PWAS Feb Meeting and "Job Fair"?
The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) is the largest and oldest art group in Prince William County. Begun in 1971, the membership numbers have fluctuated greatly over the years and a ton of talent has flowed through our group. And the types of art created is VERY diverse as well. The group meets on the 4th Monday of the month - January through November and is open to the public to attend.
Monday, February 26, 2024 Meeting
For this meeting of the PWAS members, it began with the business side of what we're up to, with all of the wonderful updates from the Board, new art shows, events, interactions and plans. Following that, various other committee or group leads gave their updates. The difference in this meeting was obvious though, from the start. Various tables were scattered around the room with a Table Topic card.
A typical PWAS Meeting, from Jan 2024
Program Relationships, Table Topics and Members
The program directions for the meeting was for the members to move around the room enjoying snacks and beverages provided by our Hospitality Committee. (Thank you!!) The members would stop at a table and speak with the "Committee Conversation" Facilitators sitting around the room at the 6 tables. The tables were labelled as follows:
At the Planning Table was Elizabeth Stathis
At the Pop Up Events and Hospitality Table was Sandra McClelland Lewin and Penny Shaw
At the Publicity and Marketing Table was Donna Liguria, Larry Burch, and Nicole Fisher
At the Education/Workshops/Classes Table was Tom Payne
At the Programs/Scholarship Table was Emily Hawes
At the Grants Table was Mark Murphy and Connie Huebner
The members would go around the room speaking with each person, much like a Job Fair. Not only do we get to know members better while they share what they do, but we meet the new members. Discussion included what the table topic is, what the members skill sets are, and would they be interested in volunteering in that area of interest and join that committee.
In order to GROW we need each member to pitch in and help in any small or great way they can. Absolutely, our members come from all walks of life and are made up of artists aged 18 and up. Some have families with children and some have high stress jobs and some are retired (yippee!!). We understand that and hope to find where various members are comfortable finding a place to plug in.
I'm sure the members, as they went from table to table and listened to the projects we have planned for the future, got a sense of where PWAS wants to go, to become known in Prince William County and be the art presence we know we are - which in turn benefits the entire Prince William Art Society membership. PWAS Interim Treasurer Mark Murphy and Co-Secretary Connie Huebner led the Grants Table Topic which is a very important part of any nonprofit art group. Recognizing the various grants available, the tracking of deadlines, the writing and proof-reading are all a part of this Table Topic.
PWAS Member at Large Tom Payne is with PWAS President Elizabeth Stathis, Anna Gatling and Scott Elliot. The Table Topic was art education, work shops and classes - which could be for the public OR for the PWAS membership. A part of this group is not only taking part in attending art educational experiences, but giving and teaching these classes. Tom recently sent out a poll with a couple of questions to get feedback on areas of interest for the members to help target the wishes of the group on workshops.
The Member at Large is also the go between person of the PWAS membership to the Board - so if there are questions, concerns, ideas and suggestions, the membership is encouraged to contact Tom to (anonymously) relay the data.
PWAS Vice President Sandra McClelland Lewin and Hospitality Committee member Penny Shaw discussing PWAS Events and Hospitality with Richard Tyler and Mark Clifton.
PWAS Events covers a lot of art territory but probably the PWAS member group art shows, popup shows, juried and nonjuried Calls for Art and Artists and developing these shows are of the highest interest to our members. It is definitely at these art shows that PWAS members can submit and offer their art for sale.
PWAS Hospitality includes everything from the monthly member meeting snack and beverage provisions to managing art receptions.
PWAS Members enjoying the Hospitality Committee's snacks and beverages. Yum!
PWAS meeting at Tall Oaks Community Center on the corner of Hedges Run and Cotton Mill Drive in Lake Ridge.
PWAS Program and Scholarship Committee Chair, Emily Hawes talking shop with Mr. Gates, Evelyn Chatters, and Rosemary Schatz. The annual Jewell Pratt Scholarship is one of the projects PWAS manages, and is named after our original PWAS member Jewell Pratt Burns. She is very dear to PWAS.
PWAS Social Media team Nicole Fisher (Facebook) and Donna Liguria (PWAS Artistry Spin Blog) speaking with Robert Dew. Larry Burch, the PWAS Webmaster, is not pictured.
Publicity, marketing, promotion, the PWAS website, the PWAS Blog, and Social Media is a very large umbrella Committee and necessary part of any nonprofit art group.
From writing a Press Release to posting messages on Instagram and everything inbetween - managing getting the word out online and offline, in print and on target - Publicity has a lot of avenues both paid and free to push PWAS news, announcements, partnerships, showcases, art classes, art shows and any other art events.
PWAS President Elizabeth and Vice President Sandra
PWAS Members Mingling
PWAS member Nicole Goble and Co-Secretary Bettie Sperty
PWAS members relationship building with a purpose. It is our belief that by working together as a team toward a common goal, we build these friendships and participation within the group to get things done!
If you missed this meeting, you can always find out more and/or sign up for a PWAS Committee here. Mark, Robert, Penny and Donna
A big thank you to our official PWAS photographer, Otis Stanley, who took all of these great photos - recording for the PWAS history - and the internet - what a great, fun, and marvelous team this art group is. I know I have made some great friendships and learned so much from all of these talented folks.
And of course, the last picture from Otis...
Who was wearing these kicks?
We had a fun and different meeting this go around. Many of our meetings feature guest artists showing what they do, which are always so good. We've covered how several different artists do their watercolor painting, mixed media, oil painting, digital art, abstract painting, traveling art, so many GREAT topics! Many of these guests are well known in the NOVA area. Future programs will also offer topics of interest spoken from the membership directly including the art business and more. Miss one meeting, you may miss the one you were most interested in!
Author: Donna Liguria
Artistry Spin Blogmaster and an artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Donna's Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.
Photography/Video Credits: Otis Stanley
Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 50+-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia. Visit us at any of our local art shows or join us for our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA at 7:30pm
Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership
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