Dear Members and Friends

Once again I am pleased to warmly welcome new members who have joined the society since my last newsletter in September 2008.  They are named in alphabetical order.

Jennifer Austin, Susan Hannay  Robert Harding , Dennis Haslam  Danna Keener,  Eva Pearson, Julian Reading, Michael Starbuck, Sheila Street..
People in the News
At the annual general meeting our President Richard Francis stood down, and Stan Allen became our new president.. I thanked Richard for his services to the committee and the society.  We are lucky to  have him in our midst  as he is very knowledgeable and an inspiration to us as amateur artists. Stan was presented with a Marks and Spencers voucher in recognition of all the work he has done over the years and latterly as our Publicity Officer and exhibition organizer.   Mary Richmond who is new to the committee will be taking over this task and will require  lots of support from us all in helping her carry out this role. Mavis Page has retired from being the programme secretary  and Pam White will be taking over from her, who I believe has some new ideas for us.  Mavis unfortunately could not be at the meeting due to her husbands current ill health.  A Marks and Spencers voucher  is to be given to her  in recognition of all her hard work involved in giving us such excellent annual programmes.    Enid Harding also a new committee member and a past treasurer for the Enfield Society  will be taking on the  task of  assistant treasurer to David Smith.  My thanks  go to retiring committee members  Vicki Brayshaw and Melanie Harris for their services to the committee and the society. You will see that all the current Officers and Committee members names are printed in the annual programme which is enclosed with this letter. To conform to the Society's constitutional rules it was supposed to be my  last year in office as Chairman  as I am  only allowed to serve three years. As no successor was found  the committee decided that the rules would have to be amended to allow me to carry on for a further year.  I t  was also agreed that an extension to the rules would be requested allowing the committee to appoint  a vice chairman and a deputy treasurer within the existing committee. Both of these motions were agreed  and adopted by the members at the AGM. Summer Programme 2009
In the summer programme this year we will be continuing with our evening sessions but meeting at various pub locations instead of at the school.   Barbara Thomson is arranging two coach trips one to Patchings art and craft festival on the 6th June and the traditional day out is on the 18th July to Chartwell, home of Winston Churchill. Barbara is getting very worried because of the poor response from members. Sadly if not enough people respond then the outings will have to be cancelled.  Partners are welcome to attend the outings. There are some inspiring new locations for our painting afternoons one is to Alswick Hall near Buntingford, also to Audley End House and there are two visits to members gardens.  Mavis has found some new outside locations this year, so there are small maps supplied.  Mavis has said that if you are in any doubt where to meet, you are welcome to telephone her for further assistance.  01279 507628.
Winter Programme 2009 to 2010
As usual we have a very full and varied programme of demonstrations, talks, critiques and life drawing  commencing on 10th  September,  with a demonstration in oil by Melanie Cambridge who is believed to be very good  She will be using a view from her sketchbook . On September 17th  we would like you to bring your summer paintings for  the members to look at.  We will also be having a demonstration of our new mount cutter, so if you need to mount some of your paintings before the exhibition. please bring your own mount card.  The rest of the programme includes two critiques one by Richard Francis and the other by Heather Brown. If you have any problem paintings Heather would like you to bring them so that she can make remedial suggestions.   There is also a new idea where Heather will be instructing us on special effects and the following week we shall put  what we have been taught into practice  under her guidance.  We shall also be having a members evening where  two of our own  artists will be talking on wood carving and the use of colour.  Five other members will be involved in running working evenings. Nine demonstrations are scheduled in the programme, including two of our favourite artists William Newton and Robin Mackervoy.  We shall also have talks on American Art  and one that I am particularly looking forward to is being given by Jenny Clough on Expressionism Part II her talk on german expressionism last year was extremely interesting  with some first class colour slides of paintings.   Stan Allen our new president will also be giving us a talk and slide show  on Galaxy paintings when I hope he will be bringing his own excellent examples for us to view.  We shall also have three life drawing evenings. On the 1st April we shall have a  demonstration by Margaret Gardiner who showed her beautiful ceramics at our Rhodes exhibition.  Barbara will be organizing two Saturday workshops one with Keith Morton doing portraits with Acrylic or Oil and also with Jane Rhodes a very accomplished pastel artist, subject to be announced later.
Christmas Social
Our Christmas social evening has been arranged for Saturday the 5th December and the Caterers will be" Walkers" who we have used before and are well known in the locality for their excellent food.  Please make a note of the date in your diary. Tickets will be available from the middle of September.
Exhibitions
The annual exhibition will be held as usual at the Library the setting up and handing in day will be on Thursday November 12th and the dismantling picking up day will be Sunday November 22nd.
As next year we will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of our foundation in 1935  a provisional booking has been made for a celebratory exhibition at the  Thorleybourne gallery in June or July..
 
Walbourne Cup
Congratulations go to Pam White the winner of the above trophy for the portrait voted the favourite by the members at the AGM. 

I wish you all a very pleasant summertime painting, and look forward to seeing  the results of your work on Thursday the 17th  September, 2008
                                                      Happy Painting
                                                                               David Cooper Chairman