watton. Please help to make the evening a success by bringing along one of your paintings or a 3D work to benefit from Nick’s expert eye and appraisal. Terry has drawn up a new rota for refreshment service at our monthly Friday meetings, which is attached. Please be sure to make a note of your slot. If you are unable to attend don’t forget to make arrangements for a swap or substitute and let Terry know.

With very best wishes,

Mike Bird, Chairman