September 17, 2020
Annual Meeting Minutes for 2019 - 2020
Detroit Society of Women Painters & Sculptors
Outdoor Shelter 8E on Belle Isle, Detroit
Meeting called to order by Joya Rush-Keli, President-Elect, at 10:12 am, with the statement, “In 1918 there was a pandemic and DSWPS survived; we will survive this one as well!”
Minutes of the 2019 Annual Meeting: Reading of the minutes of the 2019 Annual Meeting held on May 16, 2019 at the Scarab Club, Detroit, was waived. Francine Kachman moved that the minutes, available on the DSWPS website, be accepted as submitted, seconded by Carol LaChiusa, motion approved.
Annual Report of the Recording Secretary: Lori Zurvalec reported on member attendance at 2019-2020 general membership meetings, average attendance being 35. Motion to accept by Joya Rush-Keli, seconded by Kathleen McNamee
Annual Report of the Corresponding Secretary: No report
Annual Report of the Treasurer: 2019-2020 Treasurer’s Annual Report read by Kathleen McNamee for Janice Ducsay. Motion to accept by Julie Sabit, seconded by Susan Munro. Motion approved.
Annual Reports of the Standing Committees:
Exhibition Report on the Black Box Gallery Exhibition read by Susan Munro for Erica Chappuis, motion to accept by Joya Rush-Keli, seconded by Julie Sabit. Motion approved.
Membership: Report read by Deborah Benedic for Kimberly Santini and Janice Ducsay. Year end membership 139. Motion to accept by Roselyn Rhodes, seconded by Julie Sabit. Motion approved.
Nominations: No report
Publicity: No report
Program: Report read by Jacqueline Rybinski, motion to accept by Susan Munro, seconded by Kathleen McNamee. Motion approved.
Scholarship: To date a scholarship has not been awarded for 2020. For more information about the ongoing process, see discussion under September 17, 2020 General Membership Meeting Minutes.
Finance: No report
By-laws and Policy: Report given by Kathleen O’Connell regarding the proposed revisions to the Constitution and By-laws to provide for online meetings and to clarify the definition of woman. A ballot listing these proposed changes was mailed to all members earlier this year by Kimberly Santini who received the completed ballots. The membership voted in the changes; they can be found in the new directory to be mailed later this year. Kathleen O’Connell reminded the membership that the issue of who qualifies as a woman per the by-laws arose during entry for the Black Box exhibition when a gender fluid person inquired about entering. Because the person was not a member, and only members can enter DSWPS exhibitions, the issue went no further. The Board felt the definition of woman needed to be proactively addressed for the future. With regard to online meetings, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of Executive Board meetings have been held online. Thank you to Kathleen O’Connell for all the work she has done on the Constitution and By-laws. Motion to accept by Deborah Benedic, seconded by June Nash. Motion approved.
Social: Kimberly Santini reported on Social activities in her written report. Thank you to Roselyn Rhodes for all her work providing refreshments at membership meetings. Roselyn Rhodes reported that because of Covid-19 and the cancellation of so many meetings, Social responsibilities have been limited in the latter half of the year. It is her hope that we will be able to have a Member Luncheon and Art Auction at some point. Motion to accept by Julie Sabit, seconded by Joya Rush-Keli.
Memorials: Report read by Jean Thomas.
Members deceased May 2019-May 2020:
Barbara Cuthbert
Olga Pawlowski
Jacquelyn Fleming
Members deceased May 2020 to date:
Dee Trainor
Alice Allhoff
A moment of silence was observed for these artists who have passed.
Jean Thomas reported that she contacts the library in the city where a deceased member lived so an art book can be donated in their memory. She also sends get well and sympathy cards to members as life events occur and thinking of you cards to Lily Dudgeon. Please contact Jean Thomas if you know of any members who are ill or grieving.
Motion to accept by Kathleen McNamee, seconded by Deborah Benedic. Motion approved.
Website: Report read by Kathleen McNamee. Electronic submissions created the most work for 2019-2020. As problems emerged they were resolved, such as submissions by non-members on Entry Thingie and a need for better guidance for jurors.
Because there is no newsletter at the moment, the website has become one of the key ways DSWPS is in contact with members. Consequently, a new page for time sensitive material has been added to the website. Information about previous shows and images of included works as well as activities are updated regularly. The members only page contains a current membership list that is updated with new member info and changes to members’ contact info as received from Kimberly Santini on a regular basis. Annual reports, minutes and forms are found on the members’ only page. There is an artist page also with photos and info about members, but only 48% of DSWPS members have contributed images or text.
Motion to accept by Louise Azzoli, seconded by Paula Wild. Motion approved.
Historian Report read by Julie Sabit. DSWPS documents such as newsletters and annual reports will be delivered to the Burton Historical Collection as soon as possible given Covid-19 constraints. She thanked Deborah Benedic for taking over the Historian’s position and reminded everyone to be certain they have submitted info for their page in the Resume Book. This book is displayed at all DSWPS exhibitions. The History of Detroit Society of Women Painters & Sculptors 1903 -1953 by Julia Gatlin Moore has been a very helpful resource whenever some inquiries about an artist who might have been a member are received.
Motion to accept by Lori Zurvalec, seconded by Kathleen McNamee. Motion approved.
Address of Outgoing President:
Joan Smykowski stated that she appreciated working with her team on the Executive Board and with those on the various committees. She indicated that she knows everyone will continue to step up to support the new President. She said she has concerns about the future because of the pandemic. DSWPS needs a Communications Chair to create a newsletter. A lot of our current members are not interested in finding everything online, yet the future will be young artists who will expect a strong online presence for the group. While she enjoyed her tenure, she does not miss all the emails!
Joan went on to state that one of the best parts of being president is overseeing the bestowing of honorary memberships on our most loyal and engaged members.
Honorary membership: In accordance with By-laws Article II, honorary membership is proposed by members of DSWPS for Joyce Manke. Jacqueline Rybinski read the Honorary Member announcement. Joyce Manke has been Communications Secretary for many years. She selflessly created our newsletter in its present form, and established many connections with other organizations and galleries. She kept it all going as a one-woman show, doing the editing, reporting, covering and photographing art exhibitions, sending the newsletter out as both an electronic and USPS-distributed document. The newsletter was one of the best “perks” of membership. The Executive Board recommended to the membership that this honorary membership be bestowed. The members present approved the recommendation unanimously. Joyce Manke could not be present today, so her certificate will be mailed to her.
Retiring Executive Board members were thanked for their years of service to DSWPS:
Joan Smykowski, President
Jacqueline Rybinski, 1st Vice President – Programs
Erica Chappuis, 2nd Vice President – Exhibitions
Joyce Manke, Communications Secretary
Julie Sabit, Historian
Slate of Incoming Executive Board members:
President: Joya Rush-Keli
President – Elect: vacant
1st Vice President Program: vacant
2nd Vice President Exhibitions: Susan Munro
3rd Vice President Directory: Kimberly Santini
Recording Secretary: Lori Zurvalec
Corresponding Secretary: vacant
Webmaster: Kathleen McNamee
Treasurer: Jan Ducsay
Parliamentarian/By-laws: Kathleen O’Connell
Historian: Deborah Benedic
Carol LaChiusa moved to accept the slate of nominees for the 2020-2021 Executive Board of DSWPS, seconded by Mari Walker. Motion approved.
Immediate Past President Joan Smykowski welcomed President Joya Rush-Keli with flowers.
Motion to Adjourn by Julie Sabit, seconded by Kathleen McNamee. Motion approved.
Meeting adjourned 11:24 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Lori Zurvalec,
Recording Secretary
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