We can’t wait to move in! Hope you will find a volunteer slot and join us on the work efforts!

But first–here is what members are saying about our move:

•             Rumi Sumaq: Congratulations! Home at last!

•             Harriet Forman Barrett: Congrats! A great example what a good craft organization can really achieve

•             Anne Kirby: We’re so excited!!

•             The Candy Factory:  Congratulations Neighbor! We’re so glad you’ll be on the 300 Block of North Queen Street in Downtown Lancaster!

•             Megan Horan: Great news and what a nice article! Congrats!!

•             Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art: That’s pretty monumental news!! Congratulations!

•             Helen Creel Weichman: Wonderful news! The site looks wonderful.

•             Steeple View Lofts: Congrats on the new location!

•             Lancaster County Community Foundation: The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen will open its new headquarters in downtown Lancaster. Welcome to the neighborhood!

•             Paula Lewis: Be a part of this – support fine craft in our state! Join the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, shop our fine shows, make a capital contribution. You’ll feel great about it! I love being part of this!

•             Lancaster Marriot: Congrats to Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, great news!

•             Lancaster Arts: Great news: — Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen buying permanent home in downtown Lancaster:http://www.pacrafts.org/2012/04/home-at-last-pennsylvania-guild-to-create-new-center-for-american-craft/

•             The Avenue – Lancaster, PA: what a fantastic addition to the 300 Block of North Queen Street in Downtown Lancaster!

•             Daniel G. Walczyk: What terrific news! Congratulations PA Guild!

•             Yellow Breeches Chapter, Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen: Hooray for us!!!!!

•             James Street Improvement District:  Great addition to this eclectic block!

•             Central PA Magazine: This is awesome news! Congrats to Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen!

•             Re3 Living Spaces: Terrific.

•             Judy Connor Jones Congrats! Can’t wait to see it the next time I visit Lancaster! And yes Rachel’s Creperie is fabulous. Thanks for suggesting it when we visited last September.

•             Roxan O’Brien This is wonderful news, I can just imagine all the great things the guild will be doing now that they have their own building. Congrats can’t wait to see it.

•             Cathy Hetznecker: Wonderful, exciting, amazing news!

Xoxoxo!

•             Royce Yoder: Congrats on the new space!!  I will be glad to help out in any way needed, let me know.

•             Judy Balock: Congrats on the new home, that is very exciting news, and something I know you’ve worked hard to arrange over the last two years.

•             Liz Todd Lambert, CEO LancasterARTS:  Congratulations on securing a permanent home for the Guild!  I was excited to read about all your plans today.  You selected a great bustling location with  excellent visibility.  Glad to hear that you will be able to do more programming more easily now.  This is wonderful news, too, for the city and the local arts community.  I hope all goes smoothly for you as you work towards your July opening.

•             Terry Zerphey, Very Graphic: Exciting news, congratulations!  Great building in a great location!  Good luck with your move!  If there is anything I can do to help please let me know (grunt labor or anything, really!)

•             Maxine Rosenthal: The Guild has bought a building!  Incredible!  Who would have ever thought this was possible not that many years ago.  Having worked with you and Sherrie, however, takes a little bit of the amazement away.  Way to go…hats off to the staff and the hard work of many members.

•             Dolores Little: Hi Sherrie, Nick, Margie, Nancy, Carol and Brian (those I know from a few years back!) Congratulations on the new location.  Super.  Fantastic.  You all deserve a big hand.  Thank you for working so hard for the Guild.

•             Jean Thompson, Nonprofit Arts Business Institute: Our best to you and the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. We read about your new building – how exciting!

•             Jacyn Thompson, Sales Manager, Lancaster County Convention Center: I just wanted to send a quick note to say congratulation on your future new home.  I know you guys are extremely excited about this milestone for the PA Guild of Craftsman.  We look forward to hosting you again in November.  Have a great day!

•             John Hesselberth, past president: That is just great. We have dreamed about something like this for a long time. Of course I hope you realize that the easy part is over. The real work is ahead. Have a great day and enjoy all the messages of congratulations. I want to buy you lunch and see the place sometime in the next month or two.

•             Karen Howell: Thank you, Sherrie. Thanks to everyone for a great job! Keep me up to date on the work days. On a side note, I never knew that Eleanor Roosevelt suggested starting the Guild.  Great news video! Good Job! Get Rest!

•             Martha Dahan: Mazel tov and congratulations to the PA Guild.

•             Margaret Fultz: Fabulous news!!!!!  THANK YOU for all of your hard work for our new home!

•             Pam Cummings: Congrats!  Can’t wait to crack open those balcony doors and usher in some fresh air!

•             Nancy Gibbs: Wonderful news, and great work, everyone! It’s been a huge undertaking with lots more work to come,  and we have something wonderful in our future.

•             Jason Lyons: Congratulations to all – this is a huge step for the Guild and really the beginning of a new era, a solidifying foundation for what I am confident will only lead to future growth! Also, a sincere Thanks to all who put in their time handling everything that went into getting us to this closing.

•            Maureen Kamerick:  Wonderful, and thank you and everyone on the staff for working so hard to make this happen.

•             Lyn Jackson:  Hi PGC, The new Craft Center looks like a great project and a lot of fun!  Please find my enclosed check toward the Capital Campaign!

Artists Rendering by Deena Ball

A historic building in downtown Lancaster will be the new home of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and a center for craft serving a multi-state region.

The Guild has an agreement to purchase the facility on Queen Street in the heart of Lancaster’s thriving arts district. It will be the first time the Guild has owned its own home after 68 years of renting space.

The 5,500-square-foot brick building, formerly the Italian-American Citizens Club, will provide space for exhibition galleries, an expanded Guild store, and multiple classrooms and workshop spaces that will allow the Guild to multiply its educational programs, which have grown steadily in recent years. The Guild closes on the property on April 30 and a soft opening is scheduled for early July.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Guild,” said Margaret Fultz, board treasurer. “We have come through the recession in great shape, we’ve outgrown where we are, and this is the next logical step to expanding the organization and serving our members.”

While acquiring the property is possible with existing reserves, the Guild will launch a major Capital Campaign next month to raise funds to develop workshop spaces and key areas that will allow the facility to truly be a magnet for those who want to make, and learn about, craft.

“The Pennsylvania Guild’s mission statement is our guiding foundation and we build on it with everything we do,” explained Timothy Knight, board president.  “Moving from a small rental space to our own building adds to what we have built over the last 68 years, and puts us in position to grow for the next 68 years.”

The success of Guild programming in recent years has meant that the organization must rent space for more than 98 events, workshops, classes and meetings annually which cannot be held at the present location. To solve the problem, the Board of Directors formed a Facilities Committee more than two years ago to research the various aspects of relocation, need, service to the mission and financing a home of its own.  The Committee’s recommendation included finding quality space for educational programs while maintaining a facility in Lancaster, near the heart of the Guild’s membership. While the Board has toured multiple properties in the last year, none suited the Guild’s needs until now.

The new Pennsylvania Guild facility will be a Center for American Craft and will serve as a magnet for those in a multi-state region who want to make, and learn about, craft. The Guild’s mission recognizes that the making of craft enriches all.

“We look forward to adding the Guild’s future American Craft Center to the list of keystone arts organizations now located in the City of Lancaster,” said Mayor J. Richard Gray in a letter of endorsement for the project to the Pennsylvania Guild. “The opportunities that this craft center could create with the City School District and a growing active adult community, both in the City and the County, are extraordinary.”

Founded in 1944 at the recommendation of Eleanor Roosevelt, the Guild helped citizens to become more self-sufficient so that factory goods could be used for the war effort. The first classes taught women of Philadelphia’s Main Line to comb their dogs, spin the hair into yarn and make coats for their families. Today, the Guild embraces both functional and non-functional craft of all mediums.

The Pennsylvania Guild is now the nation’s 7^th largest craft membership organization according to the Craft Organization Development Association (CODA). This prestigious list includes the American Craft Council, American Association of Woodturners, NCECA and the Society of North American Goldsmiths.  Of “state-based” all-craft guilds, the Pennsylvania Guild is now the largest nationwide, serving nearly 1,400 members in 33 states and two countries. It is one of the few Guilds in the country to encourage community-based and media specific chapters where members can live, learn and make in close proximity to one another. The Pennsylvania Guild reaches more than 20,000 patrons in person annually and another 92,000 visitors to its updated website.

The Guild’s desire to own its own home and establish a craft center is not a new idea.

After years in Bedford and State College, the Guild moved in the 1980s to an idyllic farm house in a state park in Bucks County.  “But the designs called for a $5 million renovation and there was no way we would ever do that to a property we didn’t own,” said board member Sharon Giles. “This Lancaster location will be ours for just $375,000 and it is in a great urban location. When I see the renaissance that’s gone on in downtown Lancaster, especially in the area of the arts, I get excited to think that the Guild can be part of this growth. The possibilities are endless!”

New board member Marilyn Berger first spotted the property and the process began in March with Board action. Now after a special meeting, contracts, tours, inspections, appraisals and financing proposals, the Guild will close on the property April 30^th.

“The building has great potential and can immediately host three or four workshops or classes simultaneously, while leaving space for both an exhibition area and our popular Guild Store,” said Sherrie Boyer, executive director. “While we must do some renovations to move in, we won’t do anything major right away.”

Originally the headquarters of the Italian-American Citizens Club in 1942, the brick warehouse at 335 N. Queen Street was most recently used as a restaurant and assembly space.  The two-story structure features wide open spaces, tall ceilings and ample light from large south-facing windows. It is handicapped accessible on the first floor.

“It’s been closed up for a while so it’s dirty but nothing a little soap, water and some handy craftsmen couldn’t handle,” said Cynthia Baker, board member. “I’m hoping Guild members will really step forward with sweat- equity hours, time, and skills.”

In honor of the new space, the Guild will launch two special “Home at Last” projects prior to the soft opening in July.

The first is a “Home at Last” donor Campaign in mid-May to raise capital funds. The second is a “Home at Last” exhibition.  Boyer said she hopes all members will embrace both projects whole heartedly.

The Home at Last Campaign will raise $300,000 for capital renovations, workshop equipment, gallery space and more through a member donor drive, corporations and foundation giving.

“Just think, if every member donated just $25—we could raise $35,000. But if every member could give $100—just $2 a week—we could raise $140,000, and that right there, would be a huge statement of support for craft and the power of this Guild,” said Paula Lewis, board member.

Boyer said the Home at Last campaign will offer members the option of making a year-long pledge that could be paid monthly or quarterly via check or credit card. “When allowed to pay over time, many people are able to give in a way that works best for them,” she explained. “The pledge option is a great way to help both the donor and the Guild work together.” Board members Jerry Flury and Marilyn Berger will serve as campaign co-chairs for individual, corporate and foundation giving.

The second project, the Home at Last Exhibition, will open in July 2012 featuring unique works by members on the “home” theme. All craftsmen and (in honor of their longtime commitment) emeritus members will be eligible to apply for this special opening exhibition. Details will be available in upcoming e-newsletters and on the Guild’s website very soon. Unique entries should focus on the concept of home or housing or nesting or settling down. Only a small percentage may be items exclusively for use in and around the home, such as furniture or fixtures. Applications are available now and will be due June 1.

Additional details about the new Center, including move in dates, volunteer work days, exhibition details and more, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Board Endorsed Candidates

Sharon Giles—“Recently, I have been told that I look to build bridges rather than put up barriers. So, as a member of the Board of Directors, I will bring years of experience from the corporate and arts & crafts worlds and utilize my diverse background to help build those bridges into the Guild’s future.” Giles is a hand weaver & juried member of the Guild and Reading Berks Chapter. She earned a BA in Clothing & Textiles from Albright College. Active in craft, Giles has served in leadership positions for the Guild (most recently as Board Secretary in 2008) and Chapter. She leads tours to Mexico focusing on craft villages, museums, galleries & local culture. She has corporate experience in business, budgets, employee interaction, event planning and human resources, and is currently as a corporate recruiter at Carpenter Technology Corp.

Paul Grecian— “I like the direction the Guild has been going. My goals as a member of the Board of Directors would include helping the Guild move forward in its endeavors to offer diverse and quality opportunities to craftsmen and those interested in craft. I believe a strong Guild is an asset to all its members.” Grecian works fulltime in photography and holds juried status in the Guild, and Lehigh Valley & Reading-Berks chapters, and serves as president of Lehigh Valley. He is also on the Joint Chapters Committee and has participated in Standards. Grecian’s nature imagery has won multiple awards in national competitions & shows, and been published in books, magazines, calendars and corporate projects. Most recently, he has been invited to write about the art business for Professional Artist magazine.

Maureen Kamerick—“I am honored to be asked to continue to serve on the Guild Board. After serving on the Board for 3 years, I’ve been very impressed with the level of dedication and professionalism of our leadership, as well as our volunteers. I’ve also become aware of some of the challenges of realizing goals of economic stability, high standards and service to our diverse members. The Guild has done a wonderful job of exposing people to the arts, educating them about craft, and providing an opportunity for the craftsperson to connect with the public. I would be very pleased to do whatever I could to help continue that work.” Kamerick holds a bachelors in art & a masters in art history from the University of Michigan. She studied weaving in Nashville, has taught workshops in Delaware & Pennsylvania in historical textiles & dyeing techniques, and teaches with the Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education. Kamerick dyes silk yarn, weaving scarves, shawls and fabric yardage, to combine intricate patterns in a contemporary palette.

Paula Lewis—“I have collected fine craft and art for some 30 years and joined the Guild with the sole aim of supporting fine craft in Pennsylvania. I believe in the PGC, its members, and the importance of fine craft in society. I am passionate about the value of art and artisans. I offer my commitment, experience and education in service of the PGC.” Lewis has been active in craft for years, and is Guild and chapter juried in enameling. She serves as president of the Yellow Breeches chapter and is chair of the Joint Chapters committee. Lewis earned her marketing degree from Penn State and has worked in the medical professional liability insurance industry for more than 25 years, leading agency relationships in the mid-Atlantic region. In her spare time, Lewis sings, plays music and gardens (she is a master gardener). She is passionate about artist promotion, and enabling patrons to acquire, appreciate and enjoy fine craft and art.

Members have the option to self-nominate or nominate others during the research phase. No nominations were received. Members may also recommend a write-in candidate. Go to the ballot >>

Cyclical Membership & Dues Change proposed for 2012

New members and the growth of technology are merging together to spearhead exciting ideas about member services at the Pennsylvania Guild. And at the recent 3rd annual Chapter Officers Retreat, chapters gathered together to unanimously propose and support historic changes to the Guild’s annual membership cycle.

Members, both old and new, want two services in particular:

• Cyclical membership (365 days instead of a flat January to December cycle)
• Online renewal option (currently, only new members may join online)

At the Retreat, Chapter Officers banded together to lead change in their chapters that would make both services possible for 2012. Officers voted unanimously to standardize chapter dues to a single rate, to support a 12-month membership year and to offer online renewals to interested members.

“It was a wonderful day of sharing, laughter, good ideas and thoughtful comments,” said Sherrie Boyer, executive director, “and it included key recommendations that will re-vitalize the Guild, serve members and bring significant change to the organization. It was very exciting to see that kind of passion and everyone working together for the good of the organization.”

Background

Beginning with its inception in 1944, the Guild adhered to a January to December membership cycle. Members joining midyear paid full dues but only received benefits for the remainder of the year. While this has been easy to administer, it has done little to encourage mid-year newcomers who wanted a full 12 months.

Likewise, members joining could opt to also belong to regional chapters. Each chapter had its own dues and own system to collect those dues, so adding a chapter meant finding and researching it first. Five years ago, the Guild standardized the collection of dues so that newcomers could choose a chapter immediately while joining the Guild. In spite of this advance, complexity remained with 96 different dues rates depending on which chapter categories the person joined. The complexity meant complicated forms and detailed lists of options so that many newcomers still complained about the hurdles of joining.

“Joining the Guild should be easy,” said Paula Lewis, head of the Joint Chapters Committee and Yellow Breeches president. “It’s a fabulous organization; the promotions the Guild does every month about craft are worth my membership dollars alone. We should be welcoming people in, not keeping them at bay.”

Proposal

At the Retreat, Chapter Officers recommended eliminating the barriers in favor of a cohesive approach to membership. And in response, the Guild Board said it would support the recommendations with a formal vote at its Sept. 7^th meeting.

Next Steps

Boyer said the Office would work to anticipate and resolve any questions or challenges that a new cyclical system or online renewing options could create. If approved, both of these options could be available to members as early as Fall 2011.

In keeping with the Chapters recommendations, the Guild Board anticipates supporting a dues change for 2012. The new rates could be $75/craftsman, with discounts to $55/active seniors and $40/friends. Membership in a Chapter of their choice would be included. (Members would still be able to join additional Chapters by paying additional dues.) The Guild would continue to invoice, track and remit appropriate dues to Chapters.

“This is a practical solution that supports the growth of the organization and respects the uniqueness of each chapter at the same time, said Timothy Knight, Guild board president. “It is a step forward that benefits the individual, the chapter and the Guild, and will keep us vital in the 21^st century.”

More details about the new options will be available later this summer and fall. Please watch your newsletter for details. Member input is welcome; please email jenny@pacrafts.org with your ideas and comments.

It is that time of year again when we search for new Board members for the Guild. Brian Cunfer is leading our Nominations Committee.  Four craftsman terms expire in December and some of those members may be nominated to serve a second term, however the committee also searches for new candidates and recommendations from the membership. Desired qualities include:

1. Business experience
2. Leadership potential
3. Good judgement and communication skills
4. People who love craft, work hard and are supportive of the Guild’s mission

There are two ways to be nominated:

First, the Guild seeks input through this news article and conversations with members. In addition to the qualities above, the committee considers a balance of skills, location and craft medium with the existing board. Because of this, the committee rarely nominates more candidates than there are openings. This year, the committee’s report will be presented at the Sept. 7th board meeting. If approved, these board-endorsed candidates will appear on the fall ballot and information will appear in the fall newsletter.

Second, our bylaws provide for self nomination for people who want to serve, feel they have been overlooked, and have the support of at least 10 members. Interested individuals should send a letter including statement of interest, resume, and the supporting signatures. The deadline to follow the process this year is August 15, 2011. Following receipt, these self-nominees appear on the fall ballot and information appears in the fall newsletter.

To make a suggestion or for more information, please contact Brian Cunfer: bkcunfer@epix.net or the Guild office via Sherrie Boyer:sherrie@pacrafts.org.

By Nancy Gibbs

Vice President

Board of Directors

As many of you may be aware, we have been slowly updating our bylaws over the last five years, removing operational things (such as office hours) to the new Policy & Procedures Manual and of course updating key things such as the membership categories in 2009 and the board changes in 2007 & 2008. This is the last revision that is proposed. It is more of a “final cleaning up” than anything else because it tidies up miscellaneous items noted below. It was not intended for substantial change.

For instance, all of the paragraphs will now have the same font and formatting; we’re recommending a few grammatical changes (including to our mission statement), some redundancies are eliminated, and we are removing to the P&P Manual the final round of operational activities (mostly timetables for dues payments, etc).  No changes are proposed to any of those passages; they are relocated with their full meaning (although the sentence structures are now more ‘reader-friendly’). Here are the currently proposed Bylaws with notes and P&P documents.

There are 3 very minor updates proposed:

1. Article 4, Section 2ii: Increase from 30 to 90 days the time a Chapter would have to respond to a warning letter. This timeline is already reflected in the new chapter formation guide.
2. Article 5, Section 2A: In the case of a self-nominee, increase the number of signatures required from 5 to 10 prior to being placed on the ballot. This corresponds to the number the Board would use in endorsing a candidate (nominating committee plus board majority) and also equals the number needed to start or maintain a chapter.
3. Article 6, Section 7F: Introduce the option of an annual report, which we believe should be published regularly. To avoid repetition, we recommend a report OR a meeting rather than mandating both.

We welcome your comments. Please review the bylaws and let me know if you have any suggestions or comments. Members have 30 days, until May 5, to comment:  nancygibbs.1@gmail.com or call me at 215-968-3414.  You may also leave a message or make a comment to Sherrie Boyer: sherrie@pacrafts.org or 267-884-5370.

Membership is stable and growing with new members joining every week through our website. Today, the Guild boasts nearly 1,400 members in 33 states! The newest website version, launched just a few weeks ago, is bright and beautiful, showcasing the Guild as a modern and vibrant force that celebrates both heritage and contemporary fine craft. So as we move ahead in the coming years, we will be focusing on education, advocacy and stability, as well as moving the Guild forward to a permanent home of its own.

I would like to extend a big “Thank You” to the Board for the last two years. We’ve had good growth as well as challenges, and with your support and advice we made the right decisions, focused on our Mission, and the Guild is better for it.

Recognizing that the making of craft enriches all, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen seeks to encourage the practice of and nurture excellence in heritage and contemporary crafts. We do this through education, advocacy and support of the practicing craftsman.

Blogger and blog designer Tara Gentile will be teaching a workshop on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10am-4pm.

Even if you did not win, you will not want to miss this.  Check out our flickr page  for a preview of all the amazing artists who are participating.

by Juleann Benkoski

by Armond Scavo

by Michael Reimer

by George Wazenegger

• artist Marie-Helene Grabman

Our signature Fall show is coming up in little more than a week!!!  With a good forecast (knock on wood) and all of the amazing art that will be there – this is gonna be one heck of a show.  You can buy tickets for the show on our website…buying tickets also enters you to win a $50 craft gift certificate!  Tickets are available at the door.   There will also be delicious food, great music,  live demonstraions as well as kids activities. 

• artist Paul Yacoe

• artist Pam Cummings

• artists Hilton and Vicki Byrd

• artist Paul Grecian

• artist Lisa Arkus