2008 NATA Summer Board Meeting
hosted at Christy and Amber Kosmicki’s home
Holdrege, NE
July 1, 2008
President, Debbie Kippley called the meeting to order. The following board members were in attendance: Donna Arnett, Donna Binderup, Christine Brown, Angie Fischer, Susan Hanson, Phil Hermann, Sheila Hubbard, Debbie Kippley, Christy Kosmicki, Jerene Kruse , Carole Meyer, Margaret Proskovec, Pat Schultz, and Gladys Wassinger.
Debbie opened the meeting by announcing the new officers and shared an inspirational poem by Marge Piercy. The following is the new list of Executive Board members:
President: Dr. Debbie Kippley
President Elect: Margaret Proskovec
Treasurer: Emily Adams
Secretary: Christy Kosmicki
Christy reported that the minutes from the 2008 Spring Board Meeting were sent to the NATA board via email within two weeks after the meeting. The board had a two-week window to amend the minutes and give final approval. The Spring Board Minutes were published in the Spring Perspective and posted on the NATA web site.
The Treasurer’s Report, presented by Sr. Margaret Proskovec, reflected the activities of the association account through June 29, 2008. Many NATA activities brought in more money than projected. The NATA total income is $12,817.51 and expenditures totaled $11,774.69. The association’s investments are still securely placed with Waddell and Reed. In the past 10 years we have had a 79% improvement in our investments. Ending balance including investments is $33,394.74 and $10,800 currently in our checking account.
Margaret reviewed the proposed budget for the next fiscal year. Proposed budget adjustments will be addressed in New Business. Christy moved to accept the Actual Budget as amended and table the motion to accept the Proposed budget when New Business is addressed. Angie Fischer seconded. Motion carried.
Margaret reminded the board that grant money documentation relative to conferences must be sent to the Treasurer ASAP. This will allow the treasurer to track grant money for deposit. If it is grant money associated with Fall or Spring Conference, the grant award should still be reflected in the Conference account. The Treasurer’s handbook has been updated and will be passed on to Emily Adams (incoming Treasurer) and Carole Meyers (web master). Carole will archive this material on the NATA web site.
Fall 2008 Conference Report was presented by Sheila Hubbard. Michael Strand, new art chairman for Concordia College, has a hard copy of grants that will be mailed to Debbie and forwarded to Emily. Sheila gave an update on the Conference mailing brochure and hotel accommodations. She shared an overview of the event schedule and proposed cost of the 2-day conference. Total fee will be $125.00 for members and $150.00 for non-members; On-site registration (at the door) will be $135.00; $85.00 for students, retiree, and presenters; $80.00 Friday only; $60.00 Saturday only; $20.00 Duncan Estate Tour only; Additional Award/Birthday Banquet Tickets will be $30.00. Conference brochure will be mailed by the second week of August, so teachers will have the information in hand at the beginning of the school year. Conference information will also be available on our website. Sheila also reminded us that they are planning a special celebration for NATA’s 85th Birthday. All conference participants will be asked to design a birthday hat and wear it to the Awards Banquet. There are no shape or size requirements. There are two rules: 1. The hat must function as a birthday hat and 75% of the material must be paper. Prizes will be awarded.
The Art Educators Juried Show will be exhibited in the Marxhausen Gallery and a two-hour reception held on Friday afternoon. William Wolfram will serve as the juror and give a short talk on the work. Entries are due on August 2nd; fees are $15.00 member & $30.00 for non-members. The show information brochure is posted on the NATA website. Entry images can be entered via jpeg or slide, but registrations and fees must be mailed. Keynote address, What is Paper Without a Little Mystery, by Tom Lang will take place Saturday morning and the general membership meeting will be during lunch.
Spring Conference/YAM was addressed by Debbie Kippley. Amber Buhrman and Ashlea Jurgens will continue to chair YAM. The board was overwhelming pleased due to their great success last spring. Debbie reminded us that the board still had two things to think about: 1. Do we want to continue the YAM celebration with the Spring Board meeting and Spring Conference or would it be in the best interest of the membership to separate these activities? 2. Do we want to coordinate NSVAC and YAM or look at scheduling that will address the overlap of entries for these exhibitions? There was some discussion to create a Spring Fling conference & Board meeting separate from the YAM. Reviewing the to-do-list from our Spring 2008 meeting, this was supposed to be a topic addressed this summer. Amber Buhrman, Ashlea Jurgens, Donlynn Rice, Angie Fischer, Lucy McHugh, all ESU Representatives, Jean Detlefsen, and all Executive Board members will need to meet to address the following issues: 1. mailing postcard reminders to art educators across the state. 2. trying to remove the scheduling conflict between NAVAC and YAM 3. organizing the YAM committee with Lucy (advocacy) and ESU Reps. to work on YAM publicity, advertising, and promotional events. The board was asked to review the Spring Board meeting to-do-list. It was decided that these Board members would meet on July 30th at 1:00PM at Debbie’s home in Omaha.
Higher Ed/Students Art Show- Christy reported that the 2008-09 year will be a planning year. Most university gallery schedules are already booked for the upcoming year. Jean and Christy are in the process of soliciting all the University/colleges for their interest in revitalizing, participating, and hosting the Undergraduate Show on a consistent rotation. Jean and Christy plan to bring a representative from the interested colleges/universities together in the fall. It was proposed that this be done during Fall Conference, but the board felt the schedule was too full. Jean and Christy will continue planning at the July 30th meeting.
Past Pres Report was given by Phil Hermann. NAEA members will soon be able to access their own Digication account which will connect them to Western Region activities/information related to such things as: Conference planning, Strategic Planning and Advocacy Tools. Phil will forward information to Christine to post on our NATA ListServe and/or blog as soon as it comes from Nancy Hilliard. He also added that Western Region delegates helped NAEA develop current stances/views on current issues in art education relative to NAEA Strategic Plan. More information will follow on the NATA listserv. NAEA will be launching their new website in October.
Debbie reported that Job Descriptions are now complete for Communications Director, Educational Service Unit Representatives, Division Representatives, Student Chapter Representative, Higher Education Division, Nebraskans for the Arts Representative, Minority Concerns Representative, President, and Past President. The executive board worked all afternoon the day before to complete them. All board members present today, read through the final draft and made appropriate amendments. The executive board will meet at 9:00 AM on July 30th to complete the remaining job descriptions.
Carole reported on the recent website additions. Carole said that she has created ListServe and blog and Archives buttons! She will check into creating forms for online Award nominations. The board asked if she could work with Sheila to see if a computer could be placed at the Registration/Membership table during Fall Conference. Carole will also look in to the probability of on-line registrations for Conferences in the future.
Christine Brown gave the Communications Report. Currently, there are 920 educators receiving information from the NATA ListServe. Christine is anxious to get a current list of area art educators, so she is asking that all ESU Representatives compile any changes to art education staff in their areas no later than September 1st.
Advocacy was addressed by Debbie for Lucy. The Visual and Performing Arts position at the Department of Education still needs to be reinstated. If anyone is willing to state their advocacy position on this matter, please post it on the NATA blog by emailing Bob Reeker @breeker@lps.org
Committee Reports included Membership. Donna Arnett reported that our current membership was at 170.
President’s Report- Debbie met with ex director of NAEA, Deborah Reeves in Reston VA. this summer. Reeves is anxious to help Nebraska with membership on a consultant basis. Debbie also shared her plans to be more visible as President by visiting all of the NE ESU sites. Because of her recent retirement statis, she is offering workshops on media; overseas trips, lesson plan and/or curriculum development, or even ameet and greet teachers session. Debbie does not plan to charge for these workshops, but does request mileage reimbursement, a pillow and a meal. Christine asked her to write a brief description of this opportunity for the ListServe.
Fall Conference 2009 is still slated for October 2 – 4 @ UNL, the Sheldon Art Gallery, and the
Quilting Center. Nancy Childs, conference chair, and her team are still searching for a national speaker.
There was discussion about the status of the Art Educators Show in conjunction with Fall Conference. To create more continuity, Phil made the motion to change the Art Educators Show from a bi-annual to an annual juried exhibition. Margaret seconded. Motion carried. Debbie will contact Nancy Childs to inform her of this change and to ask her to work with Christy, Exhibition Chairman.
In New Business, it was decided to have Omaha host the 2010 Fall Conference. The board revisited Proposed Budget. After a short discussion, Debbie made the motion to increase budget for Western Region & Delegates Assembly for the President & President-elect from $500 to $1,000 if NATA can generate the funding to support this line item change after the board reviews the Fall Conference receipts. Pat seconded. Motion carried. Margaret reminded the board that this line item would affect the 2010 Fiscal Year. Gladys Wassinger made the motion to approve the 2009 Proposed budget. Phil seconded. Motion carried.
There was also discussion concerning NATA/NAEA dues. Currently, Nebraska dues are $65.00. NATA receives $8.00 back from NAEA and nothing back from retired or student membership. The next NATA dues agreement will need to be registered in 2010. Discussion for changing the dues will be addressed then.
Phil posed a question as to the possibility of NATA considering a co-presidency. After a short discussion, it was decided that the NATA system is already designed as a team, involving the six-year commitment of President-elect becoming President and then Past President.
In regard to general board member responsibilities, the Fall Conference team can call upon board members to help with and/or serve as mentors. Currently Christy Kosmicki serves as Exhibits chairman, Christine Brown has mentored the silent auction and Phil Hermann has organized the vendors. There are other annual Fall and Spring Conference activities that may need board member assistance. This will add continuity to programs offered at conference as well as aid in the burden of hosting the event. This responsibility should be added to the job descriptions at the July 30th meeting.
Debbie asked for a motion to adjourn. Christy called for the motion and Donna seconded. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Christy Kosmick
