April 4, 2022 Board Meeting Minutes

Agenda items

Members Present: President, Carmen Stineman; 1^st Vice President, Kirk Kuenzi, 2^nd Vice President, Jan Blank, Secretary, Jan Garvin, and Treasurer, Gretchen Olberding.

Members Absent: NA

Programs for Monthly Meetings: We reviewed the upcoming programs currently scheduled. We tentatively penciled in the following individuals for presentations for the remainder of the year.

1. Gallery: The group had the largest amount of discussion about the gallery and how best to get more participation and more traffic into the gallery.
   1. It was decided that the theme for the May mini show will change from Memorial Day to Humanitarian Sunflowers in recognition of the struggles of the Ukrainian people. Members will be reminded that LAG does not support nor defame any political party or people.
   2. Gretchen will move forward with setting up a Zelle account and Jan G will set up both the Venmo and Square accounts. All three should be ready for the Art Supply sale, and we will communicate to members at the next meeting.
   3. ANAC next steps will be communicated to individual artists by Carmen.
   4. Sign up and Doodle: Google sheets has been used to replace Doodle for signing up to work at the gallery. So far feedback has been good. We will demo the site to the members at the next meeting.
   5. Participation in the gallery for the month of April is less than normal.

• Other Business

1. 1. Art Supply Garage Sale: Jan G. is a bit concerned there will not be many individuals donating supplies for the sale. She had not heard back from any members specifically that they plan to donate. Carmine indicated she would send out another reminder email today. The plan is to be able to accept credit cards for this sale.
   2. Show Ribbons: It was confirmed that People’s Choice will continue to get a ribbon but no monetary award.
   3. Spring Show: Participation was lighter than expected for the Spring Show. There were 28 entries from a total of 14 different artists. Next year the Spring Show and ANAC Show will again be combined and held in the month of March. It was felt this would reduce member confusion.
   4. Next Meeting: May 2, 2022 at 9:30 at Village Inn on Van Dorn. Jan G will not be in attendance so Jan B offered to take minutes in her absence.

June’s Mini Show is “Pet Palooza”.  This show which features “pets” of all kinds, will have a monetary judging system.  Patrons viewing the show will vote for their favorite by putting money into a coordinating jar.  Moneys tabulated at the end of the month determine the “People’s Choice” and all proceeds go to an animal rescue organization in Lincoln.  Let’s try to really go all out for this one.  Everyone loves animal/pet art work.  Sculptures, paintings, drawings, etc.  Enter several if you want.  $5 for each to cover ribbons/awards,  Due by June 1.  You may use an entry form from the bottom of this newsletter to attach to your entry/entries, just cross out $10 and put in $5.

Wow, we had an incredible day hosting our garage sale on Saturday April 9.  Thank you to Lynette, Janet, Madeline, Carmen, Tim and Jan for all the work they put in Friday and Saturday.  A Thank you to Kirk Kuenzi and the Tai Chi folks who graciously rearranged their classes so that we could use their room.  Thank you also to all of you who donated items for the sale, you were most generous.  We made a total of $680 which will be used toward LAG activities, such as programs and workshops.

Welcome to our newest members to the Lincoln Artists’ Guild.  Thank you for joining us and we hope that you enjoy our club and learn some new and exciting ways to broaden your artistic horizons.  To our present members, please add these names to your membership book:

Julie Bruner – juliebruner@neb.rr.com – 402 450 4541

Erin Cuddy – erincuddy@gmail.co – 402 219 3193

Connie Haeffner – clhaeffner@windstream.net – 402 499 4778

Mark Mesloh – 1400 Cademon Circle, Lincoln, NE. 68523 – markmesloh@gmail.com – 402 984 9826

Congratulations to our LAG members for earning recognition at our Spring Show; Pam Apley – Best of Show, Carmen Stineman and Janet Fraley -Merit Awards, and Don Belik and Errol Huck – Honorable Mentions.  The People’s Choice award is still taking votes at the LUX.  When you stop in to see the show, make sure you cast your ballott.  The judge was Jim Miklavcic.  Critiques will be attached to the back of all the works displayed and available when you pick up your pieces on Saturday April 30.  Please be prompt about picking up your works.  Some of you will be taking work across to the gallery to hang and that is great.  Don’t forget to reserve your spot.   There will also be spots available for one or two pieces too.  Remember, 10 – 2 at the LUX.  Pick up!

The LAG Gallery is always trying to improve on what we can offer our members, without putting undue distress on one or two people as far as hanging and checking in. We are going to try a new approach where members can reserve a section of gallery wall on a monthly basis, with the flexibility of hanging/taking down/switching out any time the gallery is open.  The members will do their own hanging.  Members can reserve spots up to 6 months long (get a one month free benefit with 6 months) There will still be a $40 a month fee as in the past with NO COMMISION, you just need to sign up and work the gallery.

Wall sections are now being called for, and are on a first come first serve basis, so to reserve your spot, contact Carmen.  (402 641 6233) We have eight, four foot sections for $40, One two foot section for $20, One 3 1/2 foot section for $30.  The trophy case is $20 per shelf.    Wall sections are now being called for by letting me know what section of the wall you want to reserve and for how long,  You may pay online to Jan Garvin and she will digitally take your fee, AND give you a receipt.  More on how to do that in another blurb.  Yah, we are moving upward with speed and efficiency.

Boutique-prints-cards etc. are free to sell in the gallery as long as you are also reserving a space and hosting in the gallery.  If you do not have a reserved space, you are to pay $10 per month but still must work some in the gallery.
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> If you have any questions, please get hold of me.  Next month’s gallery fees are due on Saturday April 30 when you pick up your Spring Show pieces and we change the gallery walls.  If you want to pay earlier, just stop into the gallery anytime we are open.

Carmen Stineman

We recognize that our members have many other obligations that sometime make it difficult to easily pay for things like show entry fees, membership fees, or gallery rental fees. In an effort to make this more convenient for members, we have recently started accepting credit cards and bank transfers in addition to checks and cash. Please see below for details.

Cash: Cash payments can be made anytime the gallery is open or at a monthly evening meeting. Exact change is appreciated as we only keep a small amount of change in the gallery at any time.

Checks: All checks should be made out to Lincoln Artists’ Guild. It would be helpful if you would put in the memo section what the payment is for (membership, mini show entry, spring show entry, gallery rental for March, etc.)  Checks may also be dropped off at the gallery during open hours or at a monthly evening meeting.

If you wish to mail your check, please send it, along with any other corresponding paperwork like show entry forms, to:

Carmen Stineman

3300 SW 80^th Circle

Lincoln, NE 68532

Please be sure to allow plenty of time for your check to arrive in advance of any deadlines established for payment.

Bank Transfer or Credit/Debit Cards via Square: We recently established an account with Square which allows us to take payments via bank transfer or credit/debit card. We will eventually have the ability to take credit cards in person at the gallery but for now, you will need to use the following process:

Send an email to Jan Garvin at Jan.Garvin@gmail.com indicating what the payment is for, as well as the amount of the payment. Also indicate if the payment will be made by bank transfer or card.  To make a bank transfer you will need to set up your bank through Square via an application called Plaid. Instructions on how to do that will be provided via the Square invoice process.  For credit card payments, simply follow the instructions on the invoice. LAG will not receive your card information directly.

There is a small fee charged to LAG for accepting these forms of payment and you are being asked to pay for that fee. For bank transfers the fee is 1% and for card purchases it is 3%.

Upon receipt of your email, Jan will send you a Square invoice which you will then pay. You will not be providing her with your card or bank information. The paid invoice will act as your receipt.  Jan Garvin

We have a new sandwich board outside our gallery, replacing the green aluminum one that was falling apart.  What we need now is someone to design both sides.  The size is 2′ x 2′ or 24″ x 24″.  If you want to submit a design, plan it – including colors, and we will decide on which fits our needs best.  You don’t have to paint it, I will do that.  (unless you want to of course!).  Let have a deadline of June 14. (June monthly meeting).  Submit your designs to Carmen, cmstine@hotmail.com.