Shades of the Mississippi River Decorative Artists

February 2011
President- Sharon Fah Secretary- Cheryl Sullivan
Vice-President- Christine Lynn Treasurer- Sue Stone

PRESIDENTS LETTER
Hello Everyone!
I hope you are managing to get around in all of this snow. Spring can get here anytime as far as I'm concerned.
February looks to be a busy month for our painters. The auction is coming up fast and that brings lots of work painting
and planning.
We also have sign-ups for the Bobbie Takashima Seminar in April.
We would like some input from all of you in regard to our meetings. So....we have another survey to give out at the
February meeting. It is always good to hear what is working and what new ideas anyone has to keep things interesting.
See you next Thursday!
Sharon

JANUARY MINUTES
The meeting was called to order by our new President, Sharon Fah. Our Christmas Party was in December so
there were no minutes to be approved.

The following reports were given:

Treasurer-Sue Stone was absent; Kim Wheat gave the report-

Savings - $278.83 and checking balance – $3263.40.

Sunshine-Sylvia Mihm- Christmas cards were sent to Barb Untiedt and Cheryl Harper.

Newsletter- Diana Marshall- none

Historian- none

Library- Joan Zastrow- books to take home available on the back table.

Memory Boxes- Jean Meer- memory boxes painted by Mary Lou Wahl(3) and Cheryl Sullivan(3).
Publicity- Sharon Fah- checking on the SDP website that has a template for business cards that we may be able
to use for our chapter.

Seminar- Linda Hatfield- Discussed the April seminar with Bobby Takashima and brought the project packets
with pictures of the pieces we will be painting.

Christmas Party-Sue Stone(new chairperson)- Everyone who attended was asked to fill out a quick survey about
the party to help the committee with this year’s planning.

Ways and Means- Nancy Hungate-update on March auction. A reminder that all members need to purchase a
ticket by the February meeting. Auction pieces need to be turned in by March meeting. Sign up sheets for
specific jobs at the auction were set out at the meeting.

Sign up sheets for committees and treats are now available for this year.

Paint days at the Deere -Wiman Building listed in newsletter.

Sharon Fah is working on a calendar to put in our black binders so we can write down any SMRDA event on
any given month. She is also working on an on-line calendar to check dates on the SMRDA blog.

Painting and brush stroke technique for members wanting extra practice at 6:30pm, prior to the meeting was
discussed.

Kim Wheat brought 4-5 boxes of patterns and miscellaneous supplies from a former SDP painter from
Springfield, Illinois who was not painting anymore and wanted other members to have her things. Everyone was
encouraged to browse and take anything they wanted.

Program: Painting an artist’s palette on black shopping bags provided by Sylvia Mihm. Sharon Fah directed and
supplied the paint.

Treats were provided by the board and were paid for by the club.

Respectfully…. Cheryl Sullivan

AUCTION
Are you Ready? Auction time is very hear! Plans are moving forward for a fun day on March 20th. Tickets sales will end
after our February meeting. All tickets will need to be paid for at our February meeting too. I will have printed directions
to the Milan Community Center at both or February and March meetings. The actual address of the Milan Community
Center is 2701 1st Street E., Milan, Il.
Please remember: Sign and date your donated pieces, and if anything needs hangers to use it, please attach the
appropriate hanger before you turn your item(s) in. If you are donating large items, please bring them to our March
meeting. If you have any questions, please let me know. You can reach me at home, 563-359-6076
or by e-mail, nahungate@msn.com. .

Jamie was a good ticket seller !!

FEBRUARY MEETING
Technique Time will begin at 6:30. We encourage all of you to bring your 3 ring binders. Technique Time for
February will be using stencils and texture mediums to make backgrounds. We will then use the background for
our project. Please bring your palette knife and regular painting supplies.

First payment for the Bobbie Takashima seminar is due at the February meeting.

Auction tickets must be purchased at the February meeting.

Don’t forget your small auction pieces should be turned in.

SEMINAR

SMRDA Presents
Bobbie Takashima

April 7, 8 and 9

Bettendorf Community Center, 2204 Grant Street, Bettendorf, Iowa

Santa and elves is a two day class on Thursday and Friday April 7 and 8. The Halloween plate is a
one day on Saturday, April 9.

Name____________________________________________________________

Address__________________________________________________________

Phone____________________________________________________________

Thursday & Friday Santa and acorn elves ($100)_______________ non member $120________

Saturday Halloween ($50)___________________non member $60 _____________

For more information please call Sharon Fah at 563-289-1400 563-289-1400

Linda Hatfield, Muscatine, Iowa

NOTE FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Amazing…. I am posting the March birthdays already. Spring is truly, right around the corner.

Reminder to check out: http://smrda.blogspot.com/ and http://www.sharonfah.com/

The seminar information and special dates are posted, more information will be added throughout the year.

Here is a message from SDP President Pro Tem Nancy Genetti:

“Thank you to all who answered the survey. We appreciate the time you took to answer our questions and we will
consider your opinions and constructive comments carefully. Changing a name requires an extensive marketing campaign
and expense to change documents, literature, signs, etc. so a name change will not be considered this year. This survey
gives us the information that we need as we continue to research and consider a name change in the future."

Thank you again to all who participated in this survey. Your input is valuable to us!

SDP SURVEY RESULTS

On Dec. 9, 2010, the SDP Board of Directors requested that a survey be sent out to gather member
opinion in regards to a possible name change for the Society. Approximately 4,000 members responded.
The survey deadline was Jan. 10, 2011.

Here is a message from SDP President Pro Tem Nancy Genetti:

“Thank you to all who answered the survey. We appreciate the time you took to answer our questions and
we will consider your opinions and constructive comments carefully. Changing a name requires an
extensive marketing campaign and expense to change documents, literature, signs, etc. so a name
change will not be considered this year. This survey gives us the information that we need as we continue
to research and consider a name change in the future.”

Thank you again to all who participated in this survey. Your input is valuable to us!

1. Does our name (Society of Decorative Painters) need to be updated?

Percent Responses
Yes. 61.64% 1650
No. 38.36% 1027
I don't really have an opinion on this matter. 0.00% 0

2. Does the term "artist" better describe what we do?

I prefer to be called an artist. 100.00% 1976
I'm a painter and proud. 0.00% 0
I don't care what you call it as long as I can paint with my friends. 0.00% 0

3. Do any of these names better describe us?

Decorative Artists Association 26.14% 655
International Decorative Artists Association 24.46% 613
Society of Decorative Artists 42.82% 1073
Don't change the name. I like Society of Decorative Painters 0.00% 0
No 6.58% 165

4. Do you have a great idea for a new name?

No. 92.71% 3230

5. What type of SDP membership do you have?

Individual 94.45% 3303
Business 4.52% 158
Household 1.03% 36

6. What is your age?

Under 20 0.03% 1
21-30 0.06% 2
31-40 1.06% 37
41-50 6.63% 232
51-60 29.85% 1044
61-70 46.75% 1635
71 or better 15.61% 546

7. How long have you been a member of SDP?

I'm a new member 0.00% 0
5 years or less 21.49% 726
6-10 years 24.19% 817
11-20 years 28.95% 978
21-30 years 16.37% 553
30 years or more 9.00% 304

MEMORY BOXES Cheryl and MaryLou

IMPORTANT DATES
February 10, -7:00 PM – Meeting at the Bettendorf Community Center

March 20, 2011 – SMRDA Spring auction

2011 Paint Dates at Deere Wiman Carriage Building

Saturday, January 15 9-3 Saturday, February 26 9-3 Saturday, May 7 9-3

Sunday, June 12 9-3 Saturday, August 20 9-3 Saturday, September 17 9-3

Saturday, October 22 9-3

Seminars
Bobbi Takashima Seminar April 7,8&9
Registration and 1st payment is due by February 10th meeting. This is important because registration
determines if we have enough support for this seminar.

Mary Wiseman Seminar October 7&8

BIRTHDAYS

January
Christine Lynn 2 Jan
Monica Brogan 9 Jan
Kimberly Wheat 26 Jan
Peg Rounds 29 Jan

February
Jackie Gustafson 16 Feb
Connie Gray 19 Feb
Nancy Lockner 28-Feb

March
Zastrow Joan 10 Mar
Breder Sandra 11 Mar
Fah Sharon 17 Mar
*Wynn Doris. 22 Mar
Meer Jean 23 Mar