What's Happening in the Clay Studio
3/1/2022
What You Need to Know for March => Please direct questions to President via website email. Do not reply to this email as it is not monitored for replies. => About / Contact /Contact the President of the Clay Studio
Think of this as the newsletter for March - I want to provide some information all members need to know.
Please check the Website homepage often – new information is provided on the homepage in the box titled “What You Need to Know Now” as it occurs. All members are responsible for the content posted.
From President:
First, a huge thank you to the Canoa Hills Exhibit SubCommittee who put on a spectacular event! Thank you so much to those who set up, broke down, and participated in this showcase of talent from the Clay Studio. A job Well Done!
Another big thank you to Jay “Groot”, who has decided to take a break as Facilities Chair. He has maintained the Studio for a number of years, doing all kinds of work behind the scenes. In addition, he took on the huge undertaking of obtaining and outfitting our new Classroom. Since we have not been able to get him to a Studio Event in the last few months, the Board presented him a plaque in absentia – it is now hanging in the classroom – take a peek it the next time you are in the studio. Another job Well Done!
A reminder to all members about sales transactions – the only sales events that may take place within the Studio is selling of tools and clay to our members. As you may recall, GVR granted us permission to display price information on clay art in our windows with the stipulation that any sales transactions must take place off of GVR property (May 2021 minutes) . Please adhere to this policy so that members may continue to showcase their artwork.
A couple of reminders to our monitors and members – please be sure to pull the Clay Room door closed after entry – it has been left ajar several times recently. Additionally, the wall safe, behind the membership computer, is opened with the key on the monitor’s keyring labeled “wall safe”. Do not use any other key for this. Please remember the Studio does not accept any bills higher than a $20 bill nor do we accept pennies.
Our IT Guru, Jon, is taking a well-deserved break for a few days – upon his return, he will be removing the laptop (where the monitor and mentor calendars are currently accessible), and replace it with the new Staff PC. Studio staff members may do their administrative work on this PC. The Website, Monitor Calendar, and Mentor Calendars will all be moved to this new system the 2nd week of March.
A reminder to all Instructors of GVR classes – please be sure you personally verify that all those signed up for your class are members before the class begins. We do not allow non-members to participate in our classes or workshops.
As you may have noticed, the Board voted to remove our pink “please wear a mask” sign after observing 6 weeks of declining COVID cases, as reported by AZ DHS. I would like to personally thank our studio members for ‘going the extra mile’ as our Board requested during the peaking virus numbers during the Holiday season. I am so thankful that our members put their personal comfort aside to help protect others. Additionally, the Pima County Board of Supervisors did not extend the mask mandate that expired on Feb 28th and GVR’s COVID policy was updated on Feb 28th to read “Across the GVR campus, members may participate at their discretion, regardless of vaccination status or mask use. This applies to all activities that occur at a GVR facility: classes, socials, club activities, game groups, HOA events, lectures, etc.” As always, please feel free to wear a mask if you choose to do so. All should practice social distancing as much as possible.
Lastly, a reminder to those who may be leaving the Green Valley area for an extended time – we will be holding an annual cleanup later this spring, so please remove all your items upon your departure and surrender your cubby space. Any items left behind will be considered abandoned.
From Education Committee:
Do you have an urge to share your skills and talents with others? Do you have an idea for a project that you’d like to teach others? Why not sign up to be an instructor to teach a GVR Class? The Education Committee is looking for additional instructors for the Introduction to Clay GVR class and ideas and instructors for other classes that GVR can offer. GVR Class
Instructors for the Intro Class receive payment for their time teaching, monitoring service credit for 3 months, and a bag of standard order clay. Instructors for other classes receive monitoring service credit for the month the class begins and 1 glaze firing ticket. If you have a skill such as pot throwing, sculpture, hand building, molds or other ideas, now is the time to become an instructor and offer a GVR class for next fall and winter. The Education Committee is taking applications for GVR Classes. Applications are found on the Clay Studio Webpage and are due back to the Committee by March 5, 2022. All GVR classes require approval by the Education
Committee and the Clay Studio Board of Directors.
If you’re not up for instructing a GVR Class and but still you have a great idea to share…how about offering a Workshop. Workshops only require approval by the Education Committee and applications for workshops are found on the Clay Studio Webpage. Workshop leaders receive up to $20.00 + material fees, monitoring service credit for one month, 1 bisque ticket and 1 glazing firing ticket. What a Deal, eh?
Still not sure you’d like to instruct a class or lead a workshop…how about being a helper in a class or workshop. See how these sessions work, lend a hand, and learn how you may become an instructor and /or leader. Helpers received one month of monitoring service credit for their time serving a class or workshop.
Our incentive program has kicked off and the Education Committee is looking into the most efficient and effective way to distribute these incentives – please be patient as we figure this system out – you will get your rewards!
Along with all the above information, the Clay Studio needs some new instructors and helpers for this summer’s Introduction to Clay class. If you’d like to help with the Intro Classes this spring, it might just give you the ability to learn how to teach a class. If you’d like to help,
contact Al Koss, Education Committee Chair and he’ll get you set up with open slots for upcoming classes. If you have any further questions and ideas, contact Al Koss at pioinfoal@gmail.com
From Facilities Committee:
Our new Facilities Chair, Tom Healy has taken over the reins from Jay and has a few items you need to know. There’s a new procedure in place for requesting services or reporting issues needing attention – if you look in the Main Room (near Monitor’s Station), Wheel Room (on side of cabinet), Sculpture Room (inside door) and Classroom (under clock), you will find a log sheet on a clip board. Please report any issues using these logs.
There is also a new mailbox for the Facilities Committee – you may drop Tom Healy a note there. Also, if you are a holder of a key for any part of the Studio, please send Tom an email and let him know what you have a key to. You may reach him at tehealy@gmail.com
Some updates on Work orders – Doors will all be updated with the current studio hours; the Classroom doors will be updated with No Entry or Exits signs. The problematic drain on the patio has a work order in place – GVR should be resolving that issue very soon. The Parking Lot door lock has been repaired – the new key is on the monitor key ring.
Also, new storage shelves have been assembled and in place behind the Handbuilding Room – signups for these shelves is the same as for the other cubbies.
Lastly, the days of pug clay have passed – the Studio has placed the pug mill for sale – we will no longer be recycling clay for member purchase.
That’s it for now folks – until next month!
Susan
What You Need to Know for March => Please direct questions to President via website email. Do not reply to this email as it is not monitored for replies. => About / Contact /Contact the President of the Clay Studio
Think of this as the newsletter for March - I want to provide some information all members need to know.
Please check the Website homepage often – new information is provided on the homepage in the box titled “What You Need to Know Now” as it occurs. All members are responsible for the content posted.
From President:
First, a huge thank you to the Canoa Hills Exhibit SubCommittee who put on a spectacular event! Thank you so much to those who set up, broke down, and participated in this showcase of talent from the Clay Studio. A job Well Done!
Another big thank you to Jay “Groot”, who has decided to take a break as Facilities Chair. He has maintained the Studio for a number of years, doing all kinds of work behind the scenes. In addition, he took on the huge undertaking of obtaining and outfitting our new Classroom. Since we have not been able to get him to a Studio Event in the last few months, the Board presented him a plaque in absentia – it is now hanging in the classroom – take a peek it the next time you are in the studio. Another job Well Done!
A reminder to all members about sales transactions – the only sales events that may take place within the Studio is selling of tools and clay to our members. As you may recall, GVR granted us permission to display price information on clay art in our windows with the stipulation that any sales transactions must take place off of GVR property (May 2021 minutes) . Please adhere to this policy so that members may continue to showcase their artwork.
A couple of reminders to our monitors and members – please be sure to pull the Clay Room door closed after entry – it has been left ajar several times recently. Additionally, the wall safe, behind the membership computer, is opened with the key on the monitor’s keyring labeled “wall safe”. Do not use any other key for this. Please remember the Studio does not accept any bills higher than a $20 bill nor do we accept pennies.
Our IT Guru, Jon, is taking a well-deserved break for a few days – upon his return, he will be removing the laptop (where the monitor and mentor calendars are currently accessible), and replace it with the new Staff PC. Studio staff members may do their administrative work on this PC. The Website, Monitor Calendar, and Mentor Calendars will all be moved to this new system the 2nd week of March.
A reminder to all Instructors of GVR classes – please be sure you personally verify that all those signed up for your class are members before the class begins. We do not allow non-members to participate in our classes or workshops.
As you may have noticed, the Board voted to remove our pink “please wear a mask” sign after observing 6 weeks of declining COVID cases, as reported by AZ DHS. I would like to personally thank our studio members for ‘going the extra mile’ as our Board requested during the peaking virus numbers during the Holiday season. I am so thankful that our members put their personal comfort aside to help protect others. Additionally, the Pima County Board of Supervisors did not extend the mask mandate that expired on Feb 28th and GVR’s COVID policy was updated on Feb 28th to read “Across the GVR campus, members may participate at their discretion, regardless of vaccination status or mask use. This applies to all activities that occur at a GVR facility: classes, socials, club activities, game groups, HOA events, lectures, etc.” As always, please feel free to wear a mask if you choose to do so. All should practice social distancing as much as possible.
Lastly, a reminder to those who may be leaving the Green Valley area for an extended time – we will be holding an annual cleanup later this spring, so please remove all your items upon your departure and surrender your cubby space. Any items left behind will be considered abandoned.
From Education Committee:
Do you have an urge to share your skills and talents with others? Do you have an idea for a project that you’d like to teach others? Why not sign up to be an instructor to teach a GVR Class? The Education Committee is looking for additional instructors for the Introduction to Clay GVR class and ideas and instructors for other classes that GVR can offer. GVR Class
Instructors for the Intro Class receive payment for their time teaching, monitoring service credit for 3 months, and a bag of standard order clay. Instructors for other classes receive monitoring service credit for the month the class begins and 1 glaze firing ticket. If you have a skill such as pot throwing, sculpture, hand building, molds or other ideas, now is the time to become an instructor and offer a GVR class for next fall and winter. The Education Committee is taking applications for GVR Classes. Applications are found on the Clay Studio Webpage and are due back to the Committee by March 5, 2022. All GVR classes require approval by the Education
Committee and the Clay Studio Board of Directors.
If you’re not up for instructing a GVR Class and but still you have a great idea to share…how about offering a Workshop. Workshops only require approval by the Education Committee and applications for workshops are found on the Clay Studio Webpage. Workshop leaders receive up to $20.00 + material fees, monitoring service credit for one month, 1 bisque ticket and 1 glazing firing ticket. What a Deal, eh?
Still not sure you’d like to instruct a class or lead a workshop…how about being a helper in a class or workshop. See how these sessions work, lend a hand, and learn how you may become an instructor and /or leader. Helpers received one month of monitoring service credit for their time serving a class or workshop.
Our incentive program has kicked off and the Education Committee is looking into the most efficient and effective way to distribute these incentives – please be patient as we figure this system out – you will get your rewards!
Along with all the above information, the Clay Studio needs some new instructors and helpers for this summer’s Introduction to Clay class. If you’d like to help with the Intro Classes this spring, it might just give you the ability to learn how to teach a class. If you’d like to help,
contact Al Koss, Education Committee Chair and he’ll get you set up with open slots for upcoming classes. If you have any further questions and ideas, contact Al Koss at pioinfoal@gmail.com
From Facilities Committee:
Our new Facilities Chair, Tom Healy has taken over the reins from Jay and has a few items you need to know. There’s a new procedure in place for requesting services or reporting issues needing attention – if you look in the Main Room (near Monitor’s Station), Wheel Room (on side of cabinet), Sculpture Room (inside door) and Classroom (under clock), you will find a log sheet on a clip board. Please report any issues using these logs.
There is also a new mailbox for the Facilities Committee – you may drop Tom Healy a note there. Also, if you are a holder of a key for any part of the Studio, please send Tom an email and let him know what you have a key to. You may reach him at tehealy@gmail.com
Some updates on Work orders – Doors will all be updated with the current studio hours; the Classroom doors will be updated with No Entry or Exits signs. The problematic drain on the patio has a work order in place – GVR should be resolving that issue very soon. The Parking Lot door lock has been repaired – the new key is on the monitor key ring.
Also, new storage shelves have been assembled and in place behind the Handbuilding Room – signups for these shelves is the same as for the other cubbies.
Lastly, the days of pug clay have passed – the Studio has placed the pug mill for sale – we will no longer be recycling clay for member purchase.
That’s it for now folks – until next month!
Susan
Effective immediately, masks are highly recommended for the Studio.
Pima County passed an indoor mask mandate yesterday (12/22/21). GVR has not yet changed their policy, but your Board is anticipating a change may be forthcoming.
Irregardless of GVR’s actions, it is the Board’s opinion that the safety of our members is paramount – we are asking ALL MEMBERS TO MASK UP for the next several weeks, while we get through this latest outbreak.
If we have an outbreak, we will be forced to close the Studio once again – we are loathe to do that. So please support each other during these uncertain times and wear a mask, wash your hands, and socially distance.
Pima County passed an indoor mask mandate yesterday (12/22/21). GVR has not yet changed their policy, but your Board is anticipating a change may be forthcoming.
Irregardless of GVR’s actions, it is the Board’s opinion that the safety of our members is paramount – we are asking ALL MEMBERS TO MASK UP for the next several weeks, while we get through this latest outbreak.
If we have an outbreak, we will be forced to close the Studio once again – we are loathe to do that. So please support each other during these uncertain times and wear a mask, wash your hands, and socially distance.
Pictures of "first class" in the new Clay Studio Classroom for our web-site. It's beautiful.
Photos from Jane Ercolani via Julie Jacques
Photos from Jane Ercolani via Julie Jacques
updated 8-29-2021- jdo