Committees

Revised 4/16/07

Membership Committee
Member Benefits Committee
Business Resources Committee
Publicity Committee
Web Site Committee
JewelryArtistDirect.com Selection Committee
Education Committee – Wire Jewelry
Professional Standards Committee
Exhibitions Committee
Budget and Audit Committee
Business Plan Committee
Legal Organization Committee
Elections Committee

Please note, when terms such as “develop”, “implement”, “design”, “oversee”, etc are used, they do not imply a blanket pre-approval of the committee’s decisions by the Directors. All committee “decisions” are actually “recommendations” till approved by a quorum of the Directors.

While it is tempting for committees to go off, do their project, and present it as a "fait accompli", the result will be much stronger if the process is kept open to the group and feedback is sought along the way.

The different committees will have to interact with each other also - the web committee might be building and managing the site, but the education committee, reference librarian, professional standards committee, membership committee, etc will be responsible for the content on their web pages. One group must allow for the other group’s interaction.

Membership Committee
Chair – Secretary (Cammy Ambrosini)
Additional Members - Robyn Harton, ??
New Members Setup - Sharon Humphrey
Membership Records & Renewals - Sue Espy
Purpose:
1) Update as required - application form, welcome letter, application procedures.
2) Maintain a membership roster with names, addresses, and other pertinent data about each member. Include Membership Category, Membership Level, and Juried Status.
3) Work with the Treasurer to develop methods for keeping the payment history of membership dues current within the membership roster.
4) Make the membership roster available to directors, officers, and committee chairs, as required to complete their guild tasks.  Verify that the disclaimer from the By-Laws is on copies that are distributed for use by those parties.
5) Develop programs for recruiting and retaining members.
6) Develop & maintain web content as required.

Member Benefits Committee
Chair - ??
Additional Members - Sue Espy, ??
Purpose:
1) Investigate opportunities to enhance the value of a guild membership through member benefits. Make initial proposals to the Directors, research and flesh out those proposals that have the go-ahead.
2) Categorize the benefits as to whether they are a general benefit for all members or a more specialized  benefit just for the business level.
3) Review the white board for suggestions to date.
4) Develop & maintain web content as required.

Business Resources Committee
Chair - ??
Additional Members - Sue Espy, ??
Reference Librarians - ??
Purpose:
1) Develop articles, models, suggestions, etc specific to wire jewelry regarding business management, pricing, selling, shows, and other aspects related to the administrative aspects of owing a business.  (Review white board for suggestions to date.)
2) Develop a guild reference and/or lending library.
3) VERIFY THAT COPYRIGHTS ARE HONORED while building the web site content. Be very careful about not just copying data from other boards, etc.  Instead, use the data found to write new guild articles.
4) Develop & maintain web content as required.

Publicity Committee
Chair - ??
Additional Members - ??
Purpose:
1) Create and implement publicity campaigns for The International Guild of Wire Jewelry Artists, Inc.  Find ways to communicate to wire jewelry artists, students, show promoters, and the like about the guild and it’s purpose.
2) Create and implement marketing campaigns about wire jewelry in general.
Use “guerilla marketing” techniques to get generic articles and generic ads about wire jewelry in front of the jewelry buying public – especially those that attend and shop at art & craft fairs.  Target more than just craft magazines – look for upscale regional magazines that highlight local artists, etc.  The generic ads should promote wire art jewelry, making gold filled wire acceptable and desirable, without promoting any one person.
3) Work with established wire artists to create guild approved articles about wire art jewelry, it's unique nature, the value of gold filled wire, etc.  Actively submit these articles to various media outlets.
4) Develop generic, standardized information for use on both the guild web site and member web sites about things such as gold filled wire. Develop additional articles to be published on the web site that member sites can link to.
5) Suggest promotional events to raise the art community’s and the public’s awareness and knowledge of the guild.
6) Develop & maintain web content as required.

Website Committee
Chair - Dianne Karg Baron
Additional Members - Sue Espy
Web Receptionist(s) - Joan L. Durocher
New Member Set-up - Sharon Humphrey
Purpose:
1) Oversee the technical aspects of the guild’s web site.
2) Design, create, and maintain the general aspects of the web site such as the home page, site index, consistent look & feel from page-to-page, etc.
3) Create a method for committees responsible for the content on the various web pages to be able to be responsible for the creation and maintenance of their pages.
4) Alert the Directors to new page categories, as they are added.
5) Develop & maintain web content as required.
6) Create & Staff a receptionist position that is responsible for answering routine emails, posting routine items like up-coming events, and forwarding other emails to the correct party.

JewelryArtistDirect.com Selection Committee
Chair - Elaine Yamada
Additional Members - Elizabeth Berrien, Susan Shatreau-Janisky, Nancy Fortenberry
New Member Set-up - Sue Espy
Purpose:
1) Set guildelines for inclusion in the jewelry mall. While actual decisions may still be subjective, put together written guidelines ("Information for Artists") so that applicants can understand expectations for the sites to be included, including pop-ups, load times, shopping experience, merchandies, etc.
2) Review applications for inclusion in JewelryArtistDirect.com and approve or deny.
3) Respond to applicants regarding denied applications, giving specific areas that caused denial.
4) Respond to applicants regarding approved applications, giving billing information and contact info to the web set up person and accounting records person.
5) Log applicant information and committee decisions.

Education Committee - Wire Jewelry
Chair - ??
Additional Members – Sue Espy, ??
Reference Librarians - ??
Purpose:
1) Develop educational programs to help jewelry artists learn the art of wire jewelry. Build from the notes captured in the educational path section of the "white board". Develop a “validation” program for people to be able to obtain critiques of specific skills. Work with local chapters to develop teaching programs, workshops, seminars, etc.
2) Develop a guild reference and/or lending library.
3) VERIFY THAT COPYRIGHTS ARE HONORED while building the web site content. Be very careful about not just copying data from other boards, etc. Instead, use the data found to write new guild articles.
4) Build resources to help members find educational opportunities sponsored by people other than the guild.
5) Develop & maintain web content as required.

Professional Standards Committee
Chair - ??
Additional Members - Sue Espy, ??
Vote Tallys - Gloria Scherer
Juried Applications/Galleries - Janet Smith
Purpose:
1) Develop jury policies and procedures. Supervise the process by which members become juried members and are allowed to utilize the guild logo in their marketing efforts.
(Make sure the jury program/policies/procedures are posted - Post the jury applications - Get the votes in - Tally the votes - Inform applicants of decisions - Tell them about juried logo/procedure.)
2) Develop a guide of “professional standards” and other aides to help people understand what the jurors are looking for in the jury process.
3) Promote professional aspects of wire art jewelry and advocate for quality, wearability, and longevity of wire art jewelry.
4) Maintain a web section highlighting the juried members, including links to their web sites.
(Select a pic from the jury application to put in the juried members gallery - keep gallery with a good mix of types and techniques, as it is a public document - keep artist info updated, including links to their web site - supervise paid program whereby juried members can buy a page for their contact information, additional photos, etc (primarily for those without web sites for finished jewelry))
5) Develop & maintain web content as required.

Exhibitions Committee
Chair – Dianne Karg Baron
Members - Perri Jackson
Purpose:
1) Gain exposure for wire jewelry through exhibitions of members work. Budget and Audit Committee
Chair – Treasurer (Susan Shatreau-Janisky)
Members - Sue Espy
Purpose:
1) Verify that guild funds are properly accounted for and properly maintained in appropriate accounts with appropriate interest, dividends, or other income devices.
2) Work with the officers and committee chairs to create an annual budget and quarterly forecasts.
3) Send out payment reminder notices when renewals are due.
4) Monitor cash flow and account balances. Verify known expenses can be met before authorizing funds for new expenditures – even if they are budgeted.  Alert Directors to potential shortages in a timely fashion.

Business Plan Committee
Chair – President (Nancy Fortenberry)
Additional Members – Vice President (Diane Karg Barron), Directors
Purpose:
1) Create a Mission Statement, Business Plan, and other related documents for the guild, building from the information found in the white board.
2) Develop and maintain web content as required.

Legal Organization Committee
Chair – Susan Priess
Additional Members – Directors
Purpose:
1) Create and submit the organizational documents for the corporation.
2) Other, as business plans of the guild require.

Elections Committee
Co-Chairs - ??
Purpose:
To solicit nominations and conduct annual voting process each year.
(No person seeking or currently holding office may serve on this committee.)
This committee shall –
1) issue a call for declarations of candidacy
2) receive said declarations
3) verify that all candidates are members in good standing
4) prepare a ballot containing, in alphabetical order, the names of all candidates
5) The ballot shall be delivered to the Secretary, who, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the annual meeting, shall deliver a sample ballot to each member. As part of the annual meeting, the Elections Committee shall conduct the election and shall verify and register those qualified members participating, as eligible to vote. 
(However, per  the bylaws, if there is only one candidate, the balloting process doesn’t have to occur.)
6) NOTE – Technically, only the board of directors are elected by the membership each year and the officers are appointed by the Directors. HOWEVER, since the elections take place at the same time of year, it will be efficient if the elections committees also takes nominations for the officers at the same time. If there are multiple candidates, the elections committee can hold a ballot for those positions also.  The officers will then be appointed by the board.