PRESIDENT'S GREETING

PRESIDENT'S GREETING FOR JUNE
This will be my last greeting to you as President of MATA. It has been an eventful year for our organization in both positive and perhaps more challenging respects. When I took over as president we discussed the dire straights of our membership numbers and the need to grow our organization so we could continue to be a vital group of artist educators. This growth occurred, but was offset by loss, too. We saw the deaths of 4-beloved and dynamic members, whose reach went far beyond the MATA family into the greater Milwaukee and Statewide art scene.

We saw our profession bashed by our own elected officials and found ourselves being called names like "greedy" and "slobs". We found that for many of us our jobs, that we'd devoted so many hours to were in jeopardy and that what we believed in was suddenly sinking in a capsized boat-ful of greed and antagonism. Somehow we had gone from being the unsung heroes of our society to being the enemy with a big red target on our backs.

We saw censorship and corporate ownership changes force our own annual membership exhibit into a new temporary home in the eleventh hour. Thank goodness I like roller coasters and thank goodness we are a resilient, resourceful and creative group! Through all these challenges we banded closer together and we overcame and I think triumphed!

I would like to think I had a hand in this, but the reality is that our team...the outstanding board members and general membership really made it possible to triumph and to succeed. There were so many people who came to our rescue. It was like I was managing the 1927 New York Yankees! Of course we can't thank Phil Krejcarek and Carroll University enough for hosting our Spring Exhibit at the last minute. The opening and exhibit is one of the better ones in recent memory. Many members commented on this at the opening and I would have to agree. We had nearly 60 people stay for dinner and even more come to the reception. This is indeed a record turn out!

The general membership pitched in numerous times throughout the year. Whether it was staying late to help set up the DPP exhibit, driving to Brass Light to load panels or helping at the set up for the membership exhibit, I really appreciated the way members stepped up and helped make our events a success. I enjoyed getting to know you and really appreciate the helpful comments you made via email and Facebook too!

My fellow board members were all instrumental in helping us to succeed this year. I asked them to step up at the beginning of my term and take on multiple roles within the board structure. Each of them took up this cause and multi-tasked throughout the year. They shined in the final weeks leading up to the membership exhibit, with much self-sacrifice and devotion. They were AWESOME!!! Thanks so much to Carol Golembiewski, Molly Fitzpatrick, Paula Jacoby-Spehert, Jim Dietz, David Powell, Karen Crocker and Dave Cicero, the 2010-11 MATA Board. We were a great team and I really appreciate the dedication and commitment you each contributed. I feel that I am leaving MATA in capable hands with Dave Cicero coming on as the 2011-12 President. He is so talented and leads with quiet strength and kindness.

Thanks to all for making my year memorable. I will still be your web "goddess" with lots of updates and maybe even a redesign this summer. I look forward to seeing you at upcoming events. I am very proud to now be able to say I was a president of MATA (that means I get invited to the Presidents' Dinner!!! forever!). What a glittering list of amazing people the past presidents list is. Now I get to say that I am a part of that list.

Thanks for your help this year.

Happy Summer!

Jeanne Bjork

 

Archive of President's Greetings for 2010-11

September 2010 Web 2.0 Technology in the Art Classroom

October 2010 Literacy and Visual Literacy

Novemer 2010 Thanksgiving Quiet

December 2010 Winter Solstice and Time for Being An Artist

January 2011 Vacation to California and Revitalizing in the Sun

February 2011 Art and Technology

March 2011 Art Advocacy and Service

April/ May 2011 Spring Cleaning: Take Your Art In A New Direction/ Come to Membership Show