The North Thompson Arts Council held its Annual General Meeting on September 12, 2011, at the Little Fort Hall, with 15 members present.
Frank Gordon ran the elections, which ended with the following members being elected:
President – Jessie Maisonneuve
Vice-President – Josie Wilson
Secretary – Margaret Houben
Treasurer – Bob Stirling
Directors – Sylvia Chivers, Tammy Marsel, Charlene Lau, Bob Bambrick, and Colleen Lyons
Members reviewed the 2010-11 year, the biggest event of which was the Celebration of the Arts. $640 was brought in from the vendors, $800 was received in grants, and the event cost $807.86. Suggestions for next year’s event: larger and more signage, advertise in tourist magazines and local coffee shop newsletters.
Tammy Marsel offered to set up a “group” for the Arts Council through Facebook.
Three workshops were held last year – cake decorating, card making, and water colour painting.
Suggested topics for workshops for the coming year: Basket Weaving; Pine Needle Weaving - which would likely be done in the Spring of 2012; Medicine Bags/Chokers; and Home Organization. Other topics are welcome – bring your suggestions to the next general meeting.
It was suggested that all workshops will cost $20/member, or $25/non-member.
One workshop is already being set up. The Seven Predictable Patterns workshop will be a two parter, but one does not have to attend both to learn about the seven patterns. The first part will be on Oct. 25, starting at 4 p.m. at St. Jame’s Catholic Church in Clearwater. A pot-luck dinner will follow the workshop, and the October general meeting will follow the pot-luck at approximately 7 p.m. Part two will be on Nov. 1, starting at 6 p.m. in the multipurpose room at the North Thompson Volunteer and Info. Centre in Barriere. Both workshops will cost $20/member or $25/non-member. To register for the workshop, please call Jessie at 250-672-9772.
The next general meeting will be on October 25, 7pm at St. Jame’s Catholic Church, Clearwater. The November general meeting will be on November 22, 7pm at the Aboriginal Centre in Clearwater (Brookfield Shopping Centre).